Mayor Joe Hogsett isn’t taking the city’s mask mandate lightly and wants residents to take it serious.
Tuesday, Hogsett and the Marion County Health Department held a news conference to announce new COVID-19 safety measures. During the conference the mayor called mask violators selfish and insulting to the families of the 3,000 Hoosiers who have died from the virus.
Hogsett then announced that those who do not wear a mask and violate the mask mandate could face fines up to $1,000.
What are your thoughts? Should the fine be this much?
Each week 106.7 WTLC, Hot 96.3, and AM 1310 The Light will highlight black owned businesses in the Indianapolis area. This week we are featuring black owned businesses in education. Check them out below.
Rooted High School
5750 E 30th St, Indianapolis, IN 46218 | (317) 986-7574 | rootedschoolindy.org
A person at Noblesville High School has tested positive for COVID-19. It has not been said if the person is a student or staff member.
District officials say the person hasn’t attended school but has attended an athletic practice. The district has informed both parents and staff members of the case.
The district said–through contact tracing–they were able to identify those directly exposed and have sent them home to isolate.
Source: Station Provided / Cameron Ridle/Ebony Chappel
On May 6, 2020 Dreasjon Reed tragically lost his life after being shot and killed by an IMPD officer. His death was broadcasted on Facebook Live for millions to see and caused the many to be outraged. Since his passing, the family has been seeking justice for Reed and most recently obtained Reed’s autopsy report.
On Sunday August 9, Ebony Chapel and Cameron Riddle of Open Lines will be joined by one of the witnesses of the tragic incident. The witness will share what they saw moments before Reed was shot and killed.
Tune in on Sunday starting at 8AM on Hot 96.3 or 106.7 WTLC to listen.
Wednesday morning–nearly three months after Dreasjon Reed‘s passing–a judge ordered special prosecutor on the case, Rosemary Khouri, to release the autopsy report to the family. The family was set to publicly demand the report the same day.
Reed was shot and killed at the hands of the Indianapolis Police Department on May 6, 2020. The encounter was captured on Facebook live and made national headlines. Following his passing, the family demanded justice for Reed.
After obtaining the autopsy report, Dreasjon’s mother, Demetree Wynn spoke out. “The fabrication is real,” Wynn said. “Everything someone has told you other than coming from myself or my attorney is a complete lie, you can try if you want to, but you cannot do what you did to my son and tell me it was right.”
Special prosecutor Khoury issued a statement saying, “We fully anticipate the family attorney will adhere to the confidentiality requirements set forth by Indiana code that prohibits the release of certain information contained in the report.”
The family’s attorney, Fatima Johnson, says this is the first document related to Dreasjon’s death that has been turned over to them.
The National Urban League today announced a newly formed Indianapolis African American Quality of Life Renewal Initiative. This extraordinary place-based effort will provide a unique funding opportunity to address challenges facing Indianapolis’ African American community. This initiative is made possible by a $100 million grant from Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc. to the National Urban League.
As the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the nation’s health and economic systems and disproportionately harmed African Americans, it has illuminated decades of disparities and unequal access to multiple life-essential resources.The Initiative will encourage collaboration and resource maximization between the National Urban League, the Indianapolis Urban League and the African American Coalition of Indianapolis and its member organizations, community groups, faith-based organizations, corporations, foundations, local and state public agencies and individuals already engaged in addressing challenging conditions facing African Americans in Indianapolis.
“This initiative represents an historic opportunity to build a model for other communities to emulate,” said National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial. “The economic crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic has wrought unprecedented destruction on Black urban communities, many of which never recovered from the Great Recession, and it will take an unprecedented approach to rebuild and revitalize them. This initiative will seek to combine the resources, infrastructure, expertise and passion of the Indianapolis public, private and civic institutions in a way that could have a profound effect not only on Indianapolis’ economic future, but the national recovery.”
Lilly Endowment made the grant to the National Urban League because of the financial and administrative capacity it will bring to the Initiative and because of its national connections to efforts around the country to address similar challenges. The Indianapolis Urban League and the African American Coalition of Indianapolis will lead the Initiative locally, working with a broad cross section of Indianapolis’ African American community to establish objectives and priorities, and advise the National Urban League about which Indianapolis organizations will receive funding.
“The pandemic has laid bare how the quality of life for African Americans has been diminished by generations of systemic racism, which has limited their access to educational and economic opportunities that others often take for granted,” said Lilly Endowment’s Chairman, President and CEO N. Clay Robbins. “The Endowment invited this grant request from the National Urban League because of the Endowment’s positive experiences with past grants to it and the Indianapolis Urban League and because of the strong commitment of both organizations to equality, education, economic empowerment, and health and wellness in the African American community. We hope that the efforts funded through this initiative, which will supplement the Endowment’s ongoing support of the efforts of several Indianapolis organizations that strive to improve the quality of life of African Americans, will materially enhance the future prosperity of significant numbers of African Americans in our community.”
