IndyStar.com: Communities
Indiana's leading news source for all the top stories, local news, sports and weather.
Ceremony at fairgrounds welcomes 199 new United States citizens
As is true for many other immigrants on the road to citizenship, the parents became the students and the children the teachers. “We’d be driving to school or home from church, and they’d say, ’Who’s the first...
Hundreds of Palin fans left in cold
Boos erupt as 400 couldn’t get books signed What started as a Sarah Palin lovefest in Noblesville ended in a chorus of boos. Palin left her book signing at a Borders at Hamilton Town Center with hundreds still waiting for her signature. The...
Facing declining state revenue, Purdue University looks for ways to cut its budget by $30 million
As state revenue falls, university aims to chop $30M from budget WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University officials said Friday they are looking for ways to cut more than $30 million from the West Lafayette campus budget in the next five...
Boyfriend questioned in strangling death
A woman whose body was found at an Eastside home was strangled to death, police said Friday. Sgt. Paul Thompson, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department spokesman, said Deneisha Watford, 28, was found about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday on the floor of a...
Manual students held in alleged school drug deal
Three Manual High School students were arrested Friday for allegedly conducting a marijuana deal on campus, school officials said. One of the students, a 17-year-old, also faces a gun charge after officials found a loaded .25-caliber handgun in his...
Groups, restaurants offer a full plate of Thanksgiving dinners
A Thanksgiving dinner today in McCordsville will be the first of many in Indianapolis and nearby communities. McCordsville United Methodist Church, 6247 W. Broadway, will have its Community Thanksgiving Dinner from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. today. The free...
Schools chief hopeful reschedules his visit
Carmel — Carmel Clay School Board President Andy Klein said the third and last finalist for the superintendent’s job has had to reschedule his interview. That interview and a public forum had been tentatively set for next week. “The...
Speedway marks start of large sewer project
Speedway Town officials and residents will break ground and bread to celebrate the start of a long-awaited sewer project to relieve flooding in the Gerrard Avenue-Allison Street neighborhood. The groundbreaking and neighborhood cookout will begin at...
Medical professionals plan health-care rally
The group Doctors for Patient Care says it will stage a noon rally today at the Indiana War Memorial. Medical professionals are expected to wear scrubs and similar garb for the Downtown rally, which is to feature a speech by U.S. Rep. Dan Burton,...
Lottery
Here are Friday’s Indiana numbers: Daily Three-Midday: 7-9-0. Daily Three-Evening: 6-2-7. Daily Four-Midday: 5-5-9-5. Daily Four-Evening: 1-5-2-4. Lucky Five-Midday: 2-4-7-20-35. Lucky Five-Evening: 3-10-19-20-27. Mix&Match: 2-4-21-31-43....
Police: Homicide victim had been strangled
A woman whose body was found at an Eastside home had been strangled to death, police said today. Sgt. Paul Thompson, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department spokesman, said Deneisha Watford, 28, was found about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday on the floor...
Manual students arrested on gun, drug charges
Three Manual High School students were arrested Friday for allegedly conducting a marijuana deal on campus, school officials said. One of the students, a 17-year-old, also faces a gun charge after officials found a loaded .25 caliber handgun in his...
Health department's Southside clinic to reopen Monday at new location
The Marion County Health Department’s Southside Women, Infants and Children clinic will open Monday at its new location. The new WIC office at 507 E. National Ave. will feature additional clinic and parking space and replaces the office at 935 E....
Boone County looking into wind farm health fears
The Boone County Health Department is looking into claims that two proposed wind farms could have a negative effect on residents’ health, but experts disagree on the validity of the allegations. Sharon Adams, the head of the Health...
Former Noblesville Township assessor is running for county assessor
Robin L. Ward, a three-term Noblesville Township assessor, is running for Hamilton County assessor. Last year, Noblesville residents voted to eliminate the township assessor’s office. Ward will run on the Republican ticket for the May 4 primary. No...
Hotline offers more data on Indiana road conditions
Hitting the road in droves next week for the holidays, motorists in Indiana will have a new system to get information on traffic and road conditions. Motorists accustomed to reaching the Indiana State Police Winter Road Conditions Hotline at (800)...
Martin University to assist 1,000 Indianapolis Eastside families
Martin University will host a food giveaway for 1,000 pre-selected families on Tuesday. Hoosiers Helping Hoosiers will help residents of the Indianapolis Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood on the Eastside. Algeania Freeman, Martin’s president,...
Easter Seals gives nod to Downtown holiday cherub icon
A traditional Downtown Indianapolis holiday icon will dominate a local fundraising campaign this season. The charity group Easter Seals Crossroads raises money during the holidays by selling an ornament in the shape of a local icon, and this...
Indiana prison stops serving lunch three days a week
Civil rights groups, lawmakers critical of program at Plainfield eliminating midday meal 3 days a week The inmates at Plainfield Correctional Facility can’t be accused of getting a free lunch. Or any lunch at all. At least on some days. The...
Lawrence Twp. students learn some swift ballroom steps
Elementary school children need to be challenged and given a chance to succeed, say leaders at Lawrence Township’s Winding Ridge Elementary School. And that’s the idea behind a dance contest — just like the ones the youngsters see...
Speedway makeover begins
Launch of redevelopment aims to make racing mecca more inviting For longtime residents such as Ed Frazier, Thursday was a historic day in Speedway. In front of a backdrop of workers, government and business leaders from Speedway and Marion County...
Number of H1N1 cases is declining, Indiana health officials say
State is still receiving vaccine; area counties set additional clinics Although six Indiana residents died last week from H1N1 influenza, state health officials say they continue to see encouraging signs that the disease is on the wane. The six...
Duncan says U.S. has chance to reform education system
Indiana educators applaud many of his ideas but fear political, bureaucratic hurdles U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan told educators at a conference Thursday in Indianapolis that too many adults — in classrooms, communities and state...
Woman found slain in Eastside home
Police are investigating the death of a woman killed at an Eastside home Wednesday. Medics found Deneisha Watford, 28, on the floor of a home in the 1800 block of Bauer Road about 11:30 p.m., according to an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police...
Conner Prairie reports that revenue is up
Fishers — Conner Prairie Living History Museum is reporting increases in revenue. Attendance through Nov. 1 this year was 90,952, an 11 percent increase from the same period last year, said spokeswoman Angela Tuell. At $366,338, 2009 general...
Carmel council alters fireworks, noise law
Carmel — City residents can continue to legally set off fireworks on New Year’s Eve and other holidays — but only during specific times. The Carmel City Council passed an ordinance this week to amend the city law regarding noise...
Commuter bus times and stops to change
Fishers and Carmel workers who use IndyGo’s commuter buses will soon see changes, including new stops in Downtown Indianapolis and an adjusted schedule. Starting Dec. 1, stops for the Fishers route will be added on Illinois Street at 10th...
Saturday market is 1st of planned events
Greenfield — The Hancock Harvest Council will host a winter market Saturday, and it hopes to have such an event the first and third Saturday of each month through April. The market will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hancock County 4-H...
Indiana regulators OK heating assistance
Consumer advocates said they were encouraged by state regulators’ decision Thursday to allow Indiana utilities to reinstate heating assistance programs. But the next step is up to the utilities, and their cost to participate is going up. The...
Corrections chief back at work a day after his arrest
NEW CASTLE, Ind. — A day after his arrest on racketeering and ghost employment charges, a retired Indiana State Police detective was back at work Thursday as director of Henry County Community Corrections program. Douglas Sheets, 57, is accused...
