Tonight: There will be very cold temperatures tonight dipping below zero. There will be some moderate cloud coverage with pretty calm winds coming out of the west at 5 mph.

Tomorrow: It won't get above zero degrees until after 8 a.m. and only get up to about 13 degrees at 5 p.m. Overcast skies will make it gray and gloomy all throughout tomorrow.

Seven-Day Forecast: To start the weekend, the temperatures dip down to just above 10 degrees, but we see what seems like a heat wave compared to what we have been experiencing. Temperatures rise up to 31 degrees on Wednesday. Despite this warmup, there are some slight chances of flurries on Monday and Wednesday. Fortunately, the clouds start to clear out and we get some mostly sunny skies throughout most of the week and those lows finally get out of the negatives at the end of the week.

-Weather Forecaster Orion Lucas

Follow us on Twitter @NLIWeather for breaking weather updates.

NewsLink Indiana is a proud Ambassador for the NOAA Weather-Ready Nation program.

For more information about the Weather-Ready Nation program please click HERE

When temperatures do reach these low levels, extended exposure can be quite dangerous without a source of heat. Due to this, warming centers across Muncie are opening their doors to provide residents a safe place to stay.

The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) is one of the organizations that is providing to those who may not have a source of heat in the freezing temperatures.

"So 32 degrees or under, people can just walk in off the streets and come say, I need to be warm. They can make phone calls and say, hey, I am cold, I don't have a place to be," the CEO of YWCA of Muncie, WaTasha Barnes Griffin, said.

The YWCA isn't the only location in Muncie that is offering heated spaces. The Muncie Indiana Transit System (MITS) released on Facebook a list of several locations supplying a warm place to stay. Some of these locations include the Center Township Trustee Office, The Muncie HUB and more. A full list can be seen below:

Today: Expect partly cloudy skies with a high of 14 degrees with winds out of the west at 14 mph. Wind chills are currently sitting in the single digits for the remainder of today.

Tonight: Expect extremely cold temperatures with a low of six degrees below zero. Prepare for partly cloudy skies and wind chills well into the negative teens.

Tomorrow: Much of the same is expected for tomorrow with a high of 15 degrees and mostly cloudy skies. Early in the morning wind chills will be dangerously cold so don't forget to bundle up, frostbite can occur to unexposed skin within minutes in these conditions. The winds will start to die down throughout the day but are expected to ramp up heading into the weekend.

Seven-Day-Forecast: Temperatures are expected to rise slightly over the next seven days. Highs are expected to reach the high 20s, but those lows are still dangerously cold throughout the next seven days. Additionally there are cold weather advisories in place for the next couple of days due to the low temperatures dipping into the negative single digits and wind chill values in the negative teens. Lastly there are chances for snow on Monday and Wednesday next week.

-- Weather forecaster Zachary Alberson

Follow us on twitter @NLIWeather for breaking weather updates.

NewsLink Indiana is a proud Ambassador for the NOAA Weather-Ready Nation program.



]]> MUNCIE, Ind. - At Ross Community Center, the sound of scissors snipping and hair dryers filled the air at the "Styled for Stability" event on Saturday, Jan. 24. Care Cuts is a nonprofit that's new to Delaware County, hosting this event and many more to come.

Actively operating now for four months, Care Cuts has served nearly 230 individuals through haircuts, hygiene kits and job searches. Founder Michael Carroll says it all started with a conversation with a past coworker, a veteran whose son was homeless and had died.

"I could tell that he was very unkempt and hadn't had a haircut in a while, and so I asked him the question of when the last time he had a haircut was," Carroll said. "He could not remember when that was."

He began brainstorming how he could help the population that is in a similar situation.

"What I found is that a lot of people who need haircuts are not getting that service," Carroll said.

The organization partners with an additional nonprofit, Hygiene Ladies, to give out kits with hygiene products to whoever they serve. Hailee Campbell, co-founder of Hygiene Ladies, met Carroll at the Common Market when he had just started Care Cuts.

"We've just kind of been supporting each other as we're figuring everything out," Campbell said.

She had the idea after working on her capstone project at Ball State University while pursuing her undergraduate degree in psychology. As the lead facilitator of a support group, she researched community resources.

"There is no place in town that consistently has hygiene supplies, a lot of it comes from shelters, or the Boys and Girls Club or the Indy Hub, but for the Muncie population, it's not really accessible," Campbell said.

