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Indianapolis veteran shelter damaged in fires last year makes progress in reopening

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Indianapolis veteran shelter damaged in fires last year makes progress in reopening


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Months after a devastating fire tore through Indianapolis’ largest veteran shelter, leadership with Helping Veterans and Families of Indiana announced Tuesday that it had made significant progress in rebuilding the downtown shelter.

Over the past several months, HVAF staff and volunteers have fixed issues inside the Manchester Apartments that were heavily damaged from fire, smoke and water, ultimately getting the property prepared for contractors to start rebuilding the shelter.

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The October 2024 fire caused significant damage to the property’s north and south corridor, which primarily housed the shelter’s 48 transitional housing beds and ultimately displaced over 45 people.

Shortly after the fire was extinguished, investigators with the Indianapolis Fire Department and the Indianapolis Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives determined that the fire had started in the building’s attic but were unable to determine what had initially ignited the fire. Ultimately investigators deemed the fire an accident.

Helping Veterans and Families of Indiana leadership believes that it might be able to reopen its north corridor, which houses 23 of the non-profit’s 48 transitional housing beds, within the next few months.

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The non-profit has made significant progress in reconstructing the north corridor of the building, as well as completing assessment reports on the structure’s mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, which are needed to reopen.

As part of the new construction, Helping Veterans and Families of Indiana is planning to install upgraded electrical panels, all new windows and enhanced fire safety systems.

“The support from our community has been remarkable. With this new chapter of Manchester Apartments, we are creating more opportunity for veterans to begin their journeys toward self-sufficiency,” Emmy Hildebrand, CEO of Helping Veterans And Families said in a press release about the construction update.

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When it comes to the progress of the property’s south corridor, non-profit leadership is planning to redesign the whole wing as the original structure was heavily damaged by the fires.

To continue its goal of supporting veterans throughout this reconstruction process, non-profit leaders are collaborating with a local, veteran-owned architecture firm to help redesign the south corridor. Leadership is planning on including additional housing units for veterans as well as expanding its food and clothing pantry space.

The non-profit can make these improvements, thanks to the donations provided by the community and insurance coverage.

Since Oct. 27, 2024, 84% of veterans who left Helping Veterans and Families transitional housing were able to successfully exit into permanent housing.

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“Each successful exit represents a veteran whose homelessness has ended. Despite the immense challenges posed by the fire at Manchester Apartments, I’m beyond proud of our team for continuing to provide high-quality services during such a trying time,” Hildebrand said.

Ryan Murphy is the communities reporter for IndyStar. She can be reached at rhmurphy@gannett.com. Contact IndyStar reporter Noe Padilla at npadilla@indystar.com, and follow him on X @1NoePadilla or Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social.



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Indianapolis, IN

Pirates farm report for April 18, 2026: Rafael Flores Jr. hits 1st homer in Indianapolis win

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Pirates farm report for April 18, 2026: Rafael Flores Jr. hits 1st homer in Indianapolis win


INDIANAPOLIS (Triple A, 6-14) thumped Omaha (Royals), 11-3. 1B Rafael Flores Jr. (.206) went 2 for 3 with a double, his first home run, two runs scored and three RBIs. LF Tyler Callihan (.239) went 3 for 4 with a double and his first homer, a two-run shot. DH Enmanuel Valdez (.273) went 2 for 4 with his first homer and three runs scored. RF Esmerlyn Valdez (.258) went 2 for 5 with two doubles and a run scored. SS Davis Wendzel (.269) went 1 for 3 with a double, two walks, two runs scored and two RBIs. RHP Carson Fulmer (2-0, 5.51) started, gave up three runs on three hits in five innings and earned the win. RHP Chris Devenski (1.50) and LHP Joe La Sorsa (3.24) each pitched two scoreless innings.

Next: Sunday at Omaha (Royals), 3:05 p.m.

ALTOONA (Double-A, 2-12) had two hits – both solo home runs – and beat Portland (Red Sox), 2-0. LHP Dominic Perachi (1-0, 1.80) started and went six innings, allowing three hits and two walks with three strikeouts. RHP Landon Tomkins (3.38) followed with two scoreless. RHP Jaycob Deese (3.00) worked the ninth for his first save. LF Titus Dumitru (.146) went 1 for 3 with his second homer. C Shawn Ross (.182) went 1 for 3 with his second homer.

