INDIANAPOLIS — Tom Wood Group plans to break ground on Nov. 20 on the future site of a new Porsche dealership in Indianapolis near the site of a former Steak ‘N Shake.

The 46,244-square-foot facility will sit on 2.7 acres and is expected to be completed Dec. 31, 2027. The company describes it as a Porsche Generation 5 facility designed to reflect the brand’s focus on innovation, luxury and customer experience.

Plans call for a customer lounge, areas for classic cars and owners’ collections, a Porsche lifestyle area, a performance display area and an equipment display area. The spaces will highlight the brand’s history, performance, engineering, technology and customization options, according to the company.

The lounge is designed to support the ownership experience. The classic-car and owners’ collection areas will celebrate Porsche’s history and its owners’ enthusiasm. The lifestyle area will showcase the brand, while the performance and equipment displays will feature Porsche engineering, technology and customization options.

“This groundbreaking represents an exciting new chapter for the future Porsche Indianapolis dealership and the Tom Wood Group,” said Jeff Wood, president and CEO of Tom Wood Group. “We’re proud to invest in a facility that reflects the extraordinary Porsche brand and our commitment to delivering an exceptional experience for our guests. This new dealership will be more than a place to purchase and service a vehicle — it will be a destination where Porsche enthusiasts can connect, celebrate their passion, and experience everything that makes the brand so special.”

Tom Wood Group leadership, Porsche representatives, project partners and invited guests are expected to attend. The event will include remarks from company leadership and city officials, a ceremonial groundbreaking with shovels and hard hats, and a champagne toast. An architectural rendering will be available, and company representatives will be available for photos and interviews.

The ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. Nov. 20 at 4105 E. 96th St., Indianapolis, IN 46240.

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department responded to a report of a shooting on the northwest side of Indianapolis early Saturday.

Officers responded to a report of a person shot near the 1800 block of North Somerset Avenue, near Speedway. IMPD said the person had gunshot wounds.

The person is in critical condition, and police have not provided an update on the person’s condition.

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

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

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Student sections across central Indiana were outstanding once again this season, cheering on their teams and competing for the coveted spirit award, The Zone Banner.

The two finalists for The Zone Banner are listed alphabetically:

• Fishers
• Roncalli

Click here to vote for your school to win The Zone Banner. Voting is just one of the ways to make the top two, and it is not the deciding factor.

The winner of The Zone Banner will be announced on Friday, November 20 on The Zone at 11:08 p.m. on WISH-TV and WRTV.

(CNN) — All flights in the United States are grounded until further notice “due to extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety,” the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.

The FAA issued the ground stop “following a communication issue impacting all Air Route Traffic Control Centers,” Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said in a social media post. “FAA technicians are investigating the issue.”

Air Route Traffic Control Centers are regional facilities that handle flights going across the country.

“Traffic should remain ground stopped until further notice,” the FAA said in an advisory. “International flights will be managed on a case by case basis.”

The last time there was a nationwide ground stop was in January 2023 when a pilot notification system went down. Prior to that, the last time a nationwide ground stop was issued was after the September 11, 2001, attacks.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

(CNN) — A tanker collided with a river cruise with more than 130 people onboard Friday afternoon, according to Port of New Orleans officials.

Port NOLA Harbor Police, the New Orleans Fire Department, the New Orleans Police Department, the U.S. Coast Guard and emergency medical personnel responded to the scene, according to a news release.

The Atlantic Asphalt tanker crashed into the American Cruise Lines’ American Heritage at about 12:30 p.m. while the ship was docked on the Mississippi River, according to port officials.

The massive tanker rammed into the docked cruise ship, tipping the ship on its side and partially submerging it underwater, video from CNN affiliate WDSU shows.

The cause of the collision and the number of people injured are still under investigation.

“Our immediate priority is the safety of all passengers, crew members and first responders. This remains an active and evolving incident,” the Port of New Orleans said in a statement.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said he was aware of the incident and would be heading to New Orleans.

