INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Every summer is humid in central Indiana, but this year has even exceeded those expectations so far.

Meteorological summer is defined as June through August for easier record-keeping purposes. Since June 1, Indianapolis has had the highest average dew point (66.2 degrees) on records that stretch back to 1931.

A 60-degree dew point is the air you can start to feel. Meanwhile, 70-degree dew points are tropical air that is often found in Florida.

Indy has also spent close to 530 hours with dew points in the 70s since the beginning of June.

Impact of higher dew points and humid air

You have probably noticed a higher electricity bill this summer – you can thank the higher dew points for that.

Higher dew points mean overnight lows will be warmer. That is because the dew point is the direct measure of water vapor in the atmosphere. When there is more water vapor, the cooling rate of the atmosphere slows down, which results in warm low temperatures.

Since June 1, Indianapolis has recorded 50 out of 59 days with above-average overnight lows.

Central Indiana has had plenty of pop-up rain chances this summer. Dew points provide more fuel for showers and storms to form.

Relief is on the way

Here is the good news. Humid air exits Indiana as we head into the start of August.

You can read more on our forecast by visiting our weather blog here.

CARMEL, Ind. (WISH) — Before your child goes to school, the City of Carmel wants to make sure you’re up to date on all the latest construction projects that could affect you.

Several infrastructure projects are continuing through 2025, including a raised crosswalk project on Towne Road, reconstructing College Avenue, and two bridge projects.

First, the ever-growing number of roundabouts in Carmel is expanding with a new set at North College Avenue near 96th Street.

“The new roundabout at College Avenue improves safety and traffic flow at a key entry to the Carmel Gateway campus,” City Engineer Bradley Pease said in a press release. “Roundabouts significantly reduce injury crashes and this project reflects our commitment to infrastructure that enhances both quality of life and long-term economic vitality.”

The next phase of work on College Avenue is the reconstruction of the northbound lane north of I-465 to 106th street. Northbound access from 101st through 105th streets will be closed, but southbound traffic will be open. Construction will begin in August and is expected to last the rest of the year.

Second, the City of Carmel gave an update into construction on Towne Road.

Construction will build a raised pedestrian crosswalk with rapid-flashing LED beacons at several intersections on Towne Road. Workers are currently building on Towne Road at 116th Street, but they’ll soon expand to 126th and Glebe streets later this week.

“A brief, one-week overlap of closures at these intersections is expected as crews accelerate the construction schedule,” the press release says. Construction is expected to be done by Aug. 5, but Main Street will remain open until then.

Over on 126th Street, reconstruction work has begun on the bridge near Royce Court and Brookshire Golf club. Barring weather delays, the project will be done by the end of October.

Clay Center Road will close at the end of August to tear down the bridge near North Claridge Farm. Supply-chain issues delayed construction, so the project is expected to be finished by December.

Clay Center Elementary will still have access from the south via 116th Street.

City of Carmel construction update

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department says they are responding to a police shooting at West 16th Street and Lafayette Road, on the west side of Indianapolis.

Police confirm that an officer has been shot, they are in Eskenazi hospital in stable condition.

Two suspects are in custody; one has been shot and taken to the hospital, their condition is unknown.

There is no threat to public at this time. However, IMPD asks you to avoid the area for the investigation.

Today’s is the fourth IMPD police shooting of 2025, the second this month. Of the three previously, two suspects died, including the one on July 24, and another was injured. IMPD had 17 police shooting in 2024.

This story has been updated with new information from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Kroger and the union representing its workers in Indiana have extended their current contract while negotiations continue. Contract talks have spanned several months, and the two last met on Friday.

Leaders at the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 700 say they set a schedule to continue negotiations, including an Aug. 6 return to the bargaining table.

The union represents 8,000 grocery store workers at Kroger locations across central Indiana.

UFCW 700 members have rejected two tentative agreements with the grocer. The first was in May while the organization announced the second rejection last week.

Demands include hourly raises and retroactively applying some pay increases, among other benefits. Union leadership also reports they have no plans for workers to walk off the job any time soon. However, the length of negotiations has left Vern Sowers and other union members on edge.

“There’s a lot of fear there,” Sowers said. “A lot of [my coworkers] say they can’t afford to strike — I can afford to strike, but there’s a lot of people I know at work that can’t.”

