Hey Locals,

Happy Earth Day! We share lots of fun (and free) ways to celebrate.

We also follow up on last year's reports about Parkview Health, thanks to a new national study that confirms it isn't the only nonprofit hospital pocketing more money than it gives back to the community.

In Briefs, we cover growth at a Fort Wayne defense contractor tied to Trump's "Golden Dome," and Indiana's impending $2 billion budget shortfall (announced one day after legislators passed SB1 to slash property taxes).

Don't forget: This month, we're partnering the superfood cafe Grain & Berry at 9821 Lima Rd. to bring all paid subscribers to The Local a free juice or health shot. Did you know we give our paid members a freebie every month at a local business to cover the cost of membership? See what a paid membership is all about with this 30-day trial, and you can get that deal!

Now, let's get started!

NOTE: Links to Journal Gazette articles are marked(*) and may be behind a paywall.

Most nonprofit hospitals are profiting more than they give back.

And Parkview isn't the state's worst offender.

What's happening?

In recent months and years, Parkview Health has come under the national microscope for its exorbitant pricing and profits – despite its nonprofit status. Now, a new national study confirms Parkview isn't the only nonprofit hospital profiting more than it's giving back.

• For context: Nonprofit hospitals receive tax exemptions from the federal government, as well as some state and local governments, under the assumption that they will serve the public good in return, often by providing community health programs and caring for those who cannot afford to pay. 
• Last week: The JG* published a study by the think tank Lown Institute showing that, between 2020-2022, more than 54% of 1,800 nonprofit hospitals in 20 states received more in tax benefits than they spent on "meaningful community investments." Within Indiana, that figure rises to 66% of the state's 75 nonprofit hospitals.

Here are a few quick things to know:

• Parkview isn't currently among the top 10 worst offenders nationally, but it's still profiting more than it's giving back. It clocked in at No. 22, saving about $7M per year more than it spends on community health needs. For comparison, the study found 12 hospitals nationally had deficits in community support greater than $100 million and that many of these same hospitals pocketed close to $1 billion in profits. (Fort Wayne's other large hospital system, Lutheran Health Network, is for-profit and wasn’t included in the study.)
• IU Health's IU Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis has the highest deficits in community support, which might mean trouble for Fort Wayne. IU Methodist had a $129 million difference between how much money it saved versus how much it gave back. Perhaps not surprisingly, it also enjoyed the state's highest income ($1.1 billion in 2020). IU Health is building a new $420 million hospital in Southwest Allen County, which claims it will "expand access to affordable, high-quality healthcare" when it opens in early 2027. Currently, IU Health operates two hospitals within the state's top 10 greatest profit disparities.
• The total deficit for Indiana's nonprofit hospitals was $716 million each year, which could solve a lot of health problems for Hoosiers. Researchers suggested the funding would be enough to do one of the following things:
  • Feed all 950,220 Hoosiers facing food insecurity, including 426,600 children.
  • Increase funding for local healthcare departments to $225 million for five more years. This would extend the state’s "historic increase in public health funding" for 2024-2025 for the rest of the decade, bringing Indiana closer to the national per capita rate of public health funding.
  • Wipe out medical debt for 430,000 people who owe $2,000 or less. Indiana has a higher rate of medical debt than the national average, with an estimated 12% of adults reporting medical debt over $250.

Why it matters

Since The Guardian published several reports on Parkview Health last fall, the concept of holding nonprofit hospitals accountable for their profits and community contributions has garnered bipartisan support. As the state's legislative session draws to a close this week, policymakers could take action to address the issue.

We share more takeaways in our premium newsletter.