Next: Sunday vs. Portland (Red Sox), 1 p.m.

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GREENSBORO (High-A, 10-4) lost 8-3 to Brooklyn (Mets). C Easton Carmichael (.273) went 2 for 4 with an RBI. RF Shalin Polanco (.250) went 1 for 3 with a stolen base and an RBI. 1B Jared Jones (.277) went 2 for 5 with a run scored. RHP Carlson Reed (0-1, 7.36) started, recorded one out and gave up four runs on two hits and four walks. RHP Jose Garces (3.60) pitched two scoreless innings.

Next: Sunday at Brooklyn (Mets), 2 p.m.

BRADENTON (Low-A, 5-9) allowed seven stolen bases in its 6-5 loss to Tampa (Yankees). CF Edward Florentino, starting a rehab assignment as he recovers from an ankle injury, went 1 for 3 with a walk, double and run scored. LHP Reinold Navarro (6.43) started and gave up three hits, four walks and two earned runs over three innings while striking out five. SS/1B Eddie Rynders (.128) went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI. DH Edgleen Perez (.238) went 1 for 4 and drove in two runs. LF/CF Josh Tate (.208) went 2 for 5 with an RBI. 2B/SS Antonio Pimentel (.154) went 2 for 4 with a double. RHP Greiber Mendez (5.40) and RHP Noah Murdock (0-1, 9.00), who took the loss, each gave up two hits and one run in one inning. RHP Treyson Peters pitched the final three innings, allowing five hits, one earned run and one walk while striking out two.

Next: Sunday at Tampa (Yankees), noon

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The Zone Extra | April 18, 2026

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The Zone Extra | April 18, 2026


INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — It was another busy week in high school sports in central Indiana and ‘The Zone Extra’ has it all covered.

Athlete of the week and Guerin Catholic senior outfielder Ian Taylor is off to a scorching hot start to the young season. Check out his interview as well as Guerin Catholic head coach Dave Schrage talk about Taylor’s success.

The Johnson County baseball tournament came to a close. See highlights from Center Grove’s tournament victory.

The 4A baseball coaches poll was released as well as the 3A softball coaches poll.

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The former Columbus North gymnastics coach, John Hinds, passed away at 88 years old.

Center Grove head softball coach Alyssa Coleman joins the show for a coaches corner conversation.

See highlights from the Colts Local Pro Day, featuring several former Hoosiers and Purdue’s Devin Mockobee.

Girls lacrosse is in the first season as an IHSAA emerging sport.

All of that, and more, can be found in the full The Zone Extra show above.

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Tornado watches issued for counties north and west of Indianapolis

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Tornado watches issued for counties north and west of Indianapolis


(WISH) — A tornado watch was issued until 3 a.m. EDT Saturday for counties northwest and west of Indianapolis, and into Illinois.

Indiana counties in the watch area are Boone, Carroll, Cass, Clay, Clinton, Elkhart, Fountain, Fulton, Howard, Kosciusko, La Porte, Marshall, Miami, Montgomery, Parke, Pulaski, Putnam, St. Joseph, Starke, Tippecanoe, Vermillion, Vigo, Wabash, Warren and White. The watch area includes the cities of Crawfordsville, Elkhart, Lafayette, Lebanon, South Bend, Terre Haute, and West Lafayette.

The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center has issued two watches in Indiana. The other one until midnight EDT Friday includes the Indiana counties of Benton, Jasper, Lake, Newton and Porter. That includes the city of Gary. That watch also extends into Illinois.

Storms on Friday night in central Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Minnesota led to dozens of confirmed tornado warnings. The storms in central Illinois has gusts up to 80 mph, and tornadoes embedded in heavy rain.

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An alert issued after 10:30 p.m. Friday from the National Weather Service at Indianapolis said, “A line of strong thunderstorms is nearing the state line with a history of widespread damaging winds and tornadoes. The line is expected to continue to produce damaging winds as it moves into Indiana with the potential for additional tornadoes. The line is then expected to gradually weaken as it moves further into the state.”



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