A new vending machine provides free emergency contraception on the near east side of Indianapolis, as part of a collaboration between Indiana reproductive justice groups and a local business.

On the near east side of Indianapolis, Brookside School 54 students squared off in a competition against a chef on Thursday to see who could make the tastiest nutritious snack. It’s part of a partnership between the Indianapolis Public Schools district and insurance company Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield to provide cooking and nutrition education.

A redevelopment plan was unveiled Tuesday for Sherman Park, an abandoned 50-acre lot that was once the site of the RCA plant on Indianapolis' near-east side.

When Andy Austin bought his house on the near-east side, it was abandoned and falling apart. Its restoration is part of a project to turn the city's vacant properties into affordable housing.

Near East Area Renewal plans to lead the development of 21 three-bedroom homes on the near east side of Indianapolis, all located near North Rural Street.

The project is backed by private companies like State Farm, the city of Indianapolis, and the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.

A new study will analyze the location of the demolished RCA plant, and high levels of contamination could make residential projects expensive.

A series of public input meetings about the redevelopment starts August 1 at the John H. Boner Community Center.

One local group getting federal money is the John H. Boner Community Center - they'll get $585,000.

The 50-acre site around the plant is called Sherman Park. It's one of a few the city is considering to be the home of a new justice center.