INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana State Fairgrounds West Pavilion has literally gone to the dogs.
Thousands of dogs from across the country arrived in Indianapolis for the Indy Winter Classic. The event will help select contestants for the much larger Westminster Dog Show.

"This event is 101 years old," said Rick Crouch of the Hoosier Kennel Club, which organizes the Indy Winter Classic. "Next to the 500, we're probably one of the oldest events in Indiana."
The Hoosier Kennel Club said more than 9,000 dogs representing about 200 breeds will participate in the Indy Winter Classic. The event started Wednesday and will last through the weekend.

That roster includes John Fabelo of Cincinnati and his English setter, Mango.
"Indy is a great show, we've been coming here for many years," Fabelo said. "The quality of this building and the light makes it fun to be in here. You have natural light, you don't have the fluorescent lights flickering. It's just a good building to be in."

Heidi Bell brought her poodles from Alberta, Canada for the competition.
"When I told my husband I'd like to do a dog show in Indianapolis, he said, 'What?'" Bell said. "It's obviously bigger than a lot of the shows in Canada."

Crouch said the Indianapolis show has enough prestige to compete for a major award from the American Kennel Club.
"We're nominated for the top cluster of the year," Crouch said. "There's another large show going on right now in Atlanta, Georgia. We had people from Atlanta who came here instead of going to their local show."

The Indy Winter Classic is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through the weekend, with hours extended to 7 p.m. on Saturday. It will cost you $10 to park at the fairgrounds.
-
Students arrested in Philippines school shooting that kills 3, wounds 20
Two students armed with hand guns opened fire in a high school in the central Philippines on Monday, killing three fellow students and wounding at least 20 others, police said.
Jurors view crime scene, autopsy photos in Kinsleigh Welty trial
Toni McClure is on trial for the murder of her five-year-old daughter, Kinsleigh Welty, who was found severely malnourished and unresponsive in her home in April of 2024.
The best advice former Pike star Ryan Conwell received from Jeff Teague
Former Pike High School star guard Ryan Conwell hopes to have his dream come true this week during the NBA Draft.
After AES rate hike, Gov. Braun names new chairman to utility regulatory panel
Days after the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission approved a rate hike for the electric utility service in Indianapolis, Gov. Mike Braun named a new chairman to the panel.