Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis Housing Agency reveals 12-month action plan

Published

6 months ago

May 12, 2025

Indianapolis Housing Agency reveals 12-month action plan

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Housing Agency (IHA) released its new 12-month action plan to revitalize its properties on Monday.

The agency is currently under the watch of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Yvonda Bean, the new CEO, was brought in three months ago to help get the agency running in good standing. After 12 weeks, she’s releasing a new plan.

IHA is calling the 12-month action plan “A New Day & Better IHA.”

The plan focuses on 5 areas that desperately need improvement:

Operations
Finances
People
Priorities
Safety and security

Bean wants to restore IHA’s reputation, mend broken relationships and hold itself accountable.
“We don’t want to lose sight of why we’re here, and why we are here is to serve the families,” Bean said.

The plan also includes operations upgrades for IHA, highlighting recently purchased computers and software.

After two years, the IHA phone lines are working again. The agency received 10,000 calls in the first week.

“Operable phone systems that allow people access to us outside of having to physically come to the office was extremely important, and it has been a tremendous relief to our residents,” Bean said.

Other changes include saying open past 5 p.m., developing evacuation plans, a new website, better spending management, a study into compensation, a fee account and more.

Bean wants to train employees, rebrand IHA with new logos and better utilize the housing choice voucher program.

“At least we have a plan, because without a plan, you’re planning to fail,” said Paula Lasley.

Paula Lasley spoke on behalf of several Lugar Tower residents.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re young or you’re old. If you’re in any of these properties, don’t expect us to live in any conditions that you wouldn’t want to live in,” said Lasley.

Maintenance requests have been a concern for years.

“The elevators have been a serious problem because we have people that are on the 15th floor that are in wheelchairs. The firefighters have had to carry people down the stairs, and that is absolutely unreasonable and that’s not fair to them. But we need to get that handled immediately,” said Lasley.

“Truly taking a look at our inventory to determine exactly what the needs are and then devising a strategy to address many of those needs. The elevators have been an issue again when you’re talking about old or aged inventory, aged buildings, you’re going to have those kinds of things happen,” said Bean.

“But, we have been extremely responsive as a matter of fact, we have new elevators being installed at a couple of our properties and so that will occur over the next several months, and we’re really excited about being able to do that through our capital fund program which is specific to public housing,” she added.

The CEO said seven multi-family properties are also for sale. Investors have until June 30 to express interest.

IHA said current residents will not be impacted, but it will allow for better management.

“We’re going to get where we need to be, it’s just going to take a little bit of time to do it,” she said.

The timeline of the 12-month plan is broken up into quarters.

Bean told WRTV how budget cuts could affect funding and future projects.

“One of the challenges we anticipate will certainly have to do with funding. We are definitely in uncertain times and in recent stories you’ve seen where the proposed budget is likely going to cut many of the programs that we administer so that of course is going to impact our ability to be able to serve families or serve the number of families that we serve currently and so we’re we’re talking through and trying to ensure that we don’t have families that are left behind through some of the some of these cuts that we’re anticipating,” said Bean.

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Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis rocked by mistaken identity shooting of paperboy in 1980s

Published

17 hours ago

November 21, 2025

Press Room

Indianapolis rocked by mistaken identity shooting of paperboy in 1980s

There was no warning before the gunshot was fired from within the house. Inside, an armed homeowner believed they’d thwarted a crime. Feet away, a loved one watched as their family member died, the light low before sunrise.

That was the case on Nov. 5, 2025, as it also was on Sept. 25, 1986. Nearly four decades before the death of Maria Florinda Ríos Pérez, a high school junior mistaken for a vandal was fatally shot while delivering The Indianapolis Star on his early morning paper route.

The killing of Scott “Patrick” Lawson, 16, drew national headlines. As the teen approached a northside home to deliver the morning paper, 74-year-old Nokomis Toombs fired a shotgun through his living room window, striking Lawson in the chest. Lawson’s mother, who was helping her son out that morning, was parked feet away.

Toombs told police he’d been keeping an all-night vigil after a rash of youth violence near his home in the 5200 block of North Rosslyn Avenue north of the Indiana Fairgrounds. When Lawson approached his home at about 4:45 a.m., Toombs believed he was a neighborhood teen taking part in an ongoing harassment campaign. He did not give a warning before firing the gun, he told police.

Toombs had recently testified against three teens in a burglary case and feared retaliation, according to a Sept. 26, 1986, United Press International article.

About a month before Lawson’s death, police confiscated two guns from Toombs after he admitted to firing into a neighbor’s home. He said his own home had been fired upon first, and the guns were returned because Toombs had no criminal record.

Prosecutors soon learned that Toombs had not been home all night on Sept. 25, as he had claimed, and had instead been cut off at a bar only hours before the shooting – a fact that likely made the state’s case stronger.

Toombs was charged with murder within days of the shooting.

“I’m not convinced this was a case of a homeowner defending his home,” said Steve Goldsmith, Marion County’s then-prosecutor, according to an Associated Press article from Sept. 29, 1986.

Indiana law allows people to use reasonable force — including deadly force — to prevent an unlawful entry of their home, occupied motor vehicle or curtilage.

Toombs eventually pleaded guilty to reckless homicide. He was sentenced to eight years in prison in January 1987, serving two and a half after a sentence reduction and good time credit.

