Indiana
‘She has tremendous upside’: Rookie Makayla Timpson officially makes Fever roster
INDIANAPOLIS — When Makayla Timpson found out she was going to be on the Indiana Fever opening day roster, the first people she called were her parents.
“They’re always in the loop for everything,” Timpson said Thursday. “Those are my two biggest supporters … my dad, he was just laughing, they’re all super excited. I’m the first pro in the family, so it means a lot to me.”
Timpson officially made the Fever team on Thursday as Indiana announced its 11-player opening day team. Indiana is only able to carry 11 to start the season because of salary cap limitations but should be able to sign a 12th player around the end of June when prorated contracts peter down.
Timpson, who was drafted at No. 19 out of Florida State in the 2025 WNBA Draft, is the only rookie to make the Fever’s roster. She beat out four other players for the 11th and final spot, including fellow draftees Bree Hall and Yvonne Ejim and training camp players Jaelyn Brown and Jillian Alleyne.
“I’m super excited,” Timpson said. “Grateful for the opportunity, thankful for the staff for believing in me, to get me on the roster, to be a great fit for the team. They’re super great, and I can’t wait to get to the season.”
The 6-2 forward impressed throughout training camp with her grit and poise, coach Steph White said, even as a rookie. She’s a tenacious defender, as evidenced by a steal and score in the first half against the Brazilian National Team, and her wingspan makes it so she can always get a hand on the ball.
She played a total of 25 minutes in Indiana’s three preseason games, mostly embedded in the rotation, scoring 15 points.
Timpson likely won’t be in the rotation, playing behind starters Aliyah Boston and Natasha Howard and backups Bri Turner and Damiris Dantas. But playing time is not necessarily what White and her coaching staff are focused on for Timpson’s development right now.
“The most important thing for me right now with KK is just to be a sponge,” White said. “Just learn. You know, there are probably going to be situations where she may or may not be in the rotation, she’s playing behind some Hall of Famers. And so her opportunity to just learn and grow and get experience and reps and practice and stay ready, so that when she does get out there and she does get opportunity, that she’s ready to go.”
Timpson is happy to accept any role on the roster — something White said was crucial for whoever got that 11th and final spot. The Fever needed someone who would “stay ready so they don’t have to get ready,” no matter the amount of minutes they end up getting. Someone who is going to stay engaged on the court, in huddles, in the locker room, and in any aspect of the team.
Timpson fits all of those attributes and more.
“Her upside is tremendous,” White said. “I mean, she’s a player who, throughout the course of college, just continued to get better, continue to get more efficient. She does things that you can’t teach. She’s got a great feel about her and great patience, and she’s coachable. And so you know, the decisions that we make, some for her are about this year, and some are about her future. And KK has a bright future ahead.”
Indiana
Attempted murder suspect arrested in Indianapolis for Bloomington shooting
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (WISH) — A Bloomington man was arrested Wednesday in Indianapolis on an attempted murder charge after police say he fired seven to eight rounds into a white GMC SUV occupied by three adults and four children last month in Bloomington before fleeing the area.
A news release issued Thursday from the Bloomington Police Department said members of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s special weapons and tactics team took Kafern P. Johnson, 32, into custody near the intersection of West 84th Street and Allison Avenue in Indianapolis without incident.
The arrest came more than two weeks after the June 23 shooting in the 1000 block of North Summit Street. That’s in a residential area next to Crestmont Park in Bloomington.
Monroe County Central Emergency Dispatch received 911 calls at 7:41 p.m. June 23 reporting gunfire in the area.
Responding patrol officers and detectives determined Johnson had fired into the SUV following a verbal fight with the vehicle’s driver. Police said the dispute stemmed from an argument over a relationship.
No injuries were reported despite the number of people inside the vehicle.
Following his arrest, Johnson was taken to an IMPD facility for questioning and later booked into the Marion County jail. On Thursday morning, he was booked into the Monroe County jail.
The release said Johnson could face felony charges of attempted murder, criminal recklessness with a firearm, and pointing a firearm. No formal charges have yet been filed, according to online court records.
