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Professional wrestling icon Hulk Hogan dies at 71

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Hulk Hogan, a mustachioed, headscarf-wearing icon in professional wrestling who turned the sport into a massive business and cultural touchstone, died Thursday at age 71, Florida police said.

In Clearwater, Florida, authorities responded to a morning call about a cardiac arrest. Hogan was pronounced dead at a hospital, police said in a statement on Facebook.

Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, was perhaps the biggest star in WWE’s long history. He was the main draw for the first WrestleMania in 1985 and was a fixture for years, facing everyone from Andre The Giant and Randy Savage to The Rock and even company chairman Vince McMahon.

He won at least six WWE championships and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.

“One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans,” WWE said.

“Hulkamania,” as the energy he created was called, started running wild in the mid-1980s and pushed professional wrestling into the mainstream. He was a flag-waving American hero with the horseshoe mustache, red and yellow gear and massive arms he called his “24-inch pythons.”

In recent years, Hogan has waded further into politics.

At the 2024 Republican National Convention, Hogan merged classic WWE maneuvers with President Donald Trump’s rhetoric to vociferously endorse his longtime acquaintance.

“Let Trumpamania run wild! Let Trumpamania rule again! Let Trumpamania make America Great Again!” Hogan shouted into the crowd.

He ripped off a t-shirt emblazoned with a picture of himself on a motorcycle to reveal a bright red Trump-Vance campaign shirt underneath. Then-presidential candidate Trump stood to applaud the move.

In 2016, a Florida jury awarded Hogan $115 million in his sex tape lawsuit against Gawker Media and then added $25 million in punitive damages. Hogan sued after Gawker in 2012 posted a video of him having sex with his former best friend’s wife. He contended the post violated his privacy.

Hogan smiled and wore black throughout the three-week trial.

“Everywhere I show up, people treat me like I’m still the champ,” he said of the support from fans.

Hogan first became champion in what was then the World Wrestling Federation in 1984, and pro wrestling took off from there. His popularity helped lead to the creation of the annual WrestleMania event in 1985, when he teamed up with Mr. T to beat “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff in the main event.

He slammed and beat Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III in 1987, and the WWF gained momentum. His feud with the late “Macho Man” Randy Savage – perhaps his greatest rival — carried pro wrestling even further.

Hogan was a central figure in what is known as the Monday Night Wars. The WWE and World Championship Wrestling were battling for ratings supremacy in 1996. Hogan tilted things in WCW’s favor with the birth of the Hollywood Hogan character and the formation of the New World Order, a villainous stable that put WCW ahead in the ratings.

He returned to the WWE in 2002 and became a champion again. His match with The Rock at WrestleMania X8, a loss during which fans cheered for his “bad guy” character, was seen as a passing of the torch.

He was perhaps as known for his larger-than-life personality as he was his in-ring exploits. He was beloved for his “promos,” hype sessions he used to draw fans into matches. He often would play off his interviewer, “Mean” Gene Okerlund, starting his interviews off with, “Well, lemme tell ya something, Mean Gene!”

He crossed over into movies and television as well. He was Thunderlips in the movie Rocky III in 1982.

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White reported from Detroit. AP writer Safiyah Riddle contributed from Montgomery, Alabama.

IndyCar team takes ownership of new facility in Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Arrow McLaren has officially taken ownership of a larger facility in Indianapolis.

The NTT IndyCar Series team made the announcement on Thursday morning that it has taken control of a facility at 7615 Zionsville Road and that renovations have started to “expand and modernize the building.”

“We’re proud to begin the renovation and grow our footprint right here in Indianapolis,” McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown said in a press release. “The investment is a big step in our long-term growth, and this new facility will provide our team with state-of-the-art tools, equipment and space to keep pushing forward.”

The new facility will essentially nearly triple the team’s current shop’s square footage.

Arrow McLaren has been operating out of a 33,000-square-foot race shop on Coffman Road.

The team’s new facility will ultimately be 86,000 square feet once the transformation of the building is completed.

Dillon Construction Group will “manage” the transformation, which will increase the square footage of the building from 74,000 to 86,000 square feet.

The following will be some of the changes to the building:

  • Expanded lobby showcasing the team’s success and heritage
  • New second-floor mezzanine
  • Fitness center
  • New elevator to enhance accessibility
  • Additional windows, architectural elements and a repaint on the exterior of the building

Here are some renderings of the new facility provided by Arrow McLaren:

Arrow McLaren said it will be prepared to move into the new facility in January ahead of the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series season.

Arrow McLaren currently has three full-time cars in the NTT IndyCar Series. Those three cars are driven by Pato O’Ward, Christian Lundgaard and Nolan Siegel.

Those three drivers also kicked off “demolition” of the facility as seen in photos provided by the team:

O’Ward and Lundgaard are each in the Top 5 of the IndyCar standings. In fact, O’Ward is second in the standings and won the series’ most recent race on the Streets of Toronto this past weekend.

Heat Advisory in effect for heat indices 100+ | July 24, 2025

July 24, 2025 morning forecast with Tara Hastings

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) –  Heat Advisory in place for today. It will be incredibly hot and humid with feels like temperatures well into the triple digits. The heating humidity sticks around heading into the weekend and also for much of next week as well.

We hit 90 yesterday, which means we have had a total of 15 and 90 degree days so far this year. We will continue to stack on more 90 degree days heading into the next week. 

TODAY: A warm and muggy start to the day today. We will look for mostly sunny skies all afternoon and it is going to be hot and incredibly humid. Heat Advisory in place across the entire state for feels like temperatures to be well into the triple digits. We may see peak heat indices around 107 this afternoon. High temperatures today will be climbing into the lower 90s.

TONIGHT: Partly cloudy sky later tonight a few showers or storms possible especially in northern Indiana later tonight. Lows will be into the middle ’70s.

TOMORROW: Scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible on your Friday. It will continue to be hot and humid. High temperatures on Friday will climb into the lower 90s with feels like temperatures closer to the middle 90s.

7 DAY EXTENDED FORECAST: Heading into the weekend we will see some scattered showers and even a few thunderstorms on your Saturday. High temperatures will be in the upper 80s. On Sunday look for partly cloudy skies and a chance for a few spotty showers and thunderstorms with highs near 90. Next week it is still going to be hot and humid with on and off showers and thunderstorms possible especially during the peak heating of the day. High temperatures on Monday will stay into the lower 90s. Much of the week we will see temperatures into the lower ’90s. Pattern looks like it will eventually break down by the end of July.

Hoosiers’ electric bills spike 17.5% in one year

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.

Fever’s Caitlin Clark sidelined again with groin injury

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.

Shooting suspect shot by police near Crown Hill Cemetery

Suspect shot by Indianapolis police

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.

Fever star Sophie Cunningham says she was fined $500 for TikTok criticizing WNBA refs

Fever player says she was fined for TikTok post

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.

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House subcommittee votes to subpoena Justice Department for all Epstein-related files

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.

Back-to-School tech: Consumer Reports reveals best laptop deals for any budget

Finding the best back-to-school tech

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.

Dozens feared dead after Soviet-era plane crashes in Russia’s far east

(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.