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USA Today
2 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Colts' rookie, not named Tyler Warren, gets key opportunity on Day 1 of training camp
A Colts' rookie, not named Tyler Warren, got a key opportunity on Day 1 of training camp to work with the starters. It shouldn't come as a major surprise, given how offseason programs unfolded, but Indianapolis Colts' rookie cornerback Justin Walley was running with the ones during the first training camp practice, taking reps opposite of Charvarius Ward. "Well, he's a pretty damn good player," Shane Steichen said after practice. "He did some really good things in the spring, so he's going to compete at that spot." The reason that I say this shouldn't come as a surprise is because throughout OTAs and minicamp, Walley received a lot of high praise from both coaches and teammates for his play. A third-round pick by the Colts, Walley is a bit undersized, but hyper competitive and brings great speed to the position. His ability to play in man coverages, ball production, along with the Colts' viewing him as a versatile defender, make him a very good fit for Lou Anarumo's defensive scheme. 'That's a good thing for him, a good thing for us,' Ward said, via the Indy Star. 'He's balling as a young guy, he's only going to get better with more reps.' As GM Chris Ballard outlined on Tuesday, Walley, along with Jaylon Jones and JuJu Brents, are competing for that starting spot. Ultimately, as Anarumo described earlier this offseason, he is looking for consistency.
USA Today
3 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Anthony Richardson, Daniel Jones on Colts' QB competition after Day 1 of training camp
Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones discussed the Colts' QB competition after the first training camp practice. Following the Indianapolis Colts' first training camp practice, head coach Shane Steichen mentioned that he sat down with both Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones, laying out what he's looking for in this competition and what the next month of practices and games will look like. In short, Steichen--as he has said all offseason--is searching for consistency at the game's most important position. To see who can best provide that, Richardson and Jones will be splitting first-team reps, as they did during Wednesday's practice. "I think just performing at a high level and showing consistency," Jones said, via "My preparation, consistency on the field and my performance. It's a long process, and focusing on kind of what I'm doing day to day I think is the best way to go about it, so that's what I'm focused on." With Richardson sidelined during most of OTAs and minicamp, Jones was able to take the bulk of the first-team reps at that time. While his performance in May and June won't earn him the starting job, Steichen did say during minicamp that he was "very pleased" with Jones' performance. Richardson took some time off to let his shoulder rest, but has been throwing the last several weeks, as GM Chris Ballard mentioned on Tuesday. Steichen didn't say that Richardson was behind entering training after missing those reps in OTAs and minicamp, but did mention that urgency--from both Richardson and Jones--is needed. 'When it comes to competition, of course I'm competing with Daniel, but I'm also competing with myself," Richardson said, via the Indy Star. "Trying to be a better version of myself than I was last year." Although he's practicing, Richardson is still on a volume restriction for the time being. In order not to impact the competition and to make sure both quarterbacks get equal first-team reps, that rest period for Richardson will come during the individual portions of practice. A priority for Richardson this offseason has been on his footwork to become more accurate on those short to intermediate throws. For a quarterback, that is where accuracy and fundamentally sound mechanics often begin. "It's just loving the process," Richardson said. "These past two years, I've definitely tried to embrace that a little bit more. Everybody wants success, right here, right now. I feel like sometimes when you get success it's not really all what it seems. The process is really the best thing. That's really what I'm trying to enjoy now."
USA Today
4 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Colts' free agent signee stands out on Day 1 of training camp
One of the Colts' free agent signees was able to stand out during the team's first training camp practice. Indianapolis Colts' free agent signee, cornerback Charvarius Ward, impressed during the team's first training camp practice. "Very impressed," Shane Steichen said of Ward, via Locked on Colts. "Great signing by Chris (Ballard) to get him on this football team. You saw how sticky he was and the plays he made. I don't know how many he made today, but he made a ton. Great to have him out there." According to the Indy Star's Joel Erickson, two of the plays that Ward made in practice were pass breakups against Alec Pierce on a deep route and then against Michael Pittman. This offseason, the Colts signed Ward to a three-year, $54 million free agent deal. He joins the Colts one year removed from an All-Pro season in 2023. That year, Ward had five interceptions, 17 pass breakups, and allowed a completion rate of just 54%, per PFF. Beyond the production, Ward brings winning experience to the Colts defense--something this team doesn't have a lot of--having played in two Super Bowls, winning one of them. He's also a great fit for Lou Anarumo's defensive system, with his ability to play on an island and match up with a variety of wide receiver skill sets. "It's go time," Ward said via Locked on Colts after practice. "It's training camp time. It isn't time to be eased into anything right now. I'm getting ready for the season. We're getting ready for a long run, hopefully to make the playoffs. We all in, 10 toes deep right now." Ward, along with Cam Bynum and Anarumo calling the plays, will play a key role in turning this Colts' secondary around this season. A year ago, the Colts ranked in the bottom third of the NFL in passer rating, completion rate, pass deflections, and yards per pass attempt allowed.
