#WTLCIndyNews: Storms May Impact Your Day Today; Indiana Pastor Guilty Of Running A Drug Ring; Hear Marion County Transit Plan At Urban League Tonight; Obama Commutes Sentences Of Non-Violent Prisoners; Sports & More

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Kim’sTLCNaptown.com Local and National News & Sports Headlines

Good day to you on this last day of March.

The worst of the storms are expected well to the south of Indianapolis, but here in the city, we could still see some severe weather this evening. The National Weather Service says southern Indiana is in the bull’s-eye for high winds and strong storms. Forecasters say there’s a slight risk of severe weather for Indianapolis, mainly this evening into tonight.

The so-called mastermind behind the Richmond Hill explosion, Mark Leonard, wants a new trial. He was sentenced to life in prison for the 2012 blast that killed two people and damaged or destroyed dozens of homes on Indy’s far south side. In his appeal, Leonard states five reasons his convictions should be tossed, including that some of the statements he made to an undercover officer were made without an attorney present, so they shouldn’t have been allowed at trial.

The crowd kept coming most of the day on Wednesday, as people from across Indiana paid their respects to a one-year- old child from Spencer. Shaylyn Ammerman was the little girl who was kidnapped from her home and murdered last week. Hundreds attended her visitation and funeral service. Meanwhile the man accused of her heinous death, Kyle Parker, is on suicide watch. He’s in the Owen County Jail sequestered from other inmates and restrained for his own safety.

An Indiana pastor admits he made almost $3 million by selling over 100 tons of synthetic marijuana. Robert Jaynes Jr. pleaded guilty to federal drug charges this week. Prosecutors say Jaynes headed a drug ring that included a handful of central Indiana law enforcement officers. Jaynes faces more than 12 years in prison for his crimes.

A Hendricks County man is accused of filming women in the restroom of the Chili’s restaurant where he worked as a manager. Justin Behnke now faces 15 charges of voyeurism. Prosecutors say he filmed women using the restroom at the Martinsville Chili’s—all employees—and that Behnke filmed other women in his house, as well.

Organizers of the Marion County Transit Plan, Indy Connect, are holding an open house this evening at the Indianapolis Urban League and they’re asking for you to come and hear the latest…and get involved. It’s about increasing IndyGo’s service and with shorter wait times. The Urban League’s president Tony Mason said that his organization wants residents to understand the specifics of the Marion County Transit Plan. You can do so from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Urban League’s office located at 777 Indiana Avenue. Email ldixon@indplsul.org to let them know you’re coming.

ELECTION 2016: If you want to vote in the upcoming primary election, but aren’t registered, you’re running out of time.  The deadline is Monday, April 4. You can register online at indianavoters.in.gov. Indiana’s primary will be held on May 3. In addition to the presidential races, here in Indiana the governor’s race is at stake. Incumbent GOP Governor Mike Pence faces a challenge by Democrat candidate John Gregg. To register, click HERE.

In national news…

The President is commuting the sentences of 61 non-violent drug offenders. It’s part of Obama’s campaign for criminal justice reform. He’s argued that overcrowded federal prisons are holding too many people serving long sentences for nonviolent crimes. And today, the president turns his attention to the threat of nuclear terrorism. He will open a nuclear security summit in Washington, DC later today. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the summit will also deal with efforts to keep nuclear materials out of the hands of groups like ISIS.

Prosecutors in Minneapolis are not filing charges in the fatal police shooting of an unarmed black man. Jamar Clark was shot in the head last November during a struggle with police. After word spread of the prosecutors decision, #BlackLivesMatter protesters, and others, gathered on Wednesday at the spot where the shooting took place and peacefully marched to downtown Minneapolis.

Donald Trump is in hot water for his controversial comments on abortion.  The GOP frontrunner suggested Wednesday on MSNBC that women should be punished if abortion were to become illegal. Trump’s Democratic rival Hillary Clinton responded on Twitter saying, “We can’t let someone with this much contempt for women’s rights anywhere near the White House.”

To Your Health…

Johns Hopkins Medicine says it has successfully completed the nation’s first ever HIV-to-HIV patient liver transplant. The identities of the recipients have not been released, but the hospital in Baltimore says the organs and the patients are doing well. A statement from Johns Hopkins says they are very thankful to Congress, the President and the transplant community for letting them use the organs of HIV-positive patients to save lives instead of throwing them away, as they have had to do for so many years.

In Sports…

The Colts will spend part of their summer at Anderson University. They are returning to the college again for the seventh straight year for training camp according to the team in an announcement on Wednesday.

The Pacers are in action tonight hosting the Orlando Magic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana is 39-and-35 and currently holds the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Pacers have just eight games to go in their regular season. Tonight’s tip off is at 7 p.m. Eastern

Weather…

A storm system rolling across the Central and Southern Plains is leaving tornado damage in its wake. At least four tornadoes were reported in northeast Oklahoma. Several thousand homes were left without power after a tornado ripped through Tulsa, damaging buildings and injuring seven people. The National Weather Service says the system is packing thunderstorms, hail and possibly more twisters.

Here in Indy… Windy with storms continuing today. A few storms may be severe. Today’s High: 68 degrees.

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