Indianapolis, IN

Packers extend home opener win streak as Colts run defense reaches treacherous depths

Published

1 year ago

September 16, 2024

Packers extend home opener win streak as Colts run defense reaches treacherous depths

The Indianapolis Colts were steamrolled in Sunday’s 16-10 loss as Green Bay extended the NFL’s longest active home opener win streak and the second-longest streak in league history to 12 games.

Immaculate weather conditions at Lambeau Field are rare, even in mid-Sept. Packers starting quarterback Jordan Love was out with a sprained MCL. Backup QB Malik Willis – whom Green Bay acquired less than three weeks ago on Aug. 26 – was making his fourth career start.

It was Willis’ first start since Week 16 in ‘22 with the Tennessee Titans, but the dual-threat signal caller avoided making any mistakes in his home debut. Willis zipped his first career touchdown pass from 14-yards out to receiver Dontayvion Wicks. His longest completion of the game was his first deep pass downfield as receiver Romeo Doubs mossed Colts cornerback Jaylon Jones inside the red zone for a 39-yard gain.

Green Bay racked up 165 rushing yards on 20 carries in the opening frame, while Indianapolis scattered just three plays for positive yardage. Midway through the second quarter, Green Bay had outgained Indianapolis 248 total yards to 47. The Packers brutally punished the Colts with a lethal rushing attack that collected 261 yards on the ground on 53 carries, 4.9 yards per carry.

The Colts struggled to set the edge and were unprepared in any sort of effort to contain Packers’ running back Josh Jacobs, the second veteran tailback to have a career day against Indianapolis this season. Jacobs finished with 151 rushing yards (third-most in his NFL career) on 32 carries (second-most in his NFL career), averaging 4.7 yards per carry.

On Indianapolis’ very first play inside Packers’ territory, second-year QB Anthony Richardson sailed his pass over the outstretched arms of receiver Alec Pierce. Packers’ safety Xavier McKinney sat back in centerfield to intercept the pass like a routine fly ball. Richardson’s second interception landed right into the chest of Packers’ linebacker Eric Wilson and his third pick on a Hail Mary heave ended the game. Richardson completed 17 of 34 passes for 201 passing yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.

In his 100th career game, Indianapolis’ team captain Zaire Franklin veritably had his back against the wall and heels in his own end zone as the Packers led 10-0 on the brink of extending the lead. Franklin met Jacobs in front of the goal line and punched the ball free to make perhaps the most impactful play of the game in regards to win expectancy. Colts first-round draft pick Laiatu Latu dove on the football to recover the fumble in the end zone and momentarily save the game. With his 23rd career game of 10-plus-tackles, Franklin tied former Super Bowl champion Gary Brackett for second-most such performances in franchise history.

Colts head coach Shane Steichen fed running back Jonathan Taylor on consecutive carries to ignite a much needed response midway through the third quarter. Taylor led the Colts with 103 rushing yards on 12 carries, 8.6 yards per carry. The former Wisconsin Badger accounted for (40%) of Indianapolis’ total net yards. It was Taylor’s 17th 100-yard-game, which is the third most games in franchise history. Taylor burst past defenders and kept fighting to gain extra yards with his best run of the game for 29-yards to drive inside Packers’ territory. Colts kicker Matt Gay delivered da 34-yard field goal to put the Colts on the scoreboard.

Indianapolis begins the 2024 regular season with a dreaded 0-2 record after perhaps the most disturbing performance during the Steichen era. The Colts pitiful effort featured punts on three of the first four drives, three interceptions, three fumbles and two turnovers on downs. Gay missed a 50-yard FG attempt wide left as the Colts failed to cash in an essential scoring opportunity early in the fourth quarter. Despite trailing for 55 minutes, the first win of the season was still there for the taking until time expired.

“We just started out slow,” Richardson told reporters. “It’s frustrating when you have a decent week of practice. You execute a certain way in practice. You game plan a certain way and then you get to the game and some things are switched up and you adjust a little too late.”

