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INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A major construction project on College Avenue might create a headache for drivers beginning next week.

It includes closures along several streets.

“Construction is going to be a nightmare the next couple of months it seems,” Conner Thompson, an Indianapolis resident, said.

According to IndyGo, on or after Wednesday, June 14th, there will be improvements for bus pads and crews will pour concrete at stations between 42nd and 52nd streets as part of the construction project.

Work is expected to be completed by next month.

“It’s going to harder to get around for sure. Closing off a large part of College is going to bulk up traffic on other roads as well, but hopefully they can get it done as soon as possible,” Thompson said.

It’s part of IndyGo’s Red Line Enhancements Project.

The organization says the goal is to protect the system’s infrastructure so that it stays running for years to come.

However, some business owners aren’t completely happy about it.

“Selfishly, it’s kind of disappointing that maybe they didn’t build these pads to a specification that actually enabled them to last more than what five or six years, but you know, things happen,” David Allee, the owner of the Jazz Kitchen, said.

IndyGo officials say traffic will be detoured around the stations using Meridian Street, which raises concerns for residents nearby.

“Around a month or so, no traffic on College, but hopefully they can get it done. I know a lot of people do use the Red Line,” Thompson, said. “Hopefully they can get it done as soon as possible.”

According to Allee, construction can make a huge impact on business.

“We’re kind of fortunate that we’re kind of destinational, but if you’re a general restaurant or any shops, record stores down the street, things like that, they do rely on that foot traffic to be able to keep their doors open,” Allee said.

“We’ve had a tough time over the last five or six years, so you know, any interruptions are huge for us,” Allee said.

IndyGo says construction on College Avenue will be completed before the end of the summer.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — There’s a cloud of concern as many parts of the country are coping with the Canadian wildfires’ smoke smothering skies.

While Indiana has been spared from higher levels of particle pollution, Hoosiers are being asked to reduce their time outdoors as the wildfires’ smoke travels across the state.

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has issued a seventh-straight Air Quality Action Day for Friday.

Thomas Evans, an Indianapolis resident, said, “Unfortunately, there’s nothing that we can do about it but fight it as it comes.”

“We’ve been seeing what it’s like over there in New York and it’s completely orange over there and it does look like an apocalypse,” Evans said.

Dr. Graham Carlos from Eskenazi Health says more and more patients are raising concerns about the decrease in air quality due to the Canadian wildfires. “We are worried and anxious about it. Thankfully, it’s not as bad as it seems to be on the East Coast, but for some patients it doesn’t take much for them to have trouble and tip them over, and, for some, maybe it is the smoke causing their trouble.”

Indiana Department of Environmental Management says the air quality index is above 100, which is unhealthy, especially for people with lung disease, older adults, and children.

“I’ve been talking with my colleagues here at Eskenazi and they have seen more than they expected in terms of breathing trouble,” Carlos said. “There’s also still some viruses circulating and other things going on, so it’s hard to know for sure, but it’s something we’re keeping a very, very close eye on.”

He says some people may experience increased inflammation, an attack of asthma, or emphysema. “If you are having breathing trouble, don’t delay seeking medical care. Suffering in silence at home is one of the ways that can really get people into trouble.”

Austin Evans says he struggles with asthma. He says recently it’s been harder to breathe outside. “I have an inhaler, so I did notice a little more difficulty breathing over the past couple of days, but I think pollen might be an issue, too.”

Those with chronic respiratory illnesses are encouraged to limit their time outdoors.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A program that’s paving the way for news and media producers is getting ready to kick off in just a couple of months at Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis.

The Multicultural Media Producing Program plans to expand coverage for communities traditionally ignored. Program leaders say the effort was designed to ensure multicultural diversity and accessibility for underserved people.

Stephanie Gostomski, a spokesperson for JP Morgan Chase, said, “For far too long, there have been communities that people have systemically left out, so when we come to market we bring the full force of the firm with us.”

“It’s a very exciting that this program is being launched right here in Indianapolis,” Gostomski said.

