Indianapolis, IN

Stumped on Black Friday? IndyStar’s poll and local shopper’s guide is here to help

Published

12 months ago

November 28, 2024

Stumped on Black Friday? IndyStar’s poll and local shopper’s guide is here to help

My most vivid memory of Black Friday was quickly retreating from the bargain sock bin at my hometown Fred Meyer store while two moms escalated their war of words over who grabbed that pack of discounted Nike youth tube socks first.

I was maybe 12 or 13 on that day when I realized that I didn’t want anything that bad. And while I’ve been back to disperse doughnuts to hungry shoppers for service projects and to report on the annual shopping spree, I haven’t bought anything before noon on the Friday after Thanksgiving since.

Still, passions about Black Friday run deep, rooted in family traditions and stances on capitalism, consumerism and commercialism of the holidays. Whether you plan to be in line for doorbusters today and Friday, do all your holiday shopping online, or rely on a Christmas Eve sprint for C-store gift cards, IndyStar has resources (and a poll for fun) for your holiday shopping needs.

IndyStar poll: When do you start your holiday shopping?

Let’s start with the fun. As a Target checker told my wife earlier this week, “The deals are the deals. I tell people to shop now.”

Black Friday doesn’t hold the same sway on retailers’ bottom lines and shoppers’ holiday budgets as it did in pre-internet, pre-pandemic times. With shoppers’ spending spread across a broader timeline and set of online and brick-and-mortar retailers, we figured we’d check in on Indy’s shopping habits. Take the poll below to weigh in on your holiday shopping plans:

IndyStar Black Friday 2024 guide: Store hours, Small Business Saturday and more

If you need some holiday shopping ideas, IndyStar has a lot to offer. Check out these stories for store hours, gift ideas and much more:

Finally, show your favorite news source some love with IndyStar merch

Here’s a little-known fact: IndyStar can help you show off your Indianapolis pride with a wide variety of merchandise. From T-shirts and tote bags to hats, mugs and more, you can rep the Circle City and the 317 in style.

Visit usatodaystore.com/overview/lookbooks/indianapolis-star to browse, and check out some highlights below.

‘Greetings From Indianapolis’ tee

Send a little Hoosier hospitality with our “Greetings from Indianapolis” tee — classic and as friendly as the city itself. Available for $28.75 in a variety of styles and colors. >>Purchase Here

‘Icons of Indianapolis’ tote bag

Carry a piece of Indy pride with our tote, featuring iconic images that celebrate everything we love about the Circle City. Available for $26.25 in a variety of styles and colors. >>Purchase Here

‘Indianapolis Image Search’ jigsaw puzzle

Piece together the heart of the Circle City with our Indianapolis puzzle — perfect for fans of Indy and a fun challenge! Available for $43.75. >>Purchase Here

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Indianapolis, IN

Early 2026 Mock Draft Predicts Colts Fix Defensive Issues

Published

8 hours ago

November 22, 2025

Press Room

Early 2026 Mock Draft Predicts Colts Fix Defensive Issues

Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman (green and white uniform) tries to break up a pass. — Nov 14, 2025; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive back Dillon Thieneman (31) breaks up a pass play intended for Minnesota Golden Gophers tight end Jameson Geers (86) during the first half at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images / Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

LSU linebacker Whit Weeks (yellow helmet) gets ready to make a defensive move while in pursuit. — Nov 14, 2025; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive back Dillon Thieneman (31) breaks up a pass play intended for Minnesota Golden Gophers tight end Jameson Geers (86) during the first half at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images / Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

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Indianapolis, IN

The Zone Banner winner is revealed

Published

1 day ago

November 22, 2025

Press Room

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Student sections have been packed out and bringing the energy all season competing for The Zone Banner.

And the winner of The Zone Banner is… Brownsburg!

Brownsburg made AC’s Top 8 in eight of the nine weeks of the regular season. They were impressive throughout the season and were active on social media as well, campaigning for their school to win The Zone Banner.

This is Brownsburg’s second time winning The Zone Banner.

WISH-TV Sports Director Anthony Calhoun will present Brownsburg with its championship banner at its gymnasium on Tuesday, November 25.

Past winners

2024: Fishers
2023: Bishop Chatard
2022: Franklin Community
2021: Cathedral
2020: Westfield
2019: Mooresville
2018: Brownsburg
2017: Carmel
2016: Franklin Community
2015: Guerin Catholic

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Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis rocked by mistaken identity shooting of paperboy in 1980s

Published

2 days 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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