#NaptownNewsie: County Prosecutor: ‘Hold Up’ What Voter Fraud?; State’s School Superintendents Demand Action On Standardized Testing; Americans ‘Are’ Concerned About Election-Related Violence; Police Invasion On Dakota Oil Pipeline Protesters; Winning! Pacers, Cubs; & More

Source: terrycurry.com / terrycurry.com

Source: getty / Getty

@kwellscomm PraiseIndy.com News & Sports…

It’s too soon to say that ‘suspect’ voter lists are evidence of voter fraud. That’s the word from Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry, a Democrat who’s also the top prosecutor here in this county. Curry is pushing back on the Indiana State Police’s claims they’ve have found evidence of voter fraud in the files of a get-out-the-vote group Patriot Majority USA that worked here in the state—largely in minority areas. Curry is asking the State Police, who were called in by Republican Secretary of State, Connie Lawson, to stop talking about the case. ISP’s superintendent, Doug Carter, has recently been making the rounds with the press. The Patriot Majority USA group is also fighting back. It claims on its website that Indiana Governor Mike Pence and “his State Police” targeted those voter registrations that were overwhelmingly African American for voter suppression. Pence is running for Vice-President on the GOP ticket with Donald Trump.

An Indianapolis Metro Police officer was injured in an early Thursday morning crash on the city’s southeast side. WRTV-6 reports it happened near the intersection of Raymond Street and Keystone Avenue around 1 a.m. The officer and the driver were taken to area hospitals and both are listed in good condition. This crash is under investigation.

Source: Joe Raedle / Getty

Students are no longer allowed to fly the Confederate flag in or near Bloomington North High School. The district banned the flag after pictures of students wearing the Confederate flag like a cape surfaced this week. North Principal Jeffry Henderson sent a letter to parents Wednesday explaining that the flag made some students feel unsafe. He’s encouraging parents to talk to their students about the issue.

Indiana schools can’t continue with the ISTEP and can’t do anything.  Two dozen local superintendents from schools across Indiana sent a letter to state school leaders Wednesday demanding action on the ISTEP.  Indiana is trying to walk away from the flawed test, but inaction and indecision at the statehouse means there’s no replacement test. Jeff Hendrix, who is the president of the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents’ group, says the ISTEP test doesn’t help kids and is more of a political tool than an educational tool.

Source: Rick Diamond / Getty

Actress Keisha Knight Pulliam—yes, ‘Rudy’ from “The Cosby Show” is visiting Indy today. She’s headlining the Indianapolis Urban League’s Educational Excellence Forum and Awards Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. This event features an indepth discussion about education and children’s educational futures and is sponsored by the Indianapolis Urban League  and the American Federation for Children. The event will be held at the IUL’s headquarters downtown at 777 Indiana Avenue. As of 10 a.m. they were filling the ten final remaining seats.

National…

Source: The Washington Post / Getty

Half of the Americans in a new poll say they are worried about violence flaring up on Election Day. The USA Today-Suffolk University poll found that half of likely voters were at least somewhat concerned about things taking a turn for the worse, and one-in-five were very concerned. About the same number said they were not confident that the U.S. would have a peaceful transition of power after the election. Maybe they should be worried or at least have reason to pause. In a move that some have called ‘stirring the pot,’ former Congressman and now syndicated radio show host Joe Walsh Tweeted this to his followers on Wednesday night, “On November 8th, I’m voting for Trump. On November 9th, if Trump loses, I’m grabbing my musket. You in?” By the way, this same poll has Hillary Clinton leading Donald Trump by nine points. See Walsh’s Tweet for yourself below…

Source: MARK RALSTON / Getty

It’s a busy day on the presidential campaign trail today. Clinton is hitting the road in the swing state of North Carolina. In a first, campaigning alongside her in Winston-Salem will be First Lady Michelle Obama. Trump started his day off with a joint interview with his wife Melania on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” There, Trump said his wife would be giving two to three speeches soon. He’s then scheduled to criss-cross the battleground state of Ohio, our neighbor to the East, for rallies in Springfield, Toledo and Geneva. Clinton’s running mate, Tim Kaine, is also in Ohio, while Trump’s ‘veep’, Mike Pence, is hitting the road to campaign in Nebraska and Iowa.

