Mirror Indy

New reporting from our investigative series on Options Behavioral Health Hospital: A troubling trend of widespread abuse allegations has emerged at the Lawrence facility. Officers have been called to the hospital at least 560 times for numerous problems. Police respond, on average, to an incident every three days. Since 2020, nine rapes have been reported at the facility. In this investigation, Mirror Indy spoke with Coburn and five other former employees who said the hospital was in constant chaos as staff failed to supervise patients. This created an environment ripe for abuse, involving both adults and children, patients and a therapist. https://lnkd.in/ejYvKvcc

Are you caring for an outdoor cat? Indy Neighborhood Cats is giving away free portable cat shelters from noon to 2 p.m. Jan. 4 at Indianapolis Animal Care Services ahead of the winter storm this weekend. https://lnkd.in/g4Ey43fV

Our Editor-in-Chief Oseye Boyd headed over to Beef and Boards to see “A Christmas Story: The Musical.” And she said it did not disappoint. The musical added a twist that made the classic story feel fresh and fun. All the iconic moments were there: the pink bunny pajamas, Randy snorting like a pig while eating his dinner, Flick’s tongue and the flagpole, the Old Man’s cussing, and of course the leg lamp. If you haven’t caught a performance yet, you still have time. “A Christmas Story: The Musical” continues at Beef and Boards until Jan. 5. Don’t forget, this musical also comes with an all-you-can-eat dinner buffet. https://lnkd.in/gZcVb7wU

Martin University is hosting a self-care seminar for Black men Jan. 18. The free event aims to provide Black men with tools to reduce and increase healthy relationships to improve their mental and emotional well-being. You must be 16 and older to attend. https://lnkd.in/g2FTgyHv

Ivy Tech is offering two new classes to its automotive technology program at its Indy facility. Students can learn about the unique features of electric and hybrid cars, as well as safety procedures and diagnostic tests. Because the technology around EVs and even hybrids is relatively new, a serious demand exists for auto technicians who are trained to repair these types of cars. Just 1.4% of auto technicians have EV-specific certifications, according to auto trade publication Automoblog. “With the training that they get from us and then some experience at the shop that they’re working at,” instructor Keith Huettl said, “there’s no end to where their career can go.” This new curriculum aligns with Indiana’s efforts to become more EV-friendly. The state has already invested billions of dollars in electric vehicle manufacturing, including two Stellantis electric battery facilities in Kokomo. And the Indiana Department of Transportation plans to invest nearly $100 million in EV charging infrastructure. https://lnkd.in/gAynEmwC

Mirror Indy just celebrated its first year and reporters are sharing their favorite stories of 2024. Higher education reporter Claire Rafford enjoyed getting to know students at the IU and IPS “Skills for Independence, Transition and Employment” (SITE) program. “It's always a treat for me to spend time in a college classroom, and hanging out with the students from SITE was one of my favorite reporting assignments this year. “Many people — including me — look back on college as a time of immense personal growth. And though SITE students don’t earn degrees, program staff told me that year after year, they see students graduate more confident and self-assured than when they started. It’s a good reminder that higher education looks different for everyone, but that doesn’t make it any less important.” https://lnkd.in/gRVWV9u8

On Dec. 5, Joe Ferguson, his friends and other local musicians put on a benefit concert at Duke’s Indy to help people sleeping outside this winter. They raised over $2,000. When organizers saw how impactful the concert was, they decided to host four more shows in 2025. Concert attendees were encouraged to donate $5-$10 or purchase items from an Amazon wish list. The donation drive came at a crucial time, with temperatures dropping below freezing and the city’s homeless shelters at capacity. “It went way better than I think any of us anticipated,” said Karsyn Mohler, a friend of Ferguson’s who helped start a group of local homelessness outreach workers. Mohler said two carloads of donations are sitting in his garage. Outreach workers can stop by to get things for people as needed. https://lnkd.in/gWB_wkzq

Mirror Indy looked into the history of three neighborhoods eastsiders call home. Did you know Martindale of the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood was established in 1873? And Brightwood was named after local railroad figure John Bright? https://lnkd.in/gw4xkxuC

Mirror Indy’s first “travelling story” explores the history of Greenlawn Cemetery, where some of Indy’s earliest African American residents were buried. It’s based on reporting by Emily Hopkins, who looked at historical records and talked to community researchers about how to uncover the history of the cemetery before it’s buried forever by land developers. The Mirror Indy innovation team worked with local artists to imagine the story as an educational art exhibition that can move to different community spaces – from schools to neighborhood centers to libraries. Interested in having us bring the story to you? Please email hello@mirrorindy.org.

Mirror Indy just celebrated its first year and reporters are sharing their favorite stories of 2024. Eastside reporter Darian Benson wrote about a program that led to 80 kids writing and self-publishing their books on Amazon. “Through Tevin Studdard’s Literacy Entrepreneurship and Dreams program, 80 kids became self-published authors in August. I loved hearing the audience cheer as the kids were handed their completed books. Studdard has since extended the program to reach more Indy kids. It’s a feel-good story about a community member investing in the city’s youth.” https://lnkd.in/gRVWV9u8