Two women - both moms, both veterans and both aspiring lawyers - found connection through a new coaching program at IU Indy for transfer students. “I felt like I was just talking to a big sister,” said mentee Kaylee Lewis. Read more here @mirrorindy.org mirrorindy.org/indiana-univ...

The city is launching a program to give 100 families $20K over the course of their birth journeys — no strings attached. mirrorindy.org/indianapolis...

The Wayne Township who rules on eviction cases defended himself from social media critics during a meeting last week. He printed off orders from 87 cases. "The orders speak for themselves." It all started with a post on Facebook from @mrwildstyle.bsky.social mirrorindy.org/wayne-townsh...

The Nehemiah Project at New Direction Church is opening doors for young adults who’ve faced barriers to employment. The 16-week construction training program also teaches leadership and financial literacy: https://bit.ly/47nTPgX

At New Direction Church, students are exploring construction and learning about the trades. Church staff hope this opens up opportunities. But they also hope investing in students will lead to a revitalization of their eastside neighborhood. More: mirrorindy.org/nehemiah-pro...

Seniors who were part of the federally funded SCSEP program are out of work because of funding freezes from the Trump administration. There are about 272 positions funded through this program. ✍️ @clairerafford.bsky.social discusses the impact this has on seniors: mirrorindy.org/senior-commu...

Seniors have been out of work for months after the Trump administration withheld funding for the program that employed them. It's unclear when they'll be able to go back to work - or if the govt will continue to fund the program. Read more here - mirrorindy.org/senior-commu...

Antivaxx lies + irrational cruel cuts = > deaths. Cervical cancer could be eradicated. But not with Medicaid cuts and anti-vax politics. 19thnews.org/2025/10/cerv... via @19thnews.org RFK Jr "has made false statements about the HPV vaccine’s safety and effectiveness..."

This is a first for me: Indy’s council president said he’d rather wait to see what’s in our subsequent stories before deciding what to do. mirrorindy.org/indianapolis...

News: Purdue University will buy 2 apartment buildings on the canal to use for student housing. One of them is Canal Square Apartments, the other 501 Indiana Ave. Story @mirrorindy.org mirrorindy.org/purdue-unive...

Indiana redistricting! You asked, we answered. mirrorindy.org/indiana-redi...

As Purdue in Indy’s acceptance rate decreases, private colleges have been adding engineering programs to give Indy students more options. ✍️ @clairerafford.bsky.social talked to people at Marian University, Butler University and UIndy about how this impacts Indy students: https://bit.ly/4h86w44

90% of Indy Achieves students finish college. The city requested $2M in the 2026 city budget to continue that work. @mirrorindy.org @indydocumenters.bsky.social mirrorindy.org/indy-achieve...

A decade ago, IUPUI was the only engineering program in the city. Next fall, there will be 4 - including the newly renamed Purdue in Indy. Read about how these newer programs are changing the landscape here: mirrorindy.org/purdue-india...

Next week will be Chris Lowery's last as Indiana's top higher ed leader. In an exit interview for @mirrorindy.org I chatted with him about his accomplishments, the challenges that still remain and where the state's headed: mirrorindy.org/chris-lowery...

International student enrollment is down at IU Indy by 28% this fall, reflecting a national trend tied to stricter visa policies that began under Trump in spring. ✍️ @clairerafford.bsky.social broke down what this means for the city: https://bit.ly/4q1F3Fg

Big news from @davebangert.bsky.social - the Trump administration revoked a $35M grant that supported low-income students, citing diversity language as the reason. The grant helped students in six Indy middle and high schools, including Arsenal Tech. www.basedinlafayette.com/p/us-dept-of...

Big news from @davebangert.bsky.social - the Trump administration revoked a $35M grant that supported low-income students, citing diversity language as the reason. The grant helped students in six Indy middle and high schools, including Arsenal Tech. www.basedinlafayette.com/p/us-dept-of...

I’m sorry, a young Black man was found hanging—from a tree—and authorities said they had no reason to suspect foul play?

Don’t look now, it’s financial aid application season. 🫣 Get help with your college financial aid application this fall @clairerafford.bsky.social mirrorindy.org/fafsa-help-c...

A small-scale data center in Martindale Brightwood? A company has bought 13 acres for that purpose, @taylorwooten.bsky.social reports (paywall) www.ibj.com/articles/unk...

@enriquesaenz.bsky.social finds the best stories about Indy history. His latest is about Flanner House Homes, a complex built on the westside by Black veterans in the 50s. Read more here @mirrorindy.org mirrorindy.org/indianapolis...

After five and a half years as Martin University’s president, Sean Huddleston will step down in November. Under his leadership, the school launched Martin Works, a workforce initiative connecting employers to students. Read more below: https://bit.ly/460AUcz

A year after the IUPUI split, stidents are largely taking it in stride. But there have been a few hiccups, including for one student who had to push back her graduation date. @clairerafford.bsky.social 📸: Doug McSchooler for @mirrorindy.org mirrorindy.org/iupui-split-...

I love this story from @clairerafford.bsky.social that asks students what they think of the IUPUI split one year in. For some, little has changed. Others have had to reconfigure schedules and take classes in other places to graduate on time. See what students think: mirrorindy.org/iupui-split-...

