Get In the Know With Kim’s Friday News & Headlines
Two men have been discovered dead inside a car Friday morning. Indianapolis metro police are on the scene investigating in the 3900 block of Southeastern Avenue. IMPD was called to the scene just after 8 a.m. This is a developing story at this press time. For updates, click HERE.
Mayor Greg Ballard has announced his new chief of staff Friday mid-morning. City-County Controller Jason Dudich has landed the new post, succeeding Ryan Vaughn who left to assume leadership of the Indiana Sports Corp.
A couple is safe after escaping a fire, but their dog is dead. Crews were called to the house fire on Bacon Street at around two this morning. Officials say a woman in a wheelchair made it out of the house and yelled for help, alerting neighbors. One of the neighbors pulled her husband out before the fire consumed much of the structure.
A semi-truck jackknifed and overturned in the east-bound lanes of 1-70 overnight and we now know why. Indiana State Police say their preliminary investigation has revealed that the trucks’ driver 50-year-old Sheldon Plant and his wife, who was also in the truck, had been drinking alcohol when they had a physical altercation with each other, as Plant was driving. He then lost control behind the wheel west of the Williamsburg Pike exit driving into the median hitting a cable barrier. When he tried to leave the scene, the cable barrier—that was wrapped around the truck from the impact, pulled tight stopping the truck and causing it to jackknife. This happened around 2 a.m. on Friday closing down the highway for hours. Plant has been arrested on a list of charges, including OWI endangerment. His blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit.
A Greenwood man faces charges in the death of his infant son. Ian Defenderfer is charged with aggravated assault against a minor under the age of 14. Police say the 20-year-old shook the baby when he wouldn’t stop crying earlier this month. They suspect he called a friend instead of 9-1-1 when he noticed the baby wasn’t breathing.
IMPD is reminding everyone that it’s never a good idea to leave personal belongings in your vehicle. This comes after at least 30 vehicles were broken into early Thursday morning at two apartment complexes on the city’s southwest side. Officials say you can reduce your risk of becoming a victim by locking your vehicle. They say it’s also a good idea to write down serial numbers for anything of value so they can be identified if they are recovered.
Fishers police are on a crime alert looking for thieves specifically targeting jewelry. They say thieves are targeting homes during the day when they think nobody is home. They’re advising homeowners to lock up valuables in a safe.
Indiana Democrats are attacking Governor Mike Pence in an effort to win on Election Day. The state’s Democratic Chairman John Zody questioned who is going to pay for the governor’s trips to other states over the next few weeks and asking for transparency in Pence’s plans to run for president, or not, in 2016. Pence is campaigning for other candidates on the final two weekends before the polls open. The only response from Indiana’s GOP came from Chairman who said the Democrats seem desperate. Regardless of political wrangling from the parties, you can let your voice be heard now instead of waiting until November. Early voting is open here in Indiana for next month’s election. Cast your ballot at your county clerk’s office. In Marion County, the clerk’s office is located in the City-County Building on Market Street and Delaware in downtown Indy.
The City County Building is getting a new plaza and it’s being described as “a backyard for downtown.” The $12 million design includes open green space and a black granite splash park that becomes a public ice skating rink in the winter. The city is looking for partners to fund the project. The design was created by a Baltimore company, which won a competition to modernize the 1960’s plaza.
The mother of the Indianapolis native held captive by ISIS is once again asking the Islamic State what can be done to save his life. On Thursday, Paula Kassig posted a message on Twitter that said, “We have tried to contact you directly to plea for the life of our only son, Abdul Rahman Kassig, and have not received any response.” The 26-year-old Butler University alum was captured last year while helping victims of the Syrian civil war. Earlier this month, ISIS identified Kassig as its next beheading victim.
U.S. officials are looking into claims that ISIS militants may have used a chemical weapon against Iraqi police officers. A spokesperson for the National Security Council says a report by the Iraqi Defense Ministry claims ISIS forces used chlorine gas in an attack last month.
The U.S. is looking at another case of Ebola. A doctor who recently returned from West Africa is in isolation at a New York City hospital after testing positive for Ebola. Dr. Craig Spencer is the first confirmed case of the deadly virus in New York City. He works for Doctors Without Borders and had been treating Ebola patients in Guinea. Read the latest details about this new case, HERE.
While we’re learning about the latest case of Ebola in a doctor in the “Big Apple” word comes that even drug dealers are looking for ways to profit from the fear of this virus. When police in Toms River, New Jersey arrested alleged drug dealer Barnabas Davis this week, they found about 630 packets of heroin, each with a “trademark” stamp that read “Ebola.” Police say Davis used the name of the deadly virus as a way to distinguish himself from other dealers and as a way for clients to ask for a specific type of heroin.
An international organization wants Missouri police officers investigated for alleged human rights abuses. Amnesty International says the use of rubber bullets, tear gas and military equipment during protests over the Michael Brown shooting “violated international standards.”
In a follow-up to another nearby St. Louis shooting, results from a new autopsy are supporting witnesses who said a teenager shot by an off-duty police officer earlier this month was running away. Vonderitt Myer Jr’s family hired an pathologist to conduct an independent investigation. Dr. Cyril Wecht says Myers was shot eight times and seven of those were in the backs and side of his legs and one was in his head. Many were also at an angle indicating he was going up a hill. Wecht stressed he hasn’t seen the official autopsy report from the medical examiner’s office, which is still being prepared. For more details on this case, click HERE.
Back here at home…Good news for Indy-area drinkers–now there’s an app for getting alcohol delivered to your home. A company called Drizly has partnered with Big Red Liquor stores for the service around the Indianapolis metro area. The app works on both i-Phones and Androids. There’s a $5 delivery fee, but they’re waiving it for the first 30 days of business.
SPORTS:
That alcohol app may come in handy as you prep for watching Sunday’s big game. The Colts are in prep mode themselves, as they get ready to take on the Steelers in Pittsburgh. Kickoff is at 4:25 p.m. on Sunday. The Colts versus Steelers will be televised on CBS.
In their first match-up against former teammate Lance Stephenson and his new team Charlotte, the Pacers topped the Hornets 88-79 on Thursday evening. The Blue n’ Gold ends the 2014 preseason at 3-and-4. The Pacers begin the regular season on Wednesday at home against the 76er’s downtown in Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
TONIGHT: The World Series shifts to San Francisco for Game Three Friday night between the Kansas City Royals and the Giants at AT&T Park. The best-of-seven match-up is tied at a game apiece after the Royals took Game Two 7-2 on Wednesday in Kansas City.
FINALLY:
Stress at work and home is taking its toll on many moms. Eighty percent of the one-thousand women polled for a new Working Moms Tipping Point Survey say they feel stressed about getting everything done, while one in four admits to crying alone at least once a week from the stress of it all. Read the survey for yourself and see if it applies to you, HERE.
FRIDAY’S INDIANAPOLIS WEATHER:
Partly cloudy. High 66 degrees.
I’M KIM WELLS. Catch me on Sunday morning at 8 a.m. Eastern on our sister station 106.7 WTLC for “Access Indy.” Have a great weekend!!!
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