There are sharp differences between the two shootings, decades apart. Curt Andersen, the 62-year-old man charged in connection with the Nov. 5, 2025, shooting of Maria Florinda Ríos Pérez, who arrived at his home mistakenly thinking she had a cleaning job there, made no mention to police about previous break-ins or crime, according to court documents. There’s also no indication that investigators suspected Andersen of being under the influence at the time of the shooting.

On Nov. 17, Boone County Prosecutor Kent Eastwood announced a charge of voluntary manslaughter against Andersen. Guy Relford, Andersen’s attorney, indicated on social media that his defense will center around castle doctrine.

“Contrary to the contention of the prosecutor — and without discussing the specific facts of the case — we believe Mr. Andersen had every reason to believe his actions were absolutely necessary and fully justified at the time,” Relford wrote on X shortly after charges were announced.

Andersen’s initial hearing is scheduled for Nov. 21.

(This article will update.)

Ryan Murphy is the communities reporter for IndyStar. She can be reached at rhmurphy@indystar.com.

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Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis metal supplier lays off 54 people

Published

1 day ago

November 20, 2025

Press Room

Indianapolis metal supplier lays off 54 people

INDIANAPOLIS — More than 50 people will soon be unemployed as a metal supplier on Indy’s east side announced mass layoffs that go into effect in January.

Kloeckner Metals Indianapolis, located at 8301 E. 33rd Street, filed a notice with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development to inform the state of a mass layoff at its facility.

Kloeckner Metal said a total of 54 people will be permanently laid off, with the first separations occurring on Jan. 20, 2026. The rest will all take place within 14 days thereafter.

No reason for the layoffs was included in the notice to the DWD. Affected employees include welders, warehousemen, saw operators, drivers, shear operators, burner operators, supervisors, account managers and various other positions.

Kloeckner Metals Corporation is based in Georgia and boasts itself as one of the largest metal manufacturing, supply and service companies in North America with over 45 branches.

According to the website, the Indianapolis location is a 160,000 square foot facility. Products ranged from structural beams and tubing to flooring, grating and sheet products.

It is unclear if the entirety of Kloeckner Indianapolis’s workforce is being laid off or only a portion. No complete workforce number was listed for the location. The notice filed with the state did not mention a closure for the facility, however.

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Indianapolis, IN

Alex Palou’s latest honor is his face affixed on Borg-Warner trophy after Indy 500 win. How it happened

Published

2 days ago

November 19, 2025

Press Room

Alex Palou’s latest honor is his face affixed on Borg-Warner trophy after Indy 500 win. How it happened

Alex Palou’s face was unveiled as the 112th addition to the Borg-Warner trophy after his first Indianapolis 500 win.
The four-time IndyCar champion’s victory at the 109th Indianapolis 500 was also his first career win on an oval track.
Palou displayed the trophy at a Pacers game and is expected to receive a smaller replica, known as a “Baby Borg,” next year.

INDIANAPOLIS — Alex Palou has dominated the IndyCar series, but Wednesday night was a first for his storied career.

The 28-year-old Spaniard unveiled the Borg-Warner trophy with his face, the 112th, affixed on it in bas-relief, sterling silver. Palou for the first time May 25 won the 109th Indianapolis 500 and will be commemorated on the Borg-Warner, which was unveiled at The Above Event Center at Commission Row.

“This is one of those days that I knew I wanted to be part of at some point in my career,” Palou said. “I knew it was going [to] take a lot of work, and finally to be here and to get to see the trophy for the first time, it’s amazing.

“I know that it’s always going to be there forever, if I race one more year or if I race 50 more years. And whatever the history of IndyCar is going to be, it’s always going to be there. So, it’s great to be part of all those amazing drivers. And, yeah, I feel that now. I want to get that face again on that trophy. Try and be part again of the history of our sports.”

The four-time IndyCar champion was off to a dominant pace to the 2025 IndyCar season and passing Marcus Ericsson on Lap 187 led to his crowning Indy 500 win. He has said in past interviews it was his greatest win, and it also was his first oval win.

Pacers & Racers was renewed, albeit a smaller-scale version. Palou took the Borg-Warner to Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where he was able to display the Borg-Warner in front of Pacers fans as they hosted the Charlotte Hornets.

Palou celebrated winning the Indy 500 by attending Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

It is expected that Palou will receive a Baby Borg, a smaller model of the trophy, early next year.

“I’m honored to continue one of the greatest traditions in all of sports and unveil the latest addition to the iconic Borg-Warner Trophy at this beautiful venue,” Michelle Collins, BorgWarner global director, marketing and public relations, said. “Alex’s victory exemplifies that tenacity and constant commitment to excellence will result in success, on and off the track. On behalf of everyone at BorgWarner, congratulations to Alex and the team at Chip Ganassi Racing.”

How faces are sculpted onto the Borg-Warner Indy 500 trophy

Every Indy 500 winner since 1911 has a face sculpted onto the Borg-Warner trophy, which was originally designed in 1935.

Behrends, a renowned sculptor, has created every winner’s face for the trophy since 1990. He begins by studying 360-degree photos of the winner. Palou visited Behrends’ studio in Tryon, North Carolina, for construction of a full-scale clay model to be used as a reference point.

Behrends then constructs a smaller model out of oil-based clay that is turned into a mold and cast in wax to be sent to a jeweler to transform into sterling silver. It then returns to Behrends, who polishes it and buffs it before it is affixed on the trophy.