AGP Executive Report

Tele-Audiology in Indiana: ELEHEAR launched ElePro Plus, a $99 per-session live tele-audiology option for OTC hearing device owners, aiming to close the gap between buying devices and getting real fitting help. Student Health Career Win: A Jefferson County Joint Vocational School HOSA student, Catelyn Schiffman, took first in phlebotomy at the HOSA-Future Health Professionals International Leadership Conference in Indianapolis. Fall Arts Calendar (Indy): Indy-area venues are gearing up for fall 2026, with major touring and Broadway-style stops including Ed Sheeran and “Little Shop of Horrors,” plus Indianapolis Symphony and “The Lion King.” Education Funding Flexibility: Indiana is among states getting more control over federal education dollars via Returning Education to the States waivers, including a pilot letting up to 15% of districts combine funding streams and adjust certain readiness measures. WNBA Culture War Fallout: Indiana Fever’s Sophie Cunningham remains at the center of online backlash—WNBA birthday posts drew criticism, and r/WNBA moderators reportedly filtered Cunningham-related terms, sparking fan outrage. Hoosier Reading Momentum: Indiana’s IREAD results show a continued literacy climb, with nearly 9 in 10 third graders reading proficiently for the fifth straight year. Local Business Resilience: Bloomington’s Darn Good Soups reopened after a lease uncertainty, with plans to expand this fall and a focus on keeping local ownership thriving.

Storm Recovery & Community Support: Indiana’s historic flooding and severe weather left at least seven storm-related deaths and knocked out power for nearly 150,000 customers in northwest Indiana, with Gov. Mike Braun declaring a statewide disaster emergency and FEMA assistance approved; central Indiana groups are also coordinating help, including a combined $250,000 donation from the Fever, Pacers, Boom, and Colts to the American Red Cross plus shelter and supply sites. Local Education Disruptions: Northwest Indiana districts are still dealing with outages and generator power, with some schools delaying openings and sharing meal and charging-station support for families. Nonprofit Funding Snapshots: A new batch of IRS Form 990 rankings highlights which Indiana nonprofits rely most heavily on government grants in their local communities, from Wells County Council on Aging in Bluffton to Poe Community Volunteer Fire Dept in Fort Wayne, plus top grant-share leaders across Evansville, South Bend, Tell City, Muncie, and more. Culture & Heritage Grants: Indiana Landmarks and Indiana Humanities are backing historic preservation education, while separate Lilly-backed funds are distributing $205,000 to restore 15 African American history sites statewide. Pop Culture Indiana Jones Buzz: Disney’s D23 revealed Harrison Ford will be the animatronic model for the new Indiana Jones attraction at Disney World’s Animal Kingdom, keeping Indiana Jones fever front and center. Sports Conversation (WNBA): The Sophie Cunningham trans-athlete debate continues to ripple through Indiana Fever coverage and national commentary as the league faces renewed scrutiny over eligibility rules.

Flood Response: President Trump approved a federal emergency declaration for Indiana after historic White River flooding killed at least five, forced hundreds of evacuations, and pushed river levels to record highs—FEMA will cover 75% of eligible emergency costs across 53 counties. Community Safety & Culture: In Milford, an FBI/Indiana State Police search warrant with ICE support sparked “utter chaos,” with two men arrested after a suspect fled through a backyard and into the woods. Local Arts Funding: Johnson County lawmakers highlighted READI 2.0 Arts & Culture grants, including a $250,000 project to expand programming at Historic Artcraft Theatre and launch a mobile gallery. Education Watch: Indiana Reading Evaluation and Determination results rose for a fifth straight year, with more than 88% of third graders passing—surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Sports & Identity Debate: The WNBA’s transgender-athlete controversy keeps spilling into mainstream commentary, with Caitlyn Jenner weighing in amid ongoing backlash and debate around Sophie Cunningham’s stance. Theme Park Buzz: Disney confirmed new Tropical Americas attractions at Animal Kingdom, including “Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent,” with Harrison Ford as the animatronic model.

WNBA Debate in Indiana: Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham’s ESPN comments about protecting girls’ locker rooms from “biological men” keep fueling national backlash, with ABC branding her “problematic” and activists rallying outside Gainbridge Fieldhouse. On-Court Focus: Despite the noise, Fever’s Caitlin Clark powered a 98-87 win over Dallas with 29 points and 10 assists, and the team shared a slow-motion breakdown of Clark’s step-back 3. Sports Culture Moment: Cunningham also went viral after singing Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue” at an Indianapolis bar. Local Health & Jobs: IU Health says its new Fort Wayne hospital is on track for a May 1, 2027 opening and is hiring 270 nurses ahead of time. Arts & Live Music: Tori Amos delivered a sold-out, fiery set at Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre, leaning into deep cuts and fan favorites. Swimming Spotlight: Kate Douglass set a women’s 50-meter freestyle world record at the Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine. Community & Safety: Record flooding in Indianapolis prompted rescues and temporary shelters, with officials warning residents to leave the most affected areas.

