Thursday’s News and Headlines With Kim Wells
The FBI is leading the investigation into the cyber attack on Sony Pictures Entertainment. This comes after a report that U.S. investigators have determined North Korea is behind the attack. The movie “The Interview” deals with an assassination plot against current North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. Sony is now canceling the release of the controversial comedy which was set to open on Christmas Day. Several major theater chains dropped the film citing a terror threat that came from hackers in Tuesday’s cyber attack.
President Obama says he’s moving to normalize diplomatic relations with Cuba because, after more than a half-century of tension, it’s time. In a nationally-televised speech from the White House on Wednesday, Obama announced the U.S. will start easing some travel and trade restrictions and re-establish embassies. The U.S. will open an embassy in Havana and Cuba will open one Washington, DC.
Hot on the heels of President Obama’s surprise policy to re-establish relations with Cuba, students at Indiana University are getting ready for a trip to the formerly forbidden, country off the coast of Florida. The week-long Cuban journey will have students from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs involved in a special honors class this spring.
Indiana’s Right To Work law will remain in effect. In an order released on Wednesday, the state’s high court unanimously dismissed a second challenge to the controversial statute that requires unions to provide services to non-union members without compensation. The case was brought by the United Steelworker Union. Earlier this year, a Lake County judge found the law unconstitutional, but the state appealed.
Legalizing marijuana here in Indiana? Nah…the state is probably not ready to make that move as evidenced by a string of failing bills introducing the concept by one state legislator. State Senator Karen Tallian has introduced bills for many years that always tanked in the statehouse. After watching state after state–like Colorado and Washington move the needle on this issue to a legalization the Democrat will attempt a new tactic for the next legislative session. Tallian now wants to limit pot use to people suffering medical problems. Some officials believe the Hoosier State will be among the last to legalize the drug.
Indianapolis Animal Care and Control has a new chief. Dennis Papenmeier was announced as the organization’s next leader on Wednesday. He officially takes over the position on December 29th. Papenmeier currently works for the Department of Code Enforcement, but has nearly 20-years of service in city government.
First-time requests for unemployment benefits are down. The U.S. Labor Department says initial jobless claims fell by about 5,000 last week to 289.000. Most analysts had been expecting a slight increase.
You know what you might see on Sunday, other than a football game? A mail carrier. Yes, Sunday mail delivery is back for the holidays. The Postal Service is doing seven-day-a-week package delivery in major cities. Mail carriers will be out on Sundays in high-volume areas to handle the upsurge in orders through Christmas Day.
In Sports:
The Colts head to Dallas in a matchup of two 10-and-4 teams this Sunday. Indy is in the playoffs after locking up the AFC South last weekend. In the NFC East, the Cowboys hold a one-game lead over the Eagles and control their own destiny with two weeks left in the regular season.
In NBA action…The Pacers tanked in their first game of a quick three-game road swing Wednesday night. They took on the Clippers who kept the “Blue ‘n Gold” at bay with a 102-100 loss from the Staples Center.
Finally…
The man who could be America’s most popular fake conservative pundit is ending his run on Comedy Central tonight. Stephen Colbert will host the final “Colbert Report” Thursday night at 11:31 p.m. Eastern. Colbert was introduced earlier this year as the new host of “The Late Show” when Indiana’s own David Letterman heads off into retirement next year.
Indianapolis Weather:
Cloudy and cold today with snow flurries possible…the High, near 30 degrees.
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