After collecting donations alone didn't suffice, she reached out to Ball State professor Kimberly Hennessee to help found the nonprofit. Together, the organizations consistently hold events targeted to people who are experiencing homelessness, poverty and hardship.

"We're trying to fill the gap between the barber's chair and getting them mental health help," Carroll said.

If you are in need of their services, you can visit their website for more information.

Contact Allison Branecki with comments at allison.branecki@bsu.edu.

]]> MUNCIE, Ind. - Braving the cold weather and approaching winter storm; members of the Minnetrista Museum and Gardens attended an early preview of the latest exhibit on Jan. 23. Guests gathered in the downstairs event hall which had a sea of tables and buffet food. As everyone took their seats, Dr. John Anderson, the keynote speaker for the night, addressed everyone.

"That is the potential of being courageous and taking an honest look at the story of Emmett and Mamie Till-Mobley," Anderson said.

It started out as an exhibit by the Children's Museum of Indianapolis, and would later become a traveling exhibit that tells Emmett Till's story across the country. The exhibit was last housed in Cincinnati before it found its way to Muncie. Sebastián Encina, an employee at Minnitrista who worked on the exhibit, said before he even started working at the museum, they were looking to bring the exhibit to Muncie.

"When I started here, just about two years ago, this was already on our radar to host this exhibition," Encina said."It was only a matter of making sure it fit into our calendar. So, this has been three years in the making for us, and we finally get to host it here.

Each piece of the exhibit was curated carefully. Showing the early stages of Till's childhood, then focusing mainly on the events of his death, before finally ending with how his death ignited a movement.

"There are components that need to come in and we just need to put it together. However, it came with a lot of emotions as well. As this is a story we are all very familiar with," Encinca said.

As emotionally heavy the exhibit can be, staff at Minnitrista and Dr. Anderson both agree the exhibit is more about hope.

"While it can be easy to see an exhibition like this and feel very downtrodden, feel very heavy, the point of the exhibition is to inspire hope," Encina said.

"I know that individuals who come and visit the exhibit will have a lot of great things to think about," Anderson said. "Things that will contribute to the edification of their humanity, critical thinking and reflection. And that's what arts and culture is supposed to do; it's supposed to expand our consciousness and get us more in touch with our humanity."

The exhibit's official opening was on Saturday, Jan. 24. Encina and others who worked towards the opening hope that people who come to the exhibition walk away learning something. He said they wanted to display the exhibition that would make the community proud.

"At the end of the day, this museum doesn't belong to me; it doesn't belong to the staff. It's a museum of the community, and the stories we are trying to tell are community stories. These are stories that we want our community to be proud of," Encina said.

Contact Aiden Murray with comments at aiden.murray@bsu.edu.

]]> Minnetrista is now home to an exhibit about the impact of Emmett Till; started by the Children's Museum of Indianapolis. Aiden Murray, Newslink

]]>

In this episode of 9-1-1 What's Your Hot Take, Sam and Willow discuss the events of season 9 episode 9 of 9-1-1.

Music track: Talk by Chill Pulse

Source:https://freetouse.com/music

Copyright Free Music for Videos

Hosted by: Sam Jasionowski and Willow Emig

Edited by: Sam Jasionowski

Graphic by: Willow Emig

French Onion Rice

Ingredients

• White Rice
• Butter
• French onion soup mix
• Beef consume
• For every 1 cup of white rice, 1 can of beef consommé, 1 can French onion soup and 3/4 stick of butter.

Directions

• Melt butter, coat rice with butter in a baking pan, then add soup mix.
• Bake at 350° until the liquid is gone. +/- 45 minutes

Chili Mac and Cheese

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 lb. ground beef
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 small yellow onion, diced
• 2 Tbsp. chili powder
• 2 tsp. ground cumin
• Kosher salt and black pepper
• 3 cups beef broth
• 1 (8-oz.) can tomato sauce
• 12 oz. large elbow macaroni
• 1 (15-oz.) can pinto beans, drained
• 1 1/2 cups grated cheddar, plus more for serving (about 6 oz.)
• 1 cup grated pepper jack cheese (about 4 oz.)
• Cilantro, for serving
• Hot sauce, to taste
• Sour cream, for serving (Optional)

Directions

• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the ground beef, garlic, and onion. Season with the chili powder, cumin, and a good pinch of salt and pepper. Cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until the beef is cooked through and browned, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Stir in the beef broth, tomato sauce, macaroni, and beans. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thick and the macaroni is al dente, 12 to 14 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the heat. Add the cheddar and pepper jack, and fold until the cheese is completely melted. Serve in bowls with cilantro, more cheddar, some hot sauce and sour cream.

