Source: IPS / submittd by IPS
@kwellscomm PraiseIndy.com News & Sports
A new policy is kicking in at Indianapolis Public Schools. The district is now telling teachers and administrators to call the state and the police if they learn of an inappropriate relationship with a student. The move comes as IPS is trying to distance top district leaders from the fallout of the Shana Taylor counselor-student sex scandal. IPS’s new policy states employee must call the police and shouldn’t assume someone else will do it. The district is also working on a new chain of command to make sure everyone follows the new policy.
The man behind a Sheridan Fourth of July float that called President Obama a “lying African,” is saying he didn’t mean to offend anyone. However, Donald Christy, who is also a Donald Trump supporter, also says he’s not politically correct and he’s not backing down. Christy became a viral star after pictures of the float made the rounds on social media. Christy says he’s the only one responsible for the float. Local leaders in Sheridan aren’t pleased with the attention. See photo and more HERE.
A community activist and non-profit manager who’d gone missing for days is alive and safe. That’s all Indianapolis Metro Police will say about the formerly missing Carina McDowell. McDowell’s family says they still don’t know where she went or why. Police found McDowell Tuesday and they’re not offering any specifics about her whereabouts. Officers said earlier this week they thought McDowell chose to leave the city.
Indiana Governor Mike Pence “rings the most bells” of any possible Vice President for Donald Trump. This is commentary from former Trump staffer Michael Caputo, who says Pence is the most well-rounded of any candidate on Trump’s reported shortlist. While Caputo doesn’t have any inside knowledge due to his ‘former’ status, he added that Pence’s conservative credentials and his years in Congress would help strengthen Trump’s weaknesses. Pence is scheduled to meet with Trump one more time before the deadline to drop out of the Indiana governor’s race.
The unions and Indiana’s Democratic gubernatorial candidate are both turning up the heat on Governor Mike Pence in his bid for reelection. John Gregg is taking to the air with a new ad that blasts the incumbent Pence for failing to keep Carrier Corp here in Indy. Gregg’s new ad accuses Pence of being “asleep at the switch.” Union workers make an appearance saying Pence didn’t do enough to stop Carrier from taking manufacturing jobs out of Indiana—moving them for cheap labor to Mexico. Pence is on presumptive GOP Presidential Nominee Donald Trump’s shortlist for a vice presidential running mate.
If you’re Facebook friends with the City of Beech Grove, they’re about to ‘ghost on you’ at high Noon. Beech Grove will shut down its Facebook page today at that time, in response to a free speech lawsuit. The ALCU sued the city after someone blocked two local women who questioned police statistics. The city will now send locals and visitors to its website for information.
National…
A deadly police shooting in Louisiana is sparking protests. Alton Sterling was shot in Baton Rogue early Tuesday morning after officers responded to a report of a black man selling CDs threatening someone with a gun. A cellphone video of the shooting was posted online showing officers tackling and holding the 37-year-old Sterling to the ground with a gun aimed at his head before five shots are heard. Sterling was pronounced dead from several gunshots to the chest and back. A witness told The Advocate that an officer pulled a gun from Sterling’s pocket after the shooting. Sybil Wilkes on The Tom Joyner Morning Show on our sister station WTLC-FM also reported this morning that other witnesses said Sterling did not have his hands anywhere near the gun at the time he was accosted by police. Protesters took to the streets of the Louisiana capital Tuesday night outside the store where Sterling was shot. ABC News Correspondent, TJ Holmes, is reporting on Twitter that local leaders are calling for an economic boycott of the city in response to this latest police killing of a black man. A press conference is underway this morning.
UPDATE: The Department of Justice will investigate the deadly police shooting of a black man in Baton Rouge. Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards said today the DOJ and FBI will take the lead in the case. Edwards admitted that he has “very serious concerns” after watching a video of Alton Sterling’s shooting death. He called it “disturbing to say the least.” Cell phone video captured an officer shooting the 37-year-old African-American five times early Tuesday during a struggle outside a Baton Rouge convenience store. Governor Edwards said he has spoken with the White House and called for calm as the investigation continues.
Hillary Clinton will be in Atlantic City today to speak out against Trump’s business dealings on the Jersey Shore. The likely Democratic nominee’s speech comes just a day after the FBI announced the agency won’t recommend charges over her use of a private email server while she was secretary of state. Meantime, Trump will be nearby, in Cincinnati today. He’ll be joined by someone else reportedly on his VP shortlist, former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich.
The Georgia Supreme Court is giving the Ku Klux Klan a partial legal victory. The case first came to light when the KKK sued after its application to participate in an “Adopt-A-Highway” program was denied. Now, the Georgia Supreme Court has struck down the state’s appeal of a Fulton County court ruling because it didn’t follow the proper steps in filing that appeal. As a result, the Klan’s lawsuit against the state may go to trial.
A South African judge is sending convicted murderer and double-amputee track star Oscar Pistorius back to prison. Pistorius was sentenced Wednesday morning to six years in prison. South African prosecutors wanted Pistorius to get at least 15 years for shooting his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013. Pistorius was originally convicted of manslaughter but an appeals court later changed the conviction to murder.
Sports…
Former Pacers forward David West is heading to the Bay Area in hopes of winning his first championship. West signed a one-year deal with the Warriors Tuesday for the veteran minimum. He played four seasons here in Indy.
The Fever are on the road tonight to take on the Los Angeles Sparks at the STAPLES Center. Indiana has dropped three of its last five games. This will be the first of three matchups with the Sparks this season. Tip is slated for 10:30 p.m. Eastern time.
Weather…
Hold onto your umbrella’s on this Hump Day…morning clouds give way to thunderstorms that should last throughout the afternoon, with a muggy high near 90 degrees.
Finally…
A glitch at Starbucks last week led some people to be overcharged for their coffees. The company says it accidentally rolled out a price hike intended for July 12. The most anyone was overcharged was 30 cents.
