Indianapolis, IN
Where does Indianapolis rank among the 100 largest cities in supporting healthy and active lifestyles?
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – The 2024 American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) American Fitness Index ranked how well America’s 100 largest cities support a healthy and physically active lifestyle.
Where does Indianapolis rank?
Indy ranks 94 overall, down from 93 last year. For personal health, Indy ranks 89, down from 86. For community and environment health, Indy ranks 93, down from 92.
What can be done to improve these scores?
A recent study published in the Translational Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine (TJACSM) found that parks close to home, walkability, and bikeability are all associated with better health of residents. Residents can advocate for local initiatives and policy changes, attend city council meetings, and speak with elected officials.
Martindale-Brightwood residents advocated for decades for such changes to Frederick Douglass Park, which just had a $23 million expansion, opening in May 2024, with two full-sized basketball courts, an indoor walking track, dance and exercise spaces, demo kitchen, food pantry, day camps, and more. Frederick Douglass Park Family Center is the third Circle City Forward project to be completed following the opening of the Riverside Promenade in Oct. 2023 and the renovated Krannert Park Family Center in Jan. 2024.
The Grassy Creek Environmental Community Center and the Riverside Adventure Park are currently under construction. Indy Parks is investing $141 million thanks to funding from the $45 million Circle City Forward Initiative, the city’s $16 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) investment and the $80 million Lilly Endowment grant.
Indianapolis is also investing in active transportation infrastructure, with bike lanes, pedestrian-friendly paths, and public transportation with the red line, purple line and blue line, thanks to years of advocacy over health and safety concerns.
In regards to nutrition, the index found 14.3% consume 3+ vegetables/day and 29.4% consume 2+ fruits/day. Eating a variety of 5 fruits and vegetables daily is highly recommended. Residents and city leaders can advocate for grocery store and farmers market incentives to locate in areas with limited access to fresh produce, as well as issuance of vouchers or coupons redeemable at farmers markets or grocery stores for purchasing fresh produce. Many grassroots organizations are creating community gardens, allowing neighbors to grow their own fruits and vegetables, reducing cost and improving food access.
Indianapolis has a ways to go to improve its scores. Thanks to local residents’ relentless advocacy and ongoing efforts of city leaders, hope is on the horizon.
Indianapolis, IN
New bridge over 96th Street adds to Nickel Plate Trail connections
FISHERS, Ind. (WISH) — The Nickel Plate Trail pedestrian bridge over 96th Street is officially open.
It was being touted Friday as a major milestone for central Indiana’s growing trail system. The street is the Fishers-Indianapolis border.
Leaders called the project a critical connection point for the Nickel Plate Trail. The new bridge helps move the nearly 17-mile trail closer to its goal of connecting multiple counties through one continuous path.
The bridge also came with a 1.3-mile trail extension. A $4.5 million grant from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources made the bridge possible.
Dale Brier, deputy director of Indiana Department of Natural Resources, talked about the state’s Next Level Trails grant program. “Currently, we have 89 trail projects that that were funded with that money. Fifty-nine of those are complete. We’ve got 12 under construction. As of this opening, we have 167 miles of trail that have now been opened with that grant money.”
People who frequently take the trail for their daily exercises say they’re excited the bridge is finally open.
Alan Errichiello of the Fishers Running Club said, “Extending this down south into Indianapolis is a big game changer for us. It’ll add a lot of miles that we can easily get into.”
Resident Tracy Mundell said, “Trying to get to the other side was nearly impossible, so I think most people didn’t even attempt it. It’s going to be great, we can get over to the other side, and I’m anxious to see what’s over there.”
The final portion of the project, called the Clear Path project, remains under construction.
Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness, a Republican, said, “We need to double-down on that investment, and we know time and time again here in the city of Fishers that trail systems, the ability to get up and get out and get active, is such an important part in our culture of health, that an investment like this is critical.”
Once complete, local leaders say the goal is to provide a more safe and connected routes between Noblesville, Fishers, Indianapolis and other surrounding cities.
Resident Steve Mundell said, “It’s lovely. It’ll be real convenient to get across too.”
Indianapolis, IN
Good and bad from Colts’ 2026 NFLPA report card grades
What grades did the Indianapolis Colts earn on the 2026 NFLPA report cards?
The NFLPA is no longer able to make their annual report cards public. However, ESPN’s Kayln Kahler was able to obtain a copy of the reports following the 2025 NFL season, and the Indianapolis Colts were again around the middle of the pack.
In these report cards, players rate numerous aspects of the organizations they play for, from ownership to the training facilities and everything in between. According to Kahler, 1,759 players contributed to these grades.
So, where did the Colts end up this year relative to the rest of the NFL this year?
Overall, the Colts ranked 17th. Below is a breakdown of each individual grade they received.
- Treatment of Families: B
- Home Game Field: D
- Food/Dining Area: B
- Nutritionist/Dietician: A-
- Locker Room: C+
- Training Room: B
- Training Staff: B+
- Weight Room: B
- Strength Coaches: A
- Position Coaches: B
- Offensive Coordinator: B
- Defensive Coordinator: B+
- Special Teams Coordinator: B+
- Team Travel: B-
- Head Coach: A-
- General Manager: A
- Team Ownership: A
Of note, although the Colts haven’t been to the postseason in five years, Shane Steichen and Chris Ballard both received high marks.
Carlie Irsay Gordon, Kalen Jackson, and Casey Foyt earned an A in their first year as the primary owners.
The field at Lucas Oil Stadium received a very low mark, earning a D, while the locker room was given a C+. Those were the two lowest grades the Colts received.
Compared to the 2025 rankings, the Colts moved up two spots this year, after coming in at 19th last year.
The biggest jumps the Colts experienced came in the Food/Dining grade, which went from a C to a B. The Team travel grade also jumped from a D+ to a B-.
Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis police search for 3 people after shooting, stolen vehicle crash
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — After a shooting, Indianapolis police were searching for three people who fled on foot following the pursuit of a stolen vehicle and its crash on Thursday afternoon.
No information was provided in the notification about the three people being sought. News 8 reached out to IMPD by email to find out details about the three people. Anyone with information regarding the incident or the people who fled the crash was asked to contact the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
The stolen vehicle was linked to a Thursday shooting, prompting the lockdown of a nearby child care center, IMPD said in a media notification. No information was provided about where the shooting happened, what may have led to it, or whether anyone was hurt.
IMPD, however, said the stolen vehicle and crash were not related to a shooting reported at 12:35 p.m. Thursday at a gas station and restaurant at West 38th and Meridian streets.
IMPD officers found the stolen vehicle around 12:45 p.m. Thursday near East 38th Street and Post Road. When a detective attempted a traffic stop, the vehicle fled westbound before crashing a short time later near Whenner Drive, the notification said. It did not say what type of vehicle was abandoned in the crash.
Three people from the crashed vehicle fled southwest on foot. IMPD established a perimeter with assistance from the Indiana State Police, the Lawrence Police Department and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office — using specialized resources, including a state police helicopter, a special weapons and tactics team, and the IMPD’s police dogs — but did not find the three people.
IMPD said a firearm was found in the crashed vehicle, and a man detained at the crash scene was later released once investigators determined he was not directly involved in the incident.
Police have since lifted the lockdown on the child care center.
IMPD’s public information office can be reached at 317-327-3424.
-
World2 days agoExclusive: DeepSeek withholds latest AI model from US chipmakers including Nvidia, sources say
-
Massachusetts2 days agoMother and daughter injured in Taunton house explosion
-
Montana1 week ago2026 MHSA Montana Wrestling State Championship Brackets And Results – FloWrestling
-
Louisiana5 days agoWildfire near Gum Swamp Road in Livingston Parish now under control; more than 200 acres burned
-
Denver, CO2 days ago10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
-
Technology7 days agoYouTube TV billing scam emails are hitting inboxes
-
Technology7 days agoStellantis is in a crisis of its own making
-
Politics7 days agoOpenAI didn’t contact police despite employees flagging mass shooter’s concerning chatbot interactions: REPORT