Dylan Peers McCoy

The State Department reinstates an old font, in a typeface about-face The State Department is swapping out Calibri for Times New Roman in all its official documents, reversing a Biden-era change that aimed to increase accessibility for readers with disabilities.

The State Department is swapping out Calibri for Times New Roman in all its official documents, reversing a Biden-era change that aimed to increase accessibility for readers with disabilities. n.pr/4oSF4cx

This 4-year-old's heart is failing. A federal grant that might help him was canceled A Cornell University researcher has been developing an artificial heart for children for more than 20 years. Now, his research is on hold and his lab is shut down.

A Cornell University researcher has been developing an artificial heart for children for more than 20 years. Now, his research is on hold and his lab is shut down. n.pr/3KIfcSn

Sheridan also told IndyPolitics' Abdul-Hakim Shabazz that Micah Beckwith allegedly "wore *special eyeglasses that surreptitiously recorded videos...*"

What the hell??

via @hayleighcolombo.bsky.social
www.indystar.com/story/news/p...

Woman accusing Hogsett aide of sexual harassment dragged out of Indianapolis council meeting One of three women alleging she was sexually harassed by a former top aide to Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett was forcefully escorted out of a council meeting as she tried to relay her concerns.

The things that men will say to women just never cease to amaze me...

"One deputy told Roberts to 'walk like a lady' before grabbing her to remove her from the room, footage shows."

via Jordan Smith and Hayleigh Colombo
www.indystar.com/story/news/l...

Indiana slashes number of children in state preschool program Indiana substantially expanded programs that pay for child care for low-income families with the help of federal pandemic aid.

Indiana will limit available seats in its state-funded preschool program to 2,500 children next school year — less than half the current enrollment.
www.wfyi.org/news/article...

Episcopal Church refuses to resettle white Afrikaners, citing moral opposition The church said it's terminating a decades-long partnership with the federal government to help refugees arriving in the U.S., citing moral opposition to resettling white Afrikaners from South Africa.

The church said it's terminating a decades-long partnership with the federal government to help refugees arriving in the U.S., citing moral opposition to resettling white Afrikaners from South Africa.

Why some southsiders are concerned about a proposed neighborhood Perry Township residents worry about the potential impacts on an urban forest and wetlands.

If we want *more* housing in Indianapolis, we have to let developers *build* housing... mirrorindy.org/indianapolis...

'Why am I so bad?' Indiana schools suspend tens of thousands of students with disabilities Children who receive special education services were suspended more than twice as often from school as compared to their peers during the last academic year.

If you are following along, this is the story @leevgaines.bsky.social and I were working on when we met Amy. (Amy and G are not in it.)

It focuses on how often students with disabilities are suspended.

www.wfyi.org/news/article...

This is Amy’s story. But it’s also the story of G, a 12-year-old girl who likes gym class, crafting and making slime.

A girl who is scared to be held in a seclusion room at her school.

I’m really glad we found a way to share G’s experience.

I spent the next several weeks talking with Amy as she went through a roller coaster ride, waiting for the U.S. Ed Dept to open an investigation in her local district.

Amy joined a lawsuit last week to force the federal government to act on complaints like hers.

We were reporting on another story at the time. G's experience in seclusion did not fit, and we weren’t sure how to share what she had told us.

Then, Amy told me cuts to the U.S. Education Department had stalled a federal complaint she filed over G’s seclusion at school.

Families say school civil rights investigations have stalled after federal cuts The U.S. Education Department's Office for Civil Rights investigates discrimination in schools. It recently lost more than 40% of its staff.

When @leevgaines.bsky.social and I met Amy and her daughter G, I asked G if there’s anything she doesn’t like at school. Her response was haunting:

"The blue room.... It feels like close spaces, and it's like — it's, like, scary in there."
www.npr.org/2025/04/16/n...

'Enormous harm to children': Caseload limits for DCS quietly chopped in state budget bill The move is raising concerns within the agency and among child welfare advocates.

“A member of the DCS legislative team told IndyStar he was fired Monday after expressing concerns about the elimination of the caseload standards during a meeting at the governor's office last week.”

www.indystar.com/story/news/i...