WNBA Spotlight: Caitlin Clark powered the Indiana Fever to a 98-87 win over the Dallas Wings, scoring 29 points with 10 assists after an ankle scare, while Paige Bueckers matched her with 29 of her own—then the postgame talk turned to “levels to this” and MVP debates. Community & Faith: After historic flooding in Wayne County, churches and local leaders are coordinating donations and cleanup help, including free supply “buckets” for residents. Education Wins: Indiana third-grade reading gains hit a fifth straight year, and Fort Wayne’s Washington Elementary posted a rare 100% IREAD passing rate—showing strong literacy progress across the state. Health Watch: A new study finds cancer patients are waiting longer between diagnosis and first treatment, raising concerns about delays. Nature & Learning: Mosquito Lake State Park opened a new Nature Center with classrooms, exhibits, and bird-focused features—plus a future raptor care site. Sports & Culture: Indiana will host the prestigious Hambletonian horse races through 2029 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, a big boost for the state’s racing scene.

Sports & Community: Fort Wayne BMX is hosting the USA BMX National Series for the first time in 20 years, bringing a major national amateur event back to Franke Park after decades. Education & Early Literacy: Indiana third-grade reading scores rose for a fifth straight year on the 2026 IREAD, with more than 88% of students passing and results now above pre-pandemic levels. Preservation & Faith: Indianapolis’ historic preservation commission halted demolition of a former Martin University church, giving the building temporary protection as it’s converted into the ROCK Impact Center. Arts & Learning: A University of Arkansas Museum open house spotlights a reassembled mastodon skull cast, part of a larger effort to restore and share its collection. Food Insecurity: Culver Duck Farms donated 115,200 duck eggs to Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, pushing its 2026 total past 600,000 eggs. Local Culture: Con Huevos founders say they’re expanding slowly—opening in Lexington this fall—because they’re building a brand meant to last generations.

Severe Weather & Community Response: Evacuations are underway along the Whitewater River in southeastern Indiana and western Hamilton County as historic flooding forces door-to-door warnings and rescues. Local Governance & Culture: Indiana authors scored big in the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Awards shortlist, with dozens of books tied to Bloomington and IU communities. Education & Equity: IREAD results show continued third-grade reading gains across Indiana districts, including strong performances in Switzerland County and Marion County. Sports & Identity Debate: The WNBA is still wrestling with transgender eligibility rules after meetings with team leaders, while Indiana Fever coverage keeps spotlighting the fallout around Sophie Cunningham and Stephanie White. Arts & Youth Development: Arts United named a new president/CEO, and Pearl Arts in Fort Wayne is taking auditions for a free Heather Headley performance masterclass for select high school students. Public Health & Safety: Indiana’s avian flu status may ease export restrictions after 28 days without a new case, but officials stress ongoing biosecurity vigilance. Statewide Lifestyle: The Indiana State Fair continues with new foods, concerts, and 4-H Grand Drive winners.

Arts & Community Leadership: Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne named music educator Julie Hill as its new president and CEO, starting Sept. 21, as the nonprofit moves into strategic planning. WNBA & Gender Sports Debate: The league’s task force met but still didn’t set new transgender athlete eligibility rules, as Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham’s comments keep fueling national backlash and debate. Courtroom Culture Clash: Chicago Sky’s DiJonai Carrington remains at the center of the controversy after a hard foul on Cunningham and a follow-up incident that led to a fan complaint being deemed unfounded. Local Arts & Film: “Little Five,” a movie about IU’s women’s Little 500, wrapped filming in Bloomington with Anne Hathaway’s Somewhere Pictures co-producing; no release date yet. Public Funding for Culture Spaces: Plymouth received $750,000 to restore the 1875 Historic Firehouse, with the Heartland Art Center using it as a temporary gallery during renovations. Sports Business: Droplight appointed Greg Stremlaw as President and Chief Sports Officer, effective Jan. 1, 2027. Education & Preservation: Indiana Landmarks and Indiana Humanities awarded grants aimed at historic preservation education.