PAOLI, Ind.– A southern Indiana mother is raising concerns about a new assessment process the state is using for people with disabilities.

Earlier this year, the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) launched a new assessment procedure for people receiving a Medicaid waiver.

“It was awful”: Mom concerned about son’s interview

Angie Brookshire lives in Loogootee, Indiana with her son Cameron.

“He’s got a ton of health problems and autism,” said Brookshire.

For 10 years, Cameron has relied on a Medicaid waiver which allows him to attend a day program at the First Chance Center in Paoli.

“He has goals set up that they work on, and he gets to spend time with people rather than, you know, being stuck at home all the time,” said Brookshire. “ It’s something that he looks forward to every single day of his life.”

Last month, an assessor with FSSA came to their home to make sure Cameron still qualifies for the Medicaid waiver.

The assessment looks at six life areas:

• Self-Care
• Understanding and Use of Language
• Learning
• Mobility
• Self-Direction
• Capacity for Independent Living

“It was a long 2 hours and 20 minutes,” said Brookshire.

Brookshire says many of the questions were way too complicated for Cameron, who functions at the level of a 5-year-old child.

Brookshire said one example was when the FSSA assessor asked Cameron if he’s a positive influence in his community.

“Cameron nodded yes, and I looked at the case manager and I said, that’s not a yes for him,” said Brookshire. “He does not know what that means, and I said, ‘Cameron, what does community mean?’ And he didn’t know. And I said, ‘What’s positive?’ And he didn’t know. And I said, ‘So don’t put down a yes for him .’”

Other examples of questions, according to Brookshire include:

• What is your primary goal in life?
• Name your closest confidants.
• Do you have little to no interest or pleasure in things you normally do in the last 3 days?
• In the last 3 days have you felt anxious, restless , uneasy, or depressed?

“As the interview kept going on, she would ask him questions, and then she would turn and ask me to answer for him,” said Brookshire.

Brookshire is a teacher at a special education co-op and tests students as part of her job.

She says FSSA’s assessment format concerned her.

“It was awful,” said Brookshire. “I feel like this assessment is not valid.  it’s taking a yes or no answer for something that’s so much deeper.”

Brookshire says at one point the FSSA assessor gave her the computer to fill out Cameron’s medical information.

“It all just alarmed me so much, and so I stepped out of my comfort zone on Facebook, and then that really blew up,” said Brookshire.

Angie Brookshire’s Facebook post about her experience with the state’s new assessment process has hundreds of comments and it’s been shared more than 800 times.

“Stupid waste of State resources. Especially when the State has doctors statements confirming the LIFE LONG DISABILITY!!” wrote one commenter.

Angie Brookshire wants to know what FSSA’s goal is with the new assessments.

“What’s most concerning to me is I feel like it can set up people to fail,” said Brookshire.  “You might want to you know trim the fat, but at what the expense of what?”

Brookshire says Cameron was approved for the Medicaid waiver, but she’s concerned about people who were not so fortunate.

FSSA says new process it not about stopping fraud or saving money

Indiana’s I-Team spoke with two officials at FSSA: Kelly Mitchell, the director for FSSA’s Division of Disability Aging and Rehabilitative Services, and Holly Wimsatt, director of FSSA’s Bureau of Disability Services.

“This is most definitively not an action to save money, this truly is,” said Mitchell. “We want to consistently and accurately identify individuals’ needs. We want to ensure that we’re getting the right service to the right folks at the right time. That’s our mission.”

FSSA points out the assessment process includes guided interviews, as well as a review of records and assessor observations.

All three components inform the assessor’s responses documented in the assessment tool. 

FSSA recently re-trained staff after an internal review found some problems.

“We had reports of issues where the individual may not have been included in an interview, or that a guardian may not,” said Mitchell. “It wasn’t always clear to us whether that person had or had not been there.  I think there were times maybe questions were just read versus rather than a guided process as it was initially trained and instructed.”

FSSA says assessors are now trained to verify information with other individuals who may know the person if there are inconsistencies encountered or questions that remain after the interview, record review, and observations of the individual.

