Indianapolis, IN

State seeks to dismiss death penalty for man accused of killing Indianapolis cop

Published

2 years ago

January 24, 2024

State seeks to dismiss death penalty for man accused of killing Indianapolis cop

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Prosecutors sought Wednesday to dismiss death penalty charges against a man charged with fatally shooting an Indianapolis police officer in 2020 because doctors have found him to be mentally ill.

The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office filed a motion to dismiss its request for a death sentence against Elliahs Dorsey, who is accused of fatally shooting Officer Breann Leath of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department while she responded to a domestic violence call.

The motion came after the prosecutors reviewed psychiatric evaluations of Dorsey from two court-appointed doctors, the office said.

“The United States Constitution forbids the execution of mentally ill defendants. Based on all the available evidence, the State has determined that it is constitutionally prohibited from seeking the death penalty,” it said in a news release.

Leath, 24, and three other officers were responding to a domestic violence call involving Dorsey when she was shot twice in the head through the door of an Indianapolis apartment, police have said.

Dorsey faces charges of murder, four counts of attempted murder, criminal confinement and battery resulting in bodily injury.

A telephone message seeking comment on the prosecutor’s motion was left with Dorsey’s attorney.

Jury selection already has begun for the trial, which is scheduled to begin Feb. 12.

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Indianapolis, IN

South Bend prepares for ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing’ at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Published

5 minutes ago

April 23, 2026

Press Room

South Bend prepares for ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing’ at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WNDU) – South Bend is officially in “This is May” mode.

The Tire Rack’s corporate headquarters on Wednesday night was one of the race themed community events popping up across Indiana ahead of the Indy 500.

It is all part of the buildup to the 110th running of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” on May 24 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Organizers say the point is simple, get people together, decorate, and have fun.

Across the state, you will start seeing checkered flags, black and white drapes and homemade race day decor on porches and at businesses.

“When you say Indianapolis 500, you say Indianapolis Motor Speedway, it has Indianapolis in the name, but it really is an Indiana asset. The reason it is getting ready to have its 110th running of the Indy 500 is because of the way this entire state has embraced it,” said Doug Boles president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indy Car series. “The Indianapolis 500 and the Speedway is responsible for about $1.1 billion in economic impact across our state.”

In South Bend, it is a reminder that you do not have to be in Indianapolis to feel the buzz.

Stay up to date on local news with WNDU on-air and online. Be sure to download the 16 News Now App and follow our YouTube page as we continue to bring you the latest news coverage.

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Indianapolis, IN

Street signs unveiled in Indianapolis with preparations underway for Indy 500

Published

12 hours ago

April 22, 2026

Press Room

Street signs unveiled in Indianapolis with preparations underway for Indy 500

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WSBT) — We are just over a month away from one of the biggest events in racing.

Preparations are underway for the Indianapolis 500.

Street signs are being unveiled in Indianapolis, one for each of the IndyCar drivers.

Those drivers were on hand to help hang their own sign.

“It’s like the first tradition that kind of kicks off the month of May for us internally. So yeah, I’m excited. I’m excited to hit the track soon and see how the cars feel this year,” said Alex Palou, four-time IndyCar Series champion

All signs will be up by the end of the week.

The big race is Sunday, May 24th.

You can watch the 110th running over on FOX Michiana.

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Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis, Carmel area fails air pollution measures in new report

Published

1 day ago

April 22, 2026

Press Room

Indianapolis, Carmel area fails air pollution measures in new report

Indianapolis and the surrounding metropolitan area failed a number of critical air pollution measures in the American Lung Association’s latest State of the Air report.

The ALA’s annual nationwide report published each spring gives the Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie metro area an “F” in smog and soot pollution. The report analyzes emissions data over a three-year period from 2022 to 2024.

Smog is ground-level ozone pollution and soot is particulate matter. The two comprise two of the six commonly found air pollutants in the United States according to the EPA.

Both pollutants form in part when coal-fired power plants and diesel engines burn fossil fuels. Smog and soot can cause premature death and other serious health hazards such as heart attacks, strokes, preterm births, asthma and cognitive decline, according to the ALA.

The lung health report ranks the central Indiana metro area in a number of categories with the region performing poorly in most. Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie ranked the 11^th most polluted area for year-round particle pollution and 14th for short-term particle pollution.

Indiana children at risk from air pollution

And the rest of the state fares little better.

More than 670,000 Hoosier children breath unhealthy levels of air pollution, the report says.

This year’s report focus on the risk to youth that polluted air can pose. Small lungs are particularly vulnerable, said Tiffany Nichols, ALA director of advocacy.

“Infants, children and teens have lungs that are still developing, which makes them more susceptible to the impacts of unhealthy air,” Nichols said.

To prevent today’s youth from developing diseases related to polluted air, the American Lung Association has been asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to stop rolling back clean air rules put in place by previous administrations. The Indiana chapter has also asked state lawmakers to take steps to protect air quality.

Nichols grew up on the northwest side of Indy where the neighborhoods had been demolished to build I-65. Nearby trees were torn down to make way for the highway that would bring cars and trucks emitting harmful exhaust.

“So, then you have these areas that are essentially like a pocket of unhealthy air, and then those neighborhoods also had a lot of factories,” Nichols said. “That exacerbated health conditions in many of those communities that are oftentimes less fortunate already.”

Data centers and rollbacks

While air pollutants have existed for centuries, the rise of data centers poses a new threat. State and local lawmakers, Nichols said, should also pay attention to these new potential sources of pollution both in Indiana and across the country.

“We’re asking that those companies that are interested in putting data centers in communities work with the local community,” Nichols said. “Since data centers have the potential to be another source of pollution we also ask that they use renewable, zero-ignition energy sources.”

The ALA report also urges the U.S. EPA to recommit to protecting people’s health from harmful air pollution.

This year, the EPA has gone on what Administrator Lee Zeldin has characterized as a deregulation campaign that environmental advocates in Indiana have charged will lead to “death by 1,000 cuts.”

The current EPA, the American Lung Association report says, has “retreated from its public health foundation by rolling back clean air protections.”

Karl Schneider is an IndyStar environment reporter. You can reach him at karl.schneider@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @karlstartswithk or BlueSky @karlstartswithk.bsky.social.

IndyStar’s environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.

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