Indianapolis, IN
WNBA All-Star legacy will live on through new basketball court at Indy Park
INDIANAPOLIS — As the WNBA All-Star Weekend approaches, efforts to create a lasting impact on Indianapolis communities are already underway. A basketball clinic on Thursday at Al Polin Park on the city’s near northside celebrated the unveiling of a newly upgraded WNBA All-Star Legacy basketball court.
The newly refurbished court is part of the WNBA All-Star 2025 Host Committee’s goal of extending its influence beyond basketball.
“We’re doing four legacy projects totaling a million dollars, and our hope was that we could impact tens of thousands of people in Indiana and the central Indiana community,” said Mel Raines, CEO of Pacers Sports & Entertainment.
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The WNBA All-Star Game is not the only event with a commitment to community enhancement in Indianapolis.
In 2012, the Super Bowl legacy project helped fund the Chase Near Eastside Legacy Center, a community fitness center in Indy.
Similarly, last year’s NBA All-Star Game awarded legacy grants to local students and nonprofits who support the community.
“We were able to put down this beautiful floor in our gym. We originally had a carpeted gym, and so it was the original. It’s probably 20 years old,” said Lynn Rogers, Director of Children and Youth Services at the Concord Neighborhood Center.
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For Rogers, the NBA All-Star grant has continued to make a substantial difference at Concord, the oldest community center in the city.
“Being able to be that versatile in the programming that we can offer just makes our you know, our reach to the community even greater. ” Rogers said.
They now use the court not just to play on, but to host community events and more.
The ultimate goal of these initiatives extends beyond just major sporting events in Indianapolis.
This mission resonates especially with Kierra Ready, the artist who hand-painted the new court at Al Polin Park.
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“I want people to come to this park, young girls as well, because I’m all about uplifting young women,” Ready said. “I want them to know that they have a place where they are welcome and invited. It feels great to be a part of that.”
The WNBA All-Star Host Committee plans to distribute a total of $1 million to support upgrades at four local nonprofit organizations, Fletcher Place, the McCoy Center, and they also plan to fund the championship court at the Marvella Sports Complex, a facility dedicated to young female athletes.
Indianapolis, IN
Foundation donates $20 million to Purdue for health care systems innovation
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WISH) — Purdue University has received a $20 million commitment from the Ricks Family Foundation to establish the Purdue Institute for Healthcare Systems Innovation at the Indianapolis campus.
The institute in the Mitch Daniels School of Business aims to improve health care efficiency and effectiveness, the university said in a news release issued Wednesday afternoon.
Dr. Christina Ricks and her husband, David A. Ricks, the chair and CEO of pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Co., are the primary leaders of the foundation.
James “Jim” Bullard, a dean for the Daniels School of Business, said in the release, “Considering the health care situation in the U.S. today, there is a clear need for rigorous, market-informed research that challenges conventional thinking and drives new solutions. This institute will allow Purdue to lead that work and make a lasting difference.”
As Purdue works to develop its relatively new Indianapolis campus, the university recently announced that plans for a 12-story apartment building on recently acquired canal property in Indianapolis are now on hold as the university develops its campus, Mirror Indy reported.
This story was formatted for WISHTV.com using AI-assisted tools. Our editorial team reviews and edits all content published to ensure it meets our journalistic standards for accuracy and fairness.
Indianapolis, IN
Woman critically injured in shooting on northeast side of Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS — A woman was critically injured in a shooting on the northeast side of Indianapolis Tuesday night.
According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, officers were called to the 5500 block of East 41st Street around 8:45 p.m. to investigate a shooting. When police arrived at the scene, they located an adult female with injuries consistent with gunshot wounds.
Per IMPD, the victim was transported from the the scene to a local hospital in critical condition. Police reported that hospital staff later provided them with an update that indicated the victim remains in critical condition.
Investigators believe the shooting occurred inside a residence on 41st Street. One shell casing was found in the front yard of that residence near its driveway. Police do not believe that stray shell casing is related to the shooting in any way.
Law enforcement detained a person of interest during its investigation of the shooting. IMPD has not yet provided any of the detainee’s identifying information like sex, age or name.
Police do not believe the shooting poses any ongoing threat to the public. Investigators are, however, still encouraging area residents to call IMPD at (317) 327-3475 or Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at (317) 262-8477 to pass along any information they may have on the shooting.
Indianapolis, IN
Larry D. Hunter, age 80 of Indianapolis – WRBI Radio

After graduating in 1963, Larry joined the U.S. Army, serving from 1964 until 1967. During this time, while stationed in Germany, he met his first wife, Gabriele (née Vetter). They returned to the States, married in 1968 and remained together until 1988. They had two children, Rusty and Nikki. In 1997, he married Connie (née Sparks) and they remained together until 2022. Larry was a member of Five Points Baptist Church in Mooresville and the Carpenters Union Local 301. He was employed with Paul Fox Construction for several years before working at F.A. Wilhelm Construction, where he stayed for over 40 years as a layout engineer and then superintendent before officially retiring in 2025 at the age of 80.
Larry had many interests including spending time with family; watching Indianapolis Colts games, comedy movies and game shows; playing board games; working his booth at the flea market, and playing ping pong, mini golf and bowling, for which he participated in a league for a few years. He also loved his many dogs – Chief, Champ, Prince, Max and Molly – and cats Cuddles, Sophie, Misty and Meanbutt.
Survivors include his two children, Rusty Hunter of New Palestine and Nikki Hunter of Indianapolis; one brother James A. (Karen) Hunter of Shelbyville; step-daughter Amie Jo Sparks (Christopher) Ross; five step-grandchildren Jordan (Paige) Cowan, Mason (Alexis) Cowan, Erica Cowan, Jessica Furkin, and Daila Hargitt; eight step-great-grandchildren, Callie, Aiden, Rylie, Princeton, Sensei, Charlotte, Luka, and Amelia. In addition to his parents, Larry was preceded in death by nine siblings: William, Ray, Roy, Herbert, Eva, Elsie, Ruth, Paul (“Bud”), and Garry; and one stepson, Brian Sparks.
Visitation will be held on Monday, May 4 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Cook Rosenberger Funeral Home, 929 Main Street, Brookville, Indiana 47012. Pastor Rob Edwards will officiate the funeral service beginning at 1 p.m. and burial will follow immediately after in Metamora Cemetery – Mobley Addition.
Memorial contributions in honor of Larry may be directed to the American Legion Bernard Hurst Post #77. Donations will be accepted in person at the visitation, or they can be mailed to 1290 Fairfield Avenue, Brookville, IN 47012.
To share fond memories, offer personal condolences, or to sign the online guestbook, please visit www.cookrosenberger.com. The staff of Cook Rosenberger Funeral Home are honored to care for Larry and his family during this time.
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