Indiana
Indiana death row inmate appeals to U.S. Supreme Court as scheduled execution date nears
(WPTA) – A man on Indiana’s death row for killing a Beech Grove police officer is appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court weeks before his scheduled execution.
The petition from Benjamin Ritchie’s lawyers comes nearly one month after the Indiana Supreme Court ordered him executed May 20.
According to the filing, the court failed to take into account Ritchie’s ineffective lawyers at trial and in other post-conviction matters.
Ritchie’s attorneys say past counsel failed to investigate evidence related to brain damage from Partial Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, with which Ritchie has been diagnosed.
“While the jury was made aware that Ritchie’s mother drank during pregnancy, no evidence of any fetal alcohol syndromes was introduced,” the filing reads.
In a final plea for clemency, Ritchie appeared before the Indiana Parole Board on Monday, May 5.
The board will have another clemency hearing for public comment next Monday, May 12, in Indianapolis at the Indiana Government Center South Auditorium.
The board will hear testimony in favor of clemency from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and testimony opposed to clemency from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
After both hearings, the board will make a recommendation, but a final clemency decision about whether to commute Ritchie’s death sentence to life in prison without parole will ultimately be up to the governor.
There’s no timetable for the board, or Braun, to issue opinions.
Ritchie was sentenced to death in 2002 for the Sept. 29, 2000, shooting death of Ofc. Bill Toney.
Per court documents, the underlying crime began as a police pursuit of a stolen van. Toney pursued Ritchie on foot, and Ritchie ultimately fired four shots at the police officer, who did not survive the shooting.
Ritchie and six other men remain on the state’s death row at the Indiana State Prison.
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Indiana
Indiana State Police: Beer spilled all over I-65 northbound in Indianapolis during semi crash
INDIANAPOLIS — Beer was spilled all over Interstate 65 northbound on the south side of Indianapolis late Sunday afternoon.
The beer was spilled when a semi and an SUV became involved in a crash near mile marker 109, which is located near the area where I-65 and Raymond Street converge.
The Indiana Department of Transportation sent a notification about the crash around 4:52 p.m. That notification indicated that all lanes of the interstate had been closed in the aftermath of the crash.
Indiana State Police confirmed that troopers found objects scattered all over the road when they arrived at the scene. They later determined that those objects were beer cans.
INDOT sent a maintenance crew to the scene to help police get the interstate cleaned up. ISP confirmed that medics also responded to the crash scene, though they did not transport any of the individuals involved in the crash.
I-65 northbound was closed at mile marker 109 until about 6:04 p.m., according to INDOT. That means the roadway was closed for a little over an hour as crews worked to clean up the crash scene.
ISP diverted traffic off of I-65 and onto Raymond Street while troopers cleaned up and investigated the crash. The cause of the crash is currently unknown.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Indiana
Sunny Sunday ahead of warming for Christmas in central Indiana
Following the 4th above average day so far this December Saturday, a cold front passed through and dropped our temperatures. However, its passage didn’t drop temperatures too dramatically!
In the picture above, the clouds in the distance are the clouds along the cold front. They are exiting our region and can be seen 70 miles away! Sunday is to be the day with normal temperatures around here! Expect readings in the upper 30s to near 40° across central Indiana. High pressure settles in giving us the widespread sunshine. Don’t get used to it because our skies will look a lot more like December this week.
While this week does come with mostly cloudy to overcast skies each day, it won’t feel like how late December should feel. A few rain chances exist for late Monday then Christmas Eve Wednesday. Otherwise, expect daily warming with Indianapolis surpassing 50° by Tuesday.
The peak of the warmth will be Christmas Day Thursday! Our forecast high for Indianapolis is 61°. Should that verify, it would be the fourth time within the last six years a top-10 warm Christmas Day would occur. 61° is just three degrees shy of the 129-year-old record high of 64°. I don’t think we’ll get there since the clouds will be around. But, 60° is attainable given the breezy southwest winds forecast.
Following Christmas, Friday looks dry but we’re seeing indications of a post-holiday front sometime next weekend. Otherwise, the polar air will stay north for 2025’s final days. I don’t think we’ll be as warm for New Year’s compared to Christmas. Nonetheless, no big cold snaps (or snow) in the near term.
Indiana
Indiana takes on Boston, aims to end 4-game skid
Indiana Pacers (6-22, 14th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Boston Celtics (17-11, third in the Eastern Conference)
Boston; Monday, 7:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Indiana comes into the matchup against Boston after losing four straight games.
The Celtics have gone 13-8 against Eastern Conference opponents. Boston is the leader in the Eastern Conference in team defense, allowing 110.5 points while holding opponents to 44.7% shooting.
The Pacers are 4-12 against Eastern Conference opponents. Indiana is the worst team in the NBA recording just 23.5 assists per game led by Andrew Nembhard averaging 6.4.
The Celtics average 15.7 made 3-pointers per game this season, 4.1 more made shots on average than the 11.6 per game the Pacers give up. The Pacers are shooting 43.1% from the field, 1.6% lower than the 44.7% the Celtics’ opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jaylen Brown is averaging 29.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and five assists for the Celtics. Derrick White is averaging 4.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Pascal Siakam is averaging 23.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and four assists for the Pacers. Johnny Furphy is averaging 18 points over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Celtics: 7-3, averaging 119.5 points, 42.9 rebounds, 23.2 assists, 8.5 steals and 5.4 blocks per game while shooting 49.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.0 points per game.
Pacers: 4-6, averaging 111.3 points, 42.5 rebounds, 23.9 assists, 7.8 steals and 6.6 blocks per game while shooting 46.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.2 points.
INJURIES: Celtics: Ron Harper Jr.: day to day (knee), Jayson Tatum: out (achilles), Jaylen Brown: day to day (illness).
Pacers: Obi Toppin: out (foot), Ben Sheppard: day to day (calf), Aaron Nesmith: out (knee), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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