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INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indianapolis Public Schools has turned many of its schools into one-stop shops this month that enable kids to thrive inside and outside the classroom.

James Russell Lowell Montessori hosted one of the district’s “Back to School Nights” on the eve of the new school year, which starts on Thursday.

Chandrel Downs’ two kids attend Lowell, and despite spending several hundred dollars on supplies she still needed to pick up an extra backpack given out at the event:

“For the twins, it was $400, just alone for clothes, and school supplies and shoes,” she said.
Hensley Law Group donated hundreds of backpacks to the event. Overdose Lifeline had a booth set up to help provide substance abuse counseling, and Edna Martin was on hand to promote its after-school services.

Principal Christine Rembert said immunizations were provided and a voter registration booth was available.

“I think from a family perspective it’s nice to have all the things in one place, as opposed to having to go to a variety of different agencies. Time is very precious, especially for families,” Rembert said.

The event also allowed students and parents to meet teachers, administrators, and fellow students.

“The children spend most of their waking time at school, and we want parents to feel a high level of comfort with us who are at the school,” Rembert said.

Downs had one child who already attends Lowell Montessori and two more have been there since pre-school. Despite that familiarity, she’s glad to meet her kids’ teachers.

“We get to talk to them, and let them know the ins and outs of your kids, get to meet them,” she said.

WESTFIELD, Ind. (WISH) — The Colts lost a major contributor to last year’s defense to injury, Samson Ebukam, who suffered a torn Achilles’ at training camp on Sunday.

Ebukam led the team in sacks last season with 9.5.

Colts head coach Shane Steichen talked about Ebukam’s injury on Tuesday after practice.

“That’s a tough break for us,” Steichen said. “I mean, what a great competitor he is. The sacks he had last year, and he was just continuing in the right direction. So, big blow there but guys have got to step up.”

Fortunately for the Colts, they have a lot of depth at defensive end. Kwity Paye, Dayo Odeyingbo, and Tyquan Lewis combined for 20.5 sacks last season for the Colts. Plus, they drafted Laiatu Latu in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Ebukam and Latu built a strong bond in the past few months since Latu was drafted.

“That’s my big bro,” Latu said. “So, I was learning a lot from him. He’s been like a big brother to me since I got here, even before. I watch a lot of film on him. He’s just been somebody that I really look up to. So, I really just want to go out here and play for him and be able to do what he does on the field so that it doesn’t feel like we’re missing a link.”

With the loss of Ebukam, Steichen said that the reps are likely going to pick up for the rest of the guys at defensive end. But, he said they’re going to have be smart about it during training camp.

While Latu has been really impressive so far in training camp, Steichen also had great things to say about Lewis for the depth that the Colts have at the position.

“He’s tremendous for us,” Steichen said. “He’s been here for a while. Just the way he goes about his business every single day, the way he rushes the passer. I mean, he’s a leader in that room for a reason and we’re extremely excited to have him.”

“We still have a lot of great leaders in that room,” Lewis said. “We know that we have a void to fill. He (Ebukam) was our sack leader last year, but we’re going to come in waves. We all stick together as one.”

The Colts return to practice at training camp on Wednesday from 10-11:30 a.m.

INDIANAPOLIS — People who are most vulnerable to a drug overdose will now have medication that saves lives delivered directly to their hands. 

Indianapolis EMS medics responding to an overdose will offer kits to patients, their families, friends or bystanders. The kits include two doses of intranasal naloxone, a resource card with a QR code to the program’s webpage, how to sign up for text alerts about an overdose surge in Marion County and educational materials on recognizing an overdose and administering naloxone.  

The initiative is part of the “Naloxone Leave Behind” project, in tandem with the Marion County Public Health Department.  

The program’s goal is to reduce overdose deaths in Marion County by delivering the opioid reversal medication naloxone directly to those who are statistically at higher risk of fatally overdosing in the future.  

“Indianapolis EMS stands among those who work on the frontlines of the opioid epidemic in our community, where seconds can mean the difference between life and death,” said Daniel O’Donnell, chief of Indianapolis EMS. “Increased access to naloxone can greatly increase survival chances in overdose situations, which can lead to more people seeking treatment to break the hold that addiction has on so many.”

Most people who fatally overdosed in Marion County in the first half of the year – about 62% −died in a home, according to a new report by the coroner’s office. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, continues to rank the most common substance driving up overdose deaths in the Indianapolis metro area.

Fentanyl, methamphetamine: The Top 5 drugs fueling the overdose crisis in Indianapolis

How to sign up for ‘bad batch,’ overdose surge text alerts 

To receive texts about bad drug batches or overdose spikes in Marion County, text SOAR to 765-358-7627.   

Texts will be sent when a bad drug batch is detected, when a neighborhood sees a spike in overdose or when police conduct a drug seizure in an area — a move that research has shown disrupts the drug supply and increases overdose. The program, called the Community Harm Reduction and Improved Outcomes Team (CHARIOT), is part of the statewide nonprofit Overdose Lifeline, which aims to help individuals impacted by substance-use disorders. The Office of Public Health and Safety has partnered with the organization. 

‘Zombie drug’: The ’emerging threat’ for Indiana

Be in the know: Is your Indy neighborhood at risk for overdose?

Other ways to get Narcan in Indianapolis

Narcan, the common name brand for naloxone, can be requested through Overdose Lifeline website at overdoselifeline.org. The supplies can be delivered anonymously.  

Contact reporter Sarah Nelson at sarah.nelson@indystar.com