Known for hosting Final Fours and legendary auto races, Indianapolis continues to solidify its status as a national sports hub.

But as the city gears up for a packed 2025 calendar, including the WNBA All-Star Game, leaders say the sports scene is doing more than drawing crowds. It’s also paving new paths for young women.

WISH-TV contributor and former NFL player Emil Ekiyor joined News 8 at 5 p.m. Wednesday for a conversation, speaking about an initiative aimed at empowering the next generation of female leaders through sports.

Ekiyor said the timing aligns perfectly with broader national conversations about women’s sports and representation in leadership roles.

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As Indiana’s legislative session nears its end, environmental advocates are taking stock of the impact new policies may have on the state’s air, land, and water. With Earth Month underway, the focus is shifting to how state lawmakers’ decisions will affect Hoosiers and the environment in the years to come.

Sam Carpenter, executive director of the Hoosier Environmental Council, joined News 8’s Wednesday Midday newscast for a conversation, and to weigh in on the legislature’s performance.

An executive order from Gov. Mike Braun aims to recover rare earth elements from coal, a move Braun said was driven by a desire to reduce dependence on China for these critical materials used in smartphones, electric vehicles, and other technologies.

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An urgent situation is unfolding across Marion County as thousands of high school seniors prepare to graduate in just two months, raising questions about what comes next for the Class of 2025, and for the broader community, as a result. WISH-TV contributor Emil Ekiyor, who is also the CEO of InnoPower, noted that many students are at a crossroads, unsure of their next steps after graduation.

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Sparking discussion to ignite change, that’s the goal of the Indiana Youth Institute’s 2025 Kids Count Data Book.

The data, released in mid-February at the Statehouse, outlines trends affecting kids in Indiana. From health and education to economic stability and family support, the report paints a detailed picture of what life looks like for Hoosier kids.

The report ranks Indiana 27th in the United States for overall child well-being.

The data also found, in Marion County, that access to exercise opportunities is at 91% compared to 76% statewide.

The report also saw a decrease in substance abuse for students in grades 7-12.

But, Marion County’s youths still face challenges. One of the biggest is mental health, a problem that increased during the pandemic.

Indiana Youth Institute plans to travel to other regions of Indiana to present local data about kids to community leaders and advocates.

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A new facility opening in Indianapolis is offering a different kind of support for children with autism.

UNIFI Autism Care is putting the finishing touches on a new facility in Indianapolis, introducing what they call a “whole-child approach” that goes beyond traditional therapy.

The facility will bring together doctors, therapists, educators and other healthcare providers.

The new center will be opening in Broad Ripple. UNIFI has two other locations in Evansville and South Bend.

UNIFI Autism Care is expected to open its doors in May.

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Join WISH-TV in celebrating Women's History month! Hear the Celebrating Women's History special brought to you by McDonald's and Lilly: A Medicine Company..

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Ruth E. Carter is a two-time academy award-winning costume designer whose creativity and talent have left an incredible mark in the film industry.

From the African-inspired designs of “Black Panther” to the symbolism behind the costumes in “Malcolm X,” each piece is a testament to Carter’s skill at blending history, culture, and storytelling.

During an exhibition of her costumes at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, she said, “It’s amazing to me because each one is a different time in my life, and now they’re all here together.”

Carter’s journey to success started when she auditioned for an acting role but didn’t get the part. She was asked to design the costumes instead, and her passion grew. “Quickly, I realized that I could play all the characters, not just one. That I was able to do a character discovery, a deep dive into the intricoes of each of the characters and bring the characters to life amongst all of them.”

“Each one of these pieces here, they represent some passion that I had. I made lots of decisions on each one of these costumes.”

As Carter sees it, making costumes became a new way of exploring art, photography, textures and design. “I can recreate this in a medium that tells the story of them. I see their story, I see behind their eyes and who they are, and it just fascinates me.”

Her work is featured in many popular TV shows and films including, “Coming to America,” “Selma,” “Roots,” “Rosewood,” and “Wakanda Forever.” Carter came to Indianapolis during the past weekend for the debut of her exhibition at the Children’s Museum and for a panel discussion at the Madam Walker Legacy Center.

For young women or people of color who aspire to Carter’s career, she says, it’s important to know that it’s a passion career and not always glamorous, but it’s key to be excited about one’s own individual path. “You have to be a student of your passion and you have to stay the course. You learn so much even from your mistakes. There is no such thing as a mistake. It is sometimes difficult, but that just means you have to push yourself.”

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The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department celebrated the women who helped build their department on Saturday, while recruiting the next generation.

Less than 200 IMPD officers are women, making up only 14% of its force. The department hopes to see both numbers skyrocket in coming years.

The event brought the hopefuls behind the badge with information on the department’s training process, the officers’ personal stories and what it takes to be in law enforcement today. The event also featured an optional fitness test.

The event was part of the nationwide 30×30 Initiative. IMPD is joining to help increase the number of women in police recruiting classes to 30% by 2030.

It comes as IMPD has seen decreasing recruiting class sizes in recent years.

As of March 1, the department had 1,440 sworn officers. That’s 300 short of its target staffing.

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