• State legislators announce Indiana is facing a massive $2B budget shortfall for 2026-2027 – one day after passing "historic" property tax cuts limiting revenue generation. On the heels of SB1, which will drastically reduce budgets for Indiana cities and towns starting in 2026, state legislators are now facing their own belt tightening, as COVID funds expire and federal uncertainty looms "due in part to President Donald Trump's tariffs," the Indy Star reports. "Now the state budget agency is expecting $400 million less tax revenue for 2025 than they anticipated, which will have to be plugged at some point, in addition to the $2 billion less in anticipated revenue for the 2026-27 budget, or about a 4% reduction." Legislators say this shortfall is "a lot more" than what Indiana faced during the Great Recession, and it's unclear what will be cut as a result. Revenue generators, like cigarette or gaming taxes, are also "on the table" to help fill gaps.
• L3Harris Technologies, a defense contractor with more than 600 employees in Fort Wayne, is expanding its local operations as part of Trump's plans for a "Golden Dome" around the U.S. Last week, L3Harris held a press conference at its updated and expanded Fort Wayne campus at 1919 W. Cook Rd., which received a more than $125 million in investments tied to the Department of Defense's goal to create “on-orbit technology to defend the homeland by building a ‘Golden Dome’ around the United States.” The so-called "Golden Dome" is part of Trump's plan to replicate Israel's "Iron Dome" missile defense shield. So far, the top three companies vying to lead the project are all major Trump campaign donors, including Elon Musk's SpaceX. As a result, critics fear the project could result in a "scam" where policymakers will "throw billions and billions and billions of dollars at something that won’t work.” A press release says L3Harris's expansion in Fort Wayne will support engineering, integration, testing and program management for L3Harris missile defense programs, and will add about 70 highly skilled manufacturing jobs to the local economy with average annual salaries of more than $100,000. "The company is still filling those new positions," The JG* reports.

Plus: international recognition for a local bar, a few local hotspots reopening, and a family business celebrating 40 years. We cover it all in our premium newsletter!

Happy Earth Day, Locals!

Here are a few fun ways to celebrate, courtesy of Eco Fest.

• Watch: a free screening of the film Liminal: Indiana in the Anthropocene at Cinema Center today at 7 p.m. followed by a Q&A with ACRES Land Trust. The film features the music of Fort Wayne composer Nate Utesch.
• Learn: how to Recycle Right! with a free workshop and Q&A at the Allen County Public Library's Main Branch today, 5:30-7 p.m. The event is hosted by GFL's Recycling Commodity Coordinator Jacob Stevens, and it includes an update on the state of recycling in Allen County (which we previously covered here.) "We also encourage you to bring in any items you have recycling questions about," a post says. (Registration required.)
• Volunteer: by cleaning up Hanging Rock National Natural Landmark at 4552 East Hanging Rock Rd. (Lagro) on April 23, 4-6 p.m. (Supplies and snacks provided; no registration necessary.)
• Recycle: old electronics for FREE at First Presbyterian Church's e-recycling event on April 27, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at 300 W. Wayne St. (No batteries and light bulbs, but all things that plug in are accepted, including hair dryers, toasters, coffee makers, desktop computers, stereos, curling irons and even TVs!)
• Explore: Little River Wetlands Project's Earth Day event on April 27, 1-5 p.m. at 6801 Engle Rd., featuring 30+ vendors, nonprofits, and educational booths about wetland ecology and local conservation groups. (Food trucks on site; $3 for adults and children free.)
• Plan: to attend a Rain Barrel Workshop with Maumee Watershed Alliance on May 10 (9 a.m. or 10 a.m.) at 1992 Chapman Rd. in Huntertown. The workshop explores the Cedar Creek watershed and teaches you how to make your own rain barrel to take home. ($30/barrel; Register by emailing jbuck@maumeewatershedalliance.org.)

Stay tuned for more info on Eco Fest Fort Wayne, happening May 18, noon-5 p.m.!

• Listen: to a debut album release performance by Lips Speak Louder (alt-rock), featuring Fort Wayne native Angie Lese.* The show at the Brass Rail includes performances by Brett Newski and Middle Names, starting at 9:30 p.m. on April 25. ($10 cover; 21+)
• Dress up: for the Fairfield's "Southern Fried!" event, featuring an evening of southern cuisine, costume contests, line dancing, live music by Mason Dixon Line and The Cold Hearts and more. ($20 in advance, or $25 at the door.)
• Browse: Jake Patten and Becky Johnson's Spring Art Show at 924 W. Berry St. on April 26, 6-9 p.m. The show features new florals and other recent paintings inside the cool artist studio space at the historic Sheridan Court Apartments Downtown.

What else? We share more things to do in our premium newsletter.

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Have a great week, Locals!

-Your Editor, Kara Hackett