“The assessment process is really looking at the individual and their situation from a holistic perspective,” said Wimsatt. “That information informs a decision on level of care eligibility, but it is also used heavily in what might be called service planning or person-centered planning. What things does that person need to be connected with?”

FSSA emphasizes that the new assessments are not about rooting out fraud.

“The purpose of this is io ensure that we are appropriately identifying individuals’ needs,” said Mitchell.

FSSA says 96.5% of applicants meet the criteria, which leaves a denial rate of 3.5%.

This summer, Indiana’s I-Team reported that the denial rate was 6%, prompting concern from state lawmakers.

Under the old assessment system, FSSA’s denial rate for Medicaid waivers was .02%.

FSSA points out that 500 people who were in active appeal are being scheduled for reassessments.

“We’ll be doing new assessments,” said Mitchell.

The agency also says it has added 800 slots of the family support waiver.

“The capacity has grown,” said Mitchell.

FSSA also points out that families can appeal.

“Those services don’t terminate immediately,” said Mitchell. “At a minimum, the individual has 90 days, and then, there’s an appeal process. So no one is just removed from their active services and supports upon that determination.”

FSSA also says it will look into Angie Brookshire’s concerns about her son’s interview.

Arc of Indiana files records request

The Arc of Indiana, an advocacy organization for people with disabilities, has filed a public records request with FSSA to learn more about the new assessment process.

Read the Public Records Request

“We have raised concerns about inconsistent assessments, inadequate training, changes to the process, and poor communication with individuals and families,” said Kim Dodson, CEO of The Arc of Indiana.  “We appreciate that FSSA is responding to some of those concerns. Now we need to make sure the problems are fully corrected and understand how the information collected through InterRAI is actually being used to determine eligibility.”

The Arc is seeking greater transparency about the process.

“People with intellectual and developmental disabilities have a broad range of abilities and support needs,” Dodson said. “We need to understand what assessment information matters, how it is weighted, what criteria or thresholds are used, and how the methodology was developed and tested. We must have confidence that the process accurately identifies everyone who meets Indiana’s level-of-care requirements, not only people with the most significant or readily apparent disabilities.”

The Arc’s public records request seeks information about that decision-making methodology, along with records concerning assessment training, quality assurance, implementation problems, and outcomes.

INDIANAPOLIS — One person is dead and another is hospitalized following an accidental shooting on Indianapolis’ east side Thursday evening.

According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, officers responded to the 700 block of S. Sherman Drive around 6:33 p.m. after reports of a person shot. Officers arrived to find two victims with gunshot wounds.

Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services transported both victims to an area hospital. One victim was in stable condition. The other was in critical condition and later died.

IMPD said the shooting is believed to be accidental. No additional details have been released.

The investigation is ongoing.

FRANKFORT, Ind. — A Frankfort 19-year-old has been charged with six felonies in connection with a shooting that injured a 17-year-old boy and an attempted robbery, police said Thursday on social media.

Police responded about 7:45 p.m. Monday to the 800 block of Rossville Avenue after receiving a report that someone had been shot. That block is in a housing addition about three blocks south of U.S. 421/West Kyger Street.

Officers from the Frankfort Police Department, the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office and the Indiana State Police Lafayette district also responded. They found the 17-year-old with a gunshot wound to his arm. Police said the shooting happened in the 300 block of West Washington Street, which is about two blocks west of the Clinton County Courthouse. The social media post did not give the boy’s name but said he has been released from a Lafayette hospital.

Based on accounts from people at the scene, officers identified a suspect who lives in an apartment building in the 500 block of West Washington Street, police said. The suspect was in custody within 45 minutes.

Police said the Clinton County Prosecutor’s Office filed formal charges against Maycn Paul Ratliff, 19, of Frankfort. The charges are:

• Attempted robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, a top-level felony.
• Aggravated battery, a mid-level felony.
• Battery by means of a deadly weapon, a low-level felony.
• Criminal recklessness, a low-level felony.
• Intimidation, a low-level felony.
• Pointing a firearm, a low-level felony.

