Open Lines with Cameron Ridle

As Indianapolis hosts the College Football Playoffs, we give a preview of the long list of free events and concerts residents can attend ahead of the game. January is national mentoring month, we talk with Arnetta Scruggs from the Bloom Project and Chrystal Hines from Inner Beauty and New Breed of Youth. They tell us what their programs offer and how you can sign up to make a difference.

Cameron takes us into 2022 with a look ahead to the 3rd year of the pandemic, following a record-breaking year for shootings in Indianapolis. Plus we look ahead to what is happening at The Indiana Legislature for 2022. We talk about a number of proposed bills that may catch your eye for one reason or another.

We bring the year 2021 to a close by hosting an hour of Open Lines where listeners provide their final thoughts of the year.

Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears breaks some news on Open Lines announcing he will run for re-election in 2022. Mears reflects on 2021 and the record amount of violence that occurred in Indianapolis. Mears also doubles down on statements he's made about the Bail Project getting special treatment. We also have details on Christmas help! Alicia Jackson of Pride Academy is prepared to help 2,000 c...

Carmen 'Punkin' Davenport is December's person you should know. Readers of her children's book know her as 'Carmen Davenport' while people on Facebook know her as 'Punkin Davenport' the creator of the 'Black Dolla Indy' Facebook group. 'Black Dolla' has become a popular online directory to Black Businesses in Central Indiana, which now has 39,000 members in the Facebook group. In our second half o...

On the edition of Open Lines we discuss what is happening in Indiana classrooms. In Indianapolis' Pike Township, teachers and bus drivers are fighter for better pay and working conditions. In Indianapolis' Center Township, the Innovation Network Charter Schools of Indianapolis Public Schools are getting more money. The IPS school board has agreed to share referendum money from 2018 with it's chart...

The Black Entrepreneur Group and Don't Sleep needs your help to put together Care Packages for 1,000 of Indy's Homeless Neighbors. They need donations and help distributing the care packages. RaeVen Ridgell joins us on the show with details. Plus, community leader Dee Ross is known for his giving spirit especially during the holidays. This time of years he's preparing to feed hundreds of families...

On this edition of Open Lines with Cameron Ridle: IMPD Chief Randal Taylor spends an hour answering questions from Cameron and listeners about all things IMPD.

On this edition of Open Lines with Cameron Ridle we introduce you to Alexis Rogers. She's the new lead anchor on WISH-TV Channel 8. You can watch her on WISH-TV at 4, 5, 6, 10 and 11pm. PLUS: The Indiana Commission on the Social Status of Black Males hosts its 21 annual Black Male State Conference on Tuesday Nov. 2nd. This year's slogan is "Black Males Health is Wealth." Vice Chairwoman Shanel Poo...

INDYGO TEMPORARY ROUTE CHANGES AND HIRING DRIVERS IndyGo will temporarily adjust its bus schedules due to unprecedented staffing challenges caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The adjustments will be made to improve service reliability and help minimize adverse service impacts to our riders and staff. Starting Oct. 10, 15 bus routes will experience a change in operating times. The effected ro...

On this edition of Open Lines, we ask who is responsible for Indy's violent crime? As of October 10, 2021 the city has already had more than 210 homicides. So who is to blame for that? Is it the people committing the crimes or is it our elected officials who some believe aren't doing enough.

Earlier this year we used this hour of air time on Open Lines as an official forum to ask you, if the money was there, what would you like to see happen to improve the quality of life for African Americans in Indianapolis? Tony Mason and Willis Bright, Karlin Tichenor are some of the people behind that initiative and are back this morning to give us an update on the feedback they received from you...

We close out the month of September with a morning of open discussion about what is on the mind of the listener. From COVID to Crime to Politics to the worker shortage, everyone has something to say.

We look at the proposed redistricting of Indiana and how where a simple line is drawn can change whether a Republican or Democrat is put into office.

Tevin Studdard is a man of many hats, Podcast Host, Music Producer, Rapper, Jingle Writer, and entrepreneur. He is this month's person you should know because he does soo much, he's probably a person you want to connect with. Plus Maggie Lewis, CEO of The Indianapolis Boys and Girls Club, drops by. She tells us how the Boys and Girls Club is giving kids and teens a safe place to be after school, i...

It's the end of the month and that mean's it's an All Open Lines Sunday. Callers voice their thoughts on gun violence in Indy, the evacuation in Afghanistan, and COVID-19 infections increasing in Indiana. Plus we say farewell to WTHR Channel 13 Reporter Steve Jefferson as he leaves Indy after 19 years and accepts a new job at WFAA-TV in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas.

This edition of Open Lines is all about your money! WALMART IS HIRING: Walmart is hiring for well-paying jobs in the Indianapolis area. Walmart is hosting on Wednesday, August 25. You can find more information on Walmart jobs here: https://careers.walmart.com/ AKA'S VIRTUAL SHARK TANK: The Alpha Mu Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated will host the 2nd Annual Youth Entrepreneu...

Pacers Sports and Entertainment is hiring! They need everyone from Ushers to Guest Services to Video Production Crews to apply to work over 550 events hosted at Bankerslife Field House. They're hosting a job fair Pacers Sports & Entertainment Job Fair Tuesday, August 10, 2021, from 4pm-7pm at the Madame Walker Theater, 617 Indiana Avenue, Indianapolis, IN. You can also apply online at https://www....

Advancing Tech at Martin University: As we talked about last week, there are a lot of jobs out there, but just because there’s a job it doesn’t man your qualified for it. But Martin University and Eleven-Fifty Academy wants to help you change that with their advancing tech program. That’s any skill set that is now part of every single industry. Everything you do or every place you go has a website...

Get some Love DelivHERed! Nominate a Central Indiana woman for a gift, a professional house cleaning, or a room to be redecorated as a mini sanctuary. SEND YOUR NOMINATION HERE: https://www.loveherleague.com/ It's the last Friday of the month which means, it's time for a morning of hot topics. We start with the story Ta’Neasha Chappel Chappel, 23, died in the Jackson County Jail in Southern Indian...

Controversy at the Library! Indianapolis Recorder reporter Breanna Cooper has been covering claims of discrimination and calls for change at the Indianapolis Public Library. The allegations include racism particularly against Black Women in various levels of leadership…along with claims of discrimination to staff and guests of other races. This all first exploded at a virtual board meeting last mo...

Marion Co. Prosecutor Ryan Mears joins us for a conversation about violence in Indianapolis. We discuss the increasing rate of violent crime, prosecuting marijuana cases and much more.

Listeners give their thoughts on how to stop violent crime in Indianapolis.

Darrianne Christians has been elected as Chair of the Board of Trustees at Newfields, making her the first Black woman to have that role at the Newfields, and one of just a handful of Black women in that job across the nation. She joins us on Open Lines for the first time as she starts her new job, immediately after Newfields made national headlines for the wrong reasons. Plus Dress for Success is...

This special edition of 'Open Lines with Cameron Ridle' is paid for by the Indianapolis Urban League and African American Coalition of Indianapolis as part of the Indianapolis African American Quality of Life Initiative. Funded through a $100 million grant from the Lilly Endowment, the Indianapolis African American Quality of Life Initiative is on a listening tour, asking Hoosier where they think...