The National Weather Service is warning Indiana residents to brace for possible tornadoes and large hail as an approaching strong cold front clashes with warm, humid air. The service has issued a tornado watch for all but southern and southeastern Indiana through Thursday evening. Forecasters say several intense tornadoes are possible along with 80 mph winds and 2-inch diameter hail.
 

A Franklin Central High School student told police he attacked a teacher because he was angry and the teacher was the nearest target. The 16-year-old faces criminal charges and expulsion after punching the teacher in the face three or four times at about 8 a.m. Tuesday at the school's freshman campus. The student told police he was upset because his mother took away his video game system and mobile phone.
 

Lightning was blamed for a fire that broke out in a building on the Zionsville High School campus Wednesday at about 4 a.m. The fire caused an estimated $200,000 in damages to the “Team Building,” which houses locker rooms and is adjacent to the football field. No injuries were reported.

 

Thunderstorms that rumbled across central Indiana led to several lightening-related house fires in Hamilton and Boone counties early Wednesday. Two fires were reported in Fishers, with one in the 10400 block of Woods Edge Drive and another on Laurel Falls Lane. Carmel saw home fires in 900 block of West 116th Street and in the 2500 block of Sutton Drive. Zionsville reported a fire in the 1100 block of Huntington Woods Point. Lightening also caused damage to an airplane and a ramp at Indianapolis International Airport.
 

The Indiana Arts Commission is accepting nominations through Aug. 1 for a new state poet laureate. Current poet laureate Karen Kovacik's two-year term expires in January 2014. Poet laureates are expected to develop educational programming, raise awareness of poetry and work with the arts commission to promote the art.
 

Paul McCartney is bringing his “Out There” tour to Bankers Life Fieldhouse on July 14, promoters announced Friday morning. It will be the former Beatle’s first concert in Indianapolis since 2002. Tickets go on sale April 19 at 10 a.m.
 

The driver of a scooter was killed at 5:50 Friday morning when he drove into the back of a sport-utility vehicle on East Washington Street in Indianapolis near North Whittier Place. Occupants in the SUV were not injured. Washington Street was closed for a few hours after the incident.
 

A man was killed in an apparent drive-by shooting Wednesday night on the east side of Indianapolis. The victim was found shortly after 7 p.m. in a Pontiac Grand Prix parked near East 38th Street and Gladstone Avenue. An autopsy was set for Thursday to determine the victim’s identity.
 

Search warrants show that a man accused of orchestrating a fatal house explosion in Indianapolis removed belongings from the home a week before the blast. Records released Thursday show police sought cell phone records that would confirm a Nov. 2 call in which Mark Leonard allegedly told a friend that his house had exploded. The call came a week before the actual blast following an alleged unsuccessful first attempt to destroy the home. Leonard, his girlfriend, Monserrate Shirley, and his brother, Bob Leonard, are charged with murder in the Nov. 10 explosion that killed a couple living in the house next door.

 

Burglars used a vehicle to rip the metal security bars off the front of a west-side Indianapolis gun shop Wednesday morning before fleeing with a still-undetermined number of firearms. The theft took place at 500 Guns in the 3600 block of West 16th Street at about 3:15 a.m. Investigators say the burglars likely fled faster than they planned after numerous security alarms were set off.
 

Indiana University basketball fans found out Tuesday that junior Victor Oladipo plans to enter the National Basketball Association draft. They’ll find out officially Wednesday afternoon at a press conference whether sophomore teammate Cody Zeller has the same plan. Various media reports say Zeller, who averaged 16 points and eight rebounds per game, intends to go pro.
 

Authorities investigating a foul stench coming from a barn in Madison County on Tuesday discovered as many as 100 dead animals and many others suffering from malnourishment. Horses, goats, sheep, geese, cows and chickens were stacked on top of each other in the Summitville barn, investigators said. Investigators haven’t determined whether charges will be filed against property owners Daniel and Carrie Ault, who run a meat-processing business in Grant County.
 

Fire officials say electrical issues in a furnace may be to blame for an early-morning blaze at Marina Apartments on the east side of Indianapolis. The fire, which broke out at 1:50 a.m., damaged four units and displaced six adults, an infant and three dogs. There were no injuries.