Bloomington police asked anyone with additional information to call 812-349-3324.
This story was formatted for WISHTV.com using AI-assisted tools. Our editorial team reviews and edits all content published to ensure it meets our journalistic standards for accuracy and fairness.
Indiana
FAIRFIELD NATIVE AND HIS WIFE FOUND DEAD IN THEIR NEWBURGH, INDIANA HOME
Fairfield native, David K. Wells, 69, and his wife Aileen, were found dead inside their home in Newburgh, Indiana, Monday night. Warrick County Sheriff Michael Wilder said that deputies responded to the residence just before 8:00 p.m. after dispatch received a call around 7:40 p.m. from a friend of the family requesting a welfare check. When officers didn’t get an answer at the door, they entered through the back of the home and found the couple deceased. Officers cleared the home and waited for detectives to arrive. Investigators also obtained a search warrant to do a further examination of the residence. Authorities were able to notify family members and conduct interviews to gather additional information. Sheriff Wilder said investigators believe the couple had been dead for less than 24 hours before they were found. He also said there is no indication of any forced entry or an intruder. Sheriff Wilder has not made a formal determination as to what happened. Autopsies for the couple were scheduled for yesterday morning to help determine a cause. David Wells grew up in Fairfield and graduated from Fairfield High School in 1975. He had a long career in television commercial production in Evansville and had more recently operated the Cigar! Cigar! tobacco store in Evansville.
Indiana
Indiana sees significant drop in number of homeless veterans
INDIANAPOLIS (WRTV) — Indiana saw a significant decline in veteran homelessness last year, despite the total number of homelessness rising across the state.
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) annual estimation of the homeless population, known as the Point in Time (PIT) count, Indiana saw an 18.7% decline in veteran homelessness in 2025 compared to the year before.
That marked the second-largest decline of any state by percentage.
Helping Veterans and Families (HVAF) of Indiana specializes in assistance for veterans facing homelessness. CEO Emmy Hildebrand told News 8 the formula that’s finding success is the same that works with any at-risk group: housing and wrap-around services.
Hildebrand said that the formula needs support from the state.
“There is no state funding supporting homeless services in our state,” Hildebrand said. “And very little local funding outside Indianapolis.”
Safety net programs have faced budget cuts, with lawmakers eliminating funding for the Housing First program in 2025. It supported organizations helping people secure stable housing.
And housing advocates have criticized Indiana’s public camping ban as essentially making it illegal to be homeless.
HVAF client Terri Massey, a 34-year-old Navy veteran, said the stigma of being homeless was the most difficult challenge to overcome.
“I’m still trying to provide for my kids,” Massey said “I’m (not) out here being lazy or not trying to do better.”
Massey was working, supporting her children, but found herself sleeping in cars and hotel rooms because she didn’t have stable housing. “Going to that work, working 10 hours, leaving, going to sleep in my car.”
HVAF helped place Massey in a permanent apartment. HVAF also placed Massey in a different kind of “bootcamp” years after her time in the military, learning job skills. She’s looking for a job, but thankful to do it from a place she can call home.
“I am beyond grateful and thankful. I literally pray and thank God every day,” Massey said. “Because for the longest I felt like I was alone. And I had to figure everything out by myself. I didn’t.”
It’s estimated that seven percent of Indiana’s homeless are veterans. Hildebrand said there are federal funds for organizations working with veterans, which support HVAF’s programs.
Still, finding permanent housing is a struggle.
According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, for every 100 extremely low-income households in Indiana, just 34 rental homes are affordable and available.
“There are so many people on the bubble that are just one emergency away from living in their car, staying with friends and family, or living on the streets because we don’t have the appropriate system here in Indiana,” Hildebrand said.
Hildebrand said lawmakers assured her they would work to support homeless services, but she hasn’t seen any drafted legislation that might be introduced in the next legislative session.
Across the country, about one in 25 people experiencing homelessness previously served active duty in the armed forces, according to numbers from HUD. Veteran homelessness declined 56% between 2009 and 2025.
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