INDIANAPOLIS (INDIANA CAPITAL CHRONICLE) — A new analysis of Indiana’s five investor-owned electric utilities shows bills went up 17.5% in one year, or $28 a month on average statewide.

The study was conducted by Citizens Action Coalition and “exposes how Indiana’s monopoly utilities have imposed the most severe electric bill increases on residential customers in at least two decades — with some families paying nearly $50 more a month than just one year ago.”

Using data from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC), the utility-focused customer advocacy group compared July 1 residential bills for 1,000 kWh of usage from 2024 and 2025.

“Things keeps getting worse for Hoosier consumers and our state leaders continue to allow it to happen,” said Kerwin Olson, executive director of the coalition. “Based on this trend, the rhetoric regarding affordability emanating from the Statehouse appears to be nothing more than lip service. Hoosier consumers can no longer afford monopoly pricing. Something must change, soon”

The statewide average increase was nearly double the prior year’s record increase of 9.3%, the analysis found.

“Indiana has been growing, and Indiana’s utilities have an obligation to keep pace with that demand and power a modern economy,” the Indiana Energy Association said in a statement.

“In recent years, our energy companies have made substantial investments in additional power generation and modernization of the state’s century-old electric grid that delivers that power. We’ve added advanced technology to the electric grid that reduces power outages and hardens the grid against severe weather. There also have been substantial investments in evolving environmental regulations. We are committed to keeping affordability top of mind, while also making the investments needed to provide reliable electricity.”

IEA is a trade association that represents Indiana’s investor-owned electric utilities and local distribution gas companies.

Here are some findings about individual utilities from the analysis:

• NIPSCO residential customers were hit hardest: $50 per month (26.7%) increase in just one year, compounding a 17.8% hike in 2024. This follows an IURC-approved settlement opposed by CAC.
• CenterPoint bills surged $44 per month (25%) after the IURC greenlit a large base rate increase.
• Duke Energy Indiana raised residential bills nearly $26 per month (20%).
• AES Indiana increased bills nearly $17 per month (12%) — and now seeks an additional $21 per month by 2027 in a pending rate case.
• I&M bills rose $6 per month (3.9%).

IEA noted the U.S. Energy Information Administration ranks ranks Indiana residential prices among the lowest in the east north central region.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Caitlin Clark’s injury-plagued sophomore season continues, with the Indiana Fever star set to miss a third straight game due to injury.

Clark will not play Thursday when the Fever (12-12) host the Las Vegas Aces (12-11) at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the team confirmed Wednesday.

The two-time WNBA All-Star suffered a right groin injury in the Fever’s July 15 win over the Connecticut Sun that forced her to miss the 3-Point Contest and WNBA All-Star Game last weekend in Indianapolis.

Clark has missed more than a dozen games this season because of injury.

In May and June, Clark missed five games with a left quad strain. She was out for a two-week stretch from late June to early July with a groin injury on her left side.

While Clark focuses on her recovery, her Fever teammates are ready to step up and continue their push to the playoffs.

“Everyone’s not always going to be healthy at the same time, and that’s kind of how its been for us this season,” Fever center Aliyah Boston told News 8’s Angela Moryan on Monday. “So for us, it’s about not getting down and not letting it hold us down, but make sure that the next person up and the next person to step on that floor is ready to go.”

Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell added, “Unfortunately, (Clark) will not be around, but you have to want to win regardless. You look at these situations like it’s unfortunate, but we have to keep playing for her and make sure that she knows we miss her, but we have do right by ourselves.”

The Fever look to build on Mitchell’s 29-point performance in Tuesday’s loss to the New York Liberty and secure their eighth home win of the season on Thursday. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A suspect in a Thursday morning shooting on the city’s northeast side was shot by police near Crown Hill Cemetery, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department confirmed.

Around 7:20 a.m., IMPD officers found a woman shot on North Ritter Avenue near the intersection of 46th Street and Arlington Avenue.

The woman was taken to a hospital in critical condition, according to IMPD Public Information Officer Tommy Thompson.

Investigators at the scene identified a suspect and his vehicle and sent the information out to officers across the city, Thompson says.