The 30-year industry veteran says he’s worked just about every job in retail. He’s worked for Kroger for 20 years and previously worked for K-Mart for 10 years.

As a shop steward, Sowers says he wants to fight for his coworkers at the store on Olio Road in Fishers.

“It seems like they’re trying to slap us in the face,” Sowers said.

Kroger offered the union a $2.75 per hour raise by 2028 in its latest proposal. In a bargaining update, the company reported it pays an average hourly wage of $18.18 an hour.

The most recent rejected contract would have given employees a 5.7% pay bump if accepted. The company argues it is more than double the current rate of inflation. Sowers, on the other hand, says this still isn’t enough in today’s economy.

“What we’re trying to do is we’re trying to stay ahead of the cost of living. Of course, prices are going up. You can see it in the store. You know, prices are going up little by little, but they’re going up,” Sowers said.

Last month, Kroger reported an operating profit of $1.3 billion. Sowers says the company can afford to meet the union on its demands.

“Maybe some appreciation to the employees that helped make Kroger get these record-breaking earnings,” Sowers said. “That’s kind of where my head’s at.”

Kroger declined an interview with News 8 and instead referred to a statement made by Central Division President Colleen Juergensen last week:

“At Kroger, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We are grateful for the dedication and hard work of our associates, and we’re proud to invest in them through market-leading wages, strong benefits, and career opportunities. We believe that by working together with the Union, we can reach an agreement that truly reflects the value of our associates and the communities we’re honored to serve.”

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Shrouded in a white sheet back in 2024, a homeless man lit fires that destroyed an IndyGo Bus and damaged a bus stop. After pleading guilty, Tuesday he was sentenced to eight years in prison.

In a press release, U.S. prosecutors say Demarcus McCloud, 46, was sentenced for pleading guilty to two counts of arson and malicious damage of federal property. It landed him eight years in federal prison with three years of supervised release.

McCloud was ordered to pay over $1.7 million in restitution.

April 24, 2024, News 8 reported that McCloud set fire to the bus at 38th and North Meridian streets. He was caught on video pouring a brown jug of liquid on a seat and the center aisle of the bus, then McCloud lit a piece of paper on fire which sparked the flames.

One person, who was helping at the scene, was hurt from smoke inhalation.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers arrested McCloud in a McDonald’s parking lot — he was holding two butane lighters at the time.

Four days prior, McCloud started another fire, this time in a trash can at the IndyGo Red Line bus stop at Virginia Avenue and New Jersey Street.

Both fires caused an estimated total of $1,790,685 in damages.

Court documents report that McCloud has a 25-year history of violent crime, including: battery of his mother and of a woman who rejected him while McCloud was peddling money, robbery, attempted car theft, drug offenses, having a gun as a violent felon, and threatening to rape and murder another woman.

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana Tom Wheeler said in the press release, “Federal dollars are invested in our communities to serve and protect the public, not to be torched by a violent repeat offender with no regard for human life. Thanks to the swift response of first responders and the dedication of our federal and local law enforcement partners, he has been held accountable for his dangerous and destructive conduct.”

Previous Coverage

• Man faces 3 counts of arson after IndyGo bus catches fire
• Video: Man facing arson charges poured jug of liquid onto bus floor, ignited it

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — On what may become the hottest day of 2025, organizers of a local winter event are asking you to take a crisp and cool look ahead, five months into the future.

The Brown County Christkindl Market is lining up talented vendors for the two-day December celebration.

“This show is juried, and so we say get your application in as soon as possible,” Lisa Hall, founder of the Market, said. She stopped by WISH-TV’s Daybreak to issue the invitation for artisans and artists to part of the Market. “It’s a $40 application fee, and we will be closing that site on Aug.15.”

Hall also offered Daybreak viewers the very first view of the official mug for the 2025 event. It features the coal eyes and carrot nose of a snowman getting a warm hug from a scarf.

“It’s just kind of a new concept that was in my head. And my friend Holly Salo, who owns Holly Pots, is one of the most talented potters that I know. Holly has done our souvenir mugs hand-pottered for the last four years, so this is year five for her,” Hall said.

