INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Wednesday began our several day stretch of sweltering heat and humidity. We look to see the worst of the heat index Thursday with rain/storm chances ramping up into Friday.

Wednesday night: Warm and very humid tonight under mostly clear skies with lows in the mid 70s.

Thursday: The worst of the heat arrives tomorrow after an already warm start to the day. Highs will push into the low to mid 90s. Dew point values in the mid to upper 70s will cause heat indices to soar as high as into the 105-110 range.

Now, we could have spotty showers and storms develop across central and southern Indiana with increased cloud cover. Areas along and north of a Muncie-Lafayette line could have a complex of showers and storms late Thursday into early Friday with an isolated stronger storm risk.

Friday: The hot dome begins to break down through the end of the workweek, which will amp up our rain/storm chance. Scattered showers and storms are likely, especially north of interstate 70 as a front enters our state.

Highs will still be on the warmer side with numbers in the upper 80s to low 90s. Peak heat index values will be in the 100s for those who don’t deal with as much rain and cloud cover.

7-Day Forecast: The aforementioned front looks to slowly move back northward through Saturday. There will likely be multiple waves of showers and storms with this front, and areas north of interstate 70 currently have the better shot to see repeated rounds of activity. Muggy air will continue to swamp us through this weekend into early next week with dew point values up to the mid to upper 70s at times.

WESTFIELD, Ind. (WISH) — Colts football is back at Grand Park.

Wednesday marked the first day of training camp for the Indianapolis Colts. Players were all smiles at practice and afterwards when interacting with fans and signing autographs.

“Just being out here Day One, it’s always exciting, knocking off the rust and just being out there having fun with the guys,” Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. said.

With the start of training camp, the sights have been set for a long season by new Colts cornerback Charvarius Ward.

“It’s go time,” Ward said. “It’s training camp time. It ain’t time to be easing into anything right now. I’m getting ready for the season. We’re getting ready for a long run, hopefully to make the playoffs. We’re all in 10 toes deep right now.”

Ward, as well as other free agent signings like quarterback Daniel Jones and safety Camryn Bynum, made sure to spend time signing autographs after practice was over.

“It’s fun having the fans out here to bring some energy to practice,” Jones said. “What a great setup up here at Grand Park. It’s an impressive thing they’ve built here. So, it’s fun to be here and definitely appreciate the fans showing up.”

“It’s great to be back here at Grand Park,” Colts head coach Shane Steichen said. “Just want to say thanks to Grand Park for hosting us, the Colts organization getting this thing set up every year — obviously going into Year Three for me. It’s an impressive operation. The fan support that comes out, the fan experience they put together back there, couldn’t be more thankful for the people that do this.”

The Colts look to make it to the playoffs for the first time since 2020 this season.

The Colts get back on the field for the second day of training camp on Thursday, with practice from 10-11 a.m.

More Colts coverage

PHOTOS | Colts players sign autographs for fans after practice

Colts hungry to prove themselves as training camp begins

Chris Ballard on the Colts QB competition, playoff drought & more

WESTFIELD, Ind. (WISH) — Colts football has returned.

Wednesday marked the first day of practice for the Indianapolis Colts at training camp.

Here are eight quotes that stood out from Day 1 of Colts training camp:

1. Shane Steichen on the quarterback competition

“I talked to these guys, met with them yesterday, sat down with them – just talked about the consistency of the operation, just moving the football up and down the field. Told those guys too, no timetable on this thing. Let those guys compete, let the process play out and we’ll go from there.”

The Colts enter training camp with an open competition at the quarterback position between Anthony Richardson Sr. and Daniel Jones.

Richardson is heading into year three with the Colts. He started 11 games for the Colts in 2024, throwing for 1,814 yards, eight touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.

Jones was signed by the Colts in free agency this offseason. He threw for 2,070 yards, eight touchdowns, and seven interceptions with the New York Giants in 2024.

