FISHERS, Ind. (WISH) — The ticket for the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 was unveiled on Tuesday night.

The unveiling took place at K1 Speed Indianapolis.

“It’s really the first time that I’ve seen the ticket,” Palou told News 8’s Andrew Chernoff on Tuesday after the unveiling. “I tried to ask for IMS (Indianapolis Motor Speedway) or the team to show me and they were like, ‘No. No. We want to keep it as a surprise.’”

This year’s Indy 500 ticket features defending race winner Alex Palou standing on his car as he celebrated in Victory Circle last May:

“I think from that day, from that month, you can take whatever picture you want that I would be happy with,” Palou said. “I think this shows the emotion from that day, the happiness. So, it was such a cool moment.”

The ticket was designed in house by IMS Senior Art Director Mandy Walsh.

“I cannot wait now to be on track, see the fans with the small tickets to sign them and hopefully to do the same next year,” Palou said.

All indications are that there will be a lot of tickets featuring Palou inside IMS on race day this May.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we sell out the grandstands the first week of May this year,” IMS and INDYCAR President Doug Boles said. “They’re (sales) that much better. And that’s really a testament to our fans. Our fans just continue to embrace and love the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Indy 500.”

The 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 will take place on Sunday, May 24.

Palou and the rest of the IndyCar grid will begin the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series season this weekend on the Streets of St. Petersburg.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Shelby County sheriff will step down at the end of February, and the local Republican Party will hold a caucus to choose his replacement.

Sheriff Louie Koch (R) told county councilors during their Feb. 17 meeting that his last day on the job will be Saturday, Feb. 28.

Koch was first elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. His current term was set to expire at the end of 2026. Sheriffs in Indiana are term-limited and cannot serve more than two consecutive four-year terms.

The sheriff did not provide an exact reason for his departure, but at the end of January, he filed to run as a Republican candidate for Shelby County Council District 1.

In a Facebook post, the Shelby County Republican Party announced it would hold a caucus on Thursday, March 5, to “fill a vacancy in the position of Shelby County Sheriff.” The new sheriff selected on March 5 will serve out the remainder of Koch’s term and can run for a full four-year term.

Anyone interested in the role must meet candidacy criteria and file a CEB-5 with Republican Party Chair Chris King at least 72 hours before the caucus. Questions can be directed to Cking@shelbycounty.gop.

NORTH VERNON, Ind. (WDRB) — An 11-year-old girl’s parents are suing a southern Indiana school district, alleging severe bullying and sexual abuse at school pushed their daughter to take her own life.

Fifth grader Brooklyn Cook’s parents said administrators at the Jennings County School Corporation knew what was happening and failed to stop it.

Cook was often found at the Jennings County Animal Shelter, saving up her hard-earned money to feed stray cats. After the 11-year-old died by suicide last February, a memorial now stands outside the shelter with her name on it.

“A beautiful little girl and a family that just loved her tremendously,” said Gregory Laker, who is representing the family in their wrongful death lawsuit against the school district and several staff members.

According to the lawsuit, the problem started when Cook was in fourth grade at North Vernon Elementary School, where two male students bullied her. After it was reported to administrators, the boys were removed from her class.

The lawsuit claims those same students were placed back in her classroom during fifth grade after a change in principals.

Several of Cook’s friends told a guidance counselor the boys told her to kill herself, showing them messages one of the students sent to her.

“Her friends felt like they were being disciplined every time they came forward and reported the bullying on Brooklyn’s behalf,” Laker said.

Months before her death, Cook posted a TikTok in which she said she did not want to be sexually assaulted at school anymore. An assistant teacher reported the video to administrators.

The lawsuit claims that despite the video and the reports from her friends, the boys were never removed from her classroom or disciplined, even as the bullying continued almost daily during her fifth grade year. 

Cook then lost her life to suicide Feb. 17, 2025.

“The hardest thing in the world is burying your own child,” said Laker. “They had to do that with their 11-year-old daughter. Her brother lost, by all reports, his best friend in Brooklyn.”

In a statement, JCSC Superintendent Nicole Johnson said “Jennings County School Corporation is aware of the lawsuit. We strongly deny the allegations and will have no further comment on this pending legal matter at this time.”

The family contends the district’s response was insufficient and contributed to their daughter’s death.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health and thoughts of self harm, the 988 crisis and suicide lifeline is available 24/7. 

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