This is the 5th year for the annual event.

Hall notes that while Brown County’s colorful autumn displays have made the community a must-visit in fall, the area still has opportunities for visitor growth during other seasons.

“Brown County looks like a Hallmark community,” she said. “And every Hallmark community needs their own Christmas event, right? And we are tourism dependent, and when you’re tourism dependent, you have to create reasons for people to return.”

The Brown County Christkindl Market is Dec. 6-7 and is free to attend.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s administration on Tuesday proposed revoking a scientific finding that has long been the central basis for U.S. action to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change.

The proposed Environmental Protection Agency rule would rescind a 2009 declaration that determined that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare.

The “endangerment finding” is the legal underpinning of a host of climate regulations under the Clean Air Act for motor vehicles, power plants and other pollution sources that are heating the planet.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the proposed rule change on a podcast ahead of an official announcement set for Tuesday in Indiana.

Repealing the endangerment finding “will be the largest deregulatory action in the history of America,” Zeldin said on the Ruthless podcast.

“There are people who, in the name of climate change, are willing to bankrupt the country,” Zeldin said. “They created this endangerment finding and then they are able to put all these regulations on vehicles, on airplanes, on stationary sources, to basically regulate out of existence, in many cases, a lot of segments of our economy. And it cost Americans a lot of money.”

The EPA proposal must go though a lengthy review process, including public comment, before it is finalized, likely next year. Environmental groups are likely to challenge the rule change in court.

Zeldin called for a rewrite of the endangerment finding in March as part of a series of environmental rollbacks announced at the same time in what he said was “the greatest day of deregulation in American history.” A total of 31 key environmental rules on topics from clean air to clean water and climate change would be rolled back or repealed under Zeldin’s plan.

He singled out the endangerment finding as “the Holy Grail of the climate change religion” and said he was thrilled to end it “as the EPA does its part to usher in the Golden Age of American success.”

Tailpipe emission limits also targeted

The EPA also is expected to call for rescinding limits on tailpipe emissions that were designed to encourage automakers to build and sell more electric vehicles. The transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States.

Environmental groups said Zeldin’s action denies reality as weather disasters exacerbated by climate change continue in the U.S. and around the world.

“As Americans reel from deadly floods and heat waves, the Trump administration is trying to argue that the emissions turbocharging these disasters are not a threat,” said Christy Goldfuss, executive director of the Natural Resources Defense Council. “It boggles the mind and endangers the nation’s safety and welfare.”

Under Zeldin and Trump, “the EPA wants to shirk its responsibility to protect us from climate pollution, but science and the law say otherwise,” she added. “If EPA finalizes this illegal and cynical approach, we will see them in court.”

Three former EPA leaders have also criticized Zeldin, saying his March announcement targeting the endangerment finding and other rules imperiled the lives of millions of Americans and abandoned the agency’s dual mission to protect the environment and human health.

“If there’s an endangerment finding to be found anywhere, it should be found on this administration because what they’re doing is so contrary to what the Environmental Protection Agency is about,” Christine Todd Whitman, who led EPA under Republican President George W. Bush, said after Zeldin’s plan was made public.

The EPA proposal follows an executive order from Trump that directed the agency to submit a report “on the legality and continuing applicability” of the endangerment finding.

Conservatives and some congressional Republicans hailed the initial plan, calling it a way to undo economically damaging rules to regulate greenhouse gases.

But environmental groups, legal experts and Democrats said any attempt to repeal or roll back the endangerment finding would be an uphill task with slim chance of success. The finding came two years after a 2007 Supreme Court ruling holding that the EPA has authority to regulate greenhouse gases as air pollutants under the Clean Air Act.

Passing court muster could be an issue

David Doniger, a climate expert at the NRDC, accused Trump’s Republican administration of using potential repeal of the endangerment finding as a “kill shot’’ that would allow him to make all climate regulations invalid. If finalized, repeal of the endangerment finding would erase current limits on greenhouse gas pollution from cars, factories, power plants and other sources and could prevent future administrations from proposing rules to tackle climate change.

“The Endangerment Finding is the legal foundation that underpins vital protections for millions of people from the severe threats of climate change, and the Clean Car and Truck Standards are among the most important and effective protections to address the largest U.S. source of climate-causing pollution,” said Peter Zalzal, associate vice president of the Environmental Defense Fund.