Six-can Tortilla Soup

Ingredients

• 2 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth
• 1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
• 1 (15 ounce) can black beans
• 1 (10 ounce) can chunk chicken
• 1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chile peppers, drained
• Crushed tortilla chips, for serving (Optional)
• Shredded Cheddar cheese, for serving (Optional)

Directions

• Gather all ingredients.
• Pour chicken broth, corn, black beans, chunk chicken, and diced tomatoes with green chiles into a large saucepan or stockpot over medium heat.
• Simmer, stirring occasionally, until chicken is heated through, about 15 minutes.
• Serve hot, topped with tortilla chips and shredded cheese.

Contact The Daily News via email at editor@bsudailynews.com.

Ford announced his bid Wednesday for central Indiana's 5th Congressional District seat, where Spartz is running for a fourth term.

"The fact that we are still dealing with prices that are skyrocketing, the fact that we watched Congress take away health care subsidies for people, that's going to have a drastic impact," Ford told reporters. "I just couldn't sit quietly. I couldn't stand by the sidelines anymore."

Spartz will have the advantage of incumbency in the district that was redrawn to strengthen its Republican lean following her narrow 2020 general election win for her first term.

Spartz easily won the 2024 election following a tight Republican primary victory with 39% of the vote afterreversing her previous announcementthat she wouldn't seek reelection.

Spartz's campaign did not immediately reply to a request for comment Wednesday about Ford's entry into the race.

Spartz filed her paperwork for reelection on Monday and no prominent Republican primary challengers have emerged.

"Our nation will soon face significant fiscal challenges, and my extensive expertise on fiscal issues and health care will be greatly needed in Congress," Spartz said in a Monday campaign statement. "Too many people are running for office with corrupt personal agendas and radical policies that have been destructive to our country and undermine President Trump's conservative agenda, and we cannot allow them to prevail - too many Americans have sacrificed for our freedoms."

Ford, who is the first and only openly gay member of the General Assembly, will have to give up the legislative seat that he first won in 2018 for a congressional run since his Senate district is also up for election this year.

Ford said he believed he could make a credible challenge to Spartz, pointing to his success in winning what had long been a Republican Senate district covering northeastern Indianapolis and the Carmel and Zionsville areas.

"People are going to tell me that the 5th District is unwinnable, I would just tell them, watch me," Ford said.

He said he was motivated to challenge Spartz during thefailed push demanded by Trumpfor redrawing Indiana's U.S. House districts, which wassupported by Spartzand rest of the state's Republican congressional delegation.

Todd Shelton of Pendleton, a web development instructor at Indiana University Indianapolis and a veteran, has also filed as a candidate in the Democratic primary.

Ford's residence in Indianapolis is outside the congressional district, which is not a legal requirement to run for Congress.He told the Indiana Capital Chronicle that he was connected with the congressional district since it included the Carmel portion of his legislative district.

"My commitment is that, when I'm successful, that I will move into the district," Ford said.

Forza Returns to Form

We first got a new look at the upcoming Forza Horizon 6, with a determined release date for May 19, 2026. This time set in Japan, the open world racing game returns to an emphasis on progression, with the player character starting out as a nobody who must rise through the ranks of the Horizon racing festival. This system is one that has been de-emphasized over the past few entries, so it's nice to see a return to this, now with a few new twists. Players will be able to customize and expand a residence/compound, presumably where they will store various cars and show off possible winnings. Additionally, there is a section of the map cordoned off for only those who have acquired the highest tier of wristbands. With all of these changes combined with the scenery and car culture of Japan, Forza Horizon 6 is shaping up to be one of the best in the series.

Monsters Out of the Pocket

We received a fresh look at Beast of Reincarnation, a new action role-playing game from Game Freak (yes, the Pokémon people). The player will be accompanied by a dog named Koo in a post-apocalyptic Japan in a game that blends real-time combat with mechanics inspired by turn-based games. Visually, this game looks impressive, with lush foliage overtaking a broken and deteriorated industrial world. However, I'm still yet to be sold on the gameplay and story, as I haven't really felt a certain pull from this one. That said, Beast of Reincarnation is still a solid game to watch out for, releasing this summer.

