INDIANAPOLIS – The attorney for convicted child killer Jeffrey Weisheit will attempt to convince the Indiana Parole Board that his client should avoid execution during a public clemency hearing on Monday, Oct. 19. 

Weisheit is scheduled to die by lethal injection on Nov. 5 for the 2010 murders of his then-fiance’s children, 8-year-old Alyssa Lynch and 5-year-old Caleb Lynch, in a Vanderburgh County arson. 

“This is a man with severe mental illness and brain damage, and severe crippling remorse,” Weisheit’s attorney Joseph Perkovich said in an exclusive interview with Indiana’s I-Team.  

Following the clemency hearings, the Parole Board will make a recommendation to Gov. Mike Braun on whether to commute Weisheit’s death sentence, but it will ultimately be the governor’s decision. 

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita requested an execution date for Weishiet in June, saying “It is long past time to carry out the sentence.”

Perkovich claims legal technicalities have prevented evidence of Weisheit’s mental condition from being fully considered in court and “scientifically robust evidence and analysis of very substantial brain damage” should prevent the state from putting Weisheit to death. 

“The legal process that has been drawn out has been inadequate,” Perkovich said. 

In the first of two clemency hearings, Weisheit expressed regret for his crimes, but struggled to explain what led him to kill two children. Weisheit had difficulty answering the board’s questions, went on long tangents about grievances with his victims’ mother, and suggested officers may have tampered with evidence. 

When asked why the board should recommend Gov. Mike Braun stop his execution, Weisheit didn’t have an answer. “I don’t know. You don’t have to,” Weisheit said. 

Perkovich said Wesheit’s performance at the first clemency hearing was understandable for “somebody who’s profoundly mentally ill.”

“It gets to the question of can you blame somebody with such severe brain damage combined with mental illness,” Perkovich said. 

The father of Weisheit’s victims, Steven Lynch, has signed an affidavit asking Gov. Braun to grant clemency. The children’s mother, Lisa Lynch, declined to write a similar letter in support. 

“I cannot pretend to suggest what she should feel about this or what position she should take,” Perkovich said. “We are humbled by the fact that Steven Lynch has expressed his views of forgiveness, has requested mercy, and hopes that Mr. Weisheit will continue his journey with God towards forgiveness.”

Weisheit’s second clemency hearing is Monday, Oct. 19, inside the Indiana Government Center in Indianapolis, and is open to the public. The Parole Board will hear from speakers for and against clemency.

Perkovich has asked the Indiana Supreme Court to delay Weisheit’s death sentence to allow time to conduct brain scans to shed light on Weisheit’s mental state. That request is still pending, although Braun said he would consider the brain scans if they happen. 

Perkovich is separately asking Gov. Braun to pause lethal injections until the Indiana Department of Correction has reviewed its execution procedures, to prevent a similar situation to Christa Pike’s botched execution in Tennessee.

(MIRROR INDY) — Kinsey Bussell, 36, has had a basketball in their hand since they could walk.  

Bussell co-organized WNBGay, a basketball meet-up that centers queer women of color. The organization, which isn’t currently active, has hosted tournaments and watch parties.  

So it was only fitting that Bussell was excited when The Sports Bra announced it was going to open a franchise in Indianapolis. 

“Sometimes I’ll go into a bar and ask if they’ll put on a very important women’s sports game and there’s always a lot of push back,” Bussell said. “It will be great to go somewhere that is the default.”

But if you’ve been waiting to watch games at Indy’s new women-owned sports bar, the wait will continue.

The bar was originally supposed to open in the summer, then fall, but owner Eve Keller said she’s stopped predicting the dates. She’s still hopeful the bar will open by the end of the year or early 2027. 

Keller, who co-owns the franchise with wife Jenni White and Tony Longoria, said there are many reasons for the delay on The Sports Bra Indy’s official opening. 

