Get In the Know With Kim’s New Year’s Day News & Headlines
Good Morning & Happy New Year!
New Year’s Eve celebrations across the country were mostly uneventful, though several protests were held last night in cities like Boston, St. Louis and San Francisco. In New York City, a “die-in” was held, but that protest didn’t interfere with the ball drop in Times Square nor the nearly a million people watching the festivities. Here in Indy, folks were gathered en masse downtown on Georgia Street partying in 2015 watching an Indycar drop. (That’s how we do it!) We are, afterall, “The Racing Capitol of the World”. Vroom-Vroom!!!
New year, new requirements–People who have health insurance under the Affordable Care Act will need to file a new form with their income tax returns. Form 1095-A is called the Health Insurance Marketplace Statement. It documents premiums paid to insurance companies through Obamacare. The forms are supposed to be sent out by the end of January and will come from the health insurance marketplace where a taxpayer bought a policy.
One person is dead following a hit and run on the city’s east side. IMPD says the victim was hit on New Year’s Eve at 40th Street and Franklin Road. No other details have been released.
Indianapolis ended the year with an increase in homicides. It was a bloody year with at least 135 murders in 2014, about ten more than the year before.
An Indiana Supreme Court commission is turning down an investigation request into alleged misconduct by Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry. It was filed by the mother of Major Davis the Second, the man accused of killing IMPD Officer Perry Renn. The complaint claimed the fragments that killed Renn didn’t come from any bullets fired by Davis, and for Curry to seek the death penalty in the case is unethical.
Today is a historic day for those in Fishers, Ind. The “town” has officially become a “city”–and with a city, comes a mayor, councilors and city clerk. WISH-TV reports city officials have been sworn in and a city election has already been set up. The new mayor is Scott Fadness who was sworn in on Dec. 22 but his new duties begin on this first day of the new year–including his new focus of making sure Fishers is financially stable and creating a strong identity.
Speaking of WISH-TV, today is the television station’s big day starting its next chapter. Channel 8 begins its CW network affiliation with its news helmed by local faves, anchors, Eric Halvorson and Lori Wilson. WTTV- Channel 4, who landed that CBS affiliation, kicks off its 2015 with CBS programming—complete with CBS network news, prime-time TV shows, an exclusive Indianapolis Colts deal shared with its partner Tribune station Fox 59 and welcoming veteran anchor Debby Knox and award-winning meteorologist Chris Wright back to the airwaves. Both will join local favorite, anchor Bob Donaldson.
New year, new data breach concerns. Chick-fil-A is investigating a possible credit card breach. The company says it has received reports of suspicious activity involving payment cards at several of its locations. In an official statement, Chick-fil-A says it is working with law enforcement and “if a breach has occurred, customers will not be liable for any fraudulent charges.”
New claims for unemployment benefits are on the rise. The Labor Department said yesterday that first-time requests jumped to 298,000 last week, an increase of about 17,000 from the week prior. Most analysts had been expecting the number to be right around 290,000.
It could be at least a week before the flight data and cockpit voice recorders can be recovered from the wreckage of AirAsia Flight 8501. That’s the latest update from search and rescue coordinators involved in the massive effort. The Airbus A320 was on a flight from Indonesia to Singapore when it crashed in bad weather on Sunday. Over 160 people were on board. Of those, more than half a dozen bodies have since been recovered.
Volkswagen is recalling more than 25,000 vehicles over concerns about a software glitch that could impact operation of low-beam headlights. The recall affects 2015 Jettas manufactured between mid-July and November of 2014. There’s been no official word of any accidents or injuries stemming from the headlight issue.
The Indianapolis Auto Show is wrapping up in downtown Indy at the Indiana Convention Center today. One of the most expensive cars on display is the Lotus Magnum M5, which sells for an eye-popping $165,000. At the other end of the pocket book spectrum, a Chevrolet Spark awaits attendees with the more affordable price tag of $14,00. The auto show runs through 6 p.m.
In Sports…
Tickets are still available for the Colts’ AFC wildcard playoff game against the Bengals. If the game isn’t sold out at least 72-hours prior to kickoff, NFL regulations prohibit it from being shown on television within 75 miles of the stadium. That means those tickets have to sell out by 1 o’clock this afternoon.
In the midst of all of the prep for last night’s New Year’s Eve party on Georgia Street downtown, the Pacers were inside of Bankers Life Fieldhouse, at the east end of Georgia Street, handling business. The Pacers used a 36-point third quarter to knock off the Miami Heat 106-95. That’s closing the year from the ‘Blue n’ Gold’ on a high note.
Finally…
Have you heard of this, “Tips For Jesus”? Well it’s struck again! This time, at a restaurant in Phoenix, AZ. A bartender nameed Clint Spotleson at Crudo says a total of $11,000 in tips on two tabs on Saturday surprised him. The mystery tipper is rumored to be PayPal vice president Jack Selby, who owns a home not far away. The bartender spread the joy around to the entire restaurant staff. There is a “Tips For Jesus” Instagram page that you can check out HERE.
Indianapolis Weather…
Mainly sunny today to start 2015 with a few afternoon clouds moving into the area. The High…33 degrees.
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