Get In the Know With Kim’s Tuesday “TJMS” News & Headlines
At press time, Indianapolis Metro Police Department homicide detectives are on the scene of a shooting on the city’s east side Tuesday morning. They’re in the 800 block of North LaSalle Street investigating a call of a person shot in the chest. The call came in around a quarter to eight. This is a developing story.
In other local news…
Just when you were getting a break in your budget by paying less at the pump, a local utility company now wants more out of your wallet. Indianapolis Power and Light wants to raise rates next year. If the increase is approved by the Indiana Regulatory Commission, the average residential user would see their bill go up by about $8 a month. No hearing has been set for their request as of yet. IPL says their reason for wanting the rate hike is because they need it to cover the rising cost of providing safe and reliable electricity. The commission’s phone number is 317-232-2701 if you want to let your voice be heard.
Three of the six convictions for former Indiana Secretary of State Charlie White are being overturned. On Monday, the Indiana Court of Appeals vacated two voter fraud charges and one perjury charge. White’s other convictions on perjury, voting in an incorrect precinct and theft were upheld. The decision to toss some of the charges does not however change his sentence. White is sentenced to one year of home detention, 30 hours of community service and a $1,000 fine.
The flu bug is spreading its virus across the state. Doctors say the strain is very powerful and particularly dangerous for children. Indiana State Health Department reports show widespread absences at schools plus an increase of cases at Eskenazi Health in Indianpolis.
The investigation continues into a baby girl found dead in Eagle Creek Park. According to a report by the Marion County coroner, an age hasn’t been determined yet and it’s still unknown if the infant was alive at birth. It also states the baby was found underneath a tree branch in a wooded area near Wilson Road. Police say a hiker found the child on Sunday wrapped in a blue sweatshirt with the logo “Aviation Maintenance Vincennes University-Indianapolis.” If you have any info about this, call 317-262-TIPS.
Murder charges are being filed against a man accused of killing his girlfriend’s three-year-old daughter. Police say Freddie Bailey repeatedly hit the little girl’s head against a wall and bit her numerous times. The child was taken to Riley Hospital for Children last week and declared brain dead several days later. Her mother is also charged with neglect of a dependent causing death.
And speaking of murder charges–Indianapolis is ending the year with the highest number of murders in a decade. Police report 135 people were criminal homicide victims in 2014. Reverend Charles Harrison, leader of the city’s Ten Point Coalition, said the numbers won’t change unless the City-County Council changes the strategy on public safety. Police are facing a huge dilemma with gun violence.
The autopsy results on Ezell Ford are in, and they could ignite a new round of protests in Los Angeles and other cities across the country. The autopsy shows that the unarmed black man was shot three times, including once in the back by LAPD officers. The autopsy also shows the gunshot wound to the back was made at very close range, substantiating what many witnesses have said, Ford was face down when police shot him in the back. Police claim Ford was trying to grab the officer’s gun during the struggle in August.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is meeting with the city’s five police unions Tuesday. Police Commissioner Bill Bratton is also scheduled to attend the private meeting. The announcement comes after the mayor received mixed reaction as he addressed the nearly 900-member graduating class of the NYPD Academy on Monday. Some of the officers booed, others cat-callled and heckled.
Memorial services are being held this weekend for the second NYPD officer shot and killed in that ambush attack in Brooklyn. A wake for Officer Wenjian Liu will be held this Saturday from 1:00 to 9 p.m. at Ralph Aievoli & Sons Funeral Home in Bensonhurst. There are reports the funeral will be held Sunday morning at the same location but that has yet to be confirmed.
Officials with AirAsia are now confirming that debris found in the Java Sea Tuesday is indeed that of their missing airliner, Flight 8501. Search crews said they’ve pulled at least 40 bodies from the water along with some wreckage.
In Sports…
The Indiana Pacers dropped another one, losing to the Chicago Bulls on Monday night, 92-90, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The loss came, despite outscoring the Bulls by 14 in the fourth quarter. Chicago won its seventh straight on the floor in Indy. Up next, the Pacers battle Miami Wednesday.
And, if you’re trying to go to the Colts versus the Bengals playoff game on Sunday–tickets are going quick, fast and in a hurry. Officials say fewer than 7,000 tickets are left. Prices range from $50-to-$400 per seat. Go Horse!
Finally…
I don’t do shout outs, but if I did, Happy Birthday wishes go out to Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, Golf star Tiger Woods and R&B singer and actor Tyrese Gibson. Today, Ralph is 58 years old, Woods is 39 years old and Gibson is 36 years old.
Indianapolis Weather…
Expect a mixture of clouds and sun over the metro area with a HIGH of 30 degrees.
Make it a great day! I’m Kim Wells.
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Follow me on Twitter @kwellscomm.