A Carefully Sculpted Surprise

As is tradition for these showcases, there was one "secret" revealed, that being developer Double Fine's next game: Kiln. Kiln is a multiplayer party brawler themed around pottery, where players will create a pot, vase, or something of that nature and use it as a character to then fight against other players. It's a cute little project-and while this may not be something I personally plan on playing-I'm glad there are still smaller projects like this being made, especially under such a massive publishing umbrella. May thy clay chip and shatter.

'Fable' is Finally More Than Just a Fable

Finally, we got a long anticipated look atFable, a sequel/reboot to the Fable franchise of old. As a fantasy action RPG, there were plenty of expected things like the combat, monsters, and in-depth character creation. However, what's more interesting is the series' signature focus: morality. In Fable, the player will be able to make various decisions throughout their playthrough that will reflect how each NPC will perceive them. Additionally, each NPC will be individually named, and will have a unique reputation with you. You can buy up properties and become a high fantasy slum lord, courting disdain amongst the less fortunate, or become a hero of the commonfolk. Additionally, these NPCs can also be romanced. Overall, if all of these features come to fruition by Fall, Fable could be one of the most interesting games to release this year.

The Round Up

This year's Developer Direct gave us a look at some pretty cool games coming this year before the meatier showcases bound for the summer. Kiln and Beast of Reincarnation are some interesting wild cards, while Forza Horizon 6 and Fable are a promising look at returning classics.

Sources: Xbox, Steam, Xbox, Xbox, Game Freak, Pokémon,Double Fine, Xbox, Xbox

Images: Xbox, Xbox, Xbox, Xbox, Xbox

Contact Ian Case with comments at ian.case@bsu.edu or on Instagram @iancasian

"That is the potential of being courageous and taking an honest look at the story of Emmett and Mamie Till-Mobley," Anderson said.

It started out as an exhibit by the Children's Museum of Indianapolis, and would later become a traveling exhibit that tells Emmett Till's story across the country. The exhibit was last housed in Cincinnati before it found its way to Muncie. Sebastián Encina, an employee at Minnitrista who worked on the exhibit, said before he even started working at the museum, they were looking to bring the exhibit to Muncie.

"When I started here, just about two years ago, this was already on our radar to host this exhibition," Encina said."It was only a matter of making sure it fit into our calendar. So, this has been three years in the making for us, and we finally get to host it here.

Each piece of the exhibit was curated carefully. Showing the early stages of Till's childhood, then focusing mainly on the events of his death, before finally ending with how his death ignited a movement.

"There are components that need to come in and we just need to put it together. However, it came with a lot of emotions as well. As this is a story we are all very familiar with," Encinca said.

As emotionally heavy the exhibit can be, staff at Minnitrista and Dr. Anderson both agree the exhibit is more about hope.

"While it can be easy to see an exhibition like this and feel very downtrodden, feel very heavy, the point of the exhibition is to inspire hope," Encina said.

"I know that individuals who come and visit the exhibit will have a lot of great things to think about," Anderson said. "Things that will contribute to the edification of their humanity, critical thinking and reflection. And that's what arts and culture is supposed to do; it's supposed to expand our consciousness and get us more in touch with our humanity."

The exhibit's official opening was on Saturday, Jan. 24. Encina and others who worked towards the opening hope that people who come to the exhibition walk away learning something. He said they wanted to display the exhibition that would make the community proud.

"At the end of the day, this museum doesn't belong to me; it doesn't belong to the staff. It's a museum of the community, and the stories we are trying to tell are community stories. These are stories that we want our community to be proud of," Encina said.

Contact Aiden Murray with comments at aiden.murray@bsu.edu.

Today: Temperatures today jumping up from yesterday with a high of 17 degrees. Windy conditions and cloudy skies are sticking around and making it feel colder.

Tonight: Even for January temperatures tonight are unusually cold with our low being -4 degrees. Expect moderate winds at about 10 miles per hour and continues cloudy skies. Be safe if you have to leave home tonight.

Tomorrow: The nighttime cold will carry over into the early morning tomorrow with the temperature getting to -2 degrees at 8am and jumping up to 5 degrees and 11 degrees at noon and 5pm. The sun should pop through here and there but it will be mostly cloudy.

