AP-IN--Indiana News Coverage Advisory 8:30 am, IN

Hello! Here's how AP's general news coverage is shaping up today in Indiana. Questions about coverage plans are welcome and should be directed to the AP-Indianapolis bureau at 317-639-5501, 800-382-1582 or indy@ap.org. Caryn Rousseau is on the desk, followed by Tom Coyne.

A reminder this information is not for publication or broadcast, and these coverage plans are subject to change. Expected stories may not develop, or late-breaking and more newsworthy events may take precedence. Advisories and digests will keep you up to date. All times are Eastern.

Some TV and radio stations will receive shorter APNewsNow versions of the stories below, along with all updates.

UPCOMING TODAY:

INDIANAPOLIS HOUSE EXPLOSION

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — A judge is set to consider whether a man should be eligible for a life without parole prison sentence after a jury convicted him in an Indianapolis home explosion that gutted a subdivision and killed two neighbors. The judge will hear arguments Wednesday, a day after a jury convicted Mark Leonard of 53 counts after deliberating less than four hours over two days. By Tom Coyne. SENT: 450 words, photos. Will be updated. Developing from hearing scheduled to begin 10 a.m.

FFA CONVENTION

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Gov. Mike Pence and Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard hold a Wednesday news conference when they are expected to announce a deal that will see the National FFA Organization return its annual youth convention drawing some 60,000 visitors to Indianapolis for the next nine years. UPCOMING: 130 words, more on merits. Developing from 10:15 a.m. event.

FROM AP MEMBERS:

ELKHART COUNTY-LGBT PROTECTIONS

ELKHART, Ind. — A prominent conservative lobbyist is encouraging a campaign to defeat proposals in two northern Indiana cities that would add protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Advance America executive director Eric Miller was a prominent supporter of Indiana's religious objection law and told those at a Tuesday church event that defeat of the Elkhart and Goshen proposals would hurt a push for similar statewide sexual orientation protections. UPCOMING: 300 words.

EXCHANGE-RICHMOND HISTORY

RICHMOND — Tour guide Margaret Wotherspoon is saddened whenever she hears Richmond residents say they've never been inside the Gaar Mansion — especially if they've lived here for a long time. "The history is just so important," Wotherspoon said. So is the beauty of the architecture. The imposing three-story home topped with a tower room sits on a hill overlooking the farm that belonged to Abram and Agnes Gaar. The house was built in 1876 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. By Louise Ronald. (Richmond) Palladium-Item. SENT: 600 words, photos pursuing.

EXCHANGE-YOUNG ACTOR

BLOOMINGTON — For many area high school students, a summer job means flipping burgers at a restaurant, folding shirts at a retail shop or watching kids splash at the pool from the heights of the lifeguard's seat. Not for 16-year-old Jared Winslow, who will be a junior at Bloomington High School North when school starts in August. Winslow has spent his summer acting. By Mary Keck. The (Bloomington) Herald-Times. SENT: 350 words, photos pursuing.

IN BRIEF:

— BLACK BEAR-INDIANA: Wildlife officials say law enforcement officers chased a black bear from a residential area in northern Indiana after residents reported it was walking on porches and standing against patio doors.

— INDIANA TORNADOES: The National Weather Service confirms that two tornadoes touched down in west-central Indiana when strong storms moved through the state late Monday and early Tuesday.

— AMAZON HIRING-INDIANA: Amazon says it plans to add 2,100 workers at its locations in Indiana as it looks to hire more employees across the country.

— ARMY RESERVE-TRAINING FACILITY: An open house is planned this weekend at a new army reserve training facility that was named for a Brookstone native who died in Iraq.

— BLACK EXPO-GOVERNOR'S AWARDS: Gov. Mike Pence has honored eight people at Indiana Black Expo's Summer Celebration in Indianapolis.

— REGIONAL CITIES-CENTRAL INDIANA: Indianapolis is joining Carmel, Westfield and Greenwood in an economic development group that will seek millions of dollars in state grants.

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