Indianapolis Star
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Indianapolis Star
These Hamilton County cities could be getting their own ZIP codes. Here's why
Carmel, Noblesville and Westfield could get their own ZIP codes if federal legislation becomes law. Bill 3095, sponsored by Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, passed the U.S. House of Representatives on July 21 and will next be sent to the U.S. Senate. The legislation has bipartisan support and would direct the U.S. Postal Service to designate unique ZIP codes for 74 communities across the country. Communities in more than 20 states will get their own ZIP codes if the bill becomes law, including the Hamilton County cities as well as Zionsville in Boone County. Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam said she supports the legislation. 'Having multiple ZIP codes in our area creates confusion for residents and homebuyers,' Finkam said in a statement to IndyStar. 'For example, people purchase homes with Carmel addresses, assuming they are within the Carmel city limits and school district, only to later learn that's not the case.' Carmel currently has six ZIP codes, while Noblesville and Westfield have three, according to the U.S. Postal Service. 'I support an effort to establish a single ZIP code that reflects our true community boundaries, protects families from this kind of confusion and fosters one identity,' Finkam told IndyStar. Westfield Mayor Scott Willis is also in support of the legislation. "We fully support this bill, as a single ZIP code offers a number of advantages for Westfield," Kayla Arnold, a spokesperson for the mayor's office said in a statement. "It enhances clarity in identifying business and residential locations, eliminates confusion caused by multiple zip codes, and simplifies addressing for both mail delivery and emergency response. One zip code improves the accuracy of data and analytics, especially with demographics and marketing, by not being fragmented." Boebert, who introduced similar legislation last year, said in a news release that cities and towns across the country have their sales tax revenues, insurance rates, mail delivery rates and response times for first responders negatively impacted by the lack of a unique ZIP code for their communities. 'It may not be an issue that draws headlines, but ZIP code reform is a topic I continue to be passionate about because it impacts the daily lives of so many small-town residents in the 4th District and beyond,' Boebert said in the news release. Last year's ZIP code reform bill from the Colorado congresswoman passed the U.S. House in December but was not voted on by the U.S. Senate. It did not include any Indiana cities and only about 30 communities altogether. This year's legislation from Boebert had more co-sponsors in the U.S. House, including 11 Democratic representatives. It's not clear when or if the U.S. Senate will take up the legislation.
