Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis firefighters need public's help to solve 2020 arson
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indianapolis Fire Department and state fire marshal are offering a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for a 2020 arson.
Early on the morning of Nov. 7, 2020, a sleeping couple was awakened by their dogs after a fire broke out on the rear deck of their home in the 1200 block of East 91st Street. That’s a residential area just southwest of I-465 next to the Monon Trail.
The couple and their pets made it outside before the fire spread to the interior of the home.
“The fire took hold quickly and spread the length of the wooden deck, fueled by a large amount of split wood for the fireplace underneath. The couple has no idea what could have started the fire although they told firefighters that they have reported some recent vandalism in the area to IMPD,” IFD said in a release after the fire.
The home sustained significant damage.
Through the review of evidence and home surveillance video, investigators determined the fire was intentionally set. No arrests were made and, despite extensive investigation, the case remains unsolved.
IFD’s fire investigation unit believes that “new leads and advancements in forensic technology may now provide the opportunity to bring closure to this long-standing case,” IFD Battalion Chief Rita Reith said in a release Tuesday.
Anyone with information is asked to come forward and help with the investigation.
A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the arson.
“We are hopeful that someone out there has a piece of information that could be the key to solving this case,” said Battalion Chief of Fire Investigations Vernon Garard. “We encourage anyone who may have seen or heard something related to the fire to please contact our investigators.”
Anyone with information is asked to call the Indiana Arson tip line at 1-800-382-4628 or email tips1@dhs.in.gov.
Jarrian Jones, Antonio Johnson pulled down interceptions, Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen logged crucial late-game sacks
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The Jacksonville Jaguars defense rewrote a few narratives on Dec. 28 in their 23-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
The most important flip of the script happened in-game: After yielding 10 points and 112 yards on the Colts’ first two possessions, the Jaguars gave up only one more score (aided by a 55-yard kickoff return by Ashton Dulin in the third quarter) and 92 total yards the rest of the game, forcing four punts, two turnovers and a turnover on downs.
After gaining 48 yards on 11 carries on the Colts’ first two possessions, running back Jonathan Taylor had only 32 yards on 10 carries the rest of the game for 70 yards on 21 carries, the first time he’s failed to gain 100 or more yards against the Jaguars at home.
Phillip Rivers, the 44-year-old grandfather who returned to play this year after retiring in 2021, completed 7 of 11 passes for 52 yards on his first two turns with the ball, then went 10 of 19 for 95 yards.
Jarrian Jones and Antonio Johnson pulled down interceptions, with Jones’ second pick in two weeks leading to Cam Little’s tie-breaking field goal with 6:58 left. Johnson’s pick came in the end zone on a desperation heave by Riley Leonard, brought into the game for the final play from the Jaguars’48 because there are limits to a 44-year-old arm.
Jaguars finally got to Phillip Rivers
Because the Colts’ game plan was obvious ― get the ball out of Rivers’ hand as quickly as possible to keep him from being a sitting duck for the Jaguars pass rush ― it took some time for the Jaguars to get to him.
It finally happened in the second half. Travon Walker twisted out of a double team by two tight ends lined up on the same side, Tyler Warren and Mo Alie-Cox, and got to Rivers for a 6-yard loss in the third quarter on the final play of the third quarter, which led to a punt. Walker now has 3.5 sacks for the season.
Walker also figured in the second sack. Battling through another double-team against right guard Matt Goncalves and right tackle Jalen Travis, Walker forced Rivers to his left. Rivers ran into his own left tackle, Bernhard Raimann, who was in the process of being thrown backwards by Josh Hines-Allen.
Raimann knocked Rivers down, and Hines-Allen got credited for his team-high eighth sack of the season.
Walker had another tackle for a loss against Taylor, with the Jaguars getting four in the game. The secondary (without Jourdan Lewis for the rest of the season), was led by cornerback Montaric Brown with five tackles and two pass deflections. Six other Jaguar players had at least one pass defensed.
Safety Eric Murray had four tackles and deflected the ball that Jones intercepted.
Jaguars shackled Colts Big Three
The other narratives the Jaguars changed were long-term frustrations with three Colts players in particular, Rivers, Taylor and wide receiver Alec Pierce.