Renovations are taking longer than expected because the building, located at 15 E. Maryland St., is historic which requires legal approval from the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission. The bar is about a five minute walk from Gainbridge Fieldhouse and the new $78 million Indiana Fever Sports Performance Center, which is set to open in March.

Keller said the sidewalk is not wide enough to accommodate outdoor seating and it’s near the Hampton Inn’s valet parking lane. So they’re opening all of the front windows of the bar to still give an outdoor patio feeling when the weather permits. They received approval from IHPC Sept. 1. 

Other improvements include fixing the ceiling and flooring and replacing bathroom doors to make them ADA accessible. 

She said the bar recently received its building permits and signed the paperwork for a SBA loan two weeks ago. On Sept. 24, The Sports Bra Indy was awarded a $20,000 “Changing the Game” grant from Stanley 1913 and Togethxr. 

Fundraising has been part of the delay as well. The bar surpassed its Kickstarter goal of $50,000; the campaign closes Oct. 16. On Oct. 12, the Sports Bra Indy raised $250 from T-shirt sales at a fundraiser co-hosted by IF Theatre.  

They also hired an assistant general manager, but aren’t hiring other staff until they know more about the construction timeline. Follow all social media and Indeed for hiring announcements. 

The original Sports Bra opened in Portland, Oregon, in 2022 as the first sports bar 100% dedicated to women’s sports. The expansion of the franchise to other cities, including Boston, Las Vegas, St. Louis and Portland, Maine, comes at a time when women’s sports are gaining more popularity. 

According to a 2025 Nielsen report, people watched 46 billion minutes of women’s sports in the U.S. The 2025 WNBA season was the most-watched regular season and postseason ever on ESPN, averaging 1.3 million viewers per game. 

“I can see how much of an impact that women’s sports is having on young girls and being able to see it as an option for themselves as an entrepreneur,” Keller said. “I was not going to pass us by and applied for a franchise.” 

Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom, is funded through grants and donations from individuals, foundations and organizations. Sign up for our free newsletters.

Mirror Indy reporter Mesgana Waiss covers arts and culture. Contact her at 317-667-2643 or mesgana.waiss@mirrorindy.org.

INDIANAPOLIS — The race for Indiana Secretary of State is taking center stage as four candidates vie to lead the office responsible for state elections and business licensing.

The contest features former congressional aide Max Engling running as the Republican nominee, lawyer and former Marine Corps infantry officer Beau Bayh carrying the Democratic banner, small business owner and Hamilton County Libertarian Party Chair Lori Shillings, and former Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard running as an independent under the Lincoln Party label.

Focus on Voter Access and Turnout

During recent candidate forums, voter turnout and election security emerged as central battlegrounds. Indiana consistently ranks near the bottom nationwide in voter participation.

Democratic nominee Beau Bayh emphasized the need to protect early voting and eliminate straight-ticket voting.

“We have to protect early voting, it makes it more likely that you’re going to participate when you can pick a time that’s more convenient to do so,” Bayh said.

Bayh also called for expanded polling hours, noting that the current 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. window creates hurdles for working parents navigating child care costs.

Libertarian candidate Lori Schillings pointed to voter education and youth outreach as vital tools to boost participation. Schillings has set a secondary goal of capturing at least 10% of the vote, which would secure primary election access for the Libertarian Party in Indiana.

“The only wasted vote is one that you don’t believe in,” Schillings said regarding concerns over third-party spoiler effects.

Business Licensing and Online Portals

Both challenger candidates criticized the current online business licensing portal managed by the Secretary of State’s office. Schillings cited recurring 404 errors and broken links during her experience as a small business owner.

“When you interface with the Secretary of State’s office, that should be our window to the world as a state to advertise how well we do business here,” Schillings said.

New Poll Shows Tight Race

A new poll released by Free Press Indiana News surveyed a little over 800 registered voters and shows Beau Bayh holding an 8-point lead over Republican nominee Max Engling. Both Ballard and Shillings polled in the single digits, while 11% of surveyed voters remained undecided.

