#WTLCIndyNews: Indy Snow Force Tackles Winter Blast Across City; Crime Fighting In Indy Goes High Tech In Hogsett’s First 100 Days; GOP Presidential Leader Trumps Other Candidates With Palin; Flint Water Crisis–Money On The Way; Sports & More

Get In the Know With Kim’s Wednesday News & Sports Headlines

Local:

Indy Snow Force is out in full force, keeping a close eye on the roads.  The Department of Public Works activated 96 drivers Tuesday night ahead of Wednesday’s projected snowfall. They’ll stay active all day on Wednesday because the drive to work and school is going to be slick. The drive to lunch or anywhere else might not be that much better later in the day. The National Weather Service included Indianapolis in a Winter Weather Advisory until at least 10 a.m.  Forecasters say snow, cold and icy roads will be a problem. This is causing lots of two hour delays at several central Indiana schools. We have those delays up on our web. Look for the school delay headline and click. As of middle of the morning, the snow accumulation in the city totaled two and a half inches.

A man who brought a gun to a meeting about the threats made against Plainfield High School is facing charges. Police say Ronald Kendall was arrested Tuesday night. The meeting was hosted by federal, state and local law enforcement to update the community on the investigation into recent online threats made against the high school.

A new high-tech crime fighting tool may be the key to making Indy safer. IMPD Chief Troy Riggs and Mayor Hogsett unveiled the Real Time Data Center on Tuesday.  Hogsett says it’ll give officers on the street more information than ever about possible suspects and situations. The center is part of Hogsett’s and Riggs’ crime plan for their first 100-days in office.

Opening statements are beginning in the trial for Bob Leonard, the second suspect in the Richmond Hill explosion. In court on Tuesday, 12 jurors and six alternates were seated. The trial is being held in Allen County. Leonard is charged with 51 counts of murder, arson and conspiracy for the November 2012 blast that killed a young married couple and damaged or destroyed dozens of homes in the Indy south side residential community.

Lawmakers at the statehouse seem ready to give pharmacists in the state veto power over whether you can buy cold medicine. The so-called consultation plan is designed to stop meth makers from buying their ingredients. But opponents say most pharmacists wouldn’t need to intervene, and the proposed law is too much for law-abiding cold sufferers. A Senate panel okayed the plan Tuesday and it’ll soon be up for a vote before the full Indiana Senate.

In International & National News:

At least 21 people, almost all of them students, are dead after gunmen stormed a university in Pakistan.  The Pakistani Taliban is claiming responsibility for today’s bloodshed.  Another 60 people are reported injured.  Pakistan’s prime minister has condemned what his office called a “cowardly attack of the terrorists.”

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin will campaign for Donald Trump after endorsing him for president. Palin and Trump appeared together at a rally in Iowa Tuesday. The 2008 GOP Vice Presidential candidate was enthusiastic and let a few cuss words fly as she said Trump would be a solid Commander in Chief, who would take the fight to ISIS. She also slammed the Republican Party establishment and said Trump will shake up the status quo. Trump told NBC’s Today Show Wednesday morning that he’s honored to have Palin’s support on the campaign trail.

Meanwhile, while Palin is out on the stump for Trump, she may want to check in at home. Her oldest son was arrested back at her house in Alaska on domestic assault charges. Read more about it HERE.

A new poll shows Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders holding a big lead over Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire. The CNN/WMUR survey reports that 60-percent of New Hampshire voters are supporting the Vermont senator, while 33-percent are backing Clinton. Sanders’ lead is up ten points from a similar poll taken in the state about a month ago.

Michigan’s governor is apologizing to the people of Flint over the water contamination crisis.  In his State of the State address, Governor Rick Snyder took full responsibility and says he will fix the problem so it won’t happen again. He said the Michigan National Guard will visit every home to make sure all the people of Flint have safe water to drink. The calls are still growing for Snyder to be arrested.

UPDATE: In a Flint water crisis update since this morning’s WTLC Newscasts, Michigan lawmakers have approved the first portion of more state aid to the City of Flint. The bill was approved quickly Wednesday morning and sent to the full House of Representatives for their approval. Governor Rick Snyder requested $28 million in state aid during his State of the State address Tuesday night. Over $17 million of that will be used for bottled water, filters and replacement cartridges while nearly $6 million will be used for the city’s water system. The plan calls for $2 million to pay for the replacement of plumbing fixtures in schools, child care and adult foster homes, and medical facilities.

Actor Jamie Foxx helped to rescue a man trapped inside his burning vehicle. Click HERE to read the story on our web.

In Sports:

It’s not the tickets to the game that will set you back, it’s getting there.The Colts are selling seats for their game next season against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium in London. Individual seats range from about $60 to $225. Premium seats go on sale next week. Now, about ‘getting there’–tickets for a flight from Indy to London are running about $1,500 a piece. That’s a lot of dough for a lot of ‘Go Horse’ love.

The Indiana Pacers avoided a late fourth-quarter meltdown and pulled off a 97-94 win over the Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena Tuesday night. Monta Ellis posted 20 points, while Paul George added 19, eight rebounds and four assists for the Pacers, which ended a three-game losing streak. The team now gets a few days off before a road matchup with the defending champion Warriors Friday.

Venus Williams slowly walked off court following her loss to Britain’s Johanna Konta on Tuesday at the Australian Open. As she did, Australian fans may have wondered whether she’d be back for her 17th Australian Open next year. Williams skipped her post-match news conference, incurring a $5,000

fine. Her sister, Serena Williams, didn’t offer many clues after her own second-round win over Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei on Wednesday. Serena answered, ”I don’t really know…I would assume (Venus will be back). She’s never mentioned anything about not being here, not competing.” The 35-year-old Venus was the oldest woman in this year’s Australian Open field. She’s also just two Grand Slams shy of tying the record for the most-ever majors played by a woman – 71, set by American Amy Frazier. Do not expect the Williams sisters to play doubles. They are not scheduled to do so therefore Venus’ loss will likely be her last sighting at the tourney this year.

Indianapolis Weather:

Snow will taper off and end during this morning but skies will remain cloudy this afternoon. Today’s High: 24 degrees.

Finally:

George Clooney is weighing in on the Oscar’s diversity scandal. Click HERE to see what the celebrated actor and activist had to say to reporters at Variety.

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