Around 8 a.m., IMPD North District officers found the suspect’s vehicle in the area of 30th and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. streets.

A “short vehicle pursuit took place,” during which the suspect is “believed to have fired shots at officers,” Thompson said.

The chase ended near the intersection of West 32nd and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. streets opposite Crown Hill Cemetery. That’s where at least one IMPD officer shot and wounded the suspect, Thompson says.

The suspect, whose name was not shared by police, was taken to a hospital in critical condition.

No officers were injured.

IMPD says there will be a heavy police presence in the area where the police shooting took place. Community members are asked to avoid the area.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham says the WNBA fined her $500 for a TikTok where she took a jab at the league’s referees.

Cunningham posted the video six days ago, on June 18. It shows her lip-syncing lyrics from Sabrina Carpenter’s song “Manchild,” emphasizing the words “stupid,” “slow” and “useless.” The caption to the video is “@ some refs.”

On Wednesday, Cunningham re-posted the video on X with a caption about the fine, adding: “You got it bud. Cause there’s not more important things to be worried about with our league right now.”

As of Thursday morning, neither the WNBA nor the Fever have confirmed the fine.

Cunningham also appeared to criticize league referees in a July 21 post on X. She reposted a video that showed her taking an elbow to the head in a game against the Connecticut Sun, adding, “they said I flopped. el oh el.”

The Fever acquired Cunningham and a second-round draft pick from the Phoenix Mercury in January.

In her first full season with the Fever, Cunningham is averaging 7.3 points and 4.1 rebounds per game while shooting 40% from the three-point line. She put up 15 points and three rebounds in Tuesday’s 98-84 loss to the New York Liberty.

Related Coverage

• Indiana Fever bring back popular ‘Stranger Things’ jersey
• Caitlin Clark, other WNBA All-Stars make statement with shirts calling for higher pay
• Sophie Cunningham is no fan of WNBA’s plans to add teams in Cleveland and Detroit

WASHINGTON (AP) — A House subcommittee on Wednesday voted to subpoena the Department of Justice for files in the sex trafficking investigation into Jeffrey Epstein after Democrats successfully goaded GOP lawmakers to defy President Donald Trump and Republican leadership to support the action.

The vote showed the intensifying push for disclosures in the Epstein investigation even as House Speaker Mike Johnson — caught between demands from Trump and clamoring from his own members for the House to act — was sending lawmakers home a day early for its August recess. The House Committee on Oversight also issued a subpoena Wednesday for Ghislaine Maxwell, a convicted sex offender and girlfriend of the late Epstein, to testify before committee officials in August.

Meanwhile, Democrats on a subcommittee of the powerful House Oversight Committee made a motion for the subpoena Wednesday afternoon. Three Republicans on the panel voted with Democrats for the subpoena, sending it through on an 8-2 vote tally.

The Republican subcommittee chairman, Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana, said that work was beginning to draft the subpoena but did not give a timeline for when it would be issued.

“I’ve never handled a subpoena like this. This is some fascinating stuff,” said Higgins, who voted against the motion.

Democrats cheered the action as proof that their push for disclosures in the Epstein investigation was growing stronger. The committee agreed to redact information on victims, yet Democrats successfully blocked a push by Republicans to only subpoena information that was deemed to be “credible” — language that Trump has also used when discussing what he would support releasing.

“Democrats are focused on transparency and are pushing back against the corruption against Donald Trump. What is Donald Trump hiding that he won’t release the Epstein files?” said Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the oversight committee.

Democrats push for disclosure of the Epstein files

Earlier Wednesday, Johnson had said there was no need to vote on a separate piece of bipartisan legislation calling for the release of the Epstein files this week because the Trump administration is “already doing everything within their power to release them.”

Yet Democrats have delighted in pressing Republicans to support the release of the files. Their efforts halted the GOP’s legislative agenda for the week and turned attention to an issue that Trump has unsuccessfully implored his supporters to forget about.

