Indianapolis, IN

The Bail Project faces lawsuit in 2021 Indianapolis homicide

Published

1 year ago

July 12, 2023

The Bail Project faces lawsuit in 2021 Indianapolis homicide

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The lawyer for the mother of Dylan McGinnis on Wednesday said he wants to hold The Bail Project accountable for McGinnis’ death.

Prosecutors have charged Travis Lang with fatally shooting McGinnis in Indianapolis on Oct. 1, 2021. Court records show Lang had been charged with cocaine possession the previous December, but was released from jail after The Bail Project, a national non-profit that advocates for the abolition of cash bail, paid a $5,000 bond on his behalf. Police said McGinnis was shot in a car at East 11th and North Oxford. A woman in the car was also shot, but survived.

The Bail Project’s connection to the case drew national attention. Last year, state lawmakers passed a law requiring charitable bail organizations to register with the Indiana Department of Insurance. On Monday, McGinnis’ mother, Nikki Sterling, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Lang and The Bail Project in Hamilton County court.

Sterling’s lawyer, Drew Kirages, told News 8 even though Lang is the one accused of pulling the trigger, The Bail Project is liable because its personnel should have known they were creating an opportunity for Lang to commit a crime. He said the organization’s agents should have researched Lang’s criminal history. Court filings show Lang was charged with an additional unrelated misdemeanor in July 2021, while he was out on bail from the cocaine charge, but prior to the October shooting.

“We want accountability and justice for Dylan,” he said.

Kirages says he doesn’t believe the lawsuit would discourage further efforts to change pretrial detention policies. For example, he says the Hamilton County’s pretrial release program has worked well. He says lawsuits such as Sterling’s are putting pressure on The Bail Project to reconsider whether its actions should focus on bailing people out or advocating for policy changes.

Similar lawsuits have been filed in Louisville, Kentucky, and Las Vegas, Nevada, without success. Kirages says he believes Sterling’s case has a better chance of success.

News 8 has contacted The Bail Project to request comment, but has not yet heard back.

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Indianapolis, IN

Indiana Grown: 8th Day Distillery

Published

50 mins ago

August 3, 2024

Press Room

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Each and every Saturday, WISH-TV highlights a local company together with our partners at Indiana Grown.

This week, Jaime and Matt Lamping with 8th Day Distillery in Indianapolis joined News 8 at Daybreak.

The Lampings share with News 8 what started their passion for the distillery, and elaborate on how Indiana’s state laws at the time impacted their plans.

They also share more about their Bottle Shop & Cocktail Bar, which recently celebrated its sixth anniversary. They discuss their various workshops and show off new releases ready to hit your shelves this year.

Watch the full interview above to learn more.

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Indianapolis, IN

Report: Pirates Promote Top Pitching Prospect to Indianapolis

Published

8 hours ago

August 3, 2024

Press Room

Report: Pirates Promote Top Pitching Prospect to Indianapolis

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates are reportedly promoting one of their top pitching prospects in their minor league system, getting him closer to the MLB.

Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reported that the Pirates will promote right-handed pitcher Bubba Chandler from Double-A Altoona Curve to Triple-A Indianapolis Indians.

Sources: Top Pirates prospect Bubba Chandler is being promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis.
Chandler tossed seven innings of one run ball tonight for Altoona. He has pitched to a 2.61 ERA with 10.6 K/9 since the start of June.
Chandler is ranked as @MLBPipeline‘s No. 49 prospect.
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— Alex Stumpf (@AlexJStumpf) August 3, 2024

Chandler played for North Oconee High School in Bogart, Ga., 60 miles east of Atlanta. He starred in multiple sports, including basketball, golf, football and baseball. He originally committed to Georgia to play baseball, but then decommitted and committed to Clemson to play both football and baseball.

He had a fantastic senior season for North Oconee, going 8-1 with just a 1.25 ERA, plus 96 strikeouts in 44.2 innings pitched, while hitting .411 with eight home runs, 12 doubles and 35 RBI.

The Pirates would select Chandler with the No, 72 overall pick in the Third Round of the 2021 MLB Draft and signed him for $3 millon signing bonus, an over slot signing.

He pitched and also played shortstop for the Rookie-Level Florida Complex Pirates in 2021 and 2022 and then earned promotion to the Bradenton Marauders in the Single-A Florida State League.

Chandler chose to focus on pitching heading into the 2023 season, which would show his best talents. He started 24 games for the Greensboro Grasshoppers in High-A, with a 9-4 record, 4.75 ERA in 106.0 innings pitched, making 120 strikeouts to 51 walks and holding hitters to a .265 batting average.

He made it up to Altoona for just one game in 2023, allowing just one hit in five innings of work and getting the win.

Chandler has played all of 2024 in Double-A, starting 16 of 19 games, a 6-7 record, one save, one shutout. He also had a 3.70 ERA in 80.1 innings pitched, allowing 55 hits, 33 earned runs and 26 walks, while making 94 strikeouts and holding hitters to a .192 batting average, along with having a 1.01 WHIP.

His last start came Friday night against the Richmond Flying Squirrels, allowing just two hits and one run in 6.0 innings pitched, while making six strikeouts on 80 pitches.

Chandler has also pitched great since the start of June, with a 2.61 ERA and 10.6 K/9.

MLB Pipeline ranks Chandler as the No. 49 prospect in their top 100 across baseball, the No. 9 right-handed pitcher and No. 12 pitcher. They also rate him as the highest Pirates prospect.

Make sure to visit Pirates OnSI for the latest news, updates, interviews and insight on the Pittsburgh Pirates.

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Indianapolis, IN

National discount retailer to make it's way to downtown Indianapolis

Published

15 hours ago

August 2, 2024

Press Room

National discount retailer to make it's way to downtown Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS — The downtown Indy building Claypool Court is getting a new retailer.

Officials hope major names like Burlington will bring more Hoosiers and visitors to Mile Square.

WRTV

“There’s definitely a lot of higher-end restaurants right around this area, so I think bringing in some retail stores isn’t a bad idea,” Wesley Slaughter, who lives downtown, said.

The store will sit at Washington and Illinois Streets, an area Slaughter says will be a good fit because it’s a heavily trafficked intersection.

“I could see it being beneficial to get more people in the area because otherwise you have to drive outside of 465 just to hit one of those stores,” Slaughter said.

TJ Maxx has been a big part of the downtown retail scene for many years, but now there is some competition with the Burlington that’s going to be a couple of doors down.

WATCH RELATED COVERAGE | Downtown Indy’s Future Plans announced

Downtown Indy’s future plans announced

“We’re excited anytime that there’s a new addition to the retail landscape here in downtown Indianapolis,” Taylor Schaffer, with Downtown Indy Inc., said.

Schaffer says this is just part of a pipeline of new projects and development coming to the area.