Political analysts note that while poll numbers provide a snapshot of voter sentiment, historical trends show Republican candidates often overperform expectations on Election Day. Furthermore, under AP polling standards, pre-election polls must always account for the margin of error and avoid declaring absolute leads when races narrow.

National Fuel Prices and Local Impacts

Beyond state races, political commentators debated the local economic fallout of national policy decisions, including recent federal actions regarding diesel imports and utility rate increases across Indiana. With farm harvest season underway, agricultural leaders and business owners continue monitoring supply costs closely.

Circle City Broadcasting will feature continued coverage of the Secretary of State race next Sunday, with scheduled appearances from Republican candidate Max Engling and Lincoln Party candidate Greg Ballard.

TODAY

It is a cold start across central Indiana with widespread frost around through roughly 9 a.m. A Frost Advisory remains in effect through the morning, so sensitive vegetation may still need some protection early. Once we get past the chilly start, sunshine takes complete control and temperatures recover into the lower to middle 60s. Winds stay light before becoming southerly around 5 mph during the afternoon. It is definitely jacket weather to start, but Sunday becomes a pretty nice fall day once we get into the afternoon.

TONIGHT

Clear skies continue with another chilly night ahead. Temperatures fall into the upper 30s around Indianapolis with southeast winds staying very light around 5 mph. Some colder outlying locations could once again flirt with patchy frost toward Monday morning, although conditions should not be quite as cold as early Sunday.

TOMORROW

We take another step upward in temperatures while keeping all of the sunshine. Highs reach the upper 60s to around 70 degrees with winds nearly calm or around 5 mph. Any patchy early frost disappears quickly. By afternoon, Monday should be about as comfortable as you could ask for in the middle of October.

TOMORROW NIGHT

Mostly clear and cool with temperatures falling into the lower 40s. Winds remain nearly calm and there are no rain concerns.

TUESDAY

The slow warming trend continues. Expect another sunny day with highs reaching the lower 70s. Winds remain very light, generally around 5 mph or less. After the frosty weekend start, Tuesday afternoon should feel noticeably milder.

TUESDAY NIGHT

Mostly clear with lows falling into the lower to middle 40s. Winds remain nearly calm and the dry stretch rolls right along.

WEDNESDAY

By Wednesday, temperatures are back into a very pleasant range. Expect plenty of sunshine with highs in the lower to middle 70s. Winds stay light, and humidity remains comfortable. There really is not much of a weather wrinkle to find here.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT

Clear and cool with lows in the middle 40s. Winds become nearly calm with dry conditions continuing.

7 DAY OUTLOOK

Sunday morning frost is the only real impact weather in this forecast. Once temperatures recover Sunday afternoon, central Indiana begins a long stretch of sunshine and steadily warming afternoons, climbing from the lower to middle 60s Sunday toward the lower to middle 70s by Wednesday.

The quiet pattern continues Thursday and Friday with highs generally in the lower to middle 70s and increasingly mild nighttime temperatures. Meaningful rainfall remains absent through the workweek, making this one of the calmer October stretches we have had recently.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — A deck collapse at an off-campus Bloomington home drew emergency response and injured “several” people Friday night.

The Bloomington Fire Department and other emergency crews were called at 10:29 p.m. Friday to the 100 block of North Bryan Avenue, a home right off Indiana University Bloomington campus, on the report of a structure collapse.

First responders arrived to find a collapsed deck and several people injured.

The fire department told News 8 that IU Lifeline also responded to the scene, but did not specify how many people were taken to the hospital or the extent of their injuries.

IU Health told News 8 that IU Health Methodist and Bloomington are caring for “several patients” related to the desk collapse.

“IU Health Methodist and Bloomington are caring for several patients related to the deck collapse. We are unable to provide additional patient-specific information.”

