INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Student sections have been packed out and bringing the energy all season competing for The Zone Banner.

And the winner of The Zone Banner is… Brownsburg!

Brownsburg made AC’s Top 8 in eight of the nine weeks of the regular season. They were impressive throughout the season and were active on social media as well, campaigning for their school to win The Zone Banner.

This is Brownsburg’s second time winning The Zone Banner.

WISH-TV Sports Director Anthony Calhoun will present Brownsburg with its championship banner at its gymnasium on Tuesday, November 25.

Past winners

• 2024: Fishers
• 2023: Bishop Chatard
• 2022: Franklin Community
• 2021: Cathedral
• 2020: Westfield
• 2019: Mooresville
• 2018: Brownsburg
• 2017: Carmel
• 2016: Franklin Community
• 2015: Guerin Catholic

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — On Friday, November 21, ‘The Zone’ featured highlights from six high school football games across central Indiana in the semi-state round of the state tournament. Plus, the winner of The Zone Banner is announced, with Brownsburg and Fishers being the Final Two.

Watch Segment 1 in the video above.

Segment 1 games include:

• Warren Central at Brownsburg
• Bloomington South at New Palestine
• Westfield at Carroll (Fort Wayne)

Segment 2

Segment 2 includes:

• Interviews with the principals of Brownsburg and Fishers
• Interviews with students from Brownsburg and Fishers
• Heritage Hills at Roncalli
• Brownstown Central at Lapel

Segment 3

Segment 3 includes:

• Interviews with the athletic directors at Brownsburg and Fishers
• South Putnam at Milan

The Zone Banner winner

For the photo gallery of student sections across central Indiana, click here.

For individual game highlights, click here.

For The Zone Banner content, follow us on Instagram at ACWeWantTheBanner.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Zak Brown earlier this year teased he was working on a “mega” signing for McLaren’s fourth Indianapolis 500 seat and that it was up to the mystery driver if he wanted to enter the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

Valentino Rossi, the nine-time Grand Prix motorcycle racing champion, ultimately passed on the opportunity. The seat instead went to Ryan Hunter-Reay, the 2014 Indy 500 winner, in a deal announced last week.

Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, told The Associated Press on Friday he had multiple conversations with the Italian and that Rossi “absolutely loves and respects the Indy 500” but ultimately decided he had to focus on his current job racing in the World Endurance Championship. The superstar commonly referred to as “The Doctor” currently races a BMW for Team WRT in WEC’s LMGT3 class.

“I spoke with Valentino, he loves the Indy 500, he loves big events, is up for oval racing,” Brown told AP at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. “But he is pretty focused on WEC and just wants that to be his priority. He recognized the level of commitment required and concluded he probably couldn’t do WEC and Indy properly, so we’ll keep talking.”

Brown has made a splash with his Indy 500 one-off drivers, from F1 world champion Fernando Alonso, two-time Indy 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya and two-time NASCAR champion Kyle Larson, who ran at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for McLaren the last two seasons as he attempted to complete the IndyCar-NASCAR vaunted “Double” of running both events on the same day.

Brown was determined to draw another huge spotlight to one of the biggest races in the world and thought Rossi would be a stunning signing in the motorsports world.

Rossi is considered one of the greatest motorcycle racers ever and is the only road racer to have competed in 400 or more Grand Prixs. Seven of his nine world championships came in the 500cc/MotoGP class and Rossi holds the record for most premier class victories (89) and podiums (199).

Unable to land Rossi, Brown turned to Hunter-Reay, a longtime IndyCar veteran with both an Indy 500 victory and an IndyCar title on his resume.

Hunter-Reay stepped away from full-time racing following the 2021 season but has run the Indy 500 the last three seasons, finishing 11th in 2023. Hunter-Reay is also a two-time runner-up at Indy.

Asked why he chose Hunter-Reay when Rossi fell through, Brown told AP, “because he can win.”

CARMEL, Ind. (WISH) — Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation, in collaboration with Mayor Sue Finkam and Carmel officials, introduced the “Happy to Chat” benches initiative Friday.

The benches are located north of Midtown Plaza along Monon Boulevard. They are intended to “spark conversation and build stronger community connections,” according to a news release.

Each area features a sign that reads “Happy to Chat.” These signs serve as a simple, open invitation to strike up a conversation with a neighbor or passerby. The initiative aims to reduce loneliness, encourage meaningful social interactions, and foster a more connected inclusive community.

The “Happy to Chat” initiative began in the United Kingdom as a grassroots effort to support those experiencing loneliness. It has since gained momentum worldwide, appearing in cities like London and Warsaw, as well as across the United States, helping to strengthen social ties and promote mental well-being.

Residents and visitors are encouraged to take a seat, start a conversation, and help make Carmel an even friendlier place, one chat at a time.

Quotes

“Even a short exchange can brighten someone’s day,” said Michael Klitzing, director of Parks and Recreation/CEO. “These benches create small but meaningful opportunities for people to visit with new people and get to know each other.”

“In Carmel, we’ve intentionally created public spaces made for gathering. Our new ‘Happy to Chat’ locations are a simple, open call to put down the phone, sit for a moment and connect,” Finkam said. “I believe these dedicated spaces will help foster a greater sense of belonging and serve as a powerful reminder that we’re better together.”

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — One person died early Saturday morning after a shooting on the city’s southeast side, Indianapolis police said.

Just before 4 a.m., Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to a call for help at a home in the 1700 block of James Run Way. That’s a neighborhood off of Brookville Road/U.S. 52, south of the intersection of Prospect Street and Mitthoeffer Road.

Officers arrived and found a person who had been shot. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

IMPD did not share any details about the victim or what led to the shooting.

No other information was immediately available.

TODAY

Clouds hang on through mid morning, then skies brighten with more and more sun by afternoon. Highs reach the low 50s, with a light north northeast breeze around 5 mph becoming calm later in the day. After several gloomy days, it finally feels like a clean reset. 

TONIGHT

Partly cloudy and seasonably cool, lows in the upper 30s, calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph after midnight. It is a quiet, comfortable night for any late plans or early travel. 

TOMORROW

A very nice November day with partly sunny skies early, then turning mostly sunny. Highs land in the mid 50s, and a light west northwest breeze around 5 mph keeps a mild, crisp feel. Great weather for church, walks, or catching up on yard work. 

TOMORROW NIGHT

Mostly clear and chilly but not harsh, lows in the low 30s, wind becoming calm. The clear and calm setup lets heat escape so colder pockets may dip a bit below freezing by daybreak. 

MONDAY

Partly sunny and still seasonably mild, highs in the low 50s, a south-southeast breeze around 5 to 10 mph. Most of the day stays dry and workable outdoors, but clouds will gradually thicken as the next system approaches from the southwest. 

MONDAY NIGHT

Rain develops overnight, especially after midnight. Lows hold in the upper 40s, with a southeast wind around 10 mph and gusts up to 20 mph at times. Expect roads to turn wet toward sunrise, setting up a soggy start to Tuesday. 

TUESDAY

Rain is likely, mainly in the morning and midday, with clouds lingering through the afternoon. Highs climb to around 60, a southwest wind around 10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph. It will not be a severe setup, but it is a good day to budget extra time for holiday travel. 

TUESDAY NIGHT

A few leftover showers are possible early, then mostly cloudy and cooler. Lows dip to the upper 30s, with a west wind around 5 to 10 mph. Most of the night is simply cool and quiet once the last showers slide east. 

7 DAY FORECAST

Sunshine and mild, quiet weather hold from today through much of Monday under high pressure, with highs stepping from the low 50s this weekend to near 60 by Tuesday and nights generally in the 30s and 40s. A stronger system brings a soaking rain Monday night into Tuesday, followed by a cooler, breezier pattern for mid to late week as highs drop back into the 40s and lows fall into the 20s and 30s around Thanksgiving. Confidence is high in the sunny, pleasant weekend and the Monday night through Tuesday rain window, and solid in the colder turn that follows for the holiday stretch. 

CLEVELAND (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 32 points, Darius Garland had 20 in his return to Cleveland’s lineup and the Cavaliers pulled away in the second half for a 120-109 victory over the Indiana Pacers in an NBA Cup game on Friday night.

It was the first meeting between the teams since the Pacers eliminated the top-seeded Cavaliers in five games in last season’s Eastern Conference semifinals.

Evan Mobley added 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who improved to 2-1 in East Group A.

Andrew Nembhard had a career-high 32 points for injury-plagued Indiana, which fell to 0-2 in group play. Pascal Siakham added 26 points and nine rebounds and Bennedict Mathurin scored 21 points.

The NBA finalists from a year ago are 2-14 and missing six players. Indiana has dropped nine of its last 10.

Garland missed five games due to a contusion on the left big toe that he had surgically repaired in June.

The two-time All-Star point guard played 26 minutes and scored 18 points in the first half. He finished 5 for 12 from the field, including three 3-pointers, and made all seven of his free throws.

The Cavaliers led 62-55 at halftime before they went on a 21-9 run over a four-minute span in the third quarter to take control. Jalen Tyson scored eight of his 14 points during the spurt, which pushed their advantage up to 16 midway through the quarter.

Cleveland’s largest lead was 103-81 on Mitchell’s pullup 3-point early in the fourth quarter. It was the ninth time in 15 games this season the All-Star guard has scored at least 30 points.

Indiana made a 16-4 run to get within 10 with five minutes remaining, but could not draw closer.

Up Next

Pacers: Host Detroit on Monday.

Cavaliers: Host LA Clippers on Sunday.

FRANKLIN, Ind. (WISH) — A Gas City man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for child molesting, according to the Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office.

Cohee was found guilty after a bench trial in October. He was facing up to 40 years in prison for child molesting. Cohee had previously been convicted of a crime of violence-related armed robbery.

On Friday, Cohee was sentenced by Judge Brandi Foster-Kirkendall to 25 years in prison and three years in work release, followed by two years of probation. He must complete sex offender treatment and will be required to register as a sex offender. Cohee is also ordered to have no contact with the victim throughout the duration of his sentence.

The court also allowed Cohee to petition for a sentence reduction after 10 years (7.5 years with good time).

Cohee sexually abused a child in late summer 2021. The incidents were reported to police and then investigated by the Greenwood Police Department. Criminal charges were filed shortly after.

“The damage suffered by the victim in this case is immeasurable and long-lasting,” said Johnson County Prosecutor Lance Hamner. “But we’re proud of the perseverance and grit demonstrated by the victim’s participation in the prosecution of this child molester. Our victim stood up to this abuser and will not allow this child molester to ruin our victim’s life.

And once again, we have a repeat, out-of-county felony offender coming to Johnson County to prey on our citizens. Fortunately, this convicted robber and molester will spend two and a half decades in a steel cage where he can’t hurt anyone—and learn  that we don’t tolerate that here.  I hope Mr. Cohee tells his friends.”

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Good news and peace of mind occurred for the victims of the Wilson-Shook Funeral Homes scam in Randolph County. Thousands of dollars were stolen from people who paid in advance for funeral arrangements.

The Indiana Funeral Directors Association (IFDA) said victims are set to get that money back.

Andy Clayton, executive director of the Indiana Funeral Directors Association, said, “They are not going to lose anything. They will receive the services they pay for. All we ask them to do is prove that they did pay that in advanced, and [provide] just a canceled check and a contract from Wilson-Shook Funeral Homes. That will satisfy the State Board of Funeral and Cemetery Service.”

Relief. That’s what Clayton said when victims heard the news. So far, he said he’s tallied $80,000 in losses so far, and that number is climbing. For now, he’s received 23 calls from families who said they poured savings into a trust fund from Wilson-Shook Funeral homes, only to discover that the fund never existed and that the money is gone.

“All the families want is peace of mind, and that’s essentially what they purchased when they did the prearrangement,” Clayton said. “It’s the peace of mind that it will be done. And honestly, above the money, it’s the sacred trust that’s been violated. And we’re in a position, as members of the association, to restore that trust and assure them that at the time of their passing, their family won’t have undue burden upon them.”

The State Board of Funeral and Cemetery Service consumer protection fund will issue the refunds.

The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the scam under Wilson-Shook Funeral Homes and their four locations: Thornburg Memorial Chapel, Thomas Memorial Chapel, Fraze and Brooks Memorial Chapel, and Dunkirk Memorial Chapel.

“We’re doing everything in our power at the sheriff’s office to investigate the case, we’re getting it to the prosecutor and he’s waiting on them as we speak,” said Chief Deputy Ken Hendrickson.

The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office has been fielding more than 30 calls since we first aired our story Thursday.

“You think you’re making arrangements, and to find out your money has not been put where it’s supposed to, they’re very upset,” Hendrickson said.

The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office recommends victims call the Indiana Funeral Directors Association at 317-846-2448. They can verify if you have a trust in your name and walk you through the reimbursement process.

All four phone lines at Wilson-Shook Funeral Homes have been disconnected.

The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office and the Indiana Funeral Directors Association haven’t heard back. Clayton says he’s been trying to get ahold of the owner, Wilson.

“He has left the state, as we’ve been told,” Clayton said.

At least for now, it’s good news for the families.

This is an ongoing investigation. The Randolph County Prosecutor’s Office will be meeting with the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office and the Indiana Funeral Directors Association early next week.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Friday met the man who had proudly proclaimed himself “Donald Trump’s worst nightmare,” but he seemed to find the opposite.

The Republican president and New York City’s Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani were warm and friendly, speaking repeatedly of their shared goals to help Trump’s hometown rather than their combustible differences.

Trump, who had in the past called Mamdani a “100% Communist Lunatic” and a “total nut job,” spoke openly of how impressed he was with the man who had called his administration “authoritarian.”

“I think he is going to surprise some conservative people, actually,” Trump said of the democratic socialist as Mamdani stood next to him in the Oval Office.

The meeting offered political opportunities for both men. For Mamdani, a sit-down offered the state lawmaker — who until recently was relatively unknown — the chance to go head-to-head with the most powerful person in the world.

For Trump, it was a high-profile chance to talk about affordability at a time when he’s under increasing political pressure to show he’s addressing voter concerns about the cost of living.

Until now, the men have been political foils who galvanized their supporters by taking on each other, and it’s unclear how those backers will react to their genial get-together and complimentary words.

“We’re going to be helping him, to make everybody’s dream come true, having a strong and very safe New York,” the president said.

“What I really appreciate about the president is that the meeting that we had focused not on places of disagreement, which there are many, and also focused on the shared purpose that we have in serving New Yorkers,” Mamdani said.

‘I’ll stick up for you’

Mamdani and Trump said they discussed housing affordability and the cost of groceries and utilities, as Mamdani successfully used frustration over inflation to get elected, just as the president did in the 2024 election.

“Some of his ideas are really the same ideas that I have,” the president said of Mamdani about inflationary issues.

The president brushed aside Mamdani’s criticisms of him over his administration’s deportation raids and claims that Trump was behaving like a despot. Instead, Trump said the responsibility of holding an executive position in the government causes a person to change, saying that had been the case for him.

He seemed at times even protective of Mamdani, jumping in on his behalf at several points. For example, when reporters asked Mamdani to clarify his past statements indicating that he thought the president was acting like a fascist, Trump said, “I’ve been called much worse than a despot.”

When a reporter asked if Mamdani stood by his comments that Trump is a fascist, Trump interjected before the mayor-elect could fully answer the question.

“That’s OK. You can just say yes. OK?” Trump said. “It’s easier. It’s easier than explaining it. I don’t mind.”

Trump stepped in again when a reporter asked Mamdani why he flew to Washington instead of taking transportation that used less fossil fuels.

“I’ll stick up for you,” Trump said.

All about affordability

Mamdani, who takes office in January, said he sought the meeting with Trump to talk about ways to make New York City more affordable. Trump has said he may want to help him out — although he has also falsely labeled Mamdani as a “communist” and threatened to yank federal funds from the city.

But Trump on Friday didn’t sling that at the mayor. He acknowledged that he had said he had been prepared to cut off funding or make it harder for New York City to access federal resources if the two had failed to “get along,” only to pull back from those threats during the meeting.

“We don’t want that to happen,” Trump said. “I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

Afterward, Mamdani’s former campaign manager and incoming chief of staff Elle Bisgaard-Church told NY1 that the pair clearly disagreed on some issues but were able to find common ground on things like reducing crime.

“We discussed that we share a mutual goal of having a safe city where everyone can move around in comfort and ease,” she said, before later adding, “We know that there have been labels thrown all around that are just simply not fair and we kept it, again, at where we could find agreement on making the city affordable.”

Trump loomed large over the mayoral race this year, and on the eve of the election, he endorsed independent candidate and former Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, predicting the city has “ZERO chance of success, or even survival” if Mamdani won. He also questioned the citizenship of Mamdani, who was born in Uganda and became a naturalized American citizen after graduating from college, and said he’d have him arrested if he followed through on threats not to cooperate with immigration agents in the city.

Mamdani beat back a challenge from Cuomo, painting him as a “puppet” for the president, and promised to be “a mayor who can stand up to Donald Trump and actually deliver.” He declared during one primary debate, “I am Donald Trump’s worst nightmare, as a progressive Muslim immigrant who actually fights for the things that I believe in.”

The president, who has long used political opponents to fire up his backers, predicted Mamdani “will prove to be one of the best things to ever happen to our great Republican Party.” As Mamdani upended the Democratic establishment by defeating Cuomo and his far-left progressive policies provoked infighting, Trump repeatedly has cast Mamdani as the face of Democratic Party.

Some had expected fireworks in the Oval Office meeting

The president has had some dramatic public Oval Office faceoffs this year, including an infamously heated exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in March. In May, Trump dimmed the lights while meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and played a four-minute video making widely rejected claims that South Africa is violently persecuting the country’s white Afrikaner minority farmers.

A senior Trump administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe internal discussions said Trump had not put a lot of thought into planning the meeting with the incoming mayor — but said Trump’s threats to block federal dollars from flowing to New York remained on the table.

Mamdani said Thursday that he was not concerned about the president potentially trying to use the meeting to publicly embarrass him and said he saw it as a chance to make his case, even while acknowledging “many disagreements with the president.”

Instead, both men avoided a public confrontation in a remarkably calm and cordial series of comments in front of news reporters.

Mamdani, who lives in Queens — where Trump was raised — has shown a cutthroat streak just as Trump has as a candidate. During his campaign, he appeared to borrow from Trump’s playbook when he noted during a televised debate with Cuomo that one of the women who had accused the former governor of sexual harassment was in the audience. Cuomo has denied wrongdoing.

But the tensions were subdued Friday as Trump seemed sympathetic to Mamdani’s policies to want to build more housing.

“People would be shocked, but I want to see the same thing,” the president said.

___

Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani and Josh Boak in Washington and Anthony Izaguirre in New York contributed to this report.