Indianapolis, IN
‘Team Up for Peace’ urges Indy’s youth to make better choices regarding guns, conflict
INDIANAPOLIS — Local nonprofits gathered at Tarkington Park Sunday afternoon for prayer and games, all with the goal of showing young adults that violence isn’t the answer.
Stop the Violence Indianapolis hosted Team Up for Peace — a community event in hopes of inspiring the city’s youth to make better choices when it comes to guns and conflict.
Shakoor Muhammad says he was shot twice. Devin Murrell says he was shot eight times. Cheryl Shockley’s son was killed in 2020.
“They backed in next to him and executed him. It was an execution,” Shockley said.
Stop the Violence Indianapolis is a nonprofit organization that empowers Hoosiers to ensure safety, justice and accountability to those who have been affected by violence and poverty.
Warriors for Peace, AthLead Indy, Team Tarkington and multiple other organizations partnered with Stop the Violence Indianapolis to make the event happen.
Shockley started Warriors for Peace in honor of her son. She hopes to create change in the city through the nonprofit.
Muhammad and Murrell both started working with Stop the Violence Indianapolis following their encounters with gun violence.
“If we can interact with the youth and have them do something differently and bring these activities to them, whether it’s mentally, spiritually, emotionally, socially or financially, then we can embrace them with the love they need,” Muhammad said.
Team Up for Peace hoped to show kids sports are a way to keep them on the right track while also sharing stories of how gun violence can impact those around them.
“We all know that the more you serve, the more you love, so this organization was put in place to counteract the hate and violence that took our son,” Shockley said.
Muhammad and Murrell say being a part of the younger generation helps them relate to the kids they speak with on a different level.
“I think it’s a big eye-opener because they think a lot of old schools don’t know anything. They see that I’m 29 and people like us go through these things too,” Murrell said. “As long as you desire to make a shift and change within yourself, you’re more than capable of doing it.”
Organizers hope that kids will reach out if they need help and take advantage of the resources that are available in the city.
For more information on Stop the Violence Indianapolis, click here.
Indianapolis, IN
Final day of the Greater Indianapolis Garage Sale and Marketplace
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Greater Indianapolis Garage Sale and Marketplace is in its final day at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
Leaders of the event call it the largest indoor garage sale in the nation. Today is your last chance to cash in on a deal.
“It’s appropriately named garage sale because that’s what it is, people just clean out their garages, their basements, and come out and sell it,” Mike Moore, president of the Indianapolis Garage Sale and Marketplace, said.
Nearly 600 vendors will be in the building Sunday beginning at 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The show is at the Blue Ribbon and Champions Pavilions with everything you can imagine. Come search for antiques, collectibles, jewelry, new and used clothing, arts and crafts, furniture, electronics and more.
“You’ve got anything from grinders, to a bowling pin, you’ve got A&W airplanes, it’s very unique. Anything you’re looking for you can find it here this weekend,” Moore said.
Moore adds that Sunday is the best day to get deals.
“People are looking to sell their stuff and don’t want to take it home, so they’re willing to wheel and deal. So, come out today and get your best deals,” Moore said.
Indianapolis, IN
‘Fast-paced and a roller coaster:’ Indy Ignite electrify fans in season opening win
Meet Leketor Member-Meneh. The league’s most powerful outside hitter.
Leketor Member-Meneh says since day one the Indy Ignite volleyball team has felt like a family. Meet one of the league’s most powerful outside hitter.
FISHERS — After a nervous, out-of-rhythm first set that ended in a 25-13 loss to the Orlando Valkyries, the light turned on for the Indy Ignite who promptly swept the next three sets for a season-opening win inside the sold-out Fishers Event Center.
The victory was a team effort led by a dynamic duo of outside hitter Leketor Member-Meneh and opposite Azhani Tealer, who combined for 44 kills and 49 points of the Ignite’s 88 total points scored.
Inside the arena, official attendance of 6,089, the fans were rowdy and raucous. “Thank you fans for making history with us,” the announcer shouted. This was Indy’s newest chapter in women’s professional sports.
“It reminded me a lot of the Fever games,” said Mandy Gripe, a season ticket holder for the Ignite and Fever. “I think that women’s sports have crossed the tipping point, and it just feels really cool to see it and witness all of it. It’s history.”
The Ignite played behind until the second set when the team took a 15-14 lead after a string of kills by Member-Meneh. Next point? Another kill by Member Meneh. After setter Sydney Hilley dumped on two, the Ignite were up 18-16.
The Valkyries, who swept their season opener Thursday against the San Diego Mojo, didn’t take another lead the rest of the match. Set two: 25-19. Set three: 25-17. Set four: 25-21.
Hilley racked up 44 assists and libero Kylie Murr scoured the floor for 12 digs and five assists. Rounding out the key players of the match with five points each were middle blocker Blake Mohler, outside hitter Nina Cajic and middle blocker Caroline Crawford.