Unverified reports on social media suggested the collapse may have occurred during a party at the home, but official sources have not confirmed those claims.

The Bloomington Police Department declined to release information until Monday. News 8 is awaiting additional details from IU Lifeline.

DANVILLE, Ind. — Police confirm that a 17-year-old male is in custody following a shooting Saturday morning in Danville that left one dead.

Danville officers responded to 625 N. Washington St. to reports of a person shot. When police arrived, they found one person shot; police confirmed that the person shot was a 19-year-old male.

According to Danville police, the 19-year-old died at the scene.

Police said the shooting was not a random act and that the parties involved have been identified.

Information has not been released about what led up to the shooting.

Anyone with information may contact police dispatch at 317-839-8700.

INDIANAPOLIS — One person is in critical condition following a shooting on Indianapolis’ east side, according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

Police arrived at the 3800 block of N. Franklin Rd. Officers found a person shot, believed to be an adult female. Police say she is reported to be in critical condition.

IMPD is investigating what led up to the shooting and will provide updates as they become available.

This story is still developing. Check back here for updates.

(CNN) — President Donald Trump has fired Katie Zacharia as press secretary, advisers to the president said, ending her turbulent week-long stint as the White House’s top spokesperson.

Trump told reporters earlier he had asked Zacharia to reconsider her role, all but declaring her brief tenure in the job over.

“Honestly, if I were you, I’d reconsider,” Trump said he told Zacharia on Friday morning.

He said they would speak when he returned to the White House and he would leave the decision to her. But he did not sound particularly encouraging of his embattled press secretary.

“Katie, do you need this?” he said he told her. “I don’t think you need this.”

It was a remarkable vote of no confidence in Zacharia, who entered the job a week ago. Her shaky debut in the briefing room on Tuesday and persistent questions about her background had led to immense scrutiny from the media and fellow Trump aides. A White House official told CNN that Zacharia was “transitioning out” of the press secretary role, and a Trump adviser said she’d be leaving the White House in the next few days.

Speaking as he was leaving the White House for a political rally in Georgia, Trump said Zacharia had been mistreated by the media and praised her as a loyal supporter.

But he made clear he did not believe Zacharia was suited to speak on his behalf as the government’s top spokesperson.

“Maybe it’s not for her,” he conceded.

A source close to the president told CNN that Trump still respects and likes Zacharia as a person, insisting the way Trump described the conversation with Zacharia was accurate.

That source and another also said that Zacharia and her family are having dinner with Vice President JD Vance and his family Friday night at the vice president’s residence, a signal that the administration still holds her in high regard.

Zacharia had captured Trump’s attention as a conservative commentator on television, and her hiring occurred quickly after other candidates were deemed ineligible because of critical comments they made about Trump.

Her inexperience was revealed quickly, however. At the White House lectern on Tuesday, she appeared nervous and only took three questions. Later in the day, she offered a confusing answer to a question about where she had passed her bar exam, since she’d been described by Trump as an “attorney” when he announced her hiring.

As it turned out, she had never passed the bar exam, she explained in a series of surprisingly tense interviews on Fox News. And she was vague about whether she would appear again in the briefing room.

It all led to deepening questions inside the White House about how long Zacharia could possibly last in the job.

Trump did not initially think Zacharia’s performance at her first press briefing was as bad as some of his advisers had, two sources familiar with the discussions said. However, her interviews that followed — specifically her Thursday night appearance on Fox News with Sean Hannity — and conversations he subsequently had with his allies convinced him that it was untenable for her to remain in the role, they added.

Trump remarked to allies and advisers this week that perhaps she “wasn’t ready for prime time,” one person with direct knowledge of his comments told CNN.

Her five-day-long tenure ultimately came in shorter than that of Anthony Scaramucci, whose 11-day tenure as White House communications director in 2017 is now used as a measuring stick for the relative longevity of embattled White House officials.