Online court records on Thursday night did not list a case for Ratliff.

The case remains under investigation, and the department said it will release no further information.

INDIANAPOLIS — Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, and a number of other major online services are down, thanks to a widespread outage.

The outage first spiked just around 1 p.m. Thursday, hitting several sites like Microsoft Outlook, 365, Copilot, Teams, OneDrive, and more.

Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services, both major cloud services that “rent out” IT infrastructure for millions of websites, were also hit in the outage.

It’s not clear what led up to the outage or how long it might last.

STATEWIDE–An Indiana man has been convicted of 18 federal charges for his role in a scheme that fraudulently obtained more than $60 million in state education funding through two online charter schools.

Phillip Holden, 65, of Middletown, was found guilty of 17 counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud following an eight-day trial. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison per count and is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 25, 2027.

The case involved Indiana Virtual School and Indiana Virtual Pathways Academy, which prosecutors said inflated student enrollment numbers to receive millions of dollars in state funding.

Thomas Stoughton, 77, of Carmel, founded both schools. He pleaded guilty to 76 federal charges the day before his trial was scheduled to begin, including 58 counts of money laundering, 17 counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Stoughton faces up to 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count and up to 10 years for each money laundering count. His sentencing is scheduled for March 11, 2027.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Holden served as director of operations for both schools. From 2016 to 2018, he participated in a scheme with Stoughton and three other school employees to inflate enrollment numbers reported to the Indiana Department of Education.

The schools received state funding based on enrollment. Prosecutors said the defendants submitted false enrollment figures claiming more than 6,000 students were enrolled between the summers of 2016 and 2018. The schools received more than $60 million in excess state funding as a result.

Employees were instructed to stop verifying student interest before enrollment or reenrollment. Incomplete applications were used to enroll people who never attended classes, including some who had graduated, joined the military, transferred to other schools or died.

Before a September 2018 enrollment count, the defendants also directed a contractor to identify about 600 former students who were no longer active but were not listed as attending another school. Employees were then instructed to reenroll many of them.

Prosecutors also said the defendants transferred hundreds of inactive students from Indiana Virtual School to Indiana Virtual Pathways Academy after the second school was established in 2017. That allowed the schools to continue claiming state funding for those students while avoiding accountability measures tied to student participation and performance.

Holden also retaliated against an employee who tried to report the scheme to the Indiana Department of Education in 2017, according to trial evidence. Prosecutors said Holden threatened and ultimately fired the employee after learning about the disclosure.

The investigation found that the schools paid substantial amounts of state funding to for-profit companies controlled or operated by Stoughton. Millions of dollars were later distributed to Stoughton, members of his family and other defendants.

Three other defendants have also pleaded guilty.

Former Superintendent Percy Clark, 84, of Carmel, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Christopher King, 64, of Greens Fork, pleaded guilty to the same charge in 2023 and is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 10, 2027. Kyle Schroeder, 52, of Fishers, pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony and is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 11, 2027.

“For years, the defendants treated taxpayer-funded education dollars as a personal revenue stream, siphoning millions of dollars away from their intended purpose,” U.S. Attorney Tom Wheeler said. “Every dollar obtained through this fraud scheme was money meant to educate and support Indiana students.”

“This verdict represents a significant victory for Indiana taxpayers and for every Hoosier who expects public education dollars to be used for their intended purpose,” Indiana State Examiner Paul Joyce said. “The evidence presented during this case demonstrated a deliberate scheme to manipulate student enrollment figures and divert millions of dollars from Indiana’s education system.

“While others involved in this conspiracy ultimately chose to accept responsibility for their actions, Phillip Holden maintained his innocence and exercised his right to a trial. After hearing the evidence, the jury found him guilty on all counts.”

The trial included testimony from 40 witnesses and more than 350 exhibits.

The FBI, Indiana State Board of Accounts, Indiana Office of Inspector General and Indiana State Police investigated the case. U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young presided over the trial.