Rivers entered the game 8-2 versus the Jaguars as a starter, but two of the three losses have come when he was in a Colts’ uniform.
Taylor has been a monster against the Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium. In three previous starts at home, he ran for 546 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 6.4 yards per carry. His lowest production against the Jaguars was 116 yards in a 2021 game.
Pierce had 17 receptions for 350 yards and four touchdowns (20.6 per catch) in eight career games against the Jaguars and had 10 for 271 yards and two scores in his last three games against the Jags. But Pierce was blanked this time: no receptions on five targets.
The Jaguars also played stout on third down after the first two possessions, when the Colts converted two third downs and scored on Taylor’s third-and-goal run from the 2.
From then on, the Colts converted only two of 11 on third down and failed on a fourth-down attempt.
2025 in Motion: Relive Hoosiers’ top moments of 2025 seconds at a time
From welcoming a new governor to cheering the Pacers’ near title run, 2025 delivered unforgettable moments and IndyStar was there.
What a year.
Who could have imagined at this time last year the Pacers going to the NBA finals or Indiana Republicans defying President Donald Trump?
Roundups of the year’s top stories are a longstanding tradition in newspapers — one created, no doubt, to fill print editions during a stretch when news tends to slow down.
But IndyStar’s review of the top stories of the year, written by city reporter Jordan Smith, tells you more than what you already know. Looking back at 12 months of news teases out patterns and themes that may not have been obvious in the moment.
The role of injuries in both the Pacers’ and Fever’s seasons.
The issues IndyStar and Mirror Indy have unearthed in Mayor Joe Hogsett’s administration.
The sweeping impact of Trump’s policies across communities: immigrants, poor people, federal employees, farmers, small businesses, educators.
The stories behind IndyStar’s 2025 coverage
When I read Jordan’s story, I also see the story behind the stories: IndyStar journalists’ hustle to bring you, our audience, the news you want and need to know.
The Statehouse team, anticipating a quiet fall without statewide elections, planned a weekly listening tour across Indiana before redistricting became both a national and state issue. Whoops. The on-again, off-again — but not special! — fall legislative session kept our politics team pirouetting more than a ballet troupe. They more than met Hoosiers’ moment in the national spotlight, though, with unprecedented live and near-live coverage via both written words and video.
The sports team makes it look easy to cover high school, college and professional sports year-round, but the Indy 500 and a Pacers playoff game at home on the same day? C’mon!
And the aggressive pivot on immigration by both Trump’s and Gov. Mike Braun’s administrations prompted the creation of a cross-newsroom team that covered the issue from Seymour to the “Speedway Slammer,” from farm fields to federal courts.
As Jordan mentions, IndyStar hired a reporter this year specifically to cover First Amendment issues, thanks to a grant from the Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. Freedom of speech and the press have a special place in journalists’ hearts, and it has been a joy to find that so many readers are also interested in reporter Cate Charron’s coverage.
What stories most resonated with you in 2025? Email me.
Hopefully, we’ll all have a few moments to catch our collective breath and reflect before we dive into 2026.
Cindi Andrews is senior news director at IndyStar. She can be reached at cindi.andrews@indystar.com.
Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis Colts playoffs: Updated elimination scenario, AFC standings, playoff picture for Week 17
The Indianapolis Colts may or may not be in a do-or-die situation in Week 17 when they host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Their playoff picture could be settled on Saturday afternoon when the Houston Texans travel to face the Los Angeles Chargers. The Colts are a 5.5-point home underdog against the Jaguars while the Texans are a 1.5-point road underdog against the Chargers.
The Colts eliminated themselves from AFC South contention in Week 16 when they lost to the 49ers on Monday Night Football. That race is down to the Jaguars and Texans.
Updated AFC playoff picture
The Colts only chance at a playoff berth requires them winning their final two games and the Texans losing their final two games. This would move the Colts into seventh place and they would hold the final wild card spot. In Week 17, the Texans face the Chargers on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET. If the Texans win or tie against the Chargers, the Colts are eliminated. Additionally, if the Colts lose or tie against the Jaguars on Sunday, Indianapolis is eliminated.
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