Dear Indy,
Today’s lead story comes from K-12 education reporter Carley Lanich, who was invited to spend time at Arsenal Tech on Friday during a day of service in honor of a special graduate.
Here’s how it begins:
Darian Wiley was always the first to show up and the last to leave.
And at Arsenal Technical High School, Wiley’s coworkers and the students he mentored showed up for him on Friday, April 5. Dozens of students participated in a day of service dedicated to the Arsenal Tech graduate who was shot and killed near his home in the city’s near north side last May.
Wiley, a project engineer with the local firm Shrewsberry & Associates, was 27 and set to receive a school Mentor of the Year award just days before his death.
“For all of us to work together, and to work on the school … I think that would have meant a lot to him,” said Ivana Casas, a student who got to know Wiley through Tech’s ACE Mentor Program. “That’s just the kind of person that he was, looking for improvement and caring about others.”
Continue reading the article here.
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Solar Eclipse 101
Four minutes of awe and wonder today could make us better, more humble humans.
It also might cause plants to close up, tortoises to mate, spiders to make daylight webs, and distracted drivers to run into each other on the road.
That’s a total solar eclipse for ya. At 3:06 p.m., the moon will pass in front of the sun and totally block its light. Whether you want to achieve transcendence or just take some good pics during this celestial experience, we have resources to help.
Use Visit Indy’s guide to find your eclipse-viewing spot. Local bars even created 10 eclipse-themed cocktails, with cute names like “Man on the Mo(n)on.”
Mirror Indy art director Jenna Watson offers some quick photo tips.
Once you take those pics, please share them with us so we can publish them on our website. (Bonus: You can win a free solar eclipse keepsake poster.)
Looking to feel all the feels of this epic event? Follow the advice of William Shatner and other people in our comic strip.
Do your best to take it all in (wearing your solar eclipse glasses, of course). This “syzygy,” and Indy’s prime spot on the path of totality, won’t happen again until 2153.
— Amanda Kingsbury, managing editor of innovation
In other news
- The Black Church Coalition is pushing for ambitious policy changes around policing, substance use and health — and its members are taking steps to pressure Democratic lawmakers and local leaders to do more. With about 200 people watching during an event last week, coalition members left an empty chair at the front of the room with Mayor Joe Hogsett’s name on it. “We’re going to continue to make folks uncomfortable because that’s how anything gets done,” said Darrell Brooks, a pastor at the far eastside New Liberty Missionary Baptist Church. “(Hogsett) is not here, but he is not off the hook.”
- Hundreds gathered at the Indiana Statehouse on Friday to pay their respects to the late Sen. Jean Breaux, the Indianapolis Democrat who represented the east side for nearly two decades. One lawmaker handed out Breaux’s favorite candy; another wrote her a poem.
- I know it always seems like it’s election season, but it truly is now. A little more than 100 voting machines were publicly tested Friday and showed no issues. So the machines are ready for the primary election, but are you? Today is the deadline to register to vote.
What’s going on around the city
- Wednesday, April 10: Aspire Indiana Health is putting on “Clear Talk: Teen Mental Health, Alcohol & Drug Use” at 5:30 p.m. at IU Health North Hospital, 11700 N. Meridian St. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.
- Thursday, April 11: Tappers Arcade Bar is celebrating its eighth birthday with special games, prizes and cocktails starting at 7:30 p.m., 501 Virginia Ave. Free, 21+.
- Saturday, April 13: Fans of mysteries and hockey are in luck: the Indy Fuel are combining the two ahead of their game against the Kalamazoo Wings. Starting at 4 p.m., join the Fuel at their rink, 1202 E. 38th St., to help solve a “murder mystery” organized by Cold Case Crackers. A ticket for this event includes a ticket to the game and a complimentary drink ticket. $38, must be 12 or older.
— Breanna Cooper, arts and culture reporter
Looking for other things to do? Check out Mirror Indy’s events calendar.
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What else we’re reading today
- Capital B Gary: Current and former students at Indiana University Northwest spoke on a panel March 28 about their natural hair. The event, called Black Hair & Storytelling as a Form of Social Activism, noted the significance of natural hair as a “personal and political statement.”
- Indiana Capital Chronicle: In a Q&A about pollution and environmental issues with the six Republican candidates for governor, there was a whole lot of love for coal — despite the fact that Indiana’s major utilities are transitioning away from coal as a primary energy source.
Notes from our Documenters
This week, we’ve got four meetings on our schedule.
Tomorrow we’re covering the Indianapolis Public Library board committees, the Citizens’ Police Complaint Board and the Indianapolis Housing Authority board.
On Thursday, we’re covering the Homes For All Coalition.
What other meetings should we cover? Let me know!
— Ariana Beedie, community journalism director
Interested in being a Documenter? Here’s how.
Reflections
A single day last week resulted in about half of the rainfall that Indianapolis typically sees in April. We’re also experiencing some of the highest temperature averages.
“We often think of climate change as a big global thing that only happens to polar bears, but we’re actually feeling the impacts of climate change right here in Indiana and in Indianapolis,” IU Indianapolis biogeochemist Gabriel Filippelli told Mirror Indy reporter Enrique Saenz.
So what’s an Indy resident to do?
Here’s one way: Sign up for free workshops teaching you how to adapt to Indy’s changing climate.
RyanP.S. If you liked something about today’s newsletter, or didn’t, let me know at ryan.martin@mirrorindy.org. It helps us serve you better.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