Education & Community: Indiana schools and campuses dealt with closures and delays tied to flooding and fog, including Lehman Catholic (2-hour delay) and Richmond-area shutdowns as roads flooded. Childcare & Family Policy: Indiana proposed childcare rule changes that would ease some director and lead-caregiver credential requirements while keeping core health-and-safety basics—sparking debate over whether quality could slip. Public Schools Governance: Indianapolis Public Education Corporation’s new board reviewed a draft ethics code and executive pay as it takes on IPS oversight amid budget pressure. Health & Equity: A study of Indiana children’s asthma ED visits links outcomes to gender, race, preferred language, chronic conditions, and recent care patterns. Culture & Arts: Indianapolis Children’s Choir is expanding to new south and east-side locations. Sports & Local Life: The Indiana State Fair debuts butter-dipped and deep-fried “baseball” themed foods plus a new train ride, while Zoar Mosquito Fest’s wiffleball tournament marks 40 years. Faith & Community Debate: Southern Baptist leaders are again wrestling with women’s roles in pulpit preaching, with a constitutional amendment proposal driving renewed controversy. Surveillance & Privacy: Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith says he’s discussing limits on Flock cameras and automated license plate readers amid a growing privacy pushback.

WNBA & Gender Rules: The league’s eligibility debate is now squarely about women’s sports fairness, with critics pointing to unclear public rules even after a new collective bargaining agreement. Indiana Education: IREAD results show statewide reading gains, with Northwest Indiana districts posting improvements and schools citing targeted small-group instruction and tutoring. Fort Wayne Homelessness Policy: Fort Wayne will collect $2,500 from Hendricks Behavioral Health after the provider violated the city’s homeless relocation ordinance; the city withdrew citations after a settlement. Severe Weather & Recovery: Flash Flood Emergencies were issued across east-central Indiana as torrential rain and flooding followed a deadly derecho, with hundreds of thousands still without power in the region. Local Culture & Community: Taste of Southern Indiana returned for its 16th year as a fundraiser for the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, bringing dozens of restaurants and businesses to Jeffersonville. Sports Spotlight: Caitlin Clark’s latest Fever performance drew fresh MVP praise from Dick Vitale as Indiana pushes deeper into the playoff race. Arts & Heritage: The Eiteljorg Museum’s “Then and Now” retrospective continues through Fall 2028, spotlighting Contemporary Art Fellowship work and Native art.

ICE and Indiana prisons: ICE says it’s responding after reports of medical and staffing failures at the Miami Correctional Facility near Peru, after a congressional inquiry. WNBA culture war in Indiana: The Fever’s Stephanie White faced fresh backlash tied to the DiJonai Carrington–Sophie Cunningham “white privilege” flare-up; Caitlin Clark publicly backed White after boos at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. LGBTQ+ community calendar: Pride Lafayette’s 17th annual OUTFest returns Aug. 15 in downtown Lafayette with a theme of “Unapologetically Proud,” plus vendors, health resources, and affirming faith groups. Education and health basics: Indiana health officials urge parents to check school vaccine records; meanwhile, new IREAD results show Indiana third-grade reading proficiency at 88.7% for a fifth straight year of gains. Local arts planning: Mass Ave’s Cultural Arts District kicks off its first land-use workshop to shape the “Mass Ave Next Vision Plan,” with nearly 20% of land currently vacant. Science and safety: A study links living near dry cleaners with higher Parkinson’s risk, while another report flags rising ER visits for cannabis hyperemesis syndrome after a new diagnosis code.

Education Wins: Indiana’s IREAD results show a fifth straight year of early literacy gains, with nearly 89% of third-graders reading at grade level and 88.7% passing statewide—plus big jumps for Black and Hispanic students. Local Schools Spotlight: Greater Clark County Schools reports a 3.2-point rise in IREAD proficiency (81.5% to 84.7%) after a multi-year push using “Science of Reading” methods and targeted intervention. AI in the Classroom: IU and Purdue are adding AI requirements to curriculum, including IU’s GenAI 101 and a new AI course at Kelley for incoming students. WNBA Culture War Fallout: The Sophie Cunningham–DiJonai Carrington controversy keeps escalating, with Carrington insisting her “white privilege” post wasn’t about the foul and the league rescinding a technical call involving Caitlin Clark. Immigration & Community Impact: ICE is back in the spotlight as it plans to outfit officers with gloves that can deliver electric shocks, while Clark County residents and advocates continue pressing the county over its ICE jail agreement. Higher Ed Leadership: Gov. Braun appoints Amber R. Van Til to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, aiming to align postsecondary training with workforce needs. Arts & Community Calendar: Tickets are on sale for Indiana’s Taste events, including Crawfordsville’s Taste of Montgomery County fundraiser at the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum.

