Indianapolis, IN
Colts linebacker to help tackle hunger this season
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin spends a lot of time making an impact in the Central Indiana community.
For instance, Franklin has previously teamed up with Hoagies and Hops to raise money for his foundation, Shelice’s Angels. And just last month, he helped coach a girls flag football game on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium following the Colts’ preseason contest against the Broncos.
On Wednesday, it was announced that Franklin would help fight hunger by making a donation to the Midwest Food Bank of Indiana for every tackle he makes this season.
Franklin, who wears jersey number 44, is pledging to donate $44 per tackle “with Coca-Cola Consolidated contributing a dollar-for-dollar match donation,” according to a news release.
“He’s always out in the community, doing things for the community, helping out,” Colts head coach Shane Steichen said. “He’s a leader on our football team. He’s got that ‘C’ on his chest for a reason. So, that’s a big-time deal for him, for sure.”
Franklin is coming off a career-year in which he finished with 179 tackles, a franchise record.
His work away from the field last year helped him become the Colts’ Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee.
“With the Walter Payton Man of the Year experience, my chance to meet and learn from so many other great men in the NFL,” Franklin said. “I was just thinking of how can I do something to go bigger. And what bigger way to do it than to contribute something that helps me work towards my goals as well? Just looking forward to being able to impact the Indianapolis community in a positive way.”
The Midwest Food Bank of Indiana is a “faith-based organization” that hopes “to share the love of Christ by alleviating hunger and malnutrition locally and throughout the world and providing disaster relief; all without discrimination,” according to the organization’s web site.
“We believe that by coming together with a partner like Zaire Franklin, we can support our community and fulfill our commitment to inspire and serve,” Sam Meiner, Vice President, General Manager of Midwest Market Unit, said in the news release.
Fans can also donate directly to the Midwest Food Bank of Indiana using the memo code “ZAIRE.” Click here to donate.
Indianapolis, IN
Good and bad from Colts’ 2026 NFLPA report card grades
What grades did the Indianapolis Colts earn on the 2026 NFLPA report cards?
The NFLPA is no longer able to make their annual report cards public. However, ESPN’s Kayln Kahler was able to obtain a copy of the reports following the 2025 NFL season, and the Indianapolis Colts were again around the middle of the pack.
In these report cards, players rate numerous aspects of the organizations they play for, from ownership to the training facilities and everything in between. According to Kahler, 1,759 players contributed to these grades.
So, where did the Colts end up this year relative to the rest of the NFL this year?
Overall, the Colts ranked 17th. Below is a breakdown of each individual grade they received.
- Treatment of Families: B
- Home Game Field: D
- Food/Dining Area: B
- Nutritionist/Dietician: A-
- Locker Room: C+
- Training Room: B
- Training Staff: B+
- Weight Room: B
- Strength Coaches: A
- Position Coaches: B
- Offensive Coordinator: B
- Defensive Coordinator: B+
- Special Teams Coordinator: B+
- Team Travel: B-
- Head Coach: A-
- General Manager: A
- Team Ownership: A
Of note, although the Colts haven’t been to the postseason in five years, Shane Steichen and Chris Ballard both received high marks.
Carlie Irsay Gordon, Kalen Jackson, and Casey Foyt earned an A in their first year as the primary owners.
The field at Lucas Oil Stadium received a very low mark, earning a D, while the locker room was given a C+. Those were the two lowest grades the Colts received.
Compared to the 2025 rankings, the Colts moved up two spots this year, after coming in at 19th last year.
The biggest jumps the Colts experienced came in the Food/Dining grade, which went from a C to a B. The Team travel grade also jumped from a D+ to a B-.
Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis police search for 3 people after shooting, stolen vehicle crash
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — After a shooting, Indianapolis police were searching for three people who fled on foot following the pursuit of a stolen vehicle and its crash on Thursday afternoon.
No information was provided in the notification about the three people being sought. News 8 reached out to IMPD by email to find out details about the three people. Anyone with information regarding the incident or the people who fled the crash was asked to contact the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
The stolen vehicle was linked to a Thursday shooting, prompting the lockdown of a nearby child care center, IMPD said in a media notification. No information was provided about where the shooting happened, what may have led to it, or whether anyone was hurt.
IMPD, however, said the stolen vehicle and crash were not related to a shooting reported at 12:35 p.m. Thursday at a gas station and restaurant at West 38th and Meridian streets.
IMPD officers found the stolen vehicle around 12:45 p.m. Thursday near East 38th Street and Post Road. When a detective attempted a traffic stop, the vehicle fled westbound before crashing a short time later near Whenner Drive, the notification said. It did not say what type of vehicle was abandoned in the crash.
Three people from the crashed vehicle fled southwest on foot. IMPD established a perimeter with assistance from the Indiana State Police, the Lawrence Police Department and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office — using specialized resources, including a state police helicopter, a special weapons and tactics team, and the IMPD’s police dogs — but did not find the three people.
IMPD said a firearm was found in the crashed vehicle, and a man detained at the crash scene was later released once investigators determined he was not directly involved in the incident.
Police have since lifted the lockdown on the child care center.
IMPD’s public information office can be reached at 317-327-3424.
Indianapolis, IN
Oakland tops IU Indianapolis; Maguire Mitchell scores 25
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Brody Robinson had 19 points in Oakland’s 86-74 win against IU Indianapolis on Wednesday.
Robinson added 13 assists for the Golden Grizzlies (16-14, 12-7 Horizon League). Tuburu Niavalurua scored 16 points, going 6 of 10 and 3 of 5 from the free-throw line. Ziare Wells had 14 points and finished 7 of 15 from the field.
Maguire Mitchell led the Jaguars (7-23, 3-16) in scoring, finishing with 25 points and four assists. Kyler D’Augustino added 14 points for IU Indianapolis. Micah Davis also had 12 points.
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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