Indianapolis is still searching for its identity as its offense has held possession for less than 40 minutes out of 120 minutes of football. The Colts have allowed a league-worst 474 rushing yards through two games and still have yet to solidify five starters in the secondary. To make matters excruciatingly worse, defensive tackle DeForest Buckner was carted off the field after he injured his right ankle late in the third quarter. There are 15 more guaranteed games this season, but concerns on all three phases are burgeoning on a weekly basis in Indy.

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Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis rocked by mistaken identity shooting of paperboy in 1980s

Published

1 hour ago

November 21, 2025

Press Room

Indianapolis rocked by mistaken identity shooting of paperboy in 1980s

There was no warning before the gunshot was fired from within the house. Inside, an armed homeowner believed they’d thwarted a crime. Feet away, a loved one watched as their family member died, the light low before sunrise.

That was the case on Nov. 5, 2025, as it also was on Sept. 25, 1986. Nearly four decades before the death of Maria Florinda Ríos Pérez, a high school junior mistaken for a vandal was fatally shot while delivering The Indianapolis Star on his early morning paper route.

The killing of Scott “Patrick” Lawson, 16, drew national headlines. As the teen approached a northside home to deliver the morning paper, 74-year-old Nokomis Toombs fired a shotgun through his living room window, striking Lawson in the chest. Lawson’s mother, who was helping her son out that morning, was parked feet away.

Toombs told police he’d been keeping an all-night vigil after a rash of youth violence near his home in the 5200 block of North Rosslyn Avenue north of the Indiana Fairgrounds. When Lawson approached his home at about 4:45 a.m., Toombs believed he was a neighborhood teen taking part in an ongoing harassment campaign. He did not give a warning before firing the gun, he told police.

Toombs had recently testified against three teens in a burglary case and feared retaliation, according to a Sept. 26, 1986, United Press International article.

About a month before Lawson’s death, police confiscated two guns from Toombs after he admitted to firing into a neighbor’s home. He said his own home had been fired upon first, and the guns were returned because Toombs had no criminal record.

Prosecutors soon learned that Toombs had not been home all night on Sept. 25, as he had claimed, and had instead been cut off at a bar only hours before the shooting – a fact that likely made the state’s case stronger.

Toombs was charged with murder within days of the shooting.

“I’m not convinced this was a case of a homeowner defending his home,” said Steve Goldsmith, Marion County’s then-prosecutor, according to an Associated Press article from Sept. 29, 1986.

Indiana law allows people to use reasonable force — including deadly force — to prevent an unlawful entry of their home, occupied motor vehicle or curtilage.

Toombs eventually pleaded guilty to reckless homicide. He was sentenced to eight years in prison in January 1987, serving two and a half after a sentence reduction and good time credit.

There are sharp differences between the two shootings, decades apart. Curt Andersen, the 62-year-old man charged in connection with the Nov. 5, 2025, shooting of Maria Florinda Ríos Pérez, who arrived at his home mistakenly thinking she had a cleaning job there, made no mention to police about previous break-ins or crime, according to court documents. There’s also no indication that investigators suspected Andersen of being under the influence at the time of the shooting.

On Nov. 17, Boone County Prosecutor Kent Eastwood announced a charge of voluntary manslaughter against Andersen. Guy Relford, Andersen’s attorney, indicated on social media that his defense will center around castle doctrine.

“Contrary to the contention of the prosecutor — and without discussing the specific facts of the case — we believe Mr. Andersen had every reason to believe his actions were absolutely necessary and fully justified at the time,” Relford wrote on X shortly after charges were announced.

Andersen’s initial hearing is scheduled for Nov. 21.

(This article will update.)

Ryan Murphy is the communities reporter for IndyStar. She can be reached at rhmurphy@indystar.com.

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Indianapolis metal supplier lays off 54 people

Published

19 hours ago

November 20, 2025

Press Room

Indianapolis metal supplier lays off 54 people

INDIANAPOLIS — More than 50 people will soon be unemployed as a metal supplier on Indy’s east side announced mass layoffs that go into effect in January.