The ‘China Shock’ Offers a Lesson. It Isn’t the One Trump Has Learned. Economists say the U.S. manufacturing decline in recent decades was not mainly about free trade, but about the pace of change without time to adjust.

This is the most helpful economic story of the week. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/11/b...

Indiana schools suspended students over 30,000 times for fighting last year Last school year about 72,700 public school students, or nearly 7% of those enrolled, experienced out-of-school suspensions.

Read the first in our series on the increase in suspensions. www.wfyi.org/news/article...

But state education leaders have not prioritized the spike in exclusionary discipline. WFYI dug through years of minutes from Indiana State Board of Education meetings, and we found that they have not discussed the post-pandemic rise.

At the same time, teachers are exhausted and many schools are short on crucial staff like special educators.

30K Indiana students were suspended for fighting last year. That's a 20% increase from before the pandemic.

They said that student behavior has gotten worse as kids struggle to manage conflict and handle hard moments. And data appears to back that up: The increase in suspensions was largely driven by a higher number of suspensions for *fighting.*

In a months-long investigation, @leevgaines.bsky.social and I spoke to more than 50 students, teachers, parents, advocates, attorneys and experts about *why* suspensions are up.

Indiana schools suspended students over 30,000 times for fighting last year Last school year about 72,700 public school students, or nearly 7% of those enrolled, experienced out-of-school suspensions.

U.S. schools have seen a lot of signs that students are struggling post-pandemic, from lower test scores to worse attendance. Here's another red flag: In Indiana, Suspensions rose to the highest rate in a decade. @leevgaines.bsky.social @wfyi.bsky.social www.wfyi.org/news/article...

Reporter, ProPublica-Texas Tribune Initiative Austin, Texas, United States; Regions

We're looking for a Texas-based reporter to join our joint investigative newsroom with the Texas Tribune. You would be working with both @propublica.org and @texastribune.org to investigate abuses of power and trust in the public interest. #journalism job-boards.greenhouse.io/propublica/j...

He Gave a Name to What Many Christians Feel And the feeling isn’t good. Aaron Renn has gained a following by warning that the U.S. is currently a “negative world” for Christianity.

I cannot stop thinking about this article about a Christian influencer who says Carmel, Ind. has “diversity that works."

This is a city where 76% of people are non-Hispanic White and 75% have college degrees. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/06/u...

Can we please stop pretending that "asynchronous" pre-k is a thing?

YouTube video by ProPublica How DOGE Cuts to the IRS Could Cost More Than DOGE Will Ever Save

A 2024 GAO report found the IRS netted a savings of $13,000 for every additional hour spent auditing wealthy individuals’ tax returns.

Watch reporter @andykroll.bsky.social break down how DOGE cuts to the IRS could cost more than DOGE will ever save ⤵️

📽️: @josesepulveda.bsky.social

Eastsiders hope to guide Devington Plaza redevelopment New York-based Skysoar withdrew a proposal to build a large apartment complex.

I don't know any of the details of the planned apartment building. But if we want housing to be cheaper, we have to make it easier to build housing. There cannot be this many barriers. mirrorindy.org/devington-pl...

Political operative's role in IPS school board election filing still leaves unanswered questions Peter Luster. who leads government affairs for the education advocacy group RISE Indy, filled out paperwork for an IPS school board candidate who was removed from the ballot in the 2024 election.

Political operative Peter Luster said he was excited to help collect signatures for his friend Terrencio Davis to run for school board.

There was just one problem: Davis did not live in the school district where he planned to run.

via @wfyi.bsky.social

www.wfyi.org/news/article...

Julian Center to open a second Thrifty Threads store The shop and donation center in Castleton will open March 7.

As a Thrifty Threads loyalist, I am excited by this news
mirrorindy.org/julian-cente...

I am a reporter with WFYI, the NPR station in Indianapolis. I am interested in talking to families whose children have been repeatedly sent home from school without being suspended. You can find me at dmccoy@wfyi.org or 508-259-4809. I am happy to talk to people anonymously as well.

DOGE's death blow to education studies Researchers say students and schools will suffer without vital data

"Professor Sarah Powell said the American Institutes for Research told her to cease working on two guides for math teachers on evidence-based ways to teach STEM topics." Also one on combating chronic absenteeism.

hechingerreport.org/proof-points...