Back to: WFYI News Now

Indy 500 Winner "Parnelli" Jones Dies, Addressing the Lack of Affordable Childcare, Food Insecurity Worsened in 2023, Experts' Concern About Bird Flu Virus

Indy 500 Winner "Parnelli" Jones Dies, Addressing the Lack of Affordable Childcare, Food Insecurity Worsened in 2023, Experts' Concern About Bird Flu Virus

June 06, 2024

Rufus Parnell Jones, the 1963 Indianapolis 500 winner, died Tuesday at Torrance Memorial Medical Center after a battle with Parkinson's disease. For every 100 job openings in Indiana, there are only 72 workers available to fill those roles – experts say one possible reason is the lack of affordable and accessible childcare. Food insecurity increased for the second straight year in 2023, according to researchers. Bird Flu has been found in dairy cows for the first time across nine states, some in the Midwest.

Want to go deeper on the stories you hear on WFYI News Now? Visit wfyi.org/news and follow us on social media to get comprehensive analysis and local news daily. Subscribe to WFYI News Now wherever you get your podcasts.

Today's episode of WFYI News Now was produced by Abriana Herron, Drew Daudelin and Kendall Antron with support from News Director Sarah Neal-Estes.

Listen

Shooting In Downtown Indy Lounge, Dem Speaks To Constituents About Redistricting, SNAP Benefits At Risk For Hoosiers, Local Non-Profit Launches Community Composting Effort
Listen
Shooting In Downtown Indy Lounge, Dem Speaks To Constituents About Redistricting, SNAP Benefits At Risk For Hoosiers, Local Non-Profit Launches Community Composting Effort
November 3, 2025

Indianapolis News: Local non-profit Soul Food Project recently launched a community…...

IU Reverses Course On Daily Student Newspaper, 98th Annual FFA Convention In Indy, New Resource for Unhoused Hoosiers, Indiana Economic Forecast
Listen
IU Reverses Course On Daily Student Newspaper, 98th Annual FFA Convention In Indy, New Resource for Unhoused Hoosiers, Indiana Economic Forecast
October 31, 2025

Indianapolis News: Tariffs, immigration and the government shutdown have created a…...

IMPD Has Halloween Recommendations, Hospital Uses Delivery Robots, National FFA Convention Remains in Indy, IN New Child Care Voucher Freeze Continues to 2026
Listen
IMPD Has Halloween Recommendations, Hospital Uses Delivery Robots, National FFA Convention Remains in Indy, IN New Child Care Voucher Freeze Continues to 2026
October 30, 2025

Indianapolis News: Indiana stopped giving new child care vouchers last year amid a funding…...

Stolen Indy Zoo Tortoises Returned, Purdue’s Earhart Expedition Delayed, IN Lt. Gov. Steps Into Local School Property Tax Issue, IN’s Monthly Employment Report Delayed Due To Govt. Shutdown
Listen
Stolen Indy Zoo Tortoises Returned, Purdue’s Earhart Expedition Delayed, IN Lt. Gov. Steps Into Local School Property Tax Issue, IN’s Monthly Employment Report Delayed Due To Govt. Shutdown
October 29, 2025

Indianapolis News: Indiana’s monthly employment report was delayed this month due to...

Two Stolen From Indy Zoo, IMPD Releases Initial 5-Year Strategic Plan Draft, Religious Leaders Gathered Outside Miami Correctional, Dems Respond To Redistricting Special Session
Listen
Two Stolen From Indy Zoo, IMPD Releases Initial 5-Year Strategic Plan Draft, Religious Leaders Gathered Outside Miami Correctional, Dems Respond To Redistricting Special Session
October 28, 2025

Indianapolis News: Governor Mike Braun has called for a special legislative session to consider…...

Gov. Braun Calls Session to Redraw Indiana's Maps, Energy Bill Program No Longer Using 211, State Fair Leader Retires, Hamilton County Crisis Center Opens
Listen
Gov. Braun Calls Session to Redraw Indiana's Maps, Energy Bill Program No Longer Using 211, State Fair Leader Retires, Hamilton County Crisis Center Opens
October 27, 2025

Indianapolis News: A new behavioral health crisis center is open for Hamilton County residents…...

First IN HS Girls Flag Football Champion, Mitch Daniels Opposes Mid-Cycle Redistricting, 2nd Comment Period FOr BMV Gender Marker Rule, New Google Data Center Power Usage
Listen
First IN HS Girls Flag Football Champion, Mitch Daniels Opposes Mid-Cycle Redistricting, 2nd Comment Period FOr BMV Gender Marker Rule, New Google Data Center Power Usage
October 24, 2025

Indianapolis News: A new Google data center planned for rural Indiana could use as much power…...

Nickel Plate Trail Section Complete, Some Downtown Indy Become Two-Way, State-Approved Program Changes How Indy Schools Share Resources, Clinton County EMS’s New Breathing Tech
Listen
Nickel Plate Trail Section Complete, Some Downtown Indy Become Two-Way, State-Approved Program Changes How Indy Schools Share Resources, Clinton County EMS’s New Breathing Tech
October 23, 2025

Indianapolis News: Emergency Medical Services in Clinton County says it's the first EMS agency…...