Kloeckner Metals Indianapolis, located at 8301 E. 33rd Street, filed a notice with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development to inform the state of a mass layoff at its facility.

Kloeckner Metal said a total of 54 people will be permanently laid off, with the first separations occurring on Jan. 20, 2026. The rest will all take place within 14 days thereafter.

No reason for the layoffs was included in the notice to the DWD. Affected employees include welders, warehousemen, saw operators, drivers, shear operators, burner operators, supervisors, account managers and various other positions.

Kloeckner Metals Corporation is based in Georgia and boasts itself as one of the largest metal manufacturing, supply and service companies in North America with over 45 branches.

According to the website, the Indianapolis location is a 160,000 square foot facility. Products ranged from structural beams and tubing to flooring, grating and sheet products.

It is unclear if the entirety of Kloeckner Indianapolis’s workforce is being laid off or only a portion. No complete workforce number was listed for the location. The notice filed with the state did not mention a closure for the facility, however.

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Alex Palou’s latest honor is his face affixed on Borg-Warner trophy after Indy 500 win. How it happened

Published

2 days ago

November 19, 2025

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Alex Palou’s latest honor is his face affixed on Borg-Warner trophy after Indy 500 win. How it happened

Alex Palou’s face was unveiled as the 112th addition to the Borg-Warner trophy after his first Indianapolis 500 win.
The four-time IndyCar champion’s victory at the 109th Indianapolis 500 was also his first career win on an oval track.
Palou displayed the trophy at a Pacers game and is expected to receive a smaller replica, known as a “Baby Borg,” next year.

INDIANAPOLIS — Alex Palou has dominated the IndyCar series, but Wednesday night was a first for his storied career.

The 28-year-old Spaniard unveiled the Borg-Warner trophy with his face, the 112th, affixed on it in bas-relief, sterling silver. Palou for the first time May 25 won the 109th Indianapolis 500 and will be commemorated on the Borg-Warner, which was unveiled at The Above Event Center at Commission Row.

“This is one of those days that I knew I wanted to be part of at some point in my career,” Palou said. “I knew it was going [to] take a lot of work, and finally to be here and to get to see the trophy for the first time, it’s amazing.

“I know that it’s always going to be there forever, if I race one more year or if I race 50 more years. And whatever the history of IndyCar is going to be, it’s always going to be there. So, it’s great to be part of all those amazing drivers. And, yeah, I feel that now. I want to get that face again on that trophy. Try and be part again of the history of our sports.”

The four-time IndyCar champion was off to a dominant pace to the 2025 IndyCar season and passing Marcus Ericsson on Lap 187 led to his crowning Indy 500 win. He has said in past interviews it was his greatest win, and it also was his first oval win.

Pacers & Racers was renewed, albeit a smaller-scale version. Palou took the Borg-Warner to Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where he was able to display the Borg-Warner in front of Pacers fans as they hosted the Charlotte Hornets.

Palou celebrated winning the Indy 500 by attending Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

It is expected that Palou will receive a Baby Borg, a smaller model of the trophy, early next year.

“I’m honored to continue one of the greatest traditions in all of sports and unveil the latest addition to the iconic Borg-Warner Trophy at this beautiful venue,” Michelle Collins, BorgWarner global director, marketing and public relations, said. “Alex’s victory exemplifies that tenacity and constant commitment to excellence will result in success, on and off the track. On behalf of everyone at BorgWarner, congratulations to Alex and the team at Chip Ganassi Racing.”

How faces are sculpted onto the Borg-Warner Indy 500 trophy

Every Indy 500 winner since 1911 has a face sculpted onto the Borg-Warner trophy, which was originally designed in 1935.

Behrends, a renowned sculptor, has created every winner’s face for the trophy since 1990. He begins by studying 360-degree photos of the winner. Palou visited Behrends’ studio in Tryon, North Carolina, for construction of a full-scale clay model to be used as a reference point.

Behrends then constructs a smaller model out of oil-based clay that is turned into a mold and cast in wax to be sent to a jeweler to transform into sterling silver. It then returns to Behrends, who polishes it and buffs it before it is affixed on the trophy.