“They’re fleeing our work, our job and sending us back home because they don’t want to vote to release these files. This is something that they ran on. This is something that they talked about: the importance of transparency, holding pedophiles accountable,” said Rep. Summer Lee, the Pennsylvania Democrat who pushed for the subpoena.

Democrats have seized on Epstein files to divide GOP

Democratic leaders are hoping to make the issue about much more than just Epstein, who died in his New York jail cell six years ago while he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges.

“Why haven’t Republicans released the Epstein files to the American people? It’s reasonable to conclude that Republicans are continuing to protect the lifestyles of the rich and the shameless, even if that includes pedophiles,” said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries at a news conference. “So it’s all connected.”

It comes as both parties are gearing up to take their messaging to voters on Trump’s big multitrillion-dollar tax breaks and spending cuts bill. For Republicans, it’s “beautiful” legislation that will spark economic growth; for Democrats, it’s an “ugly” gift mostly to the richest Americans that undermines health care for low-income people.

Yet as furor has grown on the right over the Trump administration’s reversal on promises related to Epstein, several Democrats have seized on the opportunity to divide Republicans on the issue.

“This goes to a fundamental sense of, ‘Is our government co-opted by rich and powerful people that isn’t looking out for ordinary Americans? Or can we have a government that looks out for ordinary Americans?’” said Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat who has put forward a bipartisan bill meant to force the release of the files.

Republican leaders accuse Democrats of caring about the issue purely for political gain. They point out that the Department of Justice held on to the Epstein investigation through the presidency of Democrat Joe Biden.

Trump’s Justice Department has also sought the release of testimony from secret grand jury proceedings in the Epstein case, but a federal judge in Florida rejected that request on Wednesday. A similar records request is still pending in New York.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — As the new school year approaches, finding the right laptop is more important than ever. Whether you’re a high schooler, a college freshman, or a parent trying to keep up with classroom tech needs, Consumer Reports is sharing expert advice on how to score a reliable laptop without breaking the bank.

With prices fluctuating and uncertainty over tariffs, tech experts say now may be the time to act.

“We tell folks that if they have the money now to buy the laptop now, because there is a very good chance that prices could rise pretty dramatically,” said Nicholas De Leon, Tech Reporter at Consumer Reports.

For those with a bit more room in the budget, the latest 15-inch Apple MacBook Air ranks near the top of CR’s ratings for performance and reliability. But if you’re looking to save, experts suggest opting for a smaller version or a model that’s a few years old.

Prefer a PC? The LG Gram is a top Windows pick, known for its lightweight design and long-lasting battery life.

If you’re budget-conscious, don’t overlook slightly older models.

“Maybe you find one that’s a year or two older, which is still going to be a very good laptop. You could probably find that for less than the current year model,” said De Leon.

Craving the newest tech? The HP OmniBook Ultra is a next-gen “AI PC” designed to run artificial intelligence apps directly on the device, rather than through cloud services. It’s powerful, but pricey.

“Generally speaking don’t just buy it from the first store that happens to have it. Take your time, give it a couple days, and shop around at different stores and it is very likely you’ll be able to find a better price somewhere else,” De Leon advised.

For those looking to stretch every dollar, the Lenovo Chromebook is another smart choice. It’s lightweight, affordable, and delivers an impressive 19 hours of battery life.

You can also consider refurbished laptops sold directly by brands like Apple, Dell, and HP. These devices go through full inspections and typically come with a one-year warranty, making them a solid value.

Don’t forget about student discounts. Apple, Dell, HP, and Best Buy all offer back-to-school deals, and many include extra perks like gift cards or free accessories with your purchase.

For more laptop buying tips and the full list of recommended models, visit Consumer Reports.

(CNN) — Almost 50 people including children are feared dead after a Soviet-era passenger plane crashed in Russia’s far eastern Amur region, state media reported on Thursday, citing local officials.

The plane, an Antonov An-24, was flying on a regional route from Khabarovsk to Blagoveshchensk and Tynda when it disappeared from the radar, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations said in a statement posted on Telegram.

The Amur Center for Civil Defence and Fire Safety said on Telegram that a search and rescue helicopter spotted the wreck of the plane on a mountain slope 10 miles (16 kilometers) from Tynda. It said no survivors were seen from the air.