🧵 What’s it like to work in Mayor Joe Hogsett’s administration? Mirror Indy government reporter Peter Blanchard talked to a dozen current and former employees. Many described a “culture of fear” inside the City-County Building. Some said they were yelled at often. 1/

Just sharing this book recommendation today for no reason at all bookshop.org/p/books/some...

The hardest thing about the past few weeks was not being able to tell every single person I spoke to about my new position as the Women & Girls Reporter for Free Press Indiana. But now I can 😊

Ashley C. Ford (@smashfizzle.bsky.social‬) will join Free Press Indiana, Mirror Indy’s support organization, as its women & girls reporter. Ashley will travel the state to meet women and girls and learn about the changes they’re creating, the barriers they’re facing. Stay tuned.

Over 110,000 Hoosiers over the age of 65 have Alzheimer’s disease, a form of dementia that causes memory loss and impairs judgement. You can learn about the disease, risk factors and approved treatments at a workshop on the west side Sept. 5. Register below. https://bit.ly/3VqMxn0

Hello BlueSky! I'm trying to get better about sharing stories on here. So here's one I just wrote that I'm really proud of. It's all about Indy's first college triathlon team ahead of the start of their second season. Give it a read (and check out the photos!) mirrorindy.org/university-i...

📽️ TOMORROW at Kan-Kan Cinema 📽️ Join us for a screening of 'Before a Breath,' which follows three women trying to make pregnancy safer after experiencing stillbirth. We'll be joined by investigative reporter Duaa Eldeib. #Indianapolis #HoosierSky www.goelevent.com/Kan-KanCinem...

Just 51.7% of Indiana high school grads went to college in 2023, according to the state Commission for Higher Education. This is the lowest rate since at least 2008, when the state started tracking how many HS students went on to higher ed. (🧵) www.in.gov/che/college-...

Some background: I originally pitched this story months ago as a feature. There aren't many education or workforce programs for seniors, and I thought it was interesting. But news has been newsing, so the story took a backseat until a few weeks ago.

New: Workforce officials recently learned that Jobs for America's Graduates, a successful dropout prevention program for at risk high schoolers, would not receive any state funding. That's an 85% cut from JAG's 2024 budget. Read more here: mirrorindy.org/indiana-jag-...

I’m in Bloomington for the IU board of trustees meeting. It’s the first since Gov. Braun removed alumni elected trustees and appointed 3 new trustees to the board — Sage Steele, Jim Bopp and Brian Eagle. indiana.sharepoint.com/:w:/r/sites/...

Indiana University Indianapolis recently removed two prominent signs that read “Black Lives Matter” and “Discrimination has no place here” from its campus in what appears to be compliance with federal and state anti-DEI policies. By @clairerafford.bsky.social www.opencampus.org/2025/05/28/i...

New from me. IU Indy recently removed a double sided banner that said “Black Lives Matter” and “Discrimination has no place here” from its downtown campus. It was put up in 2020. The university did not respond to questions. mirrorindy.org/indiana-univ...

Amid political pressure, IU Indianapolis has closed an office that was responsible for running the multicultural center, LGBTQ center, and the university's disability services center. #Indianapolis @clairerafford.bsky.social mirrorindy.org/indiana-univ...

Higher ed reporter @clairerafford.bsky.social has also been tracking university websites. She found that IU's school of medicine took down or altered dozens of websites related to the college's DEI and health equity programs. #Indianapolis mirrorindy.org/indiana-univ...

Been too busy to post lately but breaking news out of IU yesterday - the university closed its DEI office. In Indy, the DEI division housed the multicultural, LGBTQ and disability services centers. It's unclear what will happen to these programs. mirrorindy.org/indiana-univ...

When college-educated immigrants come to the U.S., they often face barriers to employment - especially in the fields they're trained in. That's why a new Wayne Township program is helping immigrant teachers become licensed in Indiana. mirrorindy.org/wayne-townsh...

Update: Chancellor Latha Ramchand announced at a faculty council meeting that all IU Indy students whose visas were revoked have had them restored. mirrorindy.org/seo-slug-ind...

Ivy Tech announced this week it won't offer free college classes to high schoolers this summer due to "a challenging fiscal environment." If you or your student was planning to participate, I'd love to talk to you for a story. Contact info in bio 📨 www.wrtv.com/news/local-n...

I am so honored to have been recognized with a National Headliner Award. My coverage of a Virginian PAC lobbying against a downtown tax district, ShotSpotter devices found on the east side and factchecking a lawmaker on his Blue Line claims won this distinction. www.headlinerawards.org/2025-online/

I've been covering the Trump administration's impact on higher ed for 3+ months, so I knew broadly that his policies have had an impact locally when @emilyhopkins.bsky.social pitched this story. But seeing it all written out is overwhelming. mirrorindy.org/indianapolis...

Breaking news: Ivy Tech announced its new president - Dr. Martin Pollio, who is head of Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville. Story to come.

Butler pres signs letter criticizing Trump administration’s ‘overreach’ He was one of just 3 Indiana college leaders to sign, incl. Rev. Dowd at Notre Dame and Katie Conboy from SMC. mirrorindy.org/butler-unive...

This story continues to evolve, but here's some local coverage of how Purdue and IU responded to the Trump administration revoking student visas. #Indianapolis #HoosierSky @clairerafford.bsky.social mirrorindy.org/purdue-iu-in...

In recent days, Purdue and IU have released more details of their plans to help international students navigating federal immigration policy and visa revocations. Read more here: mirrorindy.org/purdue-iu-in...