Happy Wednesday!

🌧️ Today's weather: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, with a high of 88 and a low of 70.

🎂 Happy birthday to our Axios Indianapolis member Naomi Sponsler Bechtold!

🎟️ Situational awareness: We're giving away FREE flex passes for the 2026 IndyFringe Festival presented by Everwise Credit Union, courtesy of our friends at IF Theatre!

• To claim yours, just be one of the first three people to respond to this email with "it’s showtime.”
• If you're fast enough, you’ll gain access to one of the most unique — and unpredictable — annual celebrations the Circle City has to offer!

Today's newsletter is 1,103 words — a 4-minute read.

Indiana's literacy rates for nearly every student population have surpassed pre-pandemic levels for the first time.

Why it matters: The pandemic exacerbated the state's literacy crisis, and it has taken years of hard work and investment to dig out of the crater COVID-19 created in the state's third-grade reading rates.

Driving the news: The Indiana Department of Education released scores yesterday for this spring's statewide IREAD, ILEARN and SAT testing.

• Scores on IREAD, which measures third-grade literacy rates, increased for the fifth straight year and were the bright spot in the results.
• ILEARN took a new form this year, so this year's results can't be compared to those of previous years, but the percentage of students in grades 3-8 rated "on track" to be ready for college fell below the state's college-going goal.
• The share of high school juniors deemed college-ready on the SAT was also below that goal and stayed flat from last year.

State of play: State leaders have been particularly focused on improving third-grade reading rates for the last three years.

• The state has implemented new science-of-reading standards, invested in specially trained coaches to embed in struggling schools, and started administering exams earlier to allow more opportunity for intervention.
• Last year, leaders celebrated a historic 5-point increase in reading rates as return on that investment.
• IREAD scores rose again this year, to 88.7%.

What they're saying: "Often, when you see an increase that much, you might dip down the following year or plateau," Secretary of Education Katie Jenner said. "So the fact that Indiana has moved another 1.5% … is just not short of remarkable."

Zoom in: This year's scores are above the 2019 results for all subgroups of students, except for those who don't receive financial assistance for meals.

Reality check: The state has yet to see similar gains on the ILEARN exam, which is administered to students in grades 3-8 to assess English and math skills.

Go deeper

More than 163,000 people in Marion County faced food insecurity in 2024, according to a new report from Feeding America.

Why it matters: Food banks say they're seeing greater need as families grapple with high grocery, housing and fuel costs, while changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) add pressure.

By the numbers: The rate of food insecurity in the county rose steadily to 16.8% in 2024, up from 11.3% in 2021.

• 163,870 people lack consistent access to the food.

Statewide, 1,097,150 Hoosiers (15.8% of the population) experienced food insecurity in 2024.

Zoom in: As the problem worsens, Hoosiers continue to lack access to a resource designed to keep food on the table during the summer months.

• Last month, the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) confirmed that Indiana would not participate in the federal SUN Bucks Program in 2027.
• Also known as Summer EBT, the program gives low-income families $120 per student to pay for groceries when kids are on summer break and not getting meals at school.
• Indiana participated in the program in 2024 but opted out in 2025 and 2026.

Keep reading

⚖️ The University of Indianapolis is suing Indiana University in federal court over unfair competition and trademark dilution for its use of "IU Indy" in reference to the Hoosiers' downtown campus.

• According to a complaint filed against IU's Board of Trustees yesterday, the phrase is too similar to its own trademark, UINDY. (The Indiana Lawyer)

👷 Construction organizations across the state say Indiana needs to diversify its revenue sources for road funding, warning that progress on projects is at risk if the state doesn't expand beyond fuel taxes. (IBJ)

🏈 Looking to re-establish himself on the depth chart, Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. will start the preseason opener tomorrow against the Patriots. (FOX59)

🌮 Sahm's Hospitality Group is planning to open a cocktail bar and taco shop called Mamacita in Fishers this fall. (IndyStar)

🐘 Zionsville Mayor John Stehr announced yesterday that he will seek a second term. (Facebook)

🐾 Rocko here, trying to bide my time in the shelter — even though it makes me pretty nervous.

De-tails: I'm 2 years old and 47 pounds.

• Outside of the kennel, I'm a gentle, playful and affectionate guy.
• I love tennis balls and parks. If you take me to one, I'll show you how nicely I walk on leash and ride in a car!
• I'm smart, too. I know cues like "ball" and "drop it" and how to take treats gently.

What they're barking: The folks at IACS say I'm a thoughtful, sensitive dog "who seems to blossom once he realizes he is safe," which means I'd do best in a calm home.

• "The person willing to give him patience and stability is likely going to discover a loyal, sweet companion who just needed someone to believe in him long enough for his confidence to shine through," they said.

Dig deeper: Fill out an application for Rocko and see other adoptable pets online.

A new report says Lucas Oil Stadium will host WWE SummerSlam in 2029.

Why it matters: The WWE and Indiana Sports Corp announced their partnership to bring the brand's three biggest events to Lucas Oil back in June 2024, but so far that deal has only produced a single show.

Yes, but: That show was the record-breaking 2025 Royal Rumble that put more than 70,000 butts in the stadium's seats.

• SummerSlam, a two-night affair, is an even bigger deal for the WWE, meaning it's sure to be one of Indianapolis' biggest events of the year whenever it arrives.

Driving the news: Wrestling news sources WrestleVotes and Fightful Select shared on X that 2029 was the target year for the show that typically takes place in early August.

• WrestleVotes was the same outlet that reported the WWE and Indiana Sports Corp partnership days before it was formally announced.

Our picks:

🧀 Arika is thrilled to have finally nailed sourdough discard crackers.

🕹️ Justin might be addicted to "Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls."