(THE REPORTER) — The Hamilton County Historical Society has announced the hours of the 62^nd season of the Santa House on the Square.

This experience, free with donations encouraged, includes a visit with the big man himself inside his house and a candy cane for each child. The Santa House is located on the south side of the courthouse lawn, facing Conner Street/State Rod 32. The Historical Society is grateful to all the sponsors and supporters of the Santa House.

Two special dates to watch for:

Saturday, Dec. 13 is the Holiday Home Tour put on by the Noblesville Preservation Alliance. It’s another chance to see the museum’s decorations, add a visit to Santa next door to your itinerary.

Friday, Dec. 5 is First Friday in Noblesville, and the Historical Society Museum (next door to the Santa House) will be open evening hours.

Saturday, Dec. 6 is the Cookie Crawl in Noblesville. See Santa, gather cookies at the museum, and admire decorations all in one day. Reach out to the Linden Tree for details.

About the Historical Society
The Hamilton County Historical Society, located on the southwest corner of the square in Noblesville, is in the Old Sheriff’s Residence and Jail. The museum is open on Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m. and is free (donations encouraged). In addition to exhibits on Hamilton County history, the museum includes rooms restored to the 19th century as well as three floors of jail cells. Follow along on Facebook and Instagram and check out hamiltoncoinhs.com.

FISHERS, Ind. (WISH) — The Humane Society for Hamilton County is looking to help animals find their ‘fur’-ever home this holiday season with a special adoption event on Black Friday.

During the “Fill Your Heart, Not Your Cart” event this Friday, adoptions will be $10.

In an announcement about the special, the Humane Society says it has cats and dogs of all ages waiting to be adopted. It is currently looking after more than 500 animals at its shelter in Fishers.

“Instead of chasing deals, we ask that you adopt one of our homeless pets on Black Friday,” the email bulletin reads.

Families looking to adopt a pet are encouraged to complete an application online before visiting the facility on Friday.

For those wishing to adopt a dog, all members of the household — humans and dogs — are required to be there to meet a potential new pooch. For cat adoptions, only human family members are required to attend.

All people looking to adopt are also required to show a government-issued ID. Staff will also request a copy of the renter’s pet policy.

Adoption fees will be waived for 12 of the shelter’s “Home for the Holidays Featured Animals” pictured below.

The Humane Society ran a similar adoption event in August, when it was taking care of more than 600 potential pets.

(MIRROR INDY) — The city of Indianapolis is rolling out a new snow removal policy that aims to address concerns from residents after their streets went unplowed following a winter storm last year.

In January 2024, after a winter storm dumped about 8 inches of snow in Marion County, the Department of Public Works decided not to plow residential streets, frustrating residents as well as members of City-County Council. At the time, DPW officials defended their decision, but councilors called for a change in policy. That was approved by the city’s Board of Public Works earlier this week.

Meteorologists are predicting snow Saturday morning and continuing throughout the day.

• RELATED | Weather blog: Cold Friday, snowy Saturday

With that in mind, here’s a refresher on how the city plans to handle snow removal going forward.

When can I expect my street to be plowed?

The new policy places roads into three categories: Thoroughfares, connectors and residential streets.

Major thoroughfares and streets next to hospitals and fire stations are given first priority. These include Washington Street, Emerson Avenue and Fall Creek Parkway, among others. These roads will get plowed in any event involving snow accumulation.

Connector streets are those that link these thoroughfares with less-traveled roadways, like Southeastern Avenue, Mitthoeffer Road and Ditch Road. They will get cleared when snow totals exceed 2 inches.

Residential streets won’t get plowed until accumulation totals reach 4 inches or more. Once that threshold is reached, Indy DPW will communicate with the chair of the council’s Public Works Committee on whether contractors will be called out.

• Residential streets would receive a single, centerline pass by contractors, except in areas managed by HOAs, where streets are privately maintained.
• Other factors, like changes in temperature and wind conditions, will play a role in the department’s decision of whether or not to deploy contractors.

Will trails and bike paths be plowed?

Yes. These trails and bike lanes will be plowed when snow totals reach or exceed 2 inches:

• Monon Trail
• Fall Creek Trail
• Nickel Plate Trail
• Pennsy Trail
• B&O Trail
• Unprotected bike lanes

Once those areas are cleared, DPW will plow protected bike lanes downtown, followed by all remaining protected bike lanes in the city.

Do I need to clear my sidewalk?

Yes, residents are responsible for keeping their sidewalks clear of snow and ice.

To do this, make a clear 5-foot-wide path along all sidewalks around your property, being careful not to push snow into the street or pile it around fire hydrants.

If the snow stops falling after 7 p.m., the sidewalk must be clear by 9 a.m. the following morning. If the snow stops falling after 9 a.m., the sidewalk should be accessible by 7 p.m.

Failure to do so could result in a $50 fine.

You should also keep the area around your mailbox clear for your mail carrier.

For mail delivered on the curb, clear 15 feet on the front, left, and right sides of your mailbox to allow the mail carrier to drive as close to it as possible.

How many people will be deployed during a storm?

Indy DPW will have 70 drivers on the road at any given time, along with 15 laborers and nine heavy equipment operators to handle salt and load trucks. Drivers work in 12-hour shifts.

To ensure that the department doesn’t encounter driver shortages, union staff aren’t allowed to take vacation time from December through the end of March.

How can I stay informed during a winter weather event?

During a storm, Indy DPW sends out press releases and posts updates on its social media channels to keep residents informed.

Indy DPW’s winter weather preparedness page describes the city’s snow removal policy in greater detail.

You can check the status of all streets plowed by the city using the Indy Snow Force Viewer.

CHRISTIANA, Tenn. (AP) — At the start of a busy holiday week filled with hours of travel, Jordan Gullotta went to a place that has given her comfort and a sense of peace. At The Gentle Barn, an animal rescue organization in Tennessee that offers animal-based therapy, she can brush a friendly cow or give scratches and kisses to fluffy white sheep.

This time, she cradled a blind turkey in her arms, and after just a few minutes, Smudge, the brown-feathered bird, closed her eyes and dozed in Gullotta’s arms.

“Oh, my goodness, you’re so snuggly,” Gullotta softly whispered.

This time of year, turkeys might be getting all the attention at the dining room table, but The Gentle Barn founder Ellie Laks said the birds can make great cuddle buddies.

“The world has started to recognize that dogs, cats, horses have a therapeutic value to them,” Laks said. “So at The Gentle Barn, we think, ‘Why not turkeys?’”

Laks said the idea to include turkeys in therapy sessions with people came to her years ago when a particularly chatty bird was following her around the farm while she was doing chores.

When she sat down at eye level with the big, feathered bird and encouraged the hen to come into her arms, she found that was what the turkey wanted.

The 60 animals at the Tennessee farm have all been rescued from poor living conditions or abuse, and several have injuries or are at an age that require special care. One of the turkeys gets acupuncture for painful hips and trouble walking. One of the goats lost its back hooves to hypothermia and moves around in a custom wheelchair.

“We rehabilitate them, give them sanctuary, and then when they’re ready, we partner with them to heal people with the same stories of trauma and connect people to the love and magic of animals,” Laks said.

Laks said turkeys are often misunderstood as dumb and unaffectionate when they are actually extremely intelligent and can give people comfort and one-on-one attention.

Gullotta, who is studying animal science at Middle Tennessee State University nearby, said she had been to the Tennessee farm before to meet the cows, which are her favorite animal there, but a turkey cuddling session wasn’t on her list of things to try at first.

But she realized she could learn more about the turkeys and their temperaments if she got a little closer.

“The turkeys just have their own way of loving, and it’s different than the rest of them,” Gullotta said.

The turkey therapy programs go on all year long, but The Gentle Barn, which also has a location in California, is also offering a holiday session on Thanksgiving where people can feed and pet turkeys as an alternative way to celebrate. People can also sponsor one of the rescued turkeys to help cover the costs of caring for them.

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong firefighters found dozens more bodies Friday during an intensive apartment-by-apartment search of a high-rise tower complex, after a massive fire engulfed seven of its eight buildings. The death toll in one of the city’s deadliest blazes is now at least 128.

Crews prioritized apartments from which they received more than two dozen calls for assistance during the blaze but were unable to reach, Derek Armstrong Chan, a deputy director of Hong Kong Fire Services, told reporters.

The toll was increased by 34 after more bodies were found in the blackened towers, and Secretary for Security Chris Tang told reporters at the scene that the search for victims was continuing and the numbers could still rise.

Eighty-nine of the recovered bodies have not yet been identified, Tang said. Some 200 people remain unaccounted for. Overall, he said he expected the investigation into the fire to last at least three to four weeks.

Andy Yeung, the director of Hong Kong Fire Services, said that first responders found that some fire alarms in the complex were not functioning and that there could be legal consequences.

The fire started midafternoon Wednesday in one of the Wang Fuk Court complex’s eight towers, jumping rapidly from one to the next as bamboo scaffolding covered in netting in place for renovations caught ablaze until seven buildings were engulfed.

It took firefighters some 24 hours to bring the blaze under control, and even nearly two days later, smoke continued to drift out of the charred skeletons of the buildings from the occasional flare-up.

It was not declared fully out until Friday morning.

In total, 2,300 firefighters and medical personnel were involved in the operation, and 12 firefighters were among the 79 people injured overall, Yeung said. One firefighter was also killed, he had said previously.

It was unclear how many people could still be inside the buildings, at the complex in Tai Po district, a northern suburb near Hong Kong’s border with mainland China, which had almost 2,000 apartments and some 4,800 residents.

Most of the casualties were in the first two buildings to catch fire, Chan said.

The apartment complex housed many older people. It was built in the 1980s and had been undergoing a major renovation. Hong Kong’s anti-corruption agency said on Thursday it was investigating possible corruption relating to the renovation project.

Three men — the directors and an engineering consultant of a construction company — have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, and police said company leaders were suspected of gross negligence.

Police have not identified the company where the suspects worked, but The Associated Press confirmed Prestige Construction & Engineering Company was in charge of renovations in the tower complex. Police have seized boxes of documents from the company, where phones rang unanswered Thursday.

Authorities suspected some materials on the exterior walls of the high-rise buildings did not meet fire resistance standards, allowing the unusually fast spread of the fire.

Police also said they found plastic foam panels — which are highly flammable — attached to the windows on each floor near the elevator lobby of the one unaffected tower. The panels were believed to have been installed by the construction company but the purpose was not clear.

Authorities planned immediate inspections of housing estates undergoing major renovations to ensure scaffolding and construction materials meet safety standards.

The fire was the deadliest in Hong Kong in decades. A 1996 fire in a commercial building in Kowloon killed 41 people. A warehouse fire in 1948 killed 176 people, according to the South China Morning Post.

___

Researcher Shihuan Chen in Beijing contributed to this report.

This story has corrected the name of a fire services official to Derek Armstrong Chan, not Wong Ka Wing.

NEW YORK (AP) — ‘Tis the season to put on some brand-new holiday music. The best way to get festive is to sing along to Christmas classics new and old. But don’t know what to press play on? We’ve got you covered.

In honor of the most wonderful time of the year, here are some of the best new holiday releases for the 2025 season. So, grab a loved one, a cup of eggnog and get to listening.

“Christmas in The City,” Pentatonix

For the a cappella fan, there is no better news than yet another holiday album from Pentatonix. Across 18 tracks, “Christmas in the City” celebrates the magic of cosmopolitan life around the holidays and showcases the group’s vocal athletics. Hear them reimagine the songs you know and love as well as introduce a few originals. Start with “Snowing in Paris,” which features the R&B-pop star JoJo, and end with “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm,” a never-before-heard recording of the Frank Sinatra classic featuring Ol’ Blue Eyes himself.

“A Charlie Brown Christmas,” Vince Guaraldi

It’s hard to believe, but 60 years ago, the “Peanuts” gang’s classic “A Charlie Brown Christmas” aired on television for the first time and become an almost-instant sensation. Part of its charms, of course, must be credited to its whimsical score by jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi. To celebrate such a huge anniversary, Craft Recordings is reissuing its soundtrack — as good a reason as any to revisit these beloved songs.

“Greatest Hits Christmas,” LeAnn Rimes

Just ahead of her Christmas tour, the country icon LeAnn Rimes released “Greatest Hits Christmas.” It’s exactly what it sounds like: a mesh of classics and some of her best-known songs from her past holiday albums. There are also new collaborations, like Aloe Blacc on “That Spirit of Christmas” and Gavin DeGraw on “Celebrate Me Home.”

“Snow Globe Town,” Brad Paisley

Some things just make sense together: peanut butter and jelly, coffee and doughnuts, Brad Paisley and his touring band sitting down in Nashville to record a charming Christmas album. “Snow Globe Town” boasts of eight originals and eight covers — exactly what the heart wants this holiday season. It’s the former collection that will really connect, though; there are real charms to be found in “Lit,” “That Crazy Elf” and the title track.

“Christmastime,” Trisha Yearwood

Country singer Trisha Yearwood’s voice sounds like coming home; it makes her the ideal talent for a new holiday collection. “Christmastime” is stacked with familiar tunes and perhaps, best of all, features “Merry Christmas, Valentine,” a duet with her husband Garth Brooks. Blast that one at your get-together and there won’t be a dry eye in the house.

“Holidays,” Roberta Flack

The world lost a giant in February when Roberta Flack, the Grammy-winning singer and pianist, died at 88. Perhaps best known for her timeless take on “Killing Me Softly with His Song,” the Christmas season brings up another reason to celebrate her. A new release, “Holidays,” like many on this list, features originals and covers — and a selection of songs from Flack’s classic “The Christmas Album.” It holds a special meaning this year.

“Feels Like Christmas,” Mickey Guyton

The country powerhouse Mickey Guyton feels like Christmas and once you dive into these eight tracks, you will, too. From her rendition of “O Holy Night” to her masterful take on “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” from Disney’s “Frozen” (sorry, parents!) there’s a lot to love here.

“It’s Christmas,” Eric Benét

R&B singer Eric Benét’s first holiday album, “It’s Christmas,” is filled with warmth; consider it the sonic equivalent of curling up to a roaring fireplace on a snowy winter’s evening. Don’t believe us? Well, one listen to his take on “Please Come Home for Christmas” or “Oh Holy Night” will make you a believer. Or better yet, there’s “Christmas Morning,” featuring Benét’s youngest daughters Lucia and Luna. Tissues, you might want to grab a few.

“The Chess Records Christmas Album,” various artists

Sometimes a compilation album is what a holiday party needs. Chess Records has the answer. “The Chess Records Christmas Album” is an impressive collection of veteran talent. The release features everything from Chuck Berry’s “Run Rudolph Run” and The Moonglows’ “Hey Santa Claus” to Lenox Avenue’s “Little Drummer Boy” and The Salem Travelers’ “Merry Christmas to You.”

“Evergreen Christmas Sessions,” Hunter Hayes

Hunter Hayes is a newer name on the country scene than a few of the artists listed here, but that simply means he’s a fresh voice to discover. His “Evergreen Christmas Sessions” is a brief introduction — just four covers of holiday standards — but it’s a charming romp. Start with “Winter Wonderland” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” stay for “Run Run Rudolph” and “Silent Night.”

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The criminal trial for Mark Sanchez, the former FOX Sports analyst charged after a fight with a truck driver in downtown Indianapolis, has been moved from December to March 2026.

The trial was originally scheduled to begin on Thursday, Dec. 11, with a final pretrial conference on Dec. 2.

Online court records show that attorneys for Sanchez requested a continuance on Tuesday and Judge James Osborn granted the motion on Wednesday. The jury trial for Sanchez is now set to start on March 12, 2026.

Sanchez’s lawyers told a Marion County judge on Oct. 22 that Sanchez was still recovering from injuries he sustained in the Oct. 4 altercation.

When asked after the hearing if Sanchez’s condition would allow for a trial in December, Chief Trial Deputy Daniel Ciccini responded, “Don’t know the answer to that, but I doubt December is a realistic trial date.”

Court papers say Sanchez attacked 69-year-old delivery driver Perry Tole in an alley behind the Westin Hotel on Washington Street just after midnight on Oct. 4, told him he wasn’t supposed to be there, attacked him, and tried to get in his truck.

Tole was there due to his job working for a company that recycles cooking oil. Police say he pepper-sprayed Sanchez and then stabbed him several times when Sanchez continued attacking.

Sanchez, who was in Indianapolis for Fox’s coverage of the Oct. 5 game between the Colts and the Las Vegas Raiders, was hospitalized with stab wounds to his upper right torso. Tole was also taken to a hospital with serious injuries.

Sanchez faces a felony battery charge, and several misdemeanor charges, for the altercation with Tole.

He could spend up to six years in prison if convicted of the felony charge. He also faces a separate civil lawsuit from Tole.

Sanchez was let go by Fox Sports in early November and replaced by former Purdue University quarterback, Drew Brees.

Previous Coverage

• Lawsuit against Mark Sanchez includes parent company of St. Elmo Steak House
• Fox Sports drops Mark Sanchez, hires Drew Brees as NFL analyst
• Formal charges filed against Mark Sanchez in downtown stabbing incident

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INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Sunny but chilly Friday on tap. A winter storm will bring accumulating snow to most of Indiana on Saturday. Travel will be difficult especially in northern sections of the state. Gusty winds will allow for some of the snow to blow and drift at times. 

TODAY: Temperatures will start out into the twenties this morning. Wind chill values will be into the teens if you are out early this morning trying to get some of those Black Friday deals. We will see lots of sunshine for the day today but temperatures really won’t warm up all that much. Look for highs right around the freezing mark.

TONIGHT: If you are heading to the Circle of Lights, the IU and Purdue game or the Pacers game it will be dry but chilly.  Clouds will be increasing tonight ahead of our next storm system. Low temperatures will fall right around 20.

TOMORROW: All eyes will be on the snow that will fall through much of the day on Saturday. Look for snow to begin early in the morning and will continue throughout the day. Winds will gust upwards of 20 mph. This will create blowing and drifting of the snow. 

Snowfall accumulates around 2 to 4 inches along the I-70 corridor. A little bit less snowfall as rain will impact some totals farther south. Further northward we could see snowfall in excess of a foot around Northern Indiana.

A little bit of some rain will begin to mix in late Saturday night around Southern and even Central Indiana.

7 DAY EXTENDED FORECAST: Colder air moves back in on Sunday. We will see a few light snow showers early Sunday with mostly cloudy skies. High temperatures will climb right around 34 degrees.

Lots of cloud cover on Monday and we will see another storm system move through late Monday into Tuesday. Highs on Monday will be near 31. 

Tuesday snow showers possible with highs only around 29 degrees.. Will dry out Wednesday and Thursday but stay chilly with highs right around 32. 

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — For 54 years, the Mozel Sanders Foundation has been feeding hungry families on Thanksgiving Day.

This year, the foundation named after its founder helped feed more than 10,000 people.

Sanders, an East St. Louis, Illinois, native, died in 1988 at age 64. In 1959, Sanders became pastor of the Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist Church on the Indianapolis west side and served there until his death.

This year’s annual meal drive bearing Sanders’ name involved thousands of pounds of Thanksgiving classics including green beans and stuffing. About 1,500 volunteers helped prepare and pack the food.

Stephanie Sanders, the chief operating officers of the foundation, said she’s always grateful for the community’s support. “It means that the legacy is still going on. The people that gave last year, they come back and they give again.”

Paul Nelson has helped with the annual dinner for 30 years. He says there wasn’t any rhyme or reason why he came out to volunteer back then. “It’s like a gathering that we have every year. It’s too bad that it’s only once a year. The ultimate goal is to not have this at all. Everybody has their meals themselves, but as long as they don’t, we’re here for them.”

It was Nicky Neptune’s first time volunteering. He hoped the day lifted people in need around the holidays. “I didn’t have this coming up. Being able to provide this for families and other people just to be able to eat is a big impact for me, and I love it.”

Sanders said those volunteers help keep her father-in-law’s legacy as strong as ever. “We’re getting more volunteers. The donations come in. We’re blessed to feed the people on Thanksgiving Day, as well as twice a month with groceries.”

Organizers with the Mozel Sanders Foundation start planning for next year’s Thanksgiving Day dinner sometime after Christmas.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The president and CEO of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce said Indiana’s child care access is a major workforce retention issue.

Child care drove much of the discussion at the Chamber’s annual legislative preview earlier this month. Indiana Chamber President and CEO Vanessa Green Sinders said Indiana’s limited access to child care costs the state’s economy as much as $4 billion per year, according to a study the Chamber commissioned. She said access to child care has a twofold impact. First, it allows working parents to remain in the workforce. Second, it gives the next generation of workers a head start by investing in their early childhood education.

Sinders said the Chamber plans to continue to work with lawmakers during the 2026 session on ways to reduce regulatory barriers for new solutions to child care. A bill passed during the 2025 session allows students who are at least 15 years old to volunteer as a caregiver if their school corporation operates a child care program.

“There’s lots of work going on in all corners of the state,” Sinders said. “Fort Wayne has a pilot program going on that’s kind of a tri-care model that brings government and employers and individuals together to think about this. So, my view is that it’s going to take all of us working together.”

The 2026 legislative session will begin Dec. 1. Lawmakers plan to spend the first two weeks of December considering whether to redraw Indiana’s Congressional districts. After that, lawmakers will reconvene in early January with the goal of wrapping up the 2026 session by the end of February.

All INdiana Politics airs at 9:30 a.m. Sunday on WISH-TV.