WISH-TV has been on the forefront of the market spearheading efforts to widen the range of coverage concerning diverse and marginalized communities. They’re training students to eventually fill producer positions around the country and catching the attention of media consultants, including Jennifer Magley, owner of Magley Mass Media.

“For me as somebody that works in the talent industry and in media, I know that when I see folks like myself helping to influence and guide the news it’s just very inspiring,” Magley said.

“This program is a tremendous opportunity for folks that are able to get into an industry that sometimes is very hard to break into in such a short amount of time,” Magley said.

Amanda Owen-Pride, the department chair of general studies and liberal arts at Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, said, “As we are considering the landscape of the environment today, we are really particularly interested in bringing more diverse individuals into the leadership rolls across America.”

The DuJuan & Tina McCoy Foundation, WISH-TV’s Circle City Broadcasting, Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis and the JPMorgan Chase Foundation formed a partnership to make the program possible. JPMorgan Chase Foundation’s $150,000 investment is helping launch the first co-hort. It’s a one-year degree program for news and media producers. Education will center on how newscasts are written and produced. Training will take place in the WISH-TV studios.

The National Association of Broadcasters’ Leadership Foundation, and CBS News and the network’s stations also are supporting the program.

Previous coverage

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — While there will be a lot of festivities happening this month the Latinx community will be celebrating a milestone in the gay rights movement.

Pride Month is more than just a celebration. According to Indy Pride, it’s also an opportunity to raise awareness, and in the Latinx community, there’s a new campaign that is shedding light on their challenges and triumphs.

“It’s a culmination of different generations, years of fighting to get to where we are today,” said Jose Castillo-Jimenez, vice president of community at Indy Pride.

The campaign is called Generación Orgullo or Pride Generation.

Jimenez says it focuses on how far they’ve come and their ongoing fight for equality.

“Generacion Orgullo is I think it’s a build-up of all the work that different generations have done to get to where we are today. To be able to be prideful, to be able to smile, dance, and just show who we really are and showcase our community,” Jimenez said.

Jaime Gonzales, the co-chair of Latinx Pride Indy, said, “It takes community. It definitely takes at least a few of us to break away from the norms, to break away from the silence, and then bring your community along with you.”

According to Jimenez, many Latinx LGBTQ community members have had negative experiences with religion because of how they identify themselves.

“We are born into like you know Dios, God, las vírgenes, los santos. Like all those things, and you feel like you’re losing a part of you because you want to be your true self and that’s not everybody,” Jimenez said.

Gonzales said, “It’s one of those things where I had to choose myself and be OK with myself and then be OK with other people not being OK with who I am.”

Despite these challenges, the group says there is hope.

“There’s a lot of trauma. There’s a lot of PTSD. There’s a lot of emotional and mental health issues that come with some of that, but I think everybody just has to come to terms and figure out what works for them,” Jimenez said.

Indy Pride will host its Latinx Pride Generación Orgullo event on June 24 at The Vogue Theatre.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — It’s Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, and one local organization has stepped up to reach underserved communities.

The Alzheimer’s Association says diagnoses are expected to rise as the Indiana population ages. It’s a disease that impacts millions of people across the country and, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, around 110,000 people 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s in Indiana. It estimates that around 130,000 people 65 and older will have Alzheimer’s in Indiana by 2025. That’s about an 18% increase.

Laura Forbes, communications director for Alzheimer’s Association Greater Indiana Chapter, said, “As the population ages, we expect the impact of the disease to increase. Of course, age is the No. 1 risk factor, so that is concerning.”

According to the association, while Alzheimer’s doesn’t discriminate, Black Americans are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s than older whites. Latinos are 1.5 times as likely, and LGBTQ community members may face more challenges when receiving care because of social stigma.

Vivien Carter, director of diversity, equity and inclusion for Alzheimer’s Association Greater Indiana Chapter, said, “These communities are also less likely to get these early diagnosis to be recruited in research trials and to get the care and support that they need as well and so that’s challenging because when these communities are not able to get the services that they need it really creates a disparate impact.”

Carter said, “You can call us at anytime of day making sure that these communities that are overburdened, underrepresented, and underserved feel comfortable with reaching out.”