WNBA Culture War: Chicago Sky’s DiJonai Carrington says her “white privilege” post wasn’t about the Flagrant 2 ejection after a hard foul on Indiana Fever’s Sophie Cunningham, but the debate keeps spiraling as critics and supporters trade barbs over intent, race, and league handling. Local Immigration Spotlight: ICE activity in East Chicago drew concern after two arrests—one near a Dunkin’ drive-thru and another near an elementary school—raising questions about enforcement tactics as classes begin. Healthcare Policy: Indiana’s FSSA is seeking a federal waiver to potentially reinstate HIP cost-sharing for able-bodied adults, with copayments at point of service and a cap tied to income. Education & Governance: Indiana’s first truly partisan school board cycle is already causing eligibility confusion, including challenges to IPS candidates’ party status under the new law. Civic Planning: Indianapolis City-County Council moved a data center moratorium forward, banning new facilities until late 2027 while approved projects from earlier this year remain in place. Arts & Community: Vincennes University named Dr. Tamera Halter dean of its College of Health Sciences and Human Performance. Fair Food Frenzy: The Indiana State Fair returns with nearly 50 new foods, including butter-dipped ice cream and deep-fried chocolate truffles, plus a baseball-themed “Always a Hit” lineup.

Indiana State Fair food: The Indiana State Fair’s signature “pickle-fried Oreo” lands on a national list of the best (and weirdest) state fair foods, a reminder that Hoosier summer culture is basically a dare. Education leadership: Owen Valley High School welcomes Jake Steinmetz back as principal, a homecoming tied to his family’s long roots in special education. Local roads and records: Owen County keeps working on deteriorating roads and is also changing its public records request process under new state rules. Public housing history: A new look at the National Public Housing Museum in Chicago spotlights how design and policy shaped segregation and disinvestment—useful context for Indiana readers watching housing debates. WNBA culture war: Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham remains at the center of a fast-growing transgender-athletes controversy, with fresh fallout involving DiJonai Carrington and renewed calls for league action. Community events: A roundup of Aug. 10–16 festivals and events points to family-friendly options across the region, from library screenings to big outdoor shows. Art & civic life: Public voting for the Art Institute of Chicago’s Project Windows runs through Aug. 18, with Indiana-adjacent readers likely to enjoy the idea of art you can spot on your commute.

School Funding Crossroads: Hoosiers head into a historic November referendum year with 37 districts asking voters to approve operating referendums, as property-tax pressure and inflation shape how families weigh school cuts versus higher taxes. Public Safety & Health: Indiana State Fair officials say security is ramped up with ID checks, metal detectors, and police presence after an investigation into a stabbing; meanwhile, Henry County health officials report West Nile virus in mosquito samples and urge bite prevention. Tech in Public Life: Indianapolis and Marion County have been paying Flock for license-plate reader cameras since 2024, with a $6 million contract through 2028 raising questions about how many cameras are deployed. WNBA Culture War: The Indiana Fever–Chicago Sky clash over DiJonai Carrington’s Flagrant 2 foul on Sophie Cunningham has exploded into a wider debate over “white privilege” and transgender eligibility, prompting league review and public backlash. Community Learning: Grace College is offering free Spanish classes for local business owners, and a teacher-led “Operation Education” event spotlights a new oral-hygiene curriculum for kids. Local Sports Spotlight: Ty Gibbs won the Iowa Corn 350, while ARCA’s Tristan McKee dominated the JR & CO 150 at Iowa Speedway.

WNBA Culture War in Indiana: The Indiana Fever’s Sophie Cunningham and Chicago Sky’s DiJonai Carrington are locked in a national firestorm after a Flagrant 2 foul and ejection Saturday. Carrington posted “WHITE PRIVILEGE” on Threads/X after the game, while Cunningham said the league is handling it and insisted the incident “has nothing to do with race,” calling the foul “unnecessary” and “intentional.” Fever coach Stephanie White backed the call but argued Carrington didn’t mean to hit Cunningham across the neck. State Health Policy: Indiana is rolling out tools for Healthy Indiana Plan members as new Medicaid work requirements begin Jan. 1, 2027, with reporting tied to qualifying activities and exemptions for many groups. Motorsports: Carson Kvapil kept momentum with a second straight NASCAR O’Reilly Series win at Iowa Speedway after overtime restarts. Sports & Events: LIV Golf’s Jon Rahm clinched a third straight season title, while Joaquin Niemann won LIV Golf New York; IndyCar fans also turned out for the 2026 Grand Prix of Portland at PIR. Local Community: A free “Friends”-themed Franciscan Health event in Munster offers heart health and cancer screening info plus activities.