🚫🏠 What is Richmond doing to combat homelessness?

Happy Friday!

You did it! You made it through another week. Give yourself a pat on the back, reward yourself with a treat (maybe fries for National French Fry Day?) or relax with one of the several fun activities this weekend that I talk about in today's feature.

While many of us have the ability to do those things, however, others don't, as evidenced in my top story.

Your weekend Richmond weather forecast:

Friday - A high of 85, low of 67. Showers. 🌧

Saturday - A high of 87, low of 70. Partly cloudy. ⛅

Sunday - A high of 89, low of 74. Scattered thunderstorms. ⛈

🎶 Song of the Day! 🎶

What do you want to know? Submit your questions for my weekly mailbox to eweaver@gannett.com. Help spread the word about this newsletter: Forward this email to your family and friends and encourage them to sign up here.

HOMELESS IN RICHMOND: What is the city doing to combat it?

Over the past few months, I've been doing some digging into how prevalent homelessness is in our area.

My investigation began when the city established its unsheltered/homeless task force back in January to clean up multiple homeless encampments around the city.

Although many were abandoned, a few were still living at the remaining sites, found in locations such as behind Tractor Supply, in Glen Miller Park, and the Whitewater Valley Gorge Park.

I spoke to several people for this story, including the mayor, the directors for the two homeless shelters in the city and those who are currently experiencing homelessness themselves.

For the full story, read here.

📰 What else you should know today:

⚖ Richmond man sentenced to 85 years: 44-year-old Elick Tywayne Allen will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars after being found guilty of murdering his neighbor and trying to kill the victim's mother.

🚔 Local man charged in shooting: James Paiden Capps, a 21-year-old Richmond man, was charged with aggravated battery and criminal recklessness after his girlfriend was shot during an argument.

👵 Good food, Good Book and good life: Indiana's oldest resident is 111 years old, and she still recalls the days of growing up during World War I, before electricity became a common necessity and the Spanish Influenza outbreak.

👩🏽‍💼 VP to speak in Indy: U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to be the special guest speaker at a historically black sorority's event at Indiana Convention Center in a couple of weeks.

⚖ Capitol rioter headed to prison: An Indiana man has been sentenced to over five years in prison over his role in the U.S. Capitol riots on Jan. 6, 2021.

🎢 Your guide to weekend fun

🎉 From 4 to 6 p.m. today, visit the Centerville Public Library as it celebrates the end of its annual reading program with a Summer Lawn Party. There will be lawn games, face painting, cotton candy, special DJ games from special guest Chuck Philpot and more. Winners for the Youth Program will be announced, and prizes will be awarded from the adult program.

👩‍🌾 You know what Saturdays mean: It's time for a trip to the Farmers Market. Richmond (9 a.m. to noon) and Cambridge City (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.) are both having their weekly markets, Richmond in Jack Elstro Plaza and Cambridge City's at the corner of West Church Street, where you can pick up fresh produce, local meats and much more. That not enough? Cambridge City is also holding having an artisan fair and antique market, with various shops open until 5 p.m. There will also be a concert in Creitz Park from 6 to 9 p.m.

🎆 Didn't get enough fireworks over the Fourth of July weekend (or any if you're like me)? Fountain City will be having its fireworks show Saturday night beginning at dusk (around 9 p.m., according to Visit Richmond) and will be at East Ball Park. Attendees are advised to bring a blanket or chair to sit on.

A full list of events going on this weekend can be found on the Convention & Tourism Bureau's website and Kicks96's community calendar, as well as Eventbrite, which includes additional events not listed on the bureau's site. Earlham College and Indiana University East also have events going on throughout the week.

Thank you for taking the time to read through today's newsletter. Send your questions for mailbag to eweaver@gannett.com and you can follow me on X (@evan_weaver7).

See you on Monday!