The group has launched a four-year initiative on underserved communities. It includes Carter’s new position, an awareness campaign, and the maintaining and strengthening partnerships and programs.

Forbes said, “One of the most important things in this new era of treatment is that folks know the signs and symptoms of the disease and know the importance of being diagnosed early.”

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, one of the things you can do reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s is exercising.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted approval to two types of medications concerning Alzheimer’s disease: drugs that alter the progression of the condition in people, and drugs that offer temporary relief by alleviating certain symptoms.

CARMEL, Ind. (WISH) — With temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit on Friday, first responders are sending a warning about the health dangers the heat poses.

“It’s early in the year to seeing these kinds of numbers, so people might not be thinking about just some of the common sense stuff,” Carmel firefighter Tim Griffin, said.

According to Griffin, it’s important to remember the common things, like staying hydrated and not staying out too long in the sun because you could face heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

“You’re going to start to overheat, and then if you get hot enough, some of your vital organs can start to have issues. You can have heat stroke. There can be so many medical problems that come from that, so you need to make sure that you’re staying cool and then hydrated,” Griffin said.

He says the heat can affect children more severely and not to leave them unattended in hot vehicles. he also says their bodies can’t regulate the heat as well as adults can.

“It won’t take but just a few minutes before you can really damage or injure that child with those extreme heats,” Griffin said.

Griffin, who has children and two dogs, says our four-legged friends can also struggle in the heat.

He says they also need plenty of water and look out for their paws – walking a dog on hot pavement can result in serious burns and don’t leave your pet alone in a parked car.

“Just like us keep them hydrated. If you’re going somewhere and your dog is with you, you can’t leave it in the car. These temperatures in the car rise upwards of 120, 130 degrees or higher, so you need to make sure that that they’re inside not left in the car,” Griffin said.

If you have to be outdoors, the Carmel Fire Department recommends that you have plenty of water and take breaks in the shade.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Police on Wednesday were continuing to search for the people responsible for opening fire on several people on Tuesday night at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park.

Sarah Hagan, an Indianapolis resident, said Wednesday about the shooting, “We’re in the wild West now because people don’t care about getting a gun and then shooting anybody. It’s crazy, but it is something to be concerned about.”

A night that was supposed to be just hanging out at the park turned into a scene of horror.

Fay Elmasry, an Indianapolis resident, said, “I was scared and I tell everyone, ‘Don’t be outside.'”

According to police, the shooting happened around 8:15 p.m. Tuesday. Investigators say a black Dodge Challenger drove by and fired shots at a group of people playing basketball. People on the court returned fire. By the time police arrived, everyone was gone, leaving behind over 40 shell casings.

Elmasry lives close to where the shooting happened. “Everyone escaped pretty quickly,” Elmasry said.

Police believe the shooting was targeted. No one was hurt.

Hagan says this type of violence isn’t something new here. “Let’s put the issue where it is. It’s been this way for years. The violence has been in this neighborhood for years, but now you want to put a light on it because the gentrification has changed, well, OK, let’s address it.”

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department told News 8 after this story aired Wednesday evening that mobile trailers with cameras have been deployed at the park to help investigators.

Hagan says more needs to be done to put an end to the violence. “Let’s go back and look at some of our laws. Let’s change them back. Let’s have a permit to carry with them, and things like that. I think the laws need to be changed as far as putting all these guns out.”

Elmasry said, “I hope to see more police cars coming and if they put a camera or something, it would really be more safe.”

As the weather gets warmer, members of the community say they are concerned that more and more shootings will happen in their neighborhood. According to Robert Powers, president of the Friends of MLK Park, the neighborhood has been looking at paying for an unarmed guard to patrol.

He also says there are crime watch groups ready to report any suspicious activity.

Crime resources

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — At only 3 years old, the executive director of the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis, Glen Kwok, began his journey of success in the world of music.

However, it was his love for the violin that gave him life changing experiences.

He lives in Indianapolis and leads one of the world’s greatest music competitions. “It really has been an incredible part of my life. I’ve always said that through music I’ve literally seen the world.”

He says the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis set the stage in Indiana for some of the world’s greatest musicians. It happens every four years and showcases dozens of gifted, young violinists.

Kwok credited his parents for putting a spotlight on his abilities, but, he says, they later discovered something that changed their lives forever. “There are no professional musicians in my family so when I said that I was going to study music it was a big shock to them. I think they really just wanted me to study it for the discipline, which it provides to children as we know and really for the general joy of it.”

He continued his education at Indiana University and found a mentor who shaped the course of his career. “Josef Gingold. He was a distinguished professor at IU and a mentor to me ever since I was 14 years old.”

Gingold in 1982 became the artistic founder of the International Violin Competition, where Kwok now serves as executive director remembering his legacy. “I said to myself if I would be privileged enough to win this job, then I would be able to give back to the music world in the larger sense just a little piece of what Josef Gingold gave to all of us as his students.”

Kwok says that, while Indianapolis has become more diverse, he stresses, “Regardless of what ethnicity you are, your background people are people and we need to be accepting of everybody. That’s so important as we want to build a loving and accepting society.”

Kwok says Indianapolis has become a role model for other places with musicians’ competitions. “It’s been really exciting to see competitions pop up in different parts of the world and look to us for advice on how to be a fantastic competition.”

INDIANÁPOLIS— La Oficina de Vehículos Motorizados de Indiana (BMV) anunció que los quioscos BMV Connect ahora ofrecen una opción en español.

“La BMV continúa ampliando los servicios disponibles y nos complace ofrecer esta opción a los residentes hispanos en Indiana”, dijo el comisionado de la BMV, Joe Hoage. “Durante los últimos cinco años, el uso de los quioscos se ha más que duplicado y esperamos que ese crecimiento continúe a medida que las opciones de transacción y la cantidad de quioscos sigan creciendo”.

Según los funcionarios estatales, la mayoría de los más de 50 quioscos en todo el estado están disponibles las 24 horas del día, los siete días de la semana. Dicen que hay más de una docena de transacciones comunes disponibles que incluyen obtener un nuevo registro, renovar un registro, renovar una licencia de conducir o identificación, obtener un título duplicado, obtener un registro de manejo oficial y mucho más.

Además de los quioscos, la BMV ofrece a los residentes acceso a materiales que no están en inglés para varios servicios. Por ejemplo, la agencia ofrece el manual del conductor en línea en 11 idiomas. Además del inglés, el examen de conocimientos se puede realizar en 18 idiomas, incluido el lenguaje de señas estadounidense. Si un solicitante habla un idioma que no se ofrece, la persona puede utilizar un intérprete para realizar el examen de conocimientos. Más información sobre los idiomas disponibles y los servicios de traducción están disponibles aquí.

Para obtener una lista completa de las transacciones de quiosco disponibles, las ubicaciones y los horarios de las sucursales, visite IN.gov/BMV.

MUNCIE, Ind. (WISH) — Un hombre de 24 años y dos niños pequeños fueron encontrados muertos en una casa de Muncie el domingo por la tarde, dijo la oficina forense del condado de Delaware a News 8 el lunes.

Las autoridades dicen que alrededor de las 4:06 p.m. el domingo, los departamentos de policía y bomberos de Muncie acudieron a la cuadra 1700 de East Yale Street en Muncie, luego de ser informados de que se creía que un hombre y dos niños estaban muertos dentro de la casa.

Cuando llegaron los investigadores, localizaron los cuerpos del hombre y los niños, un niño de 3 años y una niña de 1 año.

Otra persona que estaba en el hogar, una mujer de 23 años, fue llevada al Hospital IU Health Ball Memorial en Muncie para recibir tratamiento.

El forense del condado de Delaware, Gavin Greene, también le dijo a News 8 que los investigadores tenían lecturas altas de monóxido de carbono en la casa mientras estaban en la escena.

El forense dice que se realizó una autopsia a las tres personas el lunes por la mañana. El lunes por la tarde, el forense esperaba los resultados de los informes de toxicología y patología.

Los investigadores de la policía de Muncie y la oficina forense del condado de Delaware todavía estaban trabajando para determinar las circunstancias detrás de las tres muertes hasta el martes por la tarde.