Seven-Day Forecast: Temperatures are going to sit in the low teens for most of this week and jump up into the 20s early next week. Lows are going to drop into the negatives this week and winds will gust up to 25 miles per hour. Almost no chance of precipitation this week.

-- Weather forecaster Daphne Gibaud

Follow us on twitter @NLIWeather for breaking weather updates.

NewsLink Indiana is a proud Ambassador for the NOAA Weather-Ready Nation program.

May 5 is the primary election day for Indiana. Some of the offices open for election are State Senator, State Representative, United States Representative as well as other local offices. To see all the possible candidates for Delaware County, voters can do so through visiting the official Delaware County website.

If Hoosiers want to vote this year, here are five steps to register.

Step 1: Visit the Indianavoters.in.gov website. This is where voters can check their registration status to see if they're already registered. If not, click the box that reads "apply now."

Step 2: After clicking "apply now," another box will appear showing what a voter needs to register.

The list includes owning a valid Indiana driver's license or Indiana state identification card, being a U.S. citizen and being at least 18 years old.

The voter must also have lived in the precinct they are voting in for at least 30 days prior to the next election, and must not be actively imprisoned after being convicted of a crime.

However, if the voter is not in their home precinct for the election, they can request an absentee ballot which allows them to vote by mail. To request a ballot to vote by mail, the voter can visit Indiana's voter portal online, which will allow them to fill out the form.

If a voter is 17, they "may register and vote in the primary election if the voter turns 18 on or before the next general or municipal election," according to the Indiana voters website.

Step 3: After reviewing the requirements, voters can register by entering their personal information.

Step 4: Once voters enter their information, the person filling it out will review and acknowledge it to confirm, then wait for approval. The approval process can take five to seven weeks, according to headcount.org, a voting information website.

Step 5: According to Indiana's voter information website, once the application is received by the county voter registration office, the office will review it and determine the voter's eligibility. From there, if the voter is eligible, the county office will send the voter a voter registration acknowledgment card.

Once the voter receives that card, they are officially registered. If an individual is not approved, the voter will receive a notice denying the application or requesting more information.

All of these steps must be completed by the April 6 deadline.

Campus voices

In 2022, Ball State's Center for Economic and Civic Learning, the Office of Student Life and the Office of Community Engagement launched an initiative called Cardinals Vote!

"We [came] up with an effort or initiative to promote student access and information about voting [that is] non-partisan, just to provide information," director of the center for economic and civic learning, David Roof, said.

Currently, Roof said the organization is "gearing up" for the upcoming election while also getting the word out to students about registering so that, when they return in the fall, they are ready for the midterms.

Cardinals Vote! informs the student population through its website, where voter registration information is available. They also host informational events at the Scramble Light on campus, , such as Floats to Votes, where students can show they are registered and receive a rootbeer float.

Roof said he believes it is important for young people to participate in elections because Indiana has one of the lowest turnout rates.

"The 18 to 24-year-old voting rate in Indiana has hovered somewhere between 15 to 20 percent," Roof said.

Data from The Kaiser Family Foundation supports Roof's claim. The data shows that just 89,000 Hoosiers aged 18-24 cast votes in 2022, which is only 16 percent of that age group.

However, Roof said he has seen some impact on students registering through his own research for the Indiana Civic Health Index, which will be presented at the statehouse Jan. 21.

Most importantly, Roof said he hopes his outreach initiatives will educate and motivate students enough to want to register to vote before the April 6 deadline.

"The big thing to me would be to register to vote as soon as possible and to be prepared for the elections," Roof said.

Second-year Ball State legal studies student, Vincent Cervantes, who is registered to vote, said voting is what "makes our democracy run."

"I believe voting is the least we can do after so many people have fought and died to defend our country and our rights," Cervantes said via text message on Snapchat.

Cervantes said he began learning about elections and voting around age 12 or 13, but it wasn't until high school that he became truly interested in government processes like voting.

He said he is also motivated to vote because of civic service, as he enjoys knowing that he has "a voice in this country."

"…My vote does make a difference, more so when it's local or state elections; if it's more national elections, my vote may not count as much, but to me, it's my way of making a statement on the national level," Cervantes said.

He explained how, when he registered to vote, he believed it was "extremely easy."

Cervantes said he believes the challenges students face when registering for voting stem from either the belief that their vote will not matter or a lack of knowledge about how to register.