Abby Care Opens New Indy Office, No Indiana Teachers Lost Licenses Over Kirk Comments, Gleaners Offers Free Food To Government Workers Amid Shutdown, Tucker Carlson Visits IU
Listen
Abby Care Opens New Indy Office, No Indiana Teachers Lost Licenses Over Kirk Comments, Gleaners Offers Free Food To Government Workers Amid Shutdown, Tucker Carlson Visits IU
October 22, 2025

Indianapolis News: Conservative media personality Tucker Carlson spoke to a full house at the...

Carmel Christkindlmarkt Will Offer New Shuttle Service, Bipartisan Push Against AES Price Increase, IBLC Urge GOP Colleagues Against Redistricting, Joint Investigation Into Hogsett Admin
Listen
Carmel Christkindlmarkt Will Offer New Shuttle Service, Bipartisan Push Against AES Price Increase, IBLC Urge GOP Colleagues Against Redistricting, Joint Investigation Into Hogsett Admin
October 21, 2025

Indianapolis News: A joint investigation by Indy Star and Mirror Indy reveals Mayor Joe Hogsett’s…...

AES Indiana Reaches Tentative Settlement With Indy, Purdue Exponent Travels To IU In Support Of Student Newspaper, Northeast Side Park Gets Improvements, No Kings 2.0 Protest In Indy
Listen
AES Indiana Reaches Tentative Settlement With Indy, Purdue Exponent Travels To IU In Support Of Student Newspaper, Northeast Side Park Gets Improvements, No Kings 2.0 Protest In Indy
October 20, 2025

Indianapolis News: Thousands of people gathered on the south lawn of the Indiana Statehouse…...

Southside Park Reopens After Renovation, Indy Airport Declines To Show Partisan Video, Hoosiers Dissatisfied With Major Political Parties, IN Communities Push Back On Data Centers
Listen
Southside Park Reopens After Renovation, Indy Airport Declines To Show Partisan Video, Hoosiers Dissatisfied With Major Political Parties, IN Communities Push Back On Data Centers
October 17, 2025

Indianapolis News: Indiana is at the center of a data center boom, with billions of dollars...

Public College and University Incentives, Tom Homan's Visit to Indy, Union Contract for Marion County Public Defenders, IU Fires Adviser of Student Media and Stops Printing Daily Student
Listen
Public College and University Incentives, Tom Homan's Visit to Indy, Union Contract for Marion County Public Defenders, IU Fires Adviser of Student Media and Stops Printing Daily Student
October 16, 2025

Indianapolis News: Indiana rewards its public colleges and universities for outcomes such as…...

Free Leadership Summit for Young Women, Purdue Expands Footprint in Indianapolis, Groups Gather to Discuss Immigration Enforcement, Data Center Protest in Martindale Brightwood
Listen
Free Leadership Summit for Young Women, Purdue Expands Footprint in Indianapolis, Groups Gather to Discuss Immigration Enforcement, Data Center Protest in Martindale Brightwood
October 15, 2025

Indianapolis News: Local nonprofit HOPS Heart of Charity, HOPS stands for Helping Other…...

Mark Sanchez Booked Over Weekend, Indy Animal Care Services Offers New Program, Key Section Of Rail-To-Trail Project Complete, One in Five Indiana Residents Have Medical Debt In Collections
Listen
Mark Sanchez Booked Over Weekend, Indy Animal Care Services Offers New Program, Key Section Of Rail-To-Trail Project Complete, One in Five Indiana Residents Have Medical Debt In Collections
October 14, 2025

Indianapolis News: Roughly one in five Indiana residents has medical debt that is currently...

DigIndy Construction Complete, Protest Against Child Care Funding Cuts, VP JD Vance Meets With Republican State Senators About Redistricting, Ten Years Of WFYI's Small Studio Sessions
Listen
DigIndy Construction Complete, Protest Against Child Care Funding Cuts, VP JD Vance Meets With Republican State Senators About Redistricting, Ten Years Of WFYI's Small Studio Sessions
October 13, 2025

Indianapolis News: For 10 years, WFYI’s Small Studio Sessions has been a stage where...

Indy Airport Loses Grant for Solar Farm, Disabled Artist Recognized for Resilience, Free Watch Party for Indianapolis Colts, What We Learned from Survey of Indiana Pride Organizations
Listen
Indy Airport Loses Grant for Solar Farm, Disabled Artist Recognized for Resilience, Free Watch Party for Indianapolis Colts, What We Learned from Survey of Indiana Pride Organizations
October 10, 2025

Indianapolis News: The Indianapolis Airport has lost grant funding for renewable energy at...

Indy Leaders Want AES To Withdraw Plan For Higher Rates, When Could IN Lawmakers Address Redistricting, IN Colleges Lose Outcome-Based Funding, Increase In Average Hoosier Wage
Listen
Indy Leaders Want AES To Withdraw Plan For Higher Rates, When Could IN Lawmakers Address Redistricting, IN Colleges Lose Outcome-Based Funding, Increase In Average Hoosier Wage
October 9, 2025

Indianapolis News: The average wage for Hoosiers has increased over the last nine months…...

> View All Audio