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Indianapolis set to clear snow and ice with 170 drivers, 18,000 tons of salt

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Indianapolis set to clear snow and ice with 170 drivers, 18,000 tons of salt


INDIANAPOLIS (WISH)– The city government has a plan to keep people safe when winter weather hits.

That plan includes additional drivers to help clear ice and snow.

“Emergencies don’t wait for snow and ice to melt. Our first responders need to clear streets as soon as possible to keep our residents safe, ” said Mayor Joe Hogsett at a Wednesday news conference.

Sixty-five drivers will be added to the Department of Public Works (DPW) this season, for a total of 170 drivers with 12-hour shifts to keep the roads clear.

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Erin Escobar will be one of the new drivers. She spoke to News 8 about what its like driving a salt truck. She described it as “intimidating at first.” After she got trained, she said that it’s “comfortable, like driving a big pickup truck.”

Eighteen thousand tons of salt is stored in seven barns throughout the city. The Democrat mayor said, “That’s a lot of salt, 18,000 tons. This means DPW is officially ready to do what they always do keep our roads clear and residents safe.”

Public Works recommends slowing down around snowplows to give their drivers enough room to maneuver. “Safety’s got to be No. 1,” said Steven Quick, president of AFSCME Local 725. “We’ve got 11-foot plows, and they can actually do damage.”

The city is also ready to battle potholes. Public Works Director Brandon Herget said, “It’s freeze-thaw cycle that causes potholes. It’s not the amount of snowfall.”

Permanent pothole fixes this season will have to wait until spring, when repair crews can use hot-mix asphalt. Herget said, “We’ll be prepared to not only get the trucks and plows in the immediate future, but, next spring, we’ll make sure we get contacts in place to get the hot-mix asphalt as quickly as possible.”

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Motorists should expect salt trucks on the road before the first snowfall, Public Works leaders said, as the truck drivers learn their routes before a big storm hits.



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Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis Colts add familiar face to practice squad ahead of Week 12

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Indianapolis Colts add familiar face to practice squad ahead of Week 12


On Thursday morning, ahead of the team’s Week 12 matchup with the Detroit Lions, the Indianapolis Colts announced a pair of practice squad moves.

The Colts will be bringing back a familiar face in offensive lineman Mark Glowinski and released cornerback Tre Flowers as the corresponding move in order to make room for this addition.

Glowinski is an experienced player, appearing in 124 career games, which includes 96 starts. He was with the Colts specifically from 2017-2021, along with also playing in Seattle from 2015-2017 and most recently with the New York Giants in 2022-2023.

Of Glowinski’s 124 NFL games, 59 came with the Indianapolis Colts.

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Glowinski has spent most of his NFL career playing right guard, but did spend some time at left guard with the Giants last season.

Most recently, he would go on to play 520 offensive snaps during the 2023 season, allowing six sacks and 17 pressures, although he graded out decently well as a run-blocker, according to PFF’s metrics.

The Colts are stockpiling offensive linemen on the practice squad, with Glowinski now the fifth member of that position group.

As of Thursday morning, left tackle Bernhard Raimann was on the Wednesday injury report as a non-participant as he still deals with a knee injury and right tackle Braden Smith was listed as a limited participant with a foot injury.



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Indianapolis, IN

Jeff Bezos’ fund directs $2.5M to Indiana to combat homelessness

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Jeff Bezos’ fund directs .5M to Indiana to combat homelessness


INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A charity of billionaire Jeff Bezos and his fiancée, Lauren Sánchez, have given a $2.5 million grant to an Indianapolis-based nonprofit health care provider that helps communities that are underserved and people who are homeless.

HealthNet Inc. announced the grant Wednesday in a news release. Kay Wiles, director of HealthNet’s Homeless Initiative Program, said in a statement that the money will help the nonprofit “refashion services for families, reducing the time they experience homelessness” in Indianapolis.

A news release from HealthNet said, “Specifically, HealthNet plans to use its funds to implement a ‘no wrong door’ approach for families experiencing homelessness. With an entry point team versed in housing problem-solving and the array of resources available to help families rapidly exit homelessness, HealthNet will increase family housing stability planning, streamlined connections to housing solutions, and creative collaboration among family shelter providers. These funds will have permanent impact.”

HealthNet has at least eight health centers in Indianapolis, and a location in Bloomington.

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The release also cited a 2024 report that says 34 affordable housing units are available for every 100 low-income households in Indiana, and 76% of Hoosiers spend more than half their income on housing.

Bezos, the founder of Amazon, for seven years has given grants to organizations working with families that are homeless. Experts on family homelessness helped chose recipients of grants from Bezos; Day 1 Families Fund. Bezos and Sánchez have been in a relationship for five years, getting engaged in May 2023. Sánchez said Wednesday morning in a media interview she’s in the midst of wedding planning.



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Indianapolis, IN

It's been 278 days since measurable snow in Indy; this changes Thursday

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It's been 278 days since measurable snow in Indy; this changes Thursday


INDIANAPOLIS — The snow-free streak in Indianapolis will come to an end Thursday.

Can you remember the last time we had measurable snow? It was on February 16, 2024. This was 278 days ago. Many may remember this was the start of the NBA All-Star Game weekend in Indy.

WRTV

It snowed 3.9″ that day, which was nearly half of last winter’s snow total. We had just 8.2″ of snow for the season of December 2023 plus January and February 2024.

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A normal winter would see about 21.2″ of snow. Winter 2024 tied as the 23rd least snowy winter in Indianapolis history.

Just trace amounts of snow fell in March and April 2024.

Snow is likely on Thursday. It’s been a while since Indy has seen snow, so here are a few reminders, specifically relating to your car.

Remember to add an emergency kit to your car with items like:

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  • A flashlight
  • A blanket
  • Warm clothes
  • Food
  • Water
  • Jumper cables
  • Scraper
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WRTV

Jamie Freeman, the service manager at York Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Plainfield, says this is also a good time to ensure your car is ready for winter.

“Make sure your wipers are working; make sure there’s no streaking,” he recommends. “Make sure that the car’s getting hot, your heat’s working.”

Freeman also suggested checking your car batteries, coolant, and tires before you hit the road.

Continue to check back for forecast updates, especially relating to snow totals, for Thursday.

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