Sen. Donnelly Source: Alex Wong / Getty
@kwellscomm @1067WTLC TLCNaptown.com News & Sports —
An Indiana senator votes ‘No’ on Capitol Hill, while here at home a deputy mayor offers an apology…
Good day to you…
The Democratic U.S. Senator representing Indiana says he’s voting ‘No’ on more of President Donald Trump’s cabinet picks. Senator Joe Donnelly said on Thursday he plans to vote against Senator Jeff Sessions for Attorney General and Betsy DeVos for Education Secretary. Earlier this week, Donnelly voted against President Trump’s pick for Secretary of State as well. Regarding DeVos, she’s one step closer to that Secretary of Ed post thanks to a vote in the Senate today. More on that and former-Governor and Vice President Mike Pence’s role below in the national headlines.
Dep’ty Mayor Hampton Source: ACB III
In a follow up to a story you may have heard on-air during the “Get Up with Erica Campbell Morning Show”… Indianapolis Deputy Mayor Dr. David A. Hampton is apologizing for racially charged comments he made on Facebook. He’d actually made that apology. This stemmed from Hampton reacting to President Trump’s meeting with ‘so-called’ black leaders at the White House on Wednesday for a Black History Month gathering. (Many folks in Black America reacted on social media as well, oftentimes asking who the people in the room were, other than Omarosa Managault and Dr. Ben Carson.) Hampton, described said meeting with a term that has traditionally been known as a racial slur (we won’t print it here), one that in modern use has a slightly different connotation. In an apology message posted to his Facebook account, Hampton said he understands that he’s held to a higher standard because of his roles as a religious leader and city official, but added, “I acknowledge my human flaws.” See his message in it’s entirety HERE.
Indiana lawmakers are ready to talk about Sunday alcohol sales, again. Though they admit it may fail, again. The latest plan to surface at the statehouse this week would allow for a “supplemental” license to sell liquor and beer on Sunday. Liquor stores in the state wouldn’t need the license. Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma says the state’s ban on Sunday sales is an ‘outlier’ whose time has passed.
Indianapolis Metro Police (IMPD) and SWAT were in action this Friday morning. WTHR-TV reports both were on scene of an ongoing situation at a home near on the city’s south side. That home is near the intersection of McFarland Road and Epler Avenue. IMPD is has told the media this is part of an “ongoing investigation.” At last check the situation was under control with police arresting two juveniles in connection to a homicide that happened the night before. For updates…Click HERE.
IMPD and the ATF are looking for answers after a garbage man found a bag of homemade bombs in Plainfield. Police detonated the explosives Thursday morning. IMPD investigators say a trash collector called 911 after finding the devices inside a bag near a dumpster. No one was hurt. Police say they’re looking for leads in the case.
Source: julio donoso / Getty
UPDATED… THE STUDIO HAS PUSHED BACK THIS FILM’S RELEASE. SO THE EVENT HAS BEEN PUSHED BACK AS WELL. “I’m Not Your Negro” is the new Academy Award-nominated documentary about author/activist James Baldwin. Local organization DONT SLEEP is hosting a discussion series FRIDAY, so that you can engage in the film’s themes and watch it for yourself. It’s going down at 6:30 p.m. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17 at Georgetown 14 Digital Cinemas, located at 38th and Lafayette Road across from Lafayette Square. The discussion will feature January York, Manon Voice and Eric Saunders.
National…
Source: Chip Somodevilla / Getty
Betsy DeVos is a big step closer to becoming Secretary of Education for this nation. The Senate started a before dawn session where they wrapped by voting to cut off debate on her nomination. The 52-48 party-line vote sets up a confirmation vote for Monday. Two GOP Senators, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, plan to vote against confirming DeVos. However Vice-President Mike Pence—who “Tom Joyner Morning Show” comedian Huggy Lowdown just made the ‘Bama of the Week’ Friday Morning because of Pence’s odd day two of Black History Month Tweet—is expected to jump-in and break the 50-50 tie to make the billionaire Republican donor and school choice advocate the nation’s Education Secretary. (By the way…Click Pence’s Tweet below to read it for yourself and the Huggy link above to hear Huggy’s take on Pence.)
Source: gradyreese / Getty
The last jobs report of former-President Barack Obama’s administration is out. January’s jobs report is showing its biggest gain in four months. The Labor Department said on Friday morning, nonfarm payrolls added 227,000 jobs last month. Most of the job gains were in retail trade, construction and financial companies. The unemployment rate was little changed at 4.8 percent. It’s the first jobs report since President Donald Trump took office, but again it reflects the work of the Obama Administration. Average hourly wages rose slightly in January to $26-an-hour.