After the match, hundreds of fans waited in line for autographs from Ignite players. Luke Miller and Asher Wilson came to the opener not knowing what to expect.
“I’ve always been a little bit of a fan of volleyball, so I thought I’d come check it out, you know?” said Miller. “I was surprised how electric it was. (Member-Meneh) has some hops. She can jump.”
Member-Meneh, who serves at more than 60 miles per hour, also had 18 digs.
In attendance for the team’s first win were Indianapolis Colts player Kenny Moore, commissioner Jen Spicher of the Pro Volleyball Federation and every mascot in the city, including the Colts’ Blue, there to support Ignite mascot Pepper’s debut.
“What most struck me upon entering was the number of young girls with their parents,” said Jake Query, sports radio host of ‘Query & Company’ on 107.5 The Fan. “I love that they have another option for role models.”
One role model who stood out was Member-Meneh, he said. “Leketor is Gary Brackett, Lance Stephenson and Brian Cardinal. The kind of selfless lunch pail athlete Indy loves.”
After attending the Ignite match, Query said he believes the team will catch on.
“Volleyball is a rhythm, momentum sport,” he said. “It is fast paced and a roller coaster.”
For Annabell Gripe, who plays for the Monon Select Club, she said there was a “wow” factor inside the arena.
“It was more than I expected it to be,” she said. “This is crazy that it’s a sold-out women’s sport. Women’s sports are so underrated.”
Her grandmother Gail Gripe, who coached volleyball at Lafayette Jeff and was there before Title IX was enacted, said the Ignite were another step toward gender equality in sports.
“I think that the Fever and the women’s Olympic soccer team and all of this has started this really good ignition. Women’s sports has really been taken notice of,” she said. “They’re so good at what they do. The fact that this was sold out, that’s very important. There are going to be more people that have to come back for this.”
The Ignite’s next match is 7 p.m. Thursday against the Grand Rapids Rise at the Fishers Event Center.
Saturday’s match was the first of 28 for the Ignite this season. Six of those will be broadcast nationally in partnership with CBS and FOX Sports. The remaining matches can be streamed on the PVF YouTube channel. The six Ignite matches designated for national broadcast are:
- · January 18 at Columbus, CBS Sports Network, 10:30 p.m. (tape delay)
- · February 2 vs. Columbus, FS2, 6 p.m.
- · February 8 at Orlando, FS2, 7 p.m.
- · February 16 at Atlanta, CBS Sports Network, 6 p.m.
- · February 27 vs. Vegas, FS2, 8 p.m.
- · March 22 at Omaha, FS1, 7 p.m.
Indy will also play host to the PVF All-Star Match that airs live on the national CBS network at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 22. It will be the first all-star match in league history and the first pro volleyball match to air on CBS’ main over-the-air network.
Follow the Indy Ignite on Facebook, Instagram and X. Purchase tickets.
Follow IndyStar sports reporter Dana Benbow on X: @DanaBenbow. Reach her via email: dbenbow@indystar.com.
Indianapolis, IN
Colts Predicted to Poach Patriots QB
The New England Patriots might have their quarterback situation settled for the 2025 NFL season. Drake Maye is the clear-cut franchise quarterback, while Joe Milton III may have ended the backup competition already with his performance in the season finale.
If that scenario ends up becoming reality, Jacoby Brissett would be the odd man out of the Patriots’ quarterback room.
More than likely, Brissett will be looking for an opportunity to play. In New England, that opportunity may not be available anymore.
Brissett will be looking for a place where he can be a team’s primary backup. Now, there is a team that has been projected to end up landing the veteran quarterback in NFL free agency.
Cam Garrity of Patriots Wire has predicted that Brissett will end up landing a one-year, $6.5 million contract with the Indianapolis Colts this offseason.
“Brissett will likely command decent money for a year or two elsewhere, and I could see the Indianapolis Colts calling him back home on a low-risk deal,” Garrity wrote. “Joe Flacco has been valuable for the Colts as someone to come in and take the reins when needed.
“Anthony Richardson is off to a rocky start, and he has already seen his fair share of injuries thus far. Flacco could also decide to hang it up considering he’ll be turning 40 years old this year. Signing a veteran like Brissett makes sense.”
Of course, Brissett was previously a member of the Colts from 2017 to 2020.
During the 2024 campaign with the Patriots, Brissett ended up playing in eight total games. He completed just 59 percent of his pass attempts for 826 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
At 32-years-old, the fact of the matter is that Brissett simply doesn’t fit the outlook for New England.
Paying him any kind of sizable money would be a mistake. The Patriots need to focus fully on their future and getting back into playoff contention.
Brissett will not help that effort, which should lead to the two sides parting ways this offseason. Indianapolis could make sense as a destination and will be worth keeping an eye on.
Make sure you bookmark New England Patriots on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!
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