Source: Stephanie Keith / Getty

Source: Adam Bettcher / Getty

Newly released hacked emails are raising more questions about the Clinton Foundation. A long memo from Clinton ally Douglas Band boasts about helping to enrich former President Bill Clinton to the tune of $50 million while lining up donors to the charitable foundation. Trump has long-accused the Clinton’s of running a “pay-for-play” scheme when Hillary Clinton was the nation’s secretary of state.

Protesters  Source: AFP / Getty

We’re paying attention to the story of the Native American-led protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline and here’s a twist. Protesters in Minneapolis are not happy with sheriff’s deputies from three counties there, being sent to North Dakota to perform police duties as a response to the protesters and their supporters. Minneapolis protesters rallied in their own downtown on Tuesday and called for those sheriff’s deputies from Hennepin County to come home along with deputies from two other surrounding counties. The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office says the state of North Dakota asked the deputies to be in Morton County, Dakota to respond to ongoing protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline. The sheriff’s office says North Dakota will reimburse the three counties for any expenses incurred. The Chicago Tribune is reporting a major confrontation is expected on Thursday between police and protesters who do not want this oil pipeline built across this land threatening the water supply and more of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. The protest has spread onto private land held by the pipeline’s developer.  Read more about this story HERE.

In Business Headlines…

Source: LEON NEAL / Getty

Jobs are on the line at a popular social media giant. Twitter is slashing nine percent of its workforce as it works to become profitable by next year. In a filing with regulators, the company says the elimination of about 300 to 350 jobs will help it “fully invest in its highest priorities.” That will include trying to attract more users.

Tim O’Shaughnessy, CEO/Co-Founder Source: The Washington Post / Getty

Source: Scott Olson / Getty

One big daily ‘deals’ site is buying another. LivingSocial says it’s being acquired by Groupon in an agreement that should become final next month. It isn’t giving a purchase price, but says consumers and merchants should see “no change at this point” in how they use the service. Both companies have been struggling lately and LivingSocial laid off half of its workforce in March. Groupon has also been trimming its operations and says it will continue to downsize despite this acquisition.

In Sports…

Paul George #13  Source: Andy Lyons / Getty

Head Coach Nate McMillan (seated)  Source: Ron Hoskins / Getty

The Indiana Pacers got off to a great start of the season and are in celebration mode. The Pacers took the Dallas Mavericks to overtime Wednesday night at home and took the win 130 -121. A new up-tempo offense is what they used, along with a new coach to cruise to that overtime victory. The Pacers hit the road to take on the Brooklyn Nets in the Barclays Center Friday night at 7:30 p.m. Eastern.

Kyle Schwarber  Source: LG Patterson / Getty

Aroldis Chapman  Source: Ezra Shaw / Getty

The World Series is tied up at a game a-piece between the Cleveland Indians and Wednesday night’s winners—the Chicago Cubs. Indiana University alum, Kyle Schwarber, drove in two runs and Jake Arrieta took a no-hitter into the sixth inning as the Cubs took one on the road, 5-1, in Game Two. Anthony Rizzo doubled in a run in the first and Ben Zobrist had an RBI triple to ignite a three-run fifth inning for the Cubbies, which was shut out by the Indians in Game One, 6-0. The action shifts to Chicago now for Game Three. Play gets underway on Friday night at Wrigley Field. Planning to go hang? Ticket prices are astronomical. Standing room only entry to the stadium begin at $2,000. The clubs in Wrigleyville are reportedly charging covers that begin at $100 to get in and watch the game immersed in the Cubs’ atmosphere. Game time is at 8:08 p.m. Eastern.

Indianapolis Weather…

Cloudy on Thursday. Periods of light rain during the morning hours and overcast the rest of the day. The High: 56 degrees. Tonight’s Low: near 40 degrees.

# (@PraiseIndy) #