Source: JIM WATSON / Getty
An Ohio pastor is offering up a possible solution for Chicago’s violence problem—but what he’s saying is being questioned by those who are more familiar to that city’s issues like clergy, anti-violence advocates and even Chicago media. Speaking to President Donald Trump during a Black History Month event Wednesday at the White House, Akron Ohio Pastor Darrell Scott who refers to himself as “Black Trump supporter” said he spoke with “top gang thugs” in the city who want a “sit down” with the White House. Trump responded by saying Scott’s idea was great because Chicago is “totally out of control.” When WGN-TV questioned Scott–because leaders there were baffled by his proclamations to the president and knowing that Chicago gang members rarely if ever talked to outsiders–the pastor reversed himself claiming that he misspoke. He now says he talked with “former gang thugs.” See what he told the president before the cameras for yourself: Click HERE.
Source: sanjeri / Getty
The roll-back of former-President Obama’s work continues Friday, as President Donald Trump is moving to stop an Obama administration rule requiring financial advisers to put you, the client, first. Bloomberg News is reports Trump will sign a pair of executive orders today. The first stops the so-called fiduciary rule which requires financial advisers on retirement accounts to work in the best interests of their clients. The Obama administration said the rule would protect millions of retired Americans from being steered into very risky or very expensive investments that generate bigger profits for brokers. The fiduciary rule was scheduled to take effect in April. Trump’s second exec order today is expected to order a sweeping review of the Dodd-Frank Act that was passed in response to the 2008 financial crisis.
Source: Joe Raedle / Getty
The new Congress is also taking action against regulations prohibiting the mentally ill from buying guns. On a vote of 235-180, the House has voted to block a rule that would require the Social Security Administration to send the records of some people with mental disabilities to the federal background check system. The rule would affect about 75,000 people who have been found mentally incapable of managing their own financial affairs. Critics of that rule contends it would strip people with disabilities of their Second Amendment rights. The measure must be approved by the Senate before it can be sent to President Trump’s desk.
The U.S. may impose new sanctions on Iran as early as today, as a response to last weekend’s ballistic missile test. Sources say the sanctions will be written so that they won’t violate the 2015 nuclear deal. President Trump has been critical of that agreement, calling it a “terrible deal.” The Trump administration earlier said it was putting Iran “on notice” over the launch. National Security Adviser Michael Flynn said the test was further evidence of Iran’s “destabilizing behavior.”
The IRS may start revoking the passports for people who don’t pay up. A new law allows it to inform the State Department about people with serious delinquent tax debt. The State Department may then refuse to issue a passport or revoke an existing one. So how much is seriously delinquent? The tax agency defines that debt as $50,000 or more.
In Sports…
Source: Anadolu Agency / Getty
The Pacers are on the road tonight, in Brooklyn, to do battle on court with the Nets. As of now, the Pacers are 26-and-22 on the year and have a four-game winning streak going. The Nets own the league’s worst record at 9-and-40. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. Eastern. They’ll get back to Indy quick afterwards because the Pacers are playing back-to-back games. They host the Pistons at Bankers Life Fieldhouse Saturday night.
Source: David Sherman / Getty
Pacers forward Glenn Robinson, III received good news from the NBA about its showcase weekend. Robinson has been selected to compete in this year’s NBA Slam Dunk Contest at All-Star Weekend in New Orleans on February 18. The Hoosier-native is averaging 6.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game this year. He’ll compete against Orlando forward Aaron Gordon, Suns forward Derrick Jones, III, and Clippers center DeAndre Jordan.
Source: Jeff Kravitz / Getty
Source: Boston Globe / Getty
It’s Super Bowl weekend!!!! The Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots clash in Super Bowl 51 on Sunday at NRG Stadium in Houston. The Falcons seek their first Lombardi Trophy is franchise history, while the Patriots chase their fifth title of the millennium after their quarterback, Tom Brady’s hand-slapping ‘Deflate-gate’ scandal. Kick-off is at 6:30 p.m. Eastern on Sunday evening. The halftime performance features Lady Gaga. Your Super Bowl party features whatever you’re serving. The game will air on Fox.
Weather…
Early morning cloudy skies will partially clear leaving a few peeks of sunshine and a High of 29 degrees. Tonight…Mainly clear skies with a Low around 15 degrees.
Finally…
Source: Ben Hoskins / Getty
Speaking of Super Bowl weekend…are you hosting the party and still getting ready? Or, are you likely to have it dumped on you at the last minute? Find out what you can do to get your house ready for quick Super Bowl entertaining and get some last minute tips with me and my guest, author/lifestyle expert Laura Dellutri and more on “Access Indy with Kim Wells.” We’ll chat up prep for the ‘Big Game’ Sunday night and of course I’ll have the latest takes on the happenings that are going on in the world, to give you access to that which may impact you right here in Indy and beyond. Listen to “Access Indy with Kim Wells” right here on 106.7 WTLC-FM Sunday morning at 8 a.m. Eastern.
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Send your press releases, news tips and show requests to me at the station three ways: Email: kwells@radio-one.com, Phone: 317-923-9696 x 509 (leaving a message), or Fax:317-261-4664. Be sure to follow me on Twitter @kwellscomm. For “Access Indy with Kim Wells” specifically, story tips, etc…email AccessIndy@radio.fm.“Access Indy with Kim Wells” airs Sunday mornings at 8 a.m. Eastern on 106.7 WTLC. Listen on-air, on-line (tlcnaptown.com), or by app.
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