News Briefs: March 22-29

IPS Offers Students Free Meals

INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Public Schools students, 18 years old and younger, can eat breakfast and lunch free during the week of March 25 at any of 19 IPS schools. This is the first week of the two week Spring Break.
Breakfast and lunch times vary. For specific information, interested individuals can call IPS food service at 226-4772.
Participating schools include Charles Fairbanks School 105  at 8620 Montery Rd.; Center for Inquiry at School 27 at 440 East 57th St., Harshman Magnet Middle School at 1501 East 10th St.; Coleman Academy at 1740 East 30th St.; Shortridge Magnet High School at 3401 North Meridian St.; Broad Ripple Magnet High School at1115 Broad Ripple Ave.; and John Marshall Community High School at 10101 East 38th St.
The food service will be offered during the week of March 25 only.


Warren Pride Clean-Up Slated for April 13

INDIANAPOLIS — One of the largest community clean-up efforts in Indiana will go forward April 13. The Warren Pride Great Indy Clean-Up, which attracts many groups and individuals to pick up trash throughout the area, will not be hosted by the Warren Township Development Association this year.
However, homeowner’s associations, community groups, faith based groups, Boy & Girl Scout Troops, and Warren businesses are encouraged to pitch in to clean individual areas.
KIB’s Great Indy Cleanup is an anti-litter program in partnership with the City of Indianapolis designed to combat heavy litter and debris that has accumulated in public spaces such as streets, alleys, greenspaces and waterways
The Great Indy Cleanup program runs weekends from April through October and provides dumpsters, trash bags and gloves while supplies last. Community groups may sign up for up to two cleanups per year.
To request cleanups, visit KIB at www.kibi.org  or e-mail Tammy Stevens, KIB Litter Abatement Coordinator at tsteven@kibi.org. Cleanup requests for May through October will be accepted starting April 1st.


Violent Crime Review Efficiency Team Formed

INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Mayor Gregory Ballard, along with Public Safety Director Troy Riggs and IMPD Police Chief Rick Hite announced the launch of the Violent Crime Review Team, charged with developing a strategy to reduce violent crime rates in Marion County. The team’s initial meeting took place March 15.
The team of about 30, led by Chief Hite, will consist of members from varying agencies, including law enforcement and criminal justice officials as well as community representatives such as the 10-Point Coalition.
Chief Hite also will appoint sub-committees comprised of public safety professionals, other experts and relevant community partners to address/review specific areas of concern:
• Summer 2013 Action Plan
• Probation fees and technical rules violations
• Youth violence
• 2012 Marion County aggravated assaults review
• Current gun laws
• Current re-entry activities
• 2012 Marion County shootings review
• Grant funding for crime prevention initiatives
• Evaluate past Indianapolis Violence Reduction Programs (IVRP) and make recommendations for developing a new violence reduction plan
•  Programs for children who are witnesses of abuse
• Mental illness and impacts to the community
The team will submit a draft of its 2013 Summer Plan by May 1st. The final plan is due May 31. Information pertaining to the team’s work, recommendations, and implementation of findings will be available at: www.indy.gov/eGov/City/dps/Pages/home.aspx.
The public is encouraged to use the Department of Public Safety’s e-mail address at dps@indy.gov to submit thoughts, concerns or to ask questions regarding the efficiency teams.