The first months of the Initiative will be devoted to seeking input from a broad cross section of the Indianapolis’ African American community to refine definitions of community needs and priorities; exploring local and national results-based models and best practices to address the priorities; and establishing a quality team that will guide the initiative. Thus, there will be limited grant making in 2020.
The funds may be used for programs and direct services and also for planning, programmatic and policy research and development, capacity building, leadership development, evaluation, encouraging collaborations, promoting best practices, developing needed organizational infrastructure, various community projects and so forth. Both secular and faith-based organizations will be eligible to receive grant funds to support initiatives that are collaborative, align with the priorities jointly established by the Indianapolis Urban League and African American Coalition of Indianapolis, and other community participants.
“The African American Coalition of Indianapolis (AACI), a collaboration of more than 20 African American civic, religious, social, professional and human service organizations, appreciates this unique opportunity to deepen our partnership with the Indianapolis Urban League and the National Urban League to mobilize against persistent conditions that destroy hope and promise for individuals of all ages and their families within the African American community,” said African American Coalition of Indianapolis Chairman Willis K. Bright Jr.
The Initiative will also seek additional corporate, government, educational and philanthropic partnerships to best achieve short-term and long-term goals in creating permanent improvement in the quality of life within the Indianapolis African American community.
“We are excited to work alongside the African American Coalition in administering this generous place-based grant, provided by Lilly Endowment to the National Urban League. This grant will ignite, strengthen, and build upon numerous established collaborations while affording newly discovered opportunities within our community – all grounded in a common goal of improving the quality of life of African American residents in our community; from strengthening education (early childhood to life-long learning), individual growth and family stability, public health, access to affordable housing, workforce development and employment to Black business development and entrepreneurship, and renewed civic engagement – as big as we can collectively dream,” said the Indianapolis Urban League President and CEO Tony Mason.
Welcome to Radio One Indy’s Buy Black Indy listing–an interactive directory of black businesses based right here in Indianapolis and its surrounding areas!
If you’re a black business owner and would like to be featured, click the red button below to be added.
As parents and children prepare for back to school during COVID-19 we will speak with local leaders in Education and Healthcare plus everyday people to give listeners the needed information and best practices to keep their children safe.
The town hall will be streamed on-air and hosted by Tina Cosby of AM 1310 The Light, Karen Vaughn of 106.7 WTLC and Ash Mac of Hot 96.3.
Parents and local school officials will calling in including: Dr. Virginia Caine (Marion Co. Public Health Director), Aleesia Johnson (IPS Superintendent) , Dr. Thomas Brown (Andrew J. Brown Academy Founder), Dr. Scott Wyndham (Avon Public Schools Superintendent), Earl Phalen (CEO/Founder Phalen Leadership Academy), and many more
Thursday Indianapolis Mayor, Joe Hogsett announced new restrictions to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Of those new restrictions, bars, nightclubs, and taverns are to close back down. They will remain closed until at least August 12, according to the mayor.
Hogsett’s announcement came shortly after Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb issued a state wide mandate for all Hoosiers to where masks when out in public. The city of Indianapolis has had a city wide mandate since July 9.
Along with closing down bars and nightclubs, the mayor issued more restrictions that will start Friday:
Restaurants must close their bars and must have 50% indoor capacity. Outdoor seating is preferred with social distancing. The city will work to expand outdoor seating. Also, all restaurants must close from midnight to 5 a.m.
Marion County schools may not return to in-school classes until at least Aug 5. E-learning can begin before Aug. 5. Health officials plan to meet with school districts’ leaders next week to talk about plans for school operations. Discussions about athletics at schools are under review. The mayor said five of the 11 public school districts in Marion County had planned to start the new school year before Aug. 5.
Social gatherings — including weddings, banquets, parties and club meetings — are limited to 50 people. All other forms of gatherings, meetings, or special or seasonal events must be limited to 250 people or fewer, unless the Public Health department approves a risk mitigation plan for a special or seasonal event that anticipates more than 250 attendees.
Places of worship and funeral homes may provide indoor services at 50% capacity; outdoor services are permitted with no capacity limit but social distancing is required.
Tattoo parlors, nail salons and spas must operate with appointments only.
Gyms, fitness centers, yoga and dance studios, martial arts facilities and similar businesses must operate at 25% capacity.
Shopping malls and other retail stores, including liquor stores and convenience stores, may remain open but must restrict capacity to 75%.
Sports venues will be restricted to 25% capacity, unless a plan is approved from the Marion County Public Health Department. The mayor said city officials have been working with Indianapolis Motor Speedway in relation to its plans for 25% capacity at the Aug. 23 Indianapolis 500, but data will continue to be monitored for possible changes. IMS initially planned for the rescheduled event to have 50% capacity.