“Attacking these safeguards is manifestly inconsistent with EPA’s responsibility to protect Americans’ health and well-being,” he said. “It is callous, dangerous and a breach of our government’s responsibility to protect the American people from this devastating pollution.”

Conrad Schneider, a senior director at the Clean Air Task Force, said the Trump administration “is using pollution regulations as a scapegoat in its flawed approach to energy affordability” and reliability.

He and other advocates “are dismayed that an administration that claims it cares about cleaner, healthier and safer air is seeking to dismantle the very protections that are required for those conditions,” Schneider said.

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Follow the AP’s coverage of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at https://apnews.com/hub/us-environmental-protection-agency.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis has launched a crowdfunding campaign to help restore an iconic attraction on.

The museum said Thursday that it is looking to raise $100,000 to help rehab the fan-favorite Broad Ripple Park Carousel.

Museum officials say the money will go toward deep-cleaning the hand-painted and carved animals, making enhancements to the mechanical system, and other refurbishments.

President and CEO Jennifer Pace Robinson says that the carousel is an important piece of the museum’s history, and they are dedicated to preserving it.

“Our beloved Carousel is more than just a ride – it’s a source of magic and joy for so many children and their families,” Pace Robinson wrote in a statement. “These essential funds are not just to restore our Carousel’s capabilities and physical appearance, but to restore our visitors’ cherished memories and allow families to create new ones throughout our next 100 years.”

The Carousel is 108 years old and welcomes more than half a million riders each year.

It originally opened at the White City Amusement Park in 1917. The park was later named Broad Ripple Park. Only white families were permitted to ride it at the time.

In 1956, the building that originally housed the ride collapsed, destroying the machinery that rotated it.

The Children’s Museum acquired the animals and parts for the carousel in 1965. However, it took 10 years for officials to be able to restore it.

Museum officials say it is one of about 150 carousels out of 3,500 that were built by American companies from the 1880s to the 1930s that remain. Only a fraction of them still operate.

The campaign to restore the iconic carousel coincides with the museum’s 100th anniversary celebrations. The effort runs through Aug. 22 with the Second Century Soiree, a black-tie fundraising event.

Donations to the fundraising campaign can be made to the Children’s Museum by clicking here.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Carmel Clay Schools is set to begin the new school year next Wednesday, Aug. 6, with a focus on building strong relationships between teachers and students under the leadership of a new superintendent, Dr. Thomas Oestreich.

As students prepare to return, the district is emphasizing the importance of personal connections in education, which Oestreich believes are crucial for effective learning. The district is also celebrating its achievements in STEM initiatives and high AP test scores.

“We’re really focused on building those relationships in the classroom,” Dr. Thomas Oestreich said. “The most significant outcome that happens is between a teacher and a student.”

Fifth grade teacher Allie Powell highlighted the importance of making students feel respected and valued from the moment they enter the classroom.

“For me it just starts the first day they walk in the door. Making sure that students like Abby are heard, their stories are told, they feel respected and valued as they walk into my classroom. And I found that that just makes a stronger school family and a stronger district family as well,” Powell said.

Abby Riddle was one of Powell’s students and is heading into middle school this year. She had some advice for fellow students: “Just be yourself.” She also suggests leaning on your teachers and asking them questions.

Oestreich expressed excitement about the district’s STEM initiative, which includes programs from kindergarten through middle school. The district is also proud of its work-based learning programs that provide students with internships in the community. The district says it recently received AP test scores, with nearly 95% of students earning a score of 3 or higher. Notably, Oestreich says, 203 students achieved a perfect score of 5 in the new AP pre-calculus course.

“We had over 2,000 students take AP tests. We had over 5,000 tests administered. And nearly 95% of those students earned a 3, 4, or a 5,” Oestreich said. “The work that our teachers are doing in the classroom from the high school level, the middle school, especially at our elementary school level, I’m so excited about the continued work we’re doing in Carmel.”

As the school year approaches, back-to-school nights are planned this week to help parents and students prepare. You can find the schedules here on the district website.

Powell encourages parents to engage with their child’s teacher and embrace the excitement of the new school year.

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