2. Jones on Steichen talking with both quarterbacks about the competition

“Yeah, I certainly appreciate it. He’s been up front since the spring. Since we all got back here, and I think as a player you always appreciate a coach being up front and transparent with you and communicating.”

3. Richardson on his mentality during the quarterback competition

“Honestly, just loving the process. These past two years, I definitely tried to embrace that a little bit more. Everybody wants success right here, right now, but I feel like sometimes when you get success, it’s not really all what it seems. The process is really the best thing, and that’s really what I am trying to enjoy now. Also, when it comes to competition, of course I am competing with Daniel (Jones), but I am also competing with myself, trying to be the better version of myself than I was last year. There are definitely things I could have worked on last year, so I am trying to improve on that and make sure I’m just available for the team whenever they need me.”

This is the second time in Richardson’s career he has been in a quarterback competition. He competed, and beat, Gardner Minshew II in his rookie season in 2023.

4. Richardson on the fans cheering for him at training camp

“It’s exciting because I know this city loves and supports me. I’ve just got to do my part – make sure that I can do everything in my power to be the quarterback they want me to be and they need me to be. It definitely feels good, but I can’t let it get to my head. I still got a lot of work to do, and I still got to get that job. I definitely appreciate it, but (the) work not done.”

The fans at training camp showed their support for Richardson on Wednesday, cheering him as he began 11-on-11 drills.

5. Jones on what he has to do to win the job

“I think just performing at a high level. Showing consistency – in my preparation, consistency on the field and my performance. Like I said, it’s a long process and focusing on kind of what I’m doing day-to-day I think’s the best way to go about it. So, that’s what I’m focused on.”

6. Richardson on losing weight in the offseason

“Surprisingly, I actually lost weight. I wasn’t trying, but it just happened. So, now I’m like 240 moving a little faster, feeling a little lean, and hopefully I can keep it like that and stay healthy.”

7. Steichen on his impressions of Charvarius Ward

“Very impressed. Great signing by Chris (Ballard) to get him on this football team. You saw how sticky he was and the plays he made. I don’t know how many he made today, but he made a ton. So, great to have him out there.”

Steichen smiled before talking about Ward.

The Colts signed Ward to a three-year, $54 million deal this offseason. He was a Pro Bowler and made the All-Pro second-team in 2023.

8. Ward on what he wants the secondary to be this season

“I want to be the best secondary in the NFL, force turnovers, make plays, and just have fun. Play with swag and confidence. Everybody out there flying around. Maybe we can intimidate teams on film by the way we play and the way we run and hit.”

The Colts were 26th in passing defense in 2024, but were seventh in the NFL in interceptions with 16.

The Colts get back on the field at Grand Park for the second day of training camp on Thursday from 10-11 a.m.

More Colts coverage

‘It’s always exciting’: Colts kick off training camp at Grand Park

PHOTOS | Colts players sign autographs for fans after practice

Colts hungry to prove themselves as training camp begins

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — After they were long considered paraphernalia, fentanyl test strips are now officially legal in Indiana.

According to recent data, fentanyl is responsible for over 70% of overdose deaths in the state. Until this month, if someone was found with the lifesaving strips, it would be up to the local prosecutor to decide if they would face charges for violating the state’s paraphernalia laws.

A bipartisan effort changed that reality by passing House Enrolled Act No. 1167.

“Any resident should and can access test strips,” Director of Harm Reduction at Overdose Lifeline Breanna Hicks said. “Our former paraphernalia law said that anything that tests the ‘presence, efficacy or effectiveness of a substance, an illicit substance,’ could be considered paraphernalia. So, while fentanyl test strips only test for presence, that was a gray area in law in jurisdictions across Indiana.”

Local harm reduction organizations say the law fueled fear for people hoping to distribute the strips. The concern prompted them to push for change.

“There’s this false narrative that access to test strips are going to encourage substance use or encourage drug use, in general, especially to populations that are younger,” Hicks said. “However, that’s just not true, harm reduction is a proven practice that allows for individuals to make healthier and better decisions.”

Hicks says the strips can be used to test drugs purchased off the street.