Indianapolis Star
13 hours ago
- Health
- Indianapolis Star
Indy homelessness keeps rising in 2025 — but not for veterans. 4 takeaways from new data
Homelessness in Indianapolis continues to climb closer to the highest levels recorded in the past 15 years, new data shows. The newly released 2025 point-in-time count — a nationwide census held each January to provide a single-night snapshot of homelessness — found that 1,815 people were experiencing homelessness in Marion County at the beginning of this year. This is only the third year since 2010 in which the countywide total exceeded 1,800 people. The 2025 figure is a 7% increase from last year and the highest tally since 2021, when Indianapolis reported a 15-year high of 1,928 people experiencing homelessness. Indy's rising homeless population coincides with record-high homelessness across the United States. Despite the overall increase, significant reductions in veteran homelessness in Indianapolis and the U.S. at large hold lessons for how to help other groups, advocates say. Here are four key takeaways from the 2025 homelessness count: This year's increases were driven by rising homelessness among some of Indianapolis' most vulnerable groups. The number of residents facing chronic homelessness, a subgroup including people with health issues who have been homeless for more than a year, increased 24% from last year to roughly 400 people. More families with children are homeless, too, making up more than a quarter of the total homeless population. In 2025, 316 children under 18 years old were experiencing homelessness, a 14% increase from last year. "We're seeing more families sleeping in vehicles," Andrew Neal, leader of the youth social services organization Outreach Indiana, told IndyStar. "We're seeing more families who are homeless and trying to get access to shelters." The data also shows that Black residents are increasingly likely to end up homeless in Marion County, marking the failure of a 2023 citywide goal to effectively eliminate racial disparities in homelessness by this year. Of the total homeless population, more than 1,000 people identified as Black. This means that while nearly 30% of Marion County residents are Black, roughly 56% of the county's homeless residents are Black. While homelessness increased overall, one vulnerable group continues to make progress: veterans. The number of veterans experiencing homelessness fell to 125 people — a 26% decrease from last year. Just 10 years ago that figure was more than three times higher, when nearly 400 veterans were experiencing homelessness in 2015. The local decline in veteran homelessness is part of a record-breaking drop across the U.S. since 2010, when the federal government began a focused effort to end homelessness among veterans. Organizations like Helping Veterans and Families in downtown Indianapolis have benefited from more funding and an influx of specialized housing vouchers that help veterans pay rent. "In its simplest form, the solution to homelessness is housing with supportive services," HVAF CEO Emmy Hildebrand said. "That's what we do here at HVAF every day." HVAF fire: How Indianapolis veteran homeless housing damaged in fires last year is being rebuilt The organization provides more than 100 temporary beds where veterans typically stay for six to nine months, Hildebrand said. Because more than 80% of HVAF's clients report mental health or substance abuse issues, case managers connect veterans with health care, employment opportunities and government benefits while they're staying in those beds. "We want to make sure we're addressing every possible barrier to self-sufficiency when they're present here so they're in the best position to be successful when they leave," Hildebrand said. HVAF also sends rental assistance to about 500 families a year to ensure they remain stably housed, Hildebrand said. In total, their work helped more than 1,300 veterans in 2024. About eight in 10 people experiencing homelessness in Indianapolis were sleeping in emergency shelter beds or transitional housing units during the frigid January count. The city is taking the lead on an ambitious plan to move the remaining people who are habitually unsheltered — sleeping on the street, in vehicles or in abandoned buildings — into housing by next summer. Through the new program Streets to Home Indy, Indianapolis aims to end unsheltered and chronic homelessness by 2028 for the quarter of homeless residents who fall into those two distinct but overlapping categories. The first phase of that plan is to offer temporary or permanent beds to roughly 350 people. Although about 330 were counted as unsheltered this January, the number typically increases during warmer months, advocates say. "(Homelessness) is something that we have been managing, but we really want to bring these targeted investments to the table to essentially end chronic homelessness as we know it in Indianapolis today," Aryn Schounce, a senior policy adviser on homelessness for Mayor Joe Hogsett, said in June when the program was announced. Implementing the plan will be a heavy lift. City employees will partner with street outreach teams from local nonprofits like Horizon House to visit well-known encampments and direct residents to open housing units. The city says it will clean up and shut down camps only after everyone has been housed or has left on their own. Streets to Home Indy is a key piece of Marion County's new Community Plan to End Homelessness, along with a low-barrier shelter that will offer 150 emergency beds for families, couples and individuals experiencing homelessness starting in 2027. The Department of Housing and Urban Development won't release the 2025 point-in-time count results until the end of this year, but the most recent data shows that homelessness is rising even faster across the U.S. than in Indianapolis. The nationwide 2024 point-in-time count found that more than 770,000 people were experiencing homelessness in the U.S., the largest number on record and an 18% increase from 2023. The numbers reflect the rapid rise in housing costs, the expiration of pandemic-era rental assistance and an increasing number of migrants seeking asylum, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center, a Washington think tank. Although rental costs have soared particularly in denser coastal cities, prices have jumped in Indianapolis too. One in four renting households in Indianapolis spent at least half of their income on rent in 2023, according to census data. The price squeeze shows up in the fact that more than 2,000 evictions are filed each month in Marion County courts, according to the Eviction Lab at Princeton University.
