#NaptownNewsie: Watch Tonight’s Senate Debate LIVE; Police Ask For Help To Locate Missing Kokomo Teenager; Sheriff’s Son To Be Sentenced Today For Cocaine Dealing; Clinton Dropping Big Dollars In Indiana For Political Race; More

Karena S. McClerkin Source: unknown / @KokomoPolice

@kwellscomm PraiseIndy.com News & Sports  — Search for missing teen on, but first…

TONIGHT: Indiana’s battle for the U.S. Senate will take front and center tonight as the candidates for Indiana’s open seat go head-to-head in a broadcast debate. Democratic former Sen. Evan Bayh, Republican Rep. Todd Young and Libertarian candidate Lucy Brenton will answer questions and state their positions in an hourlong debate starting at 7 p.m. Eastern. Click below to watch it LIVE:

The search for a missing young black woman here in Central Indiana is on and police want your help to locate her. The Kokomo Police Department is searching for 18-year-old Karena S. McClerkin. She stands about 5’4” tall and has a medium build. She has reddish-brown, shoulder-length hair. McClerkin was last seen several ago on Oct. 11 in the 1000 block of South Washington Street in Kokomo. If you’ve seen her or know her whereabouts Kokomo Police would like you to call Captain Teresa Galloway at 765-456-7326, or call their police hotline directly at 765-456-7017.

Three people, including the son of a top county law enforcement official, will hear their sentences today for drug dealing after each has enters a plea deal. Nikolas Layton, a former IMPD officer and the son of Sheriff John Layton and is charged with four felonies in this drug dealing case. He’s agreed to plead guilty to one felony charge of conspiracy to commit dealing cocaine, which is a level four felony.  The two others, Veronica Purdy and Christopher Reed, also agreed to plead guilty to dealing cocaine. However, as part of their deal, their sentences will not be more than five years.

One person was killed and another was seriously injured following a crash near the Eagle Creek Reservoir. The accident happened early Monday morning. IMPD says it appears a vehicle heading east on West 56th Street crossed the center line and hit another vehicle head on. The names of those involved haven’t yet been released.

A Congressional panel is looking into Indiana Congressman Marlin Stutzman, with a possible eye on how he spent some of his congressional budget. Stutzman is facing questions after reports say he spent some of his allowance to reimburse himself for a campaign event. That’s a big no-no. Stutzman said in a statement that he’s always tried to ‘follow Congressional rules’.

Hillary Clinton is close enough to Donald Trump in the polls here in Indiana that she’s now going to spend some money in the state. On Monday, Clinton’s campaign said the Democratic candidate for President is sending a half-million dollars to Indiana for TV ads and get out the vote efforts. The latest poll shows Trump leads Mrs. Clinton by just four points. He had an eleven-point lead in August.

National…

The two candidates will go head to head in the third and final presidential debate Wednesday night at 9 p.m. Eastern Time. The 90-minute debate from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas begins at 9 p.m. Eastern Time.  Fox News Sunday anchor Chris Wallace will moderate.

America’s kids say Clinton will beat Trump in a landslide. Scholastic News magazine’s presidential poll of more than 150,000 schoolchildren shows the Democratic nominee with 52-percent of the popular vote to Republican Trump’s 35-percent. The kids give Clinton enough states for a 436 to 99 electoral vote margin. Scholastic News officials noted their kids have gotten every election right since 1964.

It’s a done deal. Don’t look for Billy Bush on the Today show. NBC announced on Monday that Bush won’t be returning following the release of that 2005 video tape with Donald Trump. He was initially suspended which turned into an “indefinite” suspension last week. The New York Post reported that Bush could collect up to $10 million in a settlement to pay-out his three-year contract.

If you get a text message from Fifth Third Bank about your account being closed or frozen, it’s a scam. The message includes a phone number that you’re asked to call. A spokesperson for Fifth Third Bank says they’ll never initiate a phone call or a text asking for personal customer information.  The spokesperson adds the scammers are targeting phone numbers with certain area codes and there’s been no data breach.

Sports…

The Indiana Pacers have released two players as the preseason winds down. Forward Alex Poythress and guard Nick Zeisloft were both sent packing on Monday. Both players were undrafted rookies and saw little playing time in preseason action. The team winds down pre-season with their last game on Wednesday against the Bucks on the road in Milwaukee. Regular season begins the following Wednesday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse against the Dallas Mavericks.

A suspended University of Notre Dame football player has reached a plea agreement in his criminal case. Devin Butler was facing felony resisting law enforcement and battery charges following an altercation with South Bend police. In exchange for the guilty plea, Butler’s charge will be dropped to a misdemeanor and the battery charge will be dismissed. A Notre Dame spokesperson told the press Butler’s status with the team has not changed and he remains indefinitely suspended.

Indianapolis Weather…

Scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. High of 76 degrees.

Tonight will be a great night for a light jacket if you’re going to be out and about. Expect partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms this evening. With a Low of 57 degrees.

VOTE!  **Early voting continues today in Indiana. Marion County residents can cast ballots at the Indianapolis City-County Building in the clerk’s office on the first floor.**