‘96 Remains Identified, Elevation Grants Awarded, READI Grant Study, Care Farms & Mental Health

October 18, 2023

Indiana authorities have identified an Indianapolis man who vanished in 1993 as the ninth presumed victim of a long-deceased businessman suspected in a string of killings in the 1980s and 1990s, a coroner said Tuesday.  A bone that was recovered in 1996 on Herbert Baumeister’s Indianapolis-area property was identified through forensic genetic genealogy testing as remains of Allen Livingston thanks to a DNA swab sample his mother provided, Hamilton County Coroner Jeff Jellison said. 

Indiana University and Purdue University will examine the effectiveness of the state’s Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative, or READI, grant program.  The study comes as the state is moving forward with its second round of READI grant funding. 

Some local organizations received more money to help them address the root causes of violence after a fourth round of funding through the Elevation Grants was announced this week.  The program aims to reduce violence by funding grassroots groups. It was renamed last year.  This round of Elevation Grants provides more than $12 million in funding to 72 organizations. It reaches more neighborhoods and aims to empower young people, build resilience and support those who have been justice-involved. 

Care farms are agricultural places for people with physical or mental health challenges to process their emotions, while performing farming tasks and working with animals. It's a popular concept in Europe that hasn't gained as much traction in the United States yet. But a new national network hopes to change that.

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