He believes colleges should do more to help students understand how to register, because " it can help boost voter participation, and help inform people on how to get more involved in voting."

Contact Shelby Anderson via email sanderson9@bsu.edu.

Campus crews are working to clear parking lots, according to the email, but "due to the volume of snow, it may take several days for parking lots to be cleared." Parking services will be providing flexibility towards students, faculty and staff during this time, allowing drivers to use yellow and green lots.

Permits will be enforced in all red lots and parking garages.

Due to the excessive amount of snow, "not all access points to buildings will be clear by tomorrow morning," Jan. 27. Some buildings might have just one fully cleared access point for entry and exit, according to the email, with campus crews continuing to prioritize clearing snow from different pathways to different buildings.

Students and employees should plan in advance to allow for additional time to reach their destinations. All members of Ball State have been encouraged to dress appropriately as the cold temperatures progress throughout the week.

In the event of an emergency, please contact the University Police Department at 765-285-1111 or 911.

Contact the Daily News via email at editor@bsudailynews.com.

The clinic will take place from noon until 6 p.m. in the Health Professions Building, room 103. All students, employees and community members can attend the clinic.

Participants will have access to all CDC-recommended vaccines and other immunizations, including Hepatitis A and B, Hib, DTaP/Tdap, Polio, MMR, Varicella, Meningitis, Pneumonia, HPV, Rotavirus, Shingles and the Flu.

Before attending the clinic, participants should pre-register using this link and use the enrollment code IN65942. Walk-ins are allowed, but will need to complete a paper consent form at the clinic, according to the release.

Attendees should come prepared by bringing immunization records and their health insurance card, or a copy of it. If students are not Indiana residents, they should bring their vaccine records as well. There will be no cost for those who do not have insurance, except for the Shingles and RSV vaccines, according to the release.

Contact the Daily News via email at editor@bsudailynews.com.

This 8,600-square-foot building has a rich reputation for holding special dinners, receptions and events. Though Bracken House has served many purposes over the years, it is considered first and foremost as a home.

Some presidents at Bracken House brought in new furniture or new staff. But the best contributions to the house over the years have been closer to all of our hearts: the presidents' dogs.

From friendly and docile house pets to loyal hunting companions, each one of these esteemed and entitled pets have their own story.

Cadi

The current president of Ball State University, Geoffrey Mearns, has lived in Bracken House for almost ten years with his wife, Jennifer. Acadia, known affectionately as Cadi, is the couple's 12-year-old dog who has resided in Bracken House with them through Geoffrey's entire tenure as president, which started in 2017.

Before moving into Bracken House, the Mearns lived in northern Kentucky. It was here that they took in the rescue mutt. The family never tested Cadi's DNA to find out her breed, but they've had fun guessing over the years. They know for sure that Cadi is a mixed breed, and find charm in her speckled white and gray chest and belly.

Geoffrey said that the dog was a part of an abandoned litter of puppies being sold outside a supermarket near their home, and after some convincing arguments from their kids, Geoffrey and Jennifer adopted the puppy.

The couple named their dog Acadia after Acadia National Park in Maine, a destination the family has visited with their children fondly for more than 30 years. Her nickname, Cadi, came with time.

Geoffrey said Cadi has always been a peaceful pet, noting she rarely barks and refuses to chase squirrels or rabbits around the large presidential yard.

"The only animal that she will get riled up about is cats," Geoffrey said. "But even then, a ten-pound cat would scare her away."

Jennifer said that Cadi's favorite hobby at Bracken House is sunbathing. Her lazy demeanor makes her the perfect house pet, as her main occupation is lounging in her various beds around the house and keeping her favorite people company. The dog is especially partial to cozying up next to one of the three grand fireplaces in the house.

Cadi accompanies Jennifer next to her desk daily while she works. It's part of their regular schedule together, after Cadi's morning walk, of course.

"I always think that having a routine with an animal does take your stress down," Jennifer said. "Also, she wants to be pet. She wants you to pet her all the time. Most of the time, when you're feeling stressed, every little bit of that sitting and petting the dog does make you feel better."

Cadi has always been very gentle and polite with guests at home. She is a fan favorite, especially during large events hosted at Bracken House. Geoffrey and Jennifer said people always ask to meet Cadi. The dog has gotten on the caterer's good side and has a reputation for stealing treats from the large industrