Happy Friday!

🌨️ Today's weather: Slight chance of snow showers, then mostly cloudy. High of 45.

🎵 Sounds like: "Rocket Man" by Elton John.

Today’s newsletter is 1,093 words — a 4-minute read.

The Indy Health District's 10-year plan to close a stark life expectancy gap in five historic neighborhoods puts groceries, housing stability, safer streets and economic opportunity at the forefront.

Why it matters: Residents of the Indy Health District live an average of 67 years, 6.5 years fewer than those in Marion County and more than a decade fewer than those in many nearby suburbs.

Context: The plan covers more than 1,500 acres and nearly 10,000 residents across Crown Hill, Historic Flanner House Homes, Highland Vicinity, Meridian Highland and Ransom Place.

• The district's core challenge is improving outcomes while making sure the area's longtime residents can afford to stay and benefit from new investment.

Driving the news: The nonprofit unveiled its 2026-2036 Quality of Life Plan Wednesday, outlining six priorities shaped by residents' concerns.

• The six pillars are health and wellness; neighborhood infrastructure and environment; economic mobility and local entrepreneurship; family stability and youth development; community safety and justice; and community preservation and cultural identity.

Zoom in: Affordable, healthy food emerged as a leading concern, alongside keeping homes in the family and making neighborhood improvements that benefit existing residents.

• At an October validation session, nearly 80 residents cast 349 votes on proposed goals and submitted almost 150 written comments. Their feedback strengthened the plan's commitments to property-tax relief, estate planning and home-repair assistance for seniors.
• Residents also called for a full-service grocery store within reach of every neighborhood. More than half of district residents currently live in a food desert, according to the district's health dashboard.
• The plan also prioritizes protecting the neighborhoods' historic Black identity and generational homeownership. Residents specifically raised concerns about gentrification and displacement as new development arrives.

What they're saying: "Progress cannot simply be measured by what we build," executive director Jamal Smith said Wednesday. "It must be also measured by the number of people who can benefit from the investments that we also make."

How it works: Life expectancy won't change overnight, so the district is working with the IU Fairbanks School of Public Health, the Polis Center at IU Indianapolis and Health by Design. They'll track roughly 30 measures across short-, medium- and long-term timelines.

What's next

Today is our first chance of snow for the winter season.

Why it matters: It's time to prepare for winter weather, folks.

Driving the news: The National Weather Service in Indianapolis is forecasting the coldest air of the fall season settling over the city Friday morning, bringing the potential for snow flurries.

• State officials said they're ready for the winter season, with Indiana Department of Transportation salt barns fully stocked and teams ready to hit the roads.

Yuck, but: It's not all bad news.

The big picture: Forecasters are predicting a "super El Niño" this winter, which generally brings with it warmer temperatures and less snow than average.

• It's hard to predict exactly what impact El Niño — the climate pattern of warm ocean surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean — will have. But a very intense El Niño in 1877 created a season so mild it was called "the year without winter."

Zoom in: Still, we probably won't be that lucky, so it's best to be prepared.

• "Now's a great time to make sure your vehicle is ready for the rigors of winter driving, and that includes checking your tire treads, your battery and your brakes," said Anthony Scott, superintendent of the Indiana State Police.
• Scott reminded drivers to give themselves extra time to get where they're going and keep more distance between vehicles. He also suggested drivers keep emergency supplies — a blanket, water, snacks and a cell phone charger — on hand.
• For more preparedness tips, visit getprepared.in.gov.

What's next: The NWS says the cold front will pass and "pave the way for pleasant, seasonable weather for the weekend."

🐘 Upheaval in the Indiana GOP continues. The party's chair, Lana Keesling, resigned yesterday after sweeping losses in last week's election.

• Party vice chair Jim Johnson will take over the role until a permanent chair is chosen. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)

🏗️ Indiana's infrastructure got a D+ grade from the American Society of Civil Engineers, which warned that "urgent action" is needed on roads, bridges and more. (FOX59)

🏫 Irvington Community Schools was forced to close for a day after teachers called off in protest over leadership decisions and budget cuts as the network works to close a deficit. (WFYI)

🍝 Michaelangelo's, a popular Italian restaurant in Noblesville, has closed after 36 years and will be replaced by 7 Brew Coffee, a drive-thru chain. (Current Publishing)

An Indianapolis holiday tradition returns as the Indiana Historical Society transforms its downtown history center into a winter wonderland for this year's Festival of Trees.

Driving the news: This year's exhibit features more than 75 elaborately decorated trees, each with its own theme and representing Indiana individuals, families, businesses and community organizations.

• A 30-foot centerpiece tree celebrating America's 250th anniversary is among the highlights.

Context: The tradition began in 2014 and has grown into a major seasonal attraction, drawing more than 20,000 visitors in recent years.

• Beyond the trees, guests can enjoy holiday activities, scavenger hunts, special programming and seasonal treats.
• New and returning offerings include December's Twilight Nights, a Holiday Author Fair featuring more than 60 authors and family-friendly cookie decorating.
• Admission also includes access to "Freedom's Framework," an exhibit exploring the people and events that shaped the nation.

If you go: The festival runs Friday through Jan. 2 at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center.

More picks

NASA is accepting applications for new astronauts for its Artemis lunar program.

Why it matters: With only 32 active astronauts, the space agency needs more recruits as it looks to expand humanity's presence beyond low-Earth orbit.

Fun fact: At least 11 current or former U.S. astronauts were born in Indiana, according to NASA, and even more have had ties to the state.

• Purdue is often called the Cradle of Astronauts because of its deep ties to the space program, having produced 30 astronauts.

Interested in throwing your spacesuit into the ring? Aspiring astronauts have until Dec. 3 to apply.

Go deeper (into space): How to apply.

🎄 Arika is thrilled with how this very easy Christmas craft turned out. Yes, craftmas is starting already!

🧑🏿‍🚀 Justin always loved learning about Purdue's astronaut history during his time on campus.

Edited by Larry W. Graham.