INDIANAPOLIS–The Indianapolis Office of Sustainability issued a Knozone Advisory today for Wednesday evening through Thursday morning as fine particulate matter levels are expected to reach unhealthy concentrations.

The advisory runs from 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 28, through 10:00 a.m. Thursday, October 29. Hourly PM2.5 levels are expected to reach the Unhealthy (Red) to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (Orange) Air Quality Index range during this period.

This marks the second Knozone Advisory declared in 2026.

Who’s at Risk?

Children, older adults, pregnant people, outdoor workers, and anyone with asthma, COPD, emphysema, heart disease or similar conditions face greater risk during periods of poor air quality. Nearly 1 in 5 Marion County residents falls into a higher-risk category for severe symptoms.

The Office of Sustainability recommends sensitive groups remain indoors as much as possible during the advisory period.

What You Can Do to Stay Safe

City officials recommend several steps to reduce exposure to outdoor air during the advisory:

• Stay indoors with windows closed
• Run an air conditioner if available
• Use a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) purifier
• In vehicles, use the “recirculate air” function and keep windows closed
• Avoid activities that degrade indoor air quality, including burning candles and vacuuming

Reduce Your Contribution to Poor Air Quality

Residents can help improve air quality by taking these actions:

Never burn trash, furniture, leaves or grass clippings. Burning these items is illegal in Marion County and punishable by fines up to $2,500. Report illegal open burning through the RequestIndy mobile app or website, or call the Mayor’s Action Center at 317-327-4622. For emergencies, call 911.

Avoid campfires, bonfires and barbecues until air quality returns to healthy levels. Rules and regulations for open burning are available on the Department of Business and Neighborhood Services website at indy.gov/BNS.

Understanding Knozone Advisories

A Knozone Advisory differs from a Knozone Action Day. The Office of Sustainability issues an advisory when overall daily average PM2.5 concentrations may not warrant a full action day over 24 hours, but hourly values may reach Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups levels or higher for several hours.

Fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, refers to microscopic particles in the air — including dust and smoke — that can be inhaled into the lungs and cause damage. These particles can originate from local sources or travel from wildfires and dust clouds thousands of miles away.

INDIANAPOLIS — The body of a man fatally shot was found near a northeast side walking trail early Wednesday morning, police have confirmed.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers received a report of a person shot in the 6800 block of Fall Creek Road around 5:18 a.m. That is in a wooded area with several walking paths, just west of I-465.

Upon arrival, investigators found a man with a gunshot wound in the area. They pronounced him dead at the scene.

While IMPD initially reported the man’s death as a suicide, detectives in an update later Wednesday confirmed the case was now being investigated as a homicide.

It’s not yet clear what led up to the shooting, how long the man was there, or if there are any suspects.

IMPD asks anyone with information to contact Det. Connie Pearson at 317-327-3475 or by email at Connie.Pearson@indy.gov.

INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis police say a man is dead after a shooting on the city’s east side early Wednesday morning.

Investigators say they found a man with gunshot wounds inside an apartment on East Washington Street near North Arlington Avenue sometime around 1 a.m.

First responders rushed the man to a hospital, where he later died.

The man was taken to the hospital, where he died.

Investigators say they think it was a targeted attack, but did not provide any details about what led up to the shooting or possible suspects.

Anyone with information on the shooting was asked to contact Det. Michael Wright with the IMPD Homicide Office at 317-327-3475 or by email at Michael.Wright@indy.gov.

INDIANAPOLIS — The city of Indianapolis is building a bridge extension of the Nickel Plate Trail in Castleton. The city said the proposed bridge project would carry the trail over 82nd Street.

Harrison Rice of the Department of Public Works said the bridge would improve safety and traffic flow.

“82nd Street is one of our busiest thoroughfares that we have in the city,” he said. “So, it’s of the utmost importance to have a dedicated pedestrian bridge that is separated from street level for our Nickel Plate users.”

Engineers said the main bridge would span 340 feet in length, about the size of a football field. The Department of Public Works said it has secured $6 million in state and federal funding to help pay for the project’s construction.

Two design concepts were unveiled at Tuesday’s meeting for public feedback. The first concept included a colorful shade canopy, while the other featured a playground for kids. History was woven into both concepts, from a train superimposed on the bridge panels to a color palette of orange, green, and turquoise inspired by the Nickel Plate Trail logo.

Designers said they want to create more than just a bridge. They want to create a place where residents can gather and enjoy themselves.

Cyclists like Pat Garvey supported the project.

“I do like the fact that they’re taking all these trails and making them into community greenspaces including the artwork,” he said.

DPW said construction is expected to begin mid 2028 and last about one year.

GREENWOOD, Ind. — An investigation is underway after a woman’s body was pulled from a Greenwood retention pond Tuesday morning.

The retention pond is located near Emerson Avenue, right off South Park Boulevard near the East Main Street exit.

Greenwood police said they recovered a 66-year-old woman’s body and that she was homeless. Police said she had been living in her car in that area, but they believe she was from Indianapolis.

Police told News 8 they checked on her just a couple of weeks ago.

At this time, no foul play is suspected, and police said an autopsy is scheduled. The Johnson County Coroner’s Office will identify the woman when next-of-kin notifications have been made.

NEW CASTLE, Ind. — A Henry County sheriff’s sergeant was arrested Tuesday on a warrant showing low-level felony charges of fraud, official misconduct, and ghost employment.

Ryan Burns, 41, of Rushville, also faces a misdemeanor charge of theft, online court records show. No hearing has been set for him as of Tuesday night in Henry Circuit Court 3. The records show the fraud involved the loss of $750 to $50,000.

Media reports say Burns was accused of receiving pay for hours he did not work.

Republican Sheriff John M. Sproles said in a statement posted on Facebook that Burns also resigned from the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, though the statement did not say when the resignation took effect.

Online Indiana Department of Correction records show Burns is “out of custody.”

The sheriff said his office began reviewing records related to Burns’ participation in the Operation Pull Over program in early May. Operation Pull Over is a federally funded traffic safety initiative administered statewide by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. Federal grant money pays local law enforcement officers overtime to conduct extra high-visibility traffic patrols during high-risk travel periods to seek out drunken drivers or people not wearing seatbelts.

The review found discrepancies that raised concerns about possible criminal conduct. Sproles referred the matter to Indiana State Police for an independent investigation, and Burns was placed on administrative leave May 13, the sheriff’s statement said.

State police have not issued a statement on the arrest.

Court records say Judge David McCord found probable cause and issued the arrest warrant Tuesday. The record also said a special prosecutor is handling the case.

Sproles’ statement said his office takes concerns about deputies’ conduct seriously and pursues accountability regardless of rank.

KOKOMO, Ind. — A Kokomo man is dead following a passenger vehicle and a semi-trailer crash on Monday afternoon.

According to Indiana State Police, shortly after 3:30 p.m., a 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche driven by 39-year-old Anthony LaCluyse, of Kokomo, was traveling eastbound on Jefferson Street near Bridle Way. For an undetermined reason, the Chevrolet crossed the center of the roadway and struck a 2013 Kenworth semi-tractor pulling a trailer driven by 40-year-old Cody Ayres, of Bringhurst.

Despite life-saving measures, LaCluyse died at the scene. Ayres was uninjured.

ISP said the investigation is ongoing, and at this time, neither alcohol nor narcotics are suspected of contributing to the crash.

BROWNSBURG — A federal court approved a $465,000 settlement resolving a lawsuit filed by 68 Brownsburg firefighters over unpaid overtime and pay calculations.

“The settlement resolves our members’ claims over money they are owed for hours they worked, but it does not change the reason we brought this case forward,” David Brock, president of Hendricks County Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 4406, said in a release Tuesday.

“Residents deserve a clear account of how the Town of Brownsburg handled the pay concerns that led to our lawsuit.”

The dispute began in December 2023, when a firefighter questioned a paycheck. Local 4406 raised the concern with department leaders, and an internal review corrected the paycheck error the following month. But, broader questions about overtime calculations and the department’s compensation system remained.

Local 4406 requested a legal review from the International Association of Fire Fighters in April 2024. The union sent the town formal notice of its concerns under the Fair Labor Standards Act on Aug. 9, 2024. After the issues remained unresolved, firefighters filed suit on May 5, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.

While the lawsuit was pending, Brownsburg switched firefighters to an hourly pay system effective April 6, 2026. “Hourly rates provide a clearer way to track time worked, calculate overtime pay, and ensure employees receive the money they are owed.”

“This change more accurately tracks firefighters’ hours, helping make sure the Town is compliant with federal law and our members are paid for any time worked,” Brock said.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.— Purdue men’s basketball coach Matt Painter has agreed to a contract extension that would keep him with the Boilermakers through the 2030-31 season.

The extension and amended contract are pending approval by Purdue University’s Board of Trustees.

Painter, who is entering his 22nd season as Purdue’s head coach, has led the Boilermakers to 11 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, the fourth-longest active streak in Division I men’s basketball.

Purdue has won 117 games since the start of the 2022-23 season, ranking fourth nationally, according to the university.

“Purdue is a very special place for me, and it’s an honor to continue to be the head basketball coach at my alma mater,” Painter said in a statement. “I’m humbled that the Purdue administration continues to put their faith in me to lead this program.”

Painter said he looks forward to continuing to build the program and pursue its goals on and off the court.

Purdue Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Tommy McClelland praised Painter’s leadership and the program’s sustained success.

“Under Matt Painter’s leadership, Purdue Men’s Basketball has established itself as one of the nation’s premier programs through its success on the court and commitment to excellence in all areas,” McClelland said.

Purdue has sold out 106 consecutive games at Mackey Arena, the university said.

Painter has a 501-224 record at Purdue, second in program history behind legendary coach Gene Keady, who finished with 512 wins and 270 losses.

The amended contract includes increased annual compensation and enhancements to retention and performance bonuses. Purdue said additional contract details will be available after the Board of Trustees approves the agreement.

INDIANAPOLIS — An off-duty Indianapolis police officer faces charges after a reported drunk driving incident at a west side apartment complex.

IMPD Ofc. Chaise Watkins has served with the department for three years and was recently assigned to IMPD’s North District. Chief Terry says he has been placed on administrative leave without police powers.

The incident happened early Tuesday morning, according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

Officers were called to the Stadium Lofts apartment complex in the 1500 block of Stadium Way near 16th and North Harding streets just after midnight to investigate a “trouble with person” report.

There, they located Ofc. Chaise Watkins trying to park his marked police vehicle in a complex parking spot. IMPD says when interacting with Watkins, they “observed signs of intoxication, and notified a supervisor who responded to the scene.”

IMPD Special Investigations and Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated detectives arrived at the scene to investigate while Watkins was taken to a hospital for a blood draw.

Watkins was eventually arrested on preliminary charges of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and endangering a person, and an OVWI with a blood alcohol content of 0.15 or higher, which is more than twice the legal limit.

Prosecutors would make the final charging decisions.