Assisted living communities and nursing homes remain closed to visitors, except that outdoor visitation opportunities may be resumed in accordance with Indiana State Department of Health guidelines.
Since the passing of countless individuals at the hands of police, Indianapolis Metro Police Department has been listening to the community and working on changing some of their practices.
Wednesday, IMPD Chief Randal Taylor announced that the department will no longer be using no-knock warrants. According to IMPD, a no-knock warrant was previously an order issued that would authorize officers to enter someone’s premises without first knocking and announcing their presence.
This practice was officially suspended on July 17 and took effect immediately.
“Our continued dialogue with residents has allowed us to better understand what they expect of us as a police department, and make changes that benefit all in our community,” said Chief Taylor. “Ending the authorization of no-knock warrants is a significant step for IMPD, one that has been championed by the men and women of this agency, as well as the neighbors they serve.”
What will happen next for the state of Indiana in regards to the COVID-19 Pandemic? Governor Eric J. Holcomb says he will “consider anything that will help’ fight against coronavirus.”
On Tuesday, the Governor held a press conference where he shared his thoughts on the pandemic and steps he is taking to protect Hoosiers. According to WISH-TV, the Governor has talked with neighboring states’ Governors Andy Beshear, of Kentucky, and Mike DeWine, of Ohio to decide what to do next.
Several states including Illinois, Michigan and Kentucky require face coverings. Other states like California are deciding to go backwards on their reopen plans.
When asked about state face masks requirements, Holcomb said, “we will continue to consider anything that will help.” He added, “This is a combination of factors, by the way. This is a combination of how we conduct our affairs. If we’re being smart about physical distancing, about wearing masks, about all the recommendations.”
As we continue to face the uncertainty of COVID-19, many school districts are having to decide how they will move forward for the upcoming school year.
According to the Washington Township School’s website, board members decided to start school with virtual classes only starting on July 30–which was the day students were scheduled to return for in-person classes. The board said they believe the decision is in the best interest of their over 11,000 students, faculty, staff, administration and their families.
The board also stated that they will keep the classes virtual until the board determines otherwise.
INDIANAPOLIS — Health concerns are growing as parts of downtown Indianapolis are dealing with trash and waste all over the place.
Business owners at City Market said most mornings there is trash everywhere. Maintenance crews are left to clean the mess each and every day but even after that problems persist.
“I’ve been seeing a bunch of drug deals, human feces,” Brenda Barrett, of Jack’s Barbershop, said.
Large crowds congregating, our cameras even capturing open drug use and possible drug deals.
“I’ve had clients cancel because they said they drove around looking for parking and they thought it looked so disgusting they said, ‘Sorry, we love you but we can’t come in there,’” Barrett said.
Barrett owns Jack’s Barbershop at City Market but some business owners on the circle said they’re dealing with the same thing.
“Drugs, fighting, sexual solicitation — it’s non-stop no matter what,” Charles Jones, of Road Dogs Gourmet Fusion Street Food, said.
Jones, who runs Road Dogs, said he didn’t even open for business on Monday.
“I had to decompress today,” Jones said. “It was so bad, listen to me guys, it was so bad Saturday, Friday and Sunday, it was so bad that I just had to take a day off Monday and just relax.”
Leaders with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said they are aware of the issue. They are increasing patrols but they are asking business owners to do their part as well.
“Better lighting, better markings, more security because as police officers we can’t be everywhere at once,” IMPD Capt. Jerry Leary said.
They think the pandemic has led to the closure of some resources the homeless population often uses and that could be a contributing factor. They said officers are working with some of those people to get them the help they may need.
BLOOMINGTON — At least two protesters were struck by a vehicle toward the end of a protest in Bloomington.
Protesters had gathered to demand arrests following a weekend incident at Lake Monroe where several people pinned a man in an apparent attempted lynching.
The incident happened around 9 p.m. in the area of 6th and Walnut in Bloomington near the Monroe County Courthouse as the protest was wrapping up.
Hundreds of people had been taking part in a rally and protest march through Bloomington following an alleged racist attack at Lake Monroe where several men attacked and apparently attempted to lynch Vauhxx Booker, a Monroe County Human Rights commissioner.
Geoff Stewart was one of the two people struck by the vehicle and recounted to RTV6 what happened following the protest.
“A woman driving the vehicle came up to the stop and had started revving her engine toward us and we tried to stop her and let her know that the crowd is clearing up just wait a second,” Stewart said. “But, she and her passenger both wanted to go right away so they started to push, they pushed into the woman that was with me and when she pushed again both of us went on the vehicle.”
Stewart said when the woman driver started to accelerate the woman he was with ended up on the hood of the vehicle and he ended up hanging off the driver’s side of the vehicle.
“I was just trying to block her vision so she would slow down so I tried to pull myself as far in her way to obstruct her view,” Stewart said. “She drove through red lights and made her turn up here that threw both of us off the car.”