It said that according to the director of the Tynda airport, the plane caught fire after it crashed.

The emergency ministry said it is investigating why the plane lost contact, and the Interstate Aviation Committee launched a probe.

According to publicly available databases, the aircraft was built in 1976. The Antonov AN-24 model was designed in 1957.

Vasiliy Orlov, the governor of Amur region, said on Telegram that according to preliminary data, there were 43 passengers, including five children, and six crew members on board the plane.

Citing emergency officials, Russian state news agency TASS said preliminary information indicates that all those aboard the aircraft were dead.

The aircraft was only a few miles from the Tynda airport when it lost contact with air traffic controllers, the emergency ministry added.

Orlov said search and rescue operations were under way, with “all necessary forces and means involved” in the effort. TASS reported the area where the plane went missing is remote and difficult to reach, with no roads through the swampy forest.

The flight was operated by Angara Airlines, a Russian airline that is based in Irkutsk in Siberia.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

(AP) — The acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency is pushing back on criticisms of the federal response to the central Texas floods that killed at least 136 people earlier this month.

“I can’t see anything we did wrong,” David Richardson told a House panel of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on Wednesday. He called the relationship between state and federal agencies “a model for how disasters should be handled.”

Lawmakers used the hearing about improvements to FEMA disaster response to address reports that FEMA support was impaired by bureaucratic delays that slowed the deployment of urban search and rescue teams and left the agency’s call centers unstaffed, which Richardson denied. The response “brought the maximum amount of capability to bear in Texas at the right time and the right place,” he said.

Richardson’s appearance came after a wave of criticism and fallout over the response, including the resignation Monday of FEMA’s urban search and rescue leader. President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem have touted the robust federal support for Texas despite their past support for eliminating FEMA.

Reports of delays on the ground denied

The acting administrator denied reports that FEMA urban search-and-rescue teams were delayed over 72 hours because of a new rule imposed by Noem that she must personally approve any contract of $100,000 or more. Richardson said a Texas-based FEMA task force was on the ground on July 4, along with other Homeland Security assets like the Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection, and that additional support came within “24 hours” of being requested.

Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Ariz., pushed back on FEMA’s readiness, asking why more of the 28 FEMA urban search-and-rescue teams located around the country were not on standby ahead of receiving a request from the state of Texas. “It haunts me that we could have had more urban search and rescue pre-positioned in place,” said Stanton. “That was a choice.”

The leader of FEMA’s urban search-and-rescue effort, Ken Pagurek, expressed frustration with the delays to colleagues before resigning Monday, according to CNN. In response to Pagurek’s resignation, a DHS spokesperson told The Associated Press, “It is laughable that a career public employee, who claims to serve the American people, would choose to resign over our refusal to hastily approve a six-figure deployment contract without basic financial oversight.”

The Texas Division of Emergency Management did not respond to a request for comment on whether search-and-rescue efforts were impacted by delayed deployment of the FEMA teams.

Richardson also denied a report from The New York Times that 84% of calls to FEMA went unanswered on July 7, three days after the July 4 floods, because Noem let lapse contract renewals with outside call centers. The contracts were renewed July 10, according to The Times.

“The vast majority of phone calls were answered. There was never a lapse in the contract,” said Richardson, echoing Noem’s statements that the report was “fake news.”

Richardson defended his absence from the ground efforts in Texas, saying he worked from Washington, D.C., “to kick down the doors of bureaucracy” and denying suggestions that Trump or Noem told him to stand down. He did not visit Texas until July 12.

FEMA’s fate is still in question

Since the Texas floods, Trump has deflected questions about FEMA’s fate. In June, he said he wanted to begin “phasing out” FEMA after the hurricane season “to wean off of FEMA and bring it to the state level.”

Trump has been criticized for delaying decisions on disaster declaration requests, causing some states to wait as long as two months for approval to receive assistance to repair public infrastructure or help survivors.

Lawmakers pressed Richardson on more general issues of FEMA reform as well, including concerns over long overdue preparedness grant funding, flood insurance and rules about how much financial assistance survivors can receive.

Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers asked about the fate of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, which Trump canceled earlier this year. The grants supplied hundreds of millions of dollars in disaster mitigation funding. Twenty states are now suing the administration over the loss of funds.

On Tuesday, Trump approved disaster declaration requests for Michigan, Oregon, Indiana, Kansas, West Virginia, Missouri and New Mexico and expanded assistance in Kentucky.

Rep. Bob Onder, R-Mo., asked Richardson why it took a month for his state to get a disaster declaration. “My constituents were frustrated by how long it takes to get temporary housing and debris removal assistance,” Onder said. Richardson referred back to Texas’ declaration request: “We turned that around within just a couple hours.”

A Trump-appointed FEMA review council is in the process of crafting recommendations to the president on changes to the agency. Noem, who co-chairs the council, told its members five days after the Texas floods that FEMA “needs to be eliminated as it exists today and remade as a responsive agency.”

Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., said he and Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo., would introduce the bipartisan Fixing Emergency Management for Americans Act this week, which would make FEMA an independent, Cabinet-level agency, incentivize states to prioritize resilience and improve aid for survivors. “We don’t need to wait for a FEMA review council,” said Larsen. “We’ve been reviewing FEMA for a long time.”

WESTFIELD, Ind. (WISH) — It’s a busy week of sports in Indiana.

For instance, this week marks the beginning of Colts Training Camp.

Then, later this week, NASCAR makes its annual trip to Indianapolis for Brickyard Weekend.

One driver who is already in town for the Brickyard 400 is Joe Gibbs Racing’s Chase Briscoe. The Indiana native actually made a stop at Colts Training Camp on Wednesday to see the team’s first practice of camp at Grand Park.

Briscoe is a Mitchell, Ind. native who is also a big Colts fan.

“I’ve gotten to know a couple of the players now too, which is cool,” Briscoe said. “I can kind of interact with them when I come to training camp. So yeah, it’s been fun.”

But as big of a fan as Briscoe is of the Colts, his son Brooks may be an even bigger fan of the Colts’ official mascot, Blue.

Brooks is three years old and had a memorable interaction with Blue following practice on Wednesday. News 8 Sports’ Andrew Chernoff captured the moment.

“He’s (Brooks) a diehard Blue fan,” Briscoe said. “So I got pied by Blue a little bit ago just for my son. Yeah, it’s fun. He comes out here and has a great time and as a family, it’s just a lot of memories that are being made.”

Briscoe even wrote on X, formally known as Twitter, that “Brooks watches @blue’s videos every night before bed, got to meet his hero today.”

The Colts continue training camp on Thursday morning with practice from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. EDT at Grand Park.

Meanwhile, Briscoe will be on track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the first time this weekend on Friday at 1:05 p.m. EDT for Brickyard 400 practice. Qualifying is set for Saturday with the Brickyard 400 set for Sunday.

Briscoe has never won the Brickyard 400, but is confident entering this weekend.

“Excited to be back home this weekend and just get to have that experience,” Briscoe said. “And do it this year too driving for Joe Gibbs Racing. I feel I’ll have a legitimate shot to win the race. So, yeah I’m looking forward to it.”

Briscoe has one race victory this NASCAR Cup Series season. He won at Pocono in June.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The mayor’s new pick to lead Indianapolis Animal Care Services (IACS) is one step closer to being approved.

Amanda Dehoney-Hinkle’s appointment will move forward, and she could be approved by the City-County Council in August. Dehoney-Hinkle has served in various animal control leadership roles during her career, including as superintendent of Greenfield-Hancock Animal Management. This comes after the mayor’s previous pick to lead IACS was withdrawn after widespread opposition from the community.

Volunteers are now asking Dehoney-Hinkle to add a volunteer coordinator and say they’re ready to get back to work.

“All the volunteers are excited to have a fresh start, to start this new chapter,” said Jessica Perry, volunteer for IACS. “Again, we just really want to be able to help her. We want to be able to work with these animals and just have the ability to do that.”

The City-County Council’s next full meeting will be Monday, August 11.