Get In the Know With Kim’s Friday News & Headlines
Millions of New Yorkers and Democrats across the nation are mourning the death of former New York Governor Mario Cuomo. Reactions are pouring in to Cuomo’s death. President Obama released a statement. He says, “Michelle and I were saddened to learn of the passing of former New York Governor Mario Cuomo. An Italian Catholic kid from Queens, born to immigrant parents, Mario paired his faith in God and faith in America to live a life of public service — and we are all better for it…” Former President Bill Clinton says, “Cuomo was the embodiment of the American dream.” He went on to say Cuomo honored his solemn obligation to create opportunity, describing him as a passionate public servant. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie says the country and region lost a giant Thursday and offered his condolences to the entire Cuomo family. He called Cuomo a “strong, eloquent leader who loved New York and its people.” Cuomo passed away just six hours after his oldest son and current governor Andrew Cuomo was inaugurated to a second term in Manhattan. The elder Cuomo had been in poor health and was hospitalized for a heart condition over Thanksgiving. He rose to national fame with a speech he gave at the Democratic National Convention in 1984. Cuomo challenged Ronald Reagan’s comparison of America to a “shining city on a hill.” Check out a clip from his speech by clicking the media player below:
Cuomo served three terms as the governor of New York from 1983 to 1994. The liberal icon died Thursday evening at the age of 82.
Mourners continue to pay respects to NYPD Officer Wenjian Liu at the Brooklyn home where the newlywed lived with his grieving wife. On Sunday, Liu will be buried in Cyprus Hills Cemetery in Brooklyn, where his partner Rafael Ramos was laid to rest last Saturday. The two officers were shot to death just days before Christmas in an ambush by a man who his family said had “mental problems.”
Officials in Cleveland might have another law enforcement agency investigate a police officer’s killing of an African-American 12-year-old boy. The Northeast Ohio Media Group reports city officials are in talks to have the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department take over the investigation. Currently, the police department has been investigating the November 22 shooting of Tamir Rice. Rice was holding a replica of a handgun when white police officer, Timothy Loehmann, shot and killed him.
A growing number of American workers are skipping doctor visits because they can’t afford the deductible. “USA Today” is reporting new studies show four-in-ten working adults have skipped healthcare because of the cost. The research says the number of workers with annual deductibles rose 25-percent in the past eight years.
Here in Indy…
A car stolen early this Friday morning with a baby inside it has police searching for a thief. This happened around 2:30 a.m. at the Citgo Gas Station on 69th Street and North Michigan Road while the mom was inside paying for gas. Here’s the bright light to the story–the suspect must have realized there was a baby inside the car and then left the baby somewhere near the premises of the gas station. Mom, of course, thought the baby was also taken and called police. The baby was found in good condition a short time later. Police are still looking for the stolen vehicle.
Indianapolis Metro Police are looking for two vehicles involved in a hit and run on the city’s northeast side. Investigators say James Ragland was struck New Year’s Eve night on North Franklin Road near 38th Street. While Ragland was down and lying in the road, was hit a second time. The first vehicle is believed to be a late 90s to early 2000s Ford Explorer XLT with damage to the front passenger side. The second car is believed to be a 2005 to 2010 Chrysler 300 four-door that is tan, beige or gold-colored and has under body damage on the passenger side. Any info on this case or the car theft at the gas station that left a baby out in the cold, call 317-262-TIPS.
A bouncing baby girl named Mariama has the distinct honor of being the first baby born in Indianapolis in 2015. Mariama made her arrival at IU Health West Hospital at 12:02 a.m. Thursday and weighed seven-pounds, 14-ounces. To the north, at St. Vincent Carmel Hospital, a baby girl named Amelia was born at 1:17 a.m. Down south at St. Francis Hospital, a baby girl named Symphony was born at 1:25 a.m. Welcome to the world little ladies.
Indianapolis Animal Care and Control is starting 2015 with a new director. Dennis Papenmeier comes from the city’s Neighborhood Services division. Papenmeier says spay and neuter programs and help from animal advocates are helping to bring down the number of animals in the shelter.
History will be made this weekend when the Indiana State Fair crowns a new queen. This is the first time that the pageant will take place in January. Officials say holding it earlier in the year allows the winners more time to prepare and more time to concentrate on school. The new queen will be chosen from 85 contestants from around the state based on interviews, formal wear and professional wear.
It looks like the IndyCar drop could become an annual tradition in downtown Indy. Thousands braved near record cold on New Year’s Eve for the first-ever event at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The fieldhous provided some breaks from the cold for the revelers who were partying outside on Georgia Street.
The average temperature in Indianapolis in 2014 is going down on the books as the third coldest on record. The average temp was 50 degrees, and Indy had the coldest winter since the 1970s. However, last month was the fourth least snowiest December on record.
In Business…
General Motors is recalling 92,000 trucks and SUVs because of a faulty ignition switch. The Detroit automaker said yesterday that the problem may cause the ignition to move out of the “start” position, causing the vehicle to stall and the airbags not to deploy in a crash.
In Sports…
The fourth-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes are in the first-ever College Football Playoff Championship Game. They defeated top-ranked Alabama 42-35 in the Sugar Bowl to advance. Ohio State will meet second-ranked Oregon on January 12 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Tickets to Sunday’s AFC Wildcard game between the Colts and the Bengals are now sold out. All tickets had to be gone by 1 p.m. Thursday or the game would’ve been blacked out by NFL rules. The Colts have sold out 113 consecutive games, including the playoffs.
The Pacers are in action tonight as they head out on the road to take on the Milwaukee Bucks. The Pacers are 12-and-21 with wins in four of their last six games.
Finally…
Oprah Winfrey has a special giveaway for fans in the city of Selma, Alabama. Paramount Pictures will show Winfrey’s civil rights era drama “Selma” free of charge at the Selma Walton Theater, starting January 9th. In a statement on behalf of the movie’s producers Oprah said they were proud to share the film with the people of Selma with hopes that generations will watch the film and share their stories of the historic events that took place there 50 years ago. In addition to producing credits, Winfrey also has a small role in the film playing activist Annie Lee Cooper. Directed by Ava DuVernay, “Selma” opened in limited release (New York and Los Angeles) on Christmas Day and has performed well so far in its first week. The movie also stars David Oyelowo as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Tom Wilkinson as President Lyndon B. Jonson. “Selma” opens here in Indy and nationwide on January 9. Click HERE to check out the film’s trailer.
Friday’s Weather…
Mostly cloudy skies this morning, becoming partly cloudy this afternoon…a High of 38 degrees. Rain and later, freezing rain, moves in on the overnights.
Have a great weekend and remember to join me for “Access Indy” with Kim Wells on 106.7 WTLC on Sunday morning at 8 a.m. Eastern.
( @1067wtlc )
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