Logo for Byte Magazine at Ball State University

Byte Reviews


Pallbearers take Earl Yestingsmeier

Former Ball State men's golf coach Earl Yestingsmeier remembered by peers

For about 60 years, Earl Yestingsmeier stood in the crowd and supported Ball State’s golf team. On Tuesday at his funeral, about 50 current and former team members stood up in his honor at the request of Ball State golf head coach Mike Fleck. Then Fleck paused, fighting back tears. “Coach not only impacted the lives of all these men,” he said.



New Mexico boy, 12, shoots 2 classmates at school

ROSWELL, N.M. — A 12-year-old New Mexico boy drew a shotgun from a band-instrument case and shot and wounded two classmates at his middle school Tuesday morning before a teacher talked him into dropping the weapon and he was taken into custody, officials and witnesses said.


H1N1 returns to Indiana, Health Center out of vaccines

*Symptoms of the flu include: * Chills Muscle ache Headache Fever Cough and sore throat Methods to prevent the spread of the flu: Wash your hands often Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth Make nutrition and sleep a priority Manage stress Stay active Sources: Indiana State Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Studies point to learning inefficiency in e-textbooks

• University program automatically charges students for e-textbook. • Studies show students learn better with traditional books. • Official says paper books offer “fundamental properties” for learning. The e-textbook program Ball State officially adopted this semester to lower the cost of textbooks may not be the most efficient way to learn, according to some studies.



Police: Shooting at school in New Mexico; 2 hurt

ROSWELL, New Mexico— A gunman opened fire Tuesday at a school in New Mexico, leaving at least two children injured before being taken into custody. Officials at a Texas hospital say a 14-year-old boy who was the likely target has been brought there in critical condition. Eric Finley of University of Medical Center says a 13-year-old girl also might be en route in critical condition. Finley says information from nurses treating the boy indicates he was the target of the shooter. The shooting happened at Berrendo Middle School as classes were starting. Roswell police say the suspected shooter was arrested, and the school was placed on lockdown.



Blake Taylor poses with his girlfriend, Sara Pecina. Taylor died in January 2013 after his car rolled over into a ditch filled with flood water. PHOTO PROVIDED BY SARA PECINA

'It never gets easier'

Crashing noises and then eight seconds of silence ended Sara Pecina’s final conversation with her boyfriend. Pecina and then freshman pre-business major Blake Taylor tried to talk on the phone every day to make their long distance relationship work. This included Jan. 13, 2013, when Taylor was driving back to Muncie after spending the weekend with his dad. He was talking to Pecina through headphones. Forty-five minutes into their conversation, Taylor’s car hydroplaned off the road, landing upside down in a ditch that was filled with flood water.


Ryan Penneau looks at the crowd during his Take Back College presentation Monday at Pruis Hall. Penneau

Campus speaker brings high energy to engage students for success

There are many motivations for going to college, but they should all lead to an intentional university experience, said a speaker on campus. College speaker Ryan Penneau visited Ball State on Monday to give his “Take Back College” presentation, which focused on motivating student’s to take advantage of their time in school to benefit their life after graduation. The main point that Penneau wanted students to take away from his presentation was “to have an intentional college experience.” Penneau’s high-energy method of speaking pushed the crowd to be enthusiastic about changing their attitudes about college.


West Lafayette police obtain military vehicles to use as moving shield

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — An armored carrier the West Lafayette police department recently acquired from the U.S. military is being refitted and will soon serve as a “moving shield” for officers, the city’s police chief said. Police Chief Jason Dombkowski said the big truck, which has armored plating intended to protect its occupants from bomb blasts, is essentially on permanent loan from the military but can be recalled by the federal government at any time.


Southwest grounds pilots of plane that landed at wrong airport

DALLAS — The pilots of a Southwest Airlines flight that mistakenly landed at the wrong Missouri airport were grounded Monday, less than a day after they touched down at a small airfield that gave them only half as much room as normal to stop the jet. After passengers were let off the plane Sunday evening, they noticed the airliner had come dangerously close to the end of the runway, where it could have tumbled down a steep embankment if it had left the pavement.



NYPD arrest one of their biggest critics for fake ticket sales

NEW YORK — An outspoken opponent of the New York Police Department’s stop-and-frisk policy was accused of selling bogus tickets to Broadway shows and other sought-after events, according to court documents. Angel Ortiz, 19, was charged with grand larceny Monday. His lawyer didn’t immediately return a call seeking comment.


Supreme Court turns down proposal to ban 20-week abortions

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected Arizona’s attempt to ban most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. The decision doesn’t disturb most of the similar prohibitions that other states have on the books. On Monday, the justices declined to reconsider a lower court ruling that says the law violates a woman’s constitutionally protected right to terminate a pregnancy before a fetus is able to survive outside the womb.


Muncie votes to oppose recently renamed HJR-6 as state delays decision

The Muncie City Council voted unanimously Monday night to oppose bill House Joint Resolution 3. The bill, previously known as House Joint Resolution 6, would add an amendment to the Indiana Constitution defining marriage as between a man and woman, effectively banning same-sex marriage in the state. The proposed amendment also would ban anything “similar” to same-sex marriage, including civil unions. Supporters and opponents disagree on whether the proposal would also bar health and tax benefits for same-sex couples.