Source: Provided by organizers / Indy10 & Don’t Sleep
Get In the Know With Kim’s Wednesday News & Sports Headlines
Good day to you on this last Hump Day of 2015.
Local:
A protest for Justice for Tamir Rice is being held this evening at 6:30 p.m. at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument downtown on Monument Circle. Rice was the 12-year-old black child who was gunned down by Cleveland police in response to a 911 call. Rice had been playing with a toy gun in a Cleveland park. Cleveland is in the open carry state of Ohio, which means that licensed gun owners can carry a weapon. A grand jury this week decided not to indict the two officers who shot and killed the boy. Today’s Indianapolis event is sponsored by Indy 10 and Don’t Sleep.
Source: Colin Anderson / Getty
This year has been record-breaking in Indy, but not in a great category. 2015 is now the deadliest year on record for homicides in this city. New data provided by Indianapolis Metro Police on Monday night shows there have been 144 homicides this year, breaking the previous record of 143 set in 1998.
One of the men charged with Amanda Blackburn’s murder is being charged in a second deadly robbery. Prosecutors say Larry Jo Taylor was the triggerman in a homicide at La Joya Apartments on November 4. Rolando Gonzalez-Hernandez was found shot to death next to his vehicle. Court records indicate that witnesses heard Taylor talking about robbing and shooting someone at the apartment complex where Gonzalez was found.
Source: NA / Getty
A popular Indianapolis bailbondsman has made an appearance in court Wednesday morning. Kevin Watkins, 49, answered to some deadly charges. Police say a bloody rake and garbage bags filled with things that belonged to two murdered teens tie him to the double killing. Watkins is now facing murder charges. Police say he suspected Satori “Dionne” Williams and Timmee Jackson of recently breaking into his home and stealing from him. Some of the evidence was discovered behind Watkins’ business located on Massachusetts Ave. The bloody rake had brain matter on it and police say they also found a finger in Watkins’ vehicle. In the hallway outside of the courtroom, according to WTHR-TV, a loud scuffle of some sort broke out with the sheriff’s department deputies making some arrests.
Big changes are coming to one of Central Indiana’s most heavily traveled corridors. INDOT is planning to spend $ 50-million to improve the I-465/I-69 interchange. Plans include widening I-465 between White River Bridge and I-69, then adding a new flyover ramp for traffic heading eastbound on I-465 onto northbound I-69. INDOT says the new ramp will bridge over Binford Boulevard and I-465, while the existing loop ramp will remain for traffic exiting I-69 onto 82nd St. The project is targeted to begin in 2020.
In National News:
In the local news, we discussed the protest planned for today here in Indy in reaction to happenings in Cleveland regarding a non-indictment of officers involved in the killing of Tamir Rice. Meanwhile in Cleveland, offices at the Cleveland Justice Center were scheduled to reopen today after closing down early Tuesday during a rally for justice for Rice. A small gathering of peaceful protesters gathered at the downtown Cleveland facility in response to the grand jury’s decision not to indict the two officers involved in Rice’s shooting death. The child was playing with a toy gun in a park in an “open carry” firearms state before officers responded to the scene, firing the deadly shots in under two seconds. Another protest there is scheduled for today at 3 p.m. Eastern outside the justice center.
The fugitive Texas teenager who got ten years of probation after killing four people in a drunk driving crash is coming back to the U.S. Authorities in Fort Worth and Mexico says Ethan Couch and his mother are being brought back to Texas today. They were arrested Monday near the Mexican resort town of Puerto Vallarta. Couch was 16 when his attorneys argued that he didn’t know right from wrong because he’d been raised in affluent circumstances. Reporters named it the “affluenza” defense.
Source: David A. Smith / Getty
Comedian Bill Cosby is now facing sexual assault charges for an incident at his Philadelphia-area mansion in 2004. Prosecutors in Pennsylvania said today they have filed criminal charges against the 78-year-old entertainer for allegedly drugging and sexual assaulting a woman. Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Kevin Steele said Cosby is charged with felony aggravated indecent assault and he’s scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon.
In Sports:
The Colts added two quarterbacks to the roster Tuesday, signing both Josh Freeman and Ryan Lindley. The move came after third-string signal-caller Charlie Whitehurst was placed on injured reserve Monday, leaving Steven Morris as the only healthy player at the position. Coach Chuck Pagano called Matt Hasselbeck “doubtful” and Andrew Luck has yet to be medically cleared. Indianapolis hosts the Titans Sunday and is still mathematically alive in the playoff race.
The Pacers are on the road tonight to take on the Chicago Bulls at the United Center. The Pacers have won two straight games and is coming off a 93-87 win over the Hawks at home behind 26 points from Monta Ellis. The Pacers sit at 18-and-12 on the season, just three games behind the Cavaliers in the Central Division. The team has split its two meetings with Chicago this season so far. Tip is scheduled at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.
The reporter at the center of the story that hints former Indianapolis Colts champion quarterback Peyton Manning was using human growth hormone now says they were simply focusing on his wife. Deborah Davies told The Today Show she simply said HGH was sent to Manning’s wife at their Florida home. They never said he used the anti-aging drug. Manning who is currently the QB for the Denver Broncos calls the story garbage.
Finally:
Today is the big day for a big jackpot. The Hoosier Lottery’s Powerball jackpot is a whopper! Today’s jackpot is an estimated $300 million dollars ! Join the conversation on the Hoosier Lottery’s Facebook page and tell folks what you would do with a fantasy jackpot win. You must be 18 years old, or older, to play. Please play responsibly.
Indianapolis Weather:
More clouds than sun today. The High: 39 degrees.
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