Source: KimWellsMedia / kimwellsmedia
Source: Indiana Governors office / Gov Office
Get In the Know With Kim’s Thursday News & Sports Headlines
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Governor Mike Pence is awarding our colleague, Indiana broadcaster, the late-Amos Brown, Indiana’s highest honor today. Brown’s family will accept The Sachem Award 2015 posthumously on his behalf during a ceremony beginning at Noon at the statehouse. The Sachem is given to leaders whose life exhibits wisdom, judgment and grace, and whose character underscores the importance of moral example annually. Brown’s name will be enshrined in the Statehouse Rotunda following the governor’s presentation. This event is open to the public, so you’re invited to come share in this special milestone. Brown, who hosted Afternoons With Amos on AM-1310 “The Light” and wrote Just Tellin’ It—his weekly column in The Indianapolis Recorder, died last year on November 6 while visiting his parents in Chicago. The beloved broadcaster and community leader was age 64.
Source: Jeff Rotman / Getty
An Indianapolis Metro Police officer accused of dealing cocaine no longer works at the police department. Second generation law-man, Nikolas Layton, has resigned. IMPD officials say Layton and two others were arrested Tuesday on preliminary a variety of charges including dealing in cocaine, conspiracy to deal cocaine, dealing in a controlled substance and possession of cocaine. The 35-year-old Layton is the son of Marion County Sheriff John Layton.
Source: Marianne Williams Photography, http://halfasecondorless.com / Getty
The fight against drugs here in Indiana is being felt everywhere—from one police family, just mentioned above, to crowded court dockets, to a flood of children into the state’s social service programs. Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta Rush says two drugs specifically have exploded as the “it” drugs in the state. They’re heroin and meth, and the court system is feeling the impact. She says the state saw a 30-percent spike in the number of kids entering the child welfare system last year alone.
Metro police are investigating another armed robbery near IUPUI. This time, it was a home invasion that happened just north of the college’s downtown campus on Lockefield Street Wednesday evening. Officials told The Indianapolis Star the suspect was armed with a plastic gun and there were no significant injuries.
A man walking away from his crashed vehicle has been injured after being struck by a car. Police say the man drove into a ditch along West Tenth Street near Raceway Road Wednesday night. As he crossed the street to get help for the accident, he was hit. The man’s identity has not been revealed however, he was taken to the hospital, and the extent of his injuries is unknown. The driver of the car who hit the man is cooperating with police.
In National News:
Source: Scott Olson / Getty
The record Powerball jackpot will go to winners in three states. Tickets with all five numbers plus the Powerball were sold in California, Florida and Tennessee. Lottery officials in Cali say the winning ticket there was sold at a 7-Eleven in Chino Hills. Media reports show the owner of the store dancing and celebrating with a packed store of revelers. The retailer shares in the jackpot. They receive a $1 million incentive. The three jackpot winners will now split the $1.5-billion prize three ways. The winning numbers are 4, 8, 19, 27, 34 and the Powerball is 10. Players are advised to double check tickets before tossing them. A $1 million winning ticket was sold here in Indiana. One-million-dollar-winners are also in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia. Plus, players could have won any of the smaller prize amounts.
Source: 7831 / Getty
A beloved British actor best known for his roles in the Harry Potter films and Die Hard has lost his battle with cancer. Alan Rickman has died. His family confirmed his death today. The 69-year-old Rickman is best known for his role in the U.S. as Professor Snape in the Harry Potter franchise and for his work playing the terrorist Hans Gruber in the Bruce Willis action blockbuster Die Hard.
Source: Brian Vander Brug / Getty
Source: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin / Getty
The Oscar nominations are out! The Academy Awards nominations were announced Thursday morning and eight movies are in the running for ‘Best Picture’. They are Spotlight, The Martian, The Big Short, The Revenant, Bridge of Spies, Brooklyn, Mad Max: Fury Road, and Room. Also, this may be the year Leonardo DiCaprio walks away with his first golden statue named Oscar. He’s been nominated for Best Actor for his role in the pioneer-era drama The Revenant. He faces challenges from Bryan Cranston in Trumbo, Michael Fassbender in Steve Jobs, Eddie Redmayne in The Danish Girl, and Matt Damon for his performance in The Martian. DiCaprio was also nominated for Best Actor for The Wolf of Wall Street in 2014, Blood Diamond in 2007 and The Aviator in 2005. In all, The Revenant was nominated for 12 Oscars. The 88th Academy Awards ceremony will take place February 28 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood and will be hosted by comedian and actor Chris Rock. ABC will televise the ceremony live, starting at 7 p.m. Eastern. See the complete list of nominations HERE.
Republican presidential candidates will square off tonight for another debate in South Carolina. The stakes are getting higher with the Iowa caucuses around the corner on February 1. The New Hampshire primary follows on February 9. GOP frontrunner Donald Trump will again take center stage tonight. He’ll be joined by Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Ben Carson, Chris Christie, Jeb Bush and John Kasich. Don’t look for Rand Paul and Carly Fiorina with them. Both have been bounced off the main debate stage due to low poll numbers.
Source: NICHOLAS KAMM / Getty
In the Democratic presidential race, one of the three candidates has picked up a weighty endorsement. Magazine, The Nation, is throwing its support behind Bernie Sanders. The liberal magazine founded over 150 years ago says it’s endorsing the Vermont senator in part because “the limits of a Clinton presidency are clear.” Sanders also gets the nod for having, “summoned the people to a political revolution.”
Speaking of Sanders, he’s hitting the road and may be popping up at your favorite historically black college or university soon. Sanders is launching what’s being called the “Feel the Bern” tour of HBCUs. The HBCU campaign stops will include rallies mainly throughout the south. Schools in Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi, Florida, South Carolina, Virginia and Washington, DC are included starting with a rally at South Carolina State today.
In Sports:
Source: Joe Robbins / Getty
Attempting to allay fears here in Indy, the NFL says there are no plans to move the league’s annual workout for ‘wannabe pro players’ from Indianapolis to Los Angeles. The league says the NFL Combine is staying put right here. There’s been a lot of speculation that the Combine could move L.A. due to this week’s announcement of team moves and construction in the west coast city. Yes, the Rams are moving back to L.A. from St. Louis. Officials in Indy say the league’s annual workout is worth at least $8 million to the local economy.
A 12-0 run to close the game allowed the Celtics to claim a 103-94 win over the Pacers at TD Garden Wednesday night. Jae Crowder dropped 25 points as the Celtics ended a four-game slide. Paul George knocked down 23 points but the Pacers missed their final four shots as they allowed the game and the victory to slip away. The Pacers fell to 22-and-17 on the season. They’re back in action again tomorrow. The Pacers host the Wizards at 7 p.m. Eastern.
Former Butler University basketball standout Andrew Smith will be laid to rest this weekend. Funeral services will be held Sunday at 5 p.m. at Traders Point Christian Church in Zionsville. Smith passed away Tuesday at the age of 25 after a two-year battle with cancer.
Indianapolis Weather:
Expect a mixture of clouds and sun on this Throwback Thursday. Today’s high: 43 degrees.
Finally:
Source: meshaphoto / Getty
Today is “National Dress Up Your Pet Day”. (Yes it is more likely that this pet day actually exists than you being one of the three winners of last night’s $1.5 Billion Powerball jackpot.) If you’re on the fence about celebrating the day, the folks over at PetMD.com say it’s really not a bad idea because, as they put it, “People use clothes to show off their personality, why shouldn’t your pet?” Dress up your pet day has been something of a tradition since 2009. As cold as it’s been here in Indy, your pet might welcome boots and a cute little jacket.
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