When the small strips are submerged in water, they can detect the synthetic drug in 30 seconds to two minutes. According to the Marion County Coroner, the drug was found in over 90% of opioid overdoses in Indianapolis last year.

“Fentanyl overdoses are now the number one cause of death for anybody age 18 to 45,” Hicks said. “Indiana falls in that range as well, to where we’re seeing fentanyl being the most prevalent cause of accidental overdose death.”

Overdose Lifeline is one of the organizations distributing the test strips. To request strips, click here.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – The state is asking for input as it tries to reign in soaring Medicaid costs from a popular autism therapy.

A 21-member working group assembled by the Indiana Family and Social Services Association (FSSA) is studying ways to cut costs for Indiana Medicaid while maintaining access to Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy. 

The group is holding its third public listening session on Thursday, July 24, in Evansville; and has conducted two previous listening sessions, one in Valparaiso with another in Richmond.

Lesley La Fleur, who has a 13-year old son with autism, felt like the lack of public sessions and choice to not schedule any in Indianapolis was intentional. 

“If they really were concerned with what we had to say they would put [the sessions] in a pretty populated area where a lot of these caregivers are actually using these services,” La Fleur said. 

After I-Team 8 reached out with her complaints, the FSSA said it’s now adding public sessions: one in Indianapolis and another statewide session that will be held online. Both new sessions are still being scheduled. In the meantime, all Hoosiers can email their thoughts to abaworkinggroup@fssa.in.gov

Indiana Medicaid expenditures for ABA spiked from $14.4 million dollars in 2017 to $120 million in 2019, according to FSSA, and is projected to hit $645 million by 2026. 

It’s why the state placed new restrictions on ABA in February, including a three year cap on coverage and weekly limits based on diagnosis. As News 8 reported at the time, FSSA Sec. Mitch Roob said the three-year cap could be lifted before families hit their limit in 2028. 

“Clearly, there is a problem they’re trying to mitigate,” La Fleur said. “I would say just don’t take it out on the children.”

News 8 reached out to multiple members of the working group to ask about the feedback they’ve received so far. One member said they were asked not to speak publicly about the working sessions or outcomes. 

The working group will submit their recommendations to the Gov. Mike Braun by November.

Thursday’s listening session is from 3-4 p.m. at Ivy Tech Evansville, 3501 N First Ave., in room 107.

NEW ALBANY, Ind. (WISH) — One man was convicted and five of his co-conspirators pleaded guilty to stealing millions of dollars in electronics from shipping facilities.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of Indiana said that 51-year-old Juan D. Perez-Gonzalez, from Florida, was found guilty for stealing the goods from southern Indiana’s shipping facilities and cargo trucks. He was charged with conspiracy, possession of stolen goods and transporting them across state lines.

Five others pleaded guilty, including Carlos Enrique Freire-Pifferrer, 46; Jose Antonia Gomez-Pifferrer, 33; Dalwy De Armas-Roriguez, 38; Luis Velazquez, 58; and Richard Alameda, 47. The men are from Louisville, Kentucky and Florida.

Court documents say the organized thefts were between Dec. 2021 and May 2023. The group would steal tractor-trailers with “commercially available, high end electronics and other items, which they later resold at a discount for profit,” a press release says.

They would travel across Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio to target distribution facilities for major companies like Meta and Microsoft.

Before hitting each location, the group would scout out the facility. Then they would stalk semi trucks that left and once the driver got out to rest or refuel, the men stole the entire tractor-trailer, court documents say.

To evade police, the group swapped trailers to different semi trucks and would paint over logos and identifying numbers.

“They transported the stolen cargo to Miami, Florida, where it was sold to buyers, including co-defendant Richard Alameda, from a fraction of its retail value,” court documents say. “The group carried out at least 14 separate cargo thefts…”

$2 million in Meta Oculus virtual reality headsets were stolen, $940,000 in Microsoft products, $1 million in Bath & Body Works and Victoria’s Secret merchandise, $669,000 in Harmon-JBL audio gadgets, $180,000 in Logitech products, $480,000 in Bose audio speakers, and other unlisted stolen items.

Perez-Gonzalez has two other prior convictions for similar thefts in in southern Indiana.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indianapolis Public Schools will receive a $10.5 million investment from Lilly Endowment over the next five years to support an initiative to improve literacy in elementary schools.

The funding is part of Lilly Endowment’s Marion County K–12 Public Schools Initiative, which works to enhance academic achievement and future success for students in Indianapolis. This initiative is one of 43 grants awarded in Phase 2 of the initiative.

“We’re not only deepening our commitment to foundational literacy in our IPS elementary schools, but we’re also building a system of support that extends beyond the classroom and into the home,” IPS Superintendent Dr. Aleesia Johnson said.

The IPS literacy initiative is expected to help 18,500 students and includes several key components. One major aspect is increasing individual in-school intervention support through a partnership with Tutored by Teachers, providing virtual tutoring for up to 3,400 high-risk 2nd- and 3rd-grade students across 23 schools. Additionally, IPS will pilot a program with Indy Reads to offer a two-generation literacy initiative for 75 parents and guardians, focusing on the district’s growing English Language Learner population.

Teachers will receive professional development aligned with the Science of Reading, including Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling training, Marian University’s Center for Vibrant Schools Literacy Cadres, and National Institute for Excellence in Teaching instructional coaching.

The program aims to increase pass rates for IREAD-3 — Indiana’s third-grade assessment of reading levels — improve literacy skills and boost student promotion rates, aligning with Lilly Endowment’s efforts to improve reading instruction in Indianapolis.

This story was formatted for WISHTV.com using AI-assisted tools. Our editorial team reviews and edits all content published to ensure it meets our journalistic standards for accuracy and fairness.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Two men were injured in a shooting on the southeast side of Indianapolis and Indianapolis police were able to make a quick arrest.

Less than three minutes after the Tuesday shooting, officers were at a home in the 100 block North Randolph Street, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said a press release.

Two men were shot; one was shot three times in the backyard, while the other was near the front door with a single gunshot wound. One man was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

“While rending aid, officers identified [Paul] Turner as the possible shooter and quickly took him into custody,” IMPD said.

The investigation led officers to believe that Turner, 49, was involved in a “disturbance” with two men, one of whom was acquainted with Turner. Police say it ended with Turner shooting both men.

At the scene, police found multiple shell casings, a rifle and a handgun.

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Friends and relatives of four University of Idaho students murdered in their rental home by Bryan Kohberger delivered powerful statements of love, anguish and condemnation before he was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

“This world was a better place with her in it,” Scott Laramie, the stepfather of Madison Mogen, told the court. ”Karen and I are ordinary people, but we lived extraordinary lives because we had Maddie.”

The father of Kaylee Goncalves taunted Kohberger for leaving his DNA behind and getting caught despite being a graduate student in criminology at nearby Washington State University at the time.

“You were that careless, that foolish, that stupid,” Steve Goncalves said. “Master’s degree? You’re a joke.”

Judge Steven Hippler ordered Kohberger to serve four life sentences without parole for four counts of first-degree murder in the brutal stabbing deaths of Mogen, Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin early on Nov. 13, 2022. He was also given a 10-year sentence for burglary and assessed $270,000 in fines and civil penalties.

The defendant pleaded guilty early this month, just weeks before his trial was to start, in a deal to avoid the death penalty.

Kohberger broke into the home through a kitchen sliding door and brutally stabbed the four friends, who appeared to have no connection with him. No motive has been offered, and Kohberger chose not to speak at the hearing.

Dylan Mortenson, a roommate who told police of seeing a strange man with bushy eyebrows and a ski mask in the home that night, sobbed as she described how Kohberger, seated across the room in an orange jumpsuit, “took the light they carried into each room.”

“He is a hollow vessel, something less than human,” Mortenson said. “A body without empathy without remorse.”

Mortenson and another surviving roommate, Bethany Funke, described crippling panic attacks and anxiety after the attack.

“I slept in my parents’ room for almost a year, and had them double lock every door, set an alarm, and still check everywhere in the room just in case someone was hiding,” Funke wrote in a statement read by a friend. “I have not slept through a single night since this happened. I constantly wake up in panic, terrified someone is breaking in or someone is here to hurt me, or I’m about to lose someone else that I love.”

Alivea Goncalves’s voice didn’t waver as she asked Kohberger questions about the killings, including what her sister’s last words were. She drew applause after belittling Kohberger, who remained expressionless as she insulted him.

“You didn’t win, you just exposed yourself as the coward you are,” Alivea Goncalves said. “You’re a delusional, pathetic, hypochondriac loser.”

Kohberger’s mother and sister also attended the hearing, sitting in the gallery near the defense table. His mother quietly wept at times as the other parents described their grief. She sobbed briefly when Maddie Mogen’s grandmother said that her heart goes out to the other families, including Kohberger’s.

Xana Kernodle’s aunt, Kim Kernodle, said she forgave Kohberger and asked him to call her from prison, hoping he would answer her lingering questions about the killings.

“Bryan, I’m here today to tell you I have forgiven you, because I no longer could live with that hate in my heart,” she said. “And for me to become a better person, I have forgiven you. And any time you want to talk and tell me what happened, get my number. I’m here. No judgment.”

Police initially had no suspects in the killings, which terrified the rural western Idaho city of Moscow. Some students at both universities left mid-semester, taking the rest of their classes online because they felt unsafe.

A knife sheath left near Mogen’s body had a single source of male DNA on the button snap, investigators said, and surveillance videos showed a white Hyundai Elantra near the rental home around the time of the murders.

Police used genetic genealogy to identify Kohberger as a possible suspect and accessed cellphone data to pinpoint his movements the night of the killings. Online shopping records showed Kohberger had purchased a military-style knife months earlier, along with a sheath like the one at the home.

Kohberger was arrested in Pennsylvania about six weeks after the killings.

Both the investigation and the case drew widespread attention. Discussion groups proliferated online, members eagerly sharing their theories and questions about the case. Some armchair web-sleuths pointed fingers at innocent people simply because they knew the victims or lived in the same town. Misinformation spread, piling additional distress on the already-traumatized community.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — One of Indianapolis’ most celebrated music events is marking a major milestone. Chreece, the city’s only all-day hip hop festival, returns to Fountain Square in August for its 10th anniversary, and organizers say this year will be bigger than ever.

It’s a milestone year for the festival, which started in 2015. “It’s crazy,” Oreo Jones, founder of Chreece, said. “We got over 70 artists, right here, grown right here in the city.”

The festival is Saturday, Aug. 23, and features performances across seven venues. Jones says the event has always been rooted in highlighting homegrown talent while giving up-and-coming performers a platform.

“We have the Last Shot program, folks that are trying to cut their teeth,” he said. “The Nationals this year are crazy. We got Smino headlining. Audrey Nuna, who’s blowing up on the K-Pop Demon show on Netflix.”

Jones says the festival’s evolution reflects the diverse sounds and stories of Indy’s neighborhoods.

“I think it’s just a testament to the city and how it sounds different all around, different corners of the city and different artists,” he said. “The times are changing, and I think it’s a beautiful evolution of how the sound is here.”

Beyond music, Chreece will include DJs, dancers, vendor villages, games and family-friendly acitivities spread throughout Fountain Square.

“We got something for everyone,” Jones said. “We got games, we got free activities, even for folks that are just trying to see what it’s all about.”

General admission tickets are $55 and include access to all venues and activations throughout the day.

“You go in, get your ticket, and you get access to seven different venues,” Jones said. “Everything’s accessible. You get all access.”

From rooftop views to local street performances, Jones says Chreece is more than a music festival, it’s a celebration of the community.

“It’s your city. You should enjoy it how you want to,” he said.

Tickets are available now. For more information on performers, venue schedules, and VIP options, click here.