Timoria Cunningham

A new program is aimed at addressing mental instability among Indiana students. And youth advocates hope the program could also reduce teacher turnover.

Advocates say a mental wellness program could help students and reduce teacher turnover

Timoria Cunningham

The Resilience Project began in September and helps teachers recognize student behavioral patterns that could have a negative impact on the classroom.

Teacher turnover has gone up in recent years, said Liz Coit, president of the Marion County Commission on Youth. She said raising wages could give teachers a better quality of life and help schools across the state attract new talent to fill open positions.

Education

Advocates: Better pay, mental wellness programs would help Indiana attract and retain teachers

Timoria Cunningham

The average salary for teachers in Indiana is over $60,000, according to last year's teacher compensation report. Although teacher pay is up from previous years, the state still pays less than most others.

A family's access to things like transportation, employment, child care and housing plays an important role in the well-being of children, said MCCOY's president Liz Coit.

Statewide

Youth advocacy group urges state to invest in affordable housing for the well-being of children

Timoria Cunningham

A central Indiana youth advocacy group wants the state to invest in more affordable housing for Hoosier families. The Marion County Commission on Youth said lack of housing and other basic needs can cause a negative domino effect for children.

Health

Black infants are dying at a high rate in Indiana. Here's what an expert has to say

Timoria Cunningham

Indiana's infant mortality rate was at a historic low last year, according to the Indiana Department of Health.

Rep. Chris Campbell (D-West Lafayette) said she plans to reintroduce the bill because bullying is a key issue facing students and schools.

Statewide

Lawmaker plans to re-introduce a bullying, suicide prevention bill during the session

Timoria Cunningham

Indiana schools would need to notify parents if their child was a victim of bullying, or expressing suicidal thoughts, under a bill one House lawmaker plans to reintroduce during the legislative session.

People involved with the criminal justice system can have trouble getting a state ID. This can make finding work and housing nearly impossible — sometimes putting them back in the same situations that led to their incarceration in the first place.

Statewide

What contributes to Indiana's recidivism rate? Here's what an expert had to say

Timoria Cunningham

More than 36 percent of people released from prison return within three years, according to the Indiana Department of Correction. Issues like finding work and housing, substance use and lack of outside support contribute to the state's recidivism rate.

Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute Director Erin Macey said early parenthood can be challenging and expensive — especially for parents who work.

Statewide

Advocate prioritizes expanded child care access for Hoosiers before the upcoming legislative session

Timoria Cunningham

Access to affordable child care remains an ongoing issue in the state. Advocates hope they have more success addressing the problem in this upcoming Indiana legislative session.

Tax credits that helped to lower premiums under the Affordable Care Act are set to expire this year.

Health

With tax credits set to expire, Hoosiers could face higher Affordable Care Act premiums

Timoria Cunningham

Hoosiers that get their health insurance through the federal healthcare marketplace could see their premiums go up significantly. Tax credits that helped to lower premiums under the Affordable Care Act are set to expire this year.

The one-day event allows students to get hands-on experience using tools and equipment as well as meet with industry professionals and employers across Indiana.

Statewide

Construction professionals host trades day event to tackle industry shortage

Timoria Cunningham

Indiana needs more than a thousand new construction workers by next year to address a labor shortage within the industry. That's according to the Indiana Construction Roundtable Foundation. Indiana Trades Day aims to give high school students a chance to learn about careers in construction.

The Evansville Rescue Mission's Kyle Gorman said there has been a slight increase in people using the mission's services since the government shutdown. But with SNAP benefits scheduled to pause, they expect more people will need help finding food. Gorman said they're preparing now to meet that need.

Local News

A rescue mission prepares for SNAP benefit pause amidst government shutdown

Timoria Cunningham

More than half a million Hoosiers rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. But those benefits are set to lapse on Nov. 1 due to the government shutdown.