Indiana
Indiana hot air balloon strikes live power lines, leaves three injured

Local officials stated on Tuesday a hot air balloon accident occurred over the weekend in northwestern Indiana where the pilot and two passengers had been badly injured while trying to navigate through the power lines; the balloon touched the lines before falling on the ground.
The FAA said in a statement that the Lindstrand hot air balloon “crashed after striking power lines.”
The FAA report on the incident indicates that the balloon crashed with power lines in Hebron City, Indiana, 56 miles or 90km southeast of Chicago, on Sunday evening.
Viral footage of the hot air balloon shows a bright illumination as the balloon goes above the wires.
The balloon ultimately crashed around 7 p.m. in a field roughly 13 miles (21 kilometers) southeast of Hebron, as reported by the Lowell Fire Department. At the scene, rescue personnel found the injured passengers and pilot inside the balloon’s basket.
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“There was evidence on the passenger basket that electrical current passed from the power lines to the basket and injured the three people in the basket,” the fired department posted on social media.
The two passengers were airlifted to hospitals in Chicago “due to the severe extent of the burn injuries” while the pilot was transported to a nearby hospital in Crown Point, Indiana.
As of now, their names and conditions remain undisclosed.
FAA and NTSB are jointly investigating the mishap
The FAA has labeled the information as preliminary and confirmed that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is spearheading an investigation into the incident.
NTSB said they recovered the hot air balloon for “further examination”.
“During the on-scene phase of the investigative process, the NTSB does not determine or speculate about the cause of the accident,” the agency further stated.
Patrick Cannon, president of the Balloon Federation of America, emphasized that balloon pilots are well-versed in the risks associated with power lines due to the nature of balloon operations and landing locations and pilots undergo extensive training and are permitted to fly below 500 feet (152 meters) as long as they maintain a safe distance of at least 500 feet from people, structures, animals, and other obstacles.
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“They deal with power lines all the time and go through a lot of training,” Cannon affirmed.
“Power lines can be very difficult to see from the air because they blend in with the terrain.”

Indiana
Woman killed, man wounded in shooting at Gary, Indiana, home

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Indiana
Child dies, 5 others injured from fatal house fire

FOWLER, Ind. (WISH) — A family was trapped in a house fire that killed one child and put three children and their parents into the hospital.
The Benton County Sheriff’s Office said the fire happened just before midnight Dec. 17. They were called to a report of a house fire with the family trapped at a home on 600 North, northeast of Fowler, Indiana.
Four children and their parents, Dolores Moreno-Lazo and Keyry Haro-Ortega, were taken to the hospital. Officers said that 11-year-old Yuliana Haro-Ortega was pronounced deceased at the hospital.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Indiana
Notre Dame vs. Indiana: Predictions, odds for College Football Playoff

US LBM Coaches Poll: How SMU earned a CFP nod over Alabama
The final regular season US LBM Coaches Poll is here and Paul Myerberg breaks down the top storylines now that the CFP bracket is set.
Sports Pulse
The first-ever first-round matchup of the 12-team College Football Playoff will be an in-state rivalry game that’s rarely played.
No. 7 seed Notre Dame is set to host No. 10 seed Indiana on Friday, Dec. 19, with the winner advancing to the CFP quarterfinals to face No. 2 seed Georgia at the Sugar Bowl. It will be the first meeting in football between the Hoosiers and Fighting Irish since 1991 and just their second game against one another in the past 65 years, despite their campuses being just about 200 miles apart.
Led by coach Marcus Freeman’s ferocious defense, a potent rushing attack and the steady play of quarterback Riley Leonard, Notre Dame is the favorite after an 11-1 regular season in which it won by double digits in all but one game. The Fighting Irish reeled off 10 wins in a row following their shocking upset loss to Northern Illinois in September.
Indiana is in the midst of the best season in program history, with only a loss to fellow CFP qualifier Ohio State on its resume this year. First-year coach Curt Cignetti has the nation’s second-highest scoring offense and the Hoosiers also rank second in the country in total defense entering Friday’s first-round game. Though Indiana’s strength of schedule was questioned during the CFP selection process, its average margin of victory this season is more than 33 points per game.
But the playoffs will be a new challenge for both teams, with a national championship just four wins away. Here’s a look at some predictions for Notre Dame vs. Indiana, as well as odds, betting lines and how to watch this highly anticipated primetime matchup to start the 12-team CFP era.
CFP first-round predictions: Notre Dame vs. Indiana
USA Today: No. 7 Notre Dame over No. 10 Indiana
Paul Myerberg writes: “A relatively weak strength of schedule has Notre Dame flying under the radar as a legitimate contender. The Fighting Irish have one of the best-balanced team from offense to defense and special teams. Likewise with Indiana, even if the Hoosiers’ chances of winning one or more playoff games is viewed with a high degree of skepticism. Look for Notre Dame to slow down Kurtis Rourke and the Hoosiers while punishing the Indiana defense with the nation’s third-ranked running game in yards per carry.”
ESPN: Notre Dame has 73.7% chance to win
According to ESPN’s Matchup Predictor, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have a 70.4% chance to beat the Indiana Hoosiers in the first round of the College Football Playoff as of Friday, December 13.
The Sporting News: Notre Dame 28, Indiana 24
Bill Bender writes: “Indiana allowed 2.5 yards per carry this season, and that run defense will be tested by the Irish trio of Riley Leonard (721 yards, 5.8 ypc.), Jeremiyah Love (949 yards, 7.1 ypc.) and Jadarian Price (651, 7.3 ypc.). Kurtis Rourke will test an opportunistic Notre Dame secondary, and the Hoosiers will need the running game to be in order, too. It’s been a dream season for Indiana coach Curt Cignetti. Will it continue against the Irish? Notre Dame covered in each of its last seven games, but this one stays tighter.”
Fox Sports: Indiana wins
RJ Young writes: “The Fighting Irish will face the most complete team they’ve seen all year in Indiana. The Hoosiers have beaten 10 out of 12 opponents by double-digits and believe they are the best team in the state of Indiana. However, Al Golden’s defense has been outstanding, allowing only one team to score 35 points in a game this season.”
CFP first-round odds, lines: Notre Dame vs. Indiana
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are favorites to defeat the Indiana Hoosiers, according to the BetMGM college football odds.
Odds as of Wednesday, Dec. 18.
- Spread: Notre Dame (-7.5)
- Moneylines: Notre Dame (-300); Indiana (+230)
- Over/under: 51.5
How to watch Notre Dame vs. Indiana in CFP first round
- Date: Friday, Dec. 20
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- TV: ABC/ESPN
- Stream: Fubo (free trial for new subscribers)
- Where: Notre Dame Stadium (Notre Dame, Indiana)
Watch select CFP games with Fubo
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