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Purdue University expands academic offerings in Indianapolis

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Purdue University expands academic offerings in Indianapolis


INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Purdue University has completed its inaugural academic year in Indianapolis, underscoring its growing role as a driver of innovation, workforce development and economic growth in Indiana’s capital city.

The 2024-25 academic year marked a strategic expansion for the university, with significant advancements in academic offerings and partnerships with industry leaders. Purdue’s presence in Indianapolis is seen as a critical extension of its mission to create job-ready graduates and serve the state through applied learning and innovation.

Dan Hasler, chief operating officer for Purdue in Indianapolis, said, “In just one year, we’ve seen tremendous momentum in how Purdue is engaging with students, employers and the broader Indianapolis community. This is about creating a new kind of college experience that is both urban and deeply connected to opportunity.”

Purdue plans to launch at least six new undergraduate and graduate programs in the next two years — a 46% and 60% increase, respectively — focused on high-demand sectors such as advanced manufacturing, sports science, construction technology and pharmaceutical engineering.

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Expanding industry partnerships

The university has established relationships with 55 companies in the region, offering students access to internships, co-ops, research projects and full-time employment in fields including biosciences, tech, pharmaceuticals and engineering.

This alignment between academic programming and employer needs is part of Purdue’s core strategy for its Indianapolis campus.

“We’re seeing a new type of student applicant — one that covets a Purdue degree but wants a more urban experience that makes it easier to work while they’re in school,” Hasler said. “We believe that by giving students experience with companies in a major city center, those relationships will make them more likely to stay after graduation, which is one of our primary objectives in helping to promote brain gain.”

Rather than centralizing its operations in one location, Purdue has embedded itself throughout Indianapolis, establishing 10 physical sites through partnerships with organizations such as Elanco, Dallara and SpectronRx. These locations span from downtown to the northwest side, weaving Purdue into the city’s innovation and industry corridors.

‘One Purdue’ model

The expansion also deepens the connection between Purdue’s Indianapolis and West Lafayette campuses. More than 30,000 rides were logged this year on the Campus Connect shuttle, linking the two sites and encouraging academic and research collaboration.

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Faculty and students benefit from shared programs, including EPICS (a service-learning design initiative), Vertically Integrated Projects and The Data Mine — all of which focus on experiential, interdisciplinary education.

“Indianapolis brings unique opportunities that we can’t replicate and execute in West Lafayette and vice versa, but this is One Purdue,” said David Umulis, Purdue’s senior vice provost for Indianapolis. “Our students and faculty at both locations can take advantage of tremendous experiential learning, connection and research opportunities while truly enjoying the best of both worlds.”

Looking ahead

As Purdue wraps its first year in Indianapolis, university leaders say the expansion is not only a success in terms of logistics, but a model for what urban research universities can accomplish.

With new programs on the horizon and growing support from the Indianapolis community and industry partners, Purdue’s presence in the city is expected to continue expanding. The university’s urban campus is helping to build a strong talent pipeline and stimulate long-term economic development for the region.

“This is more than a campus — it’s a statewide strategy,” Hasler said. “We’re building a future where innovation, education and opportunity intersect to benefit all of Indiana.”

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Indianapolis, IN

Tommy Davidson to perform in Indianapolis, discusses new sitcom and comedy

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Tommy Davidson to perform in Indianapolis, discusses new sitcom and comedy


INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Comedian Tommy Davidson, known for his work on “In Living Color” and “The Proud Family,” is set to perform at Helium Comedy Club in Indianapolis on Dec. 19, 20 and 21, 2025.

General admission tickets are priced at $36.97, while reserved tickets are available for $49.39. During a recent interview, Davidson expressed his thoughts on the lack of new Christmas music, emphasizing the need for fresh original songs during the holiday season.

Davidson has been touring with fellow comedian Cat Williams, showcasing their unique styles together. He revealed that their collaborative performances have allowed audiences from various backgrounds to come together and enjoy comedy, stating, “I look at my audience and it’s Latinos looking at whites and whites looking at Asians and Asians looking at Indians. We’re all the same still. And everybody laughing together, which I think is something that is vastly needed right now.”

In addition to his touring, Davidson is producing a new sitcom titled “Varnell,” based on a character from his earlier work. He shared insights into his upbringing, recalling, “Of course, of course. My mom taught me, you know, you live with an open hand, you know and you can receive and you can give, you know.” He reflected on his journey from humble beginnings to Hollywood stardom, highlighting the importance of hard work in achieving success.

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Davidson discussed the significance of his experiences and how they shape his comedy. “That’s what comedy comes into play and has for so long for me personally, like stand up. That’s what it does. It takes all of your worries away, anything that you think is going on in the world.” He also touched upon the importance of storytelling and connecting with an audience, emphasizing, .”..that work part, that word work, you know, that’s what my mom taught me.”



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Indianapolis residents face mixed experiences with USPS during busiest shipping week

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Indianapolis residents face mixed experiences with USPS during busiest shipping week


INDIANAPOLIS — A busy holiday shipping season has left some Indianapolis residents frustrated with postal service delays, while others report smooth deliveries during what the United States Postal Service calls its busiest week of the year.

“This is actually the busiest mailing, shipping and delivery week of the entire year. So we are incredibly busy,” said Susan Wright, USPS spokesperson.

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Indianapolis residents face mixed experiences with USPS during holiday season

For Indianapolis resident Steve Burnstein, the holiday rush has meant nearly two weeks of waiting for gifts that should have arrived days ago.

“I’m just frustrated to the top, you know, there’s no reason for it,” Burnstein said.

After dropping off his gifts, Steve was told delivery would take just a matter of days. Nearly two weeks later, the packages remain stuck at a distribution center just miles from his home.

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“They’re sitting at a distribution center at English at or Brookville Road near 465,” Burnstein added.

WRTV followed Steve to the post office to track down his missing packages, and employees spent more than 15 minutes searching for answers.

“Nothing. Absolutely nothing — it’s moving through the distribution center— but not to California,” Steve said after the lengthy wait.

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Wright offered advice for avoiding shipping delays during the busy season.

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“One thing that I want to encourage customers to do is to be sure you have an accurate address, and the one thing you do not want to guess about is the zip code, because the zip code is our first line of sortation. And so if that is incorrect, it will misdirect your package,” Wright said.

Other Indianapolis residents have had better experiences with the postal service during the holiday rush.

“They’re very good about getting your mail out and getting it on time,” Delores Parker from Indianapolis said.

Delores recommends additional precautions.

“I usually make sure it’s where I get a return receipt if it’s something that’s very important,” she added.

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Steve suggests considering alternatives for critical shipments.

“Ship them FedEx, ship them UPS. Check and make sure that they’re gonna go,” Steve said.

According to the USPS Website, the deadline for a package to arrive by Christmas through Priority Mail Express is Saturday, December 20.


Griffin Gonzalez is the In Your Community multimedia journalist for Hamilton County. He joined WRTV in January of 2024. Griffin loves to tell stories about people overcoming their biggest obstacles and share the good news that his community has to offer. Share your story ideas and important issues with Griffin by emailing him at griffin.gonzalez@wrtv.com.





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Indianapolis, IN

Silver Alert declared for 16-year-old boy missing from Indianapolis

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Silver Alert declared for 16-year-old boy missing from Indianapolis


INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the disappearance of Robert Williams Jr., a 16-year-old Black male who is 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighs 185 pounds, has black hair with brown eyes, and was last seen wearing a gray coat, blue sweat pants, and black tennis shoes.

Williams Jr. is missing from Indianapolis, and was last seen on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. He is believed to be in extreme danger and may require medical assistance. 

Investigators ask that anyone with information on Williams Jr. contact the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department at 317-327-6541 or 911.

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