#WTLCIndyNews: New Police Chief For City; Gov Will Not Block Syrian Refugees Aid; Congressman Carson’s Life Threatened; Warriors Beat Pacers At Home

Source: David Hills / Getty

Good day on this 150th anniversary of the ratification of the 13th Amendment which formally abolished slavery in the U.S.

When Mayor-elect Joe Hogsett takes over the city next year, Former Public Safety Director Troy Riggs will take over as the chief of the Indianapolis Metro Police Department. Hogsett made the announcement yesterday. Riggs says reducing crime, and the fear of crime and enhancing public safety are the three priorities to controlling violence in the city.  Riggs says the police department will be aggressive and will focus on quality arrests, not quantity.  Prior to this new leadership announcement, Chief Rick Hite turned in his resignation. The transition becomes official January 1.

Governor Pence says he won’t block state aid for a Syrian refugee family relocated to Indiana. The Archdiocese of Indianapolis settled the family of four in the city Monday night, despite Pence’s request not to. Pence says he respectfully disagrees with the decision, but won’t stop the family from receiving state aid, such as food stamps and healthcare. Following the Paris terror attacks last month, Pence suspended Syrian refugee settlement in Indiana until screening is improved. Pence also added Donald Trump’s call to ban all Muslims from the United States is too much saying a total ban on Muslims is unconstitutional, but a pause in refugees is not.

Indiana Congressman Andre Carson is blaming the “toxic environment” for the death threat he received this week. Carson is one of two Muslims in Congress. He says the heated rhetoric, like that from Donald Trump, is not helping the country. Carson told CNN he got a death threat at his office this week.

Some Hoosiers are paying more for childcare than tuition to a four-year public college.  A new report by Child Care Aware of America says in Indiana, a single parent with two kids will pay about 70-percent of their income to childcare centers.  In Marion County, the cost of childcare is 14-percent more than the state average.

National:

The defense team for a police officer charged in the death of Freddie Gray will present their case today. William Porter is the first of six Baltimore police officers to stand trial in the April death of Gray.  The prosecution rested its case yesterday. Two medical experts testified Monday that Gray’s life could have been saved if Porter had called for paramedics.

President Obama and Congress will celebrate today’s 150th anniversary of the ratification of the 13th Amendment.  The constitutional amendment formally abolished slavery in the U.S.  The President will be joined by several congressional leaders, including House Speaker Paul Ryan.

Sports:

The record-breaking winning streak continues for NBA defending champs the Golden State Warriors. Our Indiana Pacers took them on last night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Though the Pacers outscored them by 20 in the fourth quarter, they lost by 8 points. The final was 131-123. The Warriors improve to 23-and-0.

Indianapolis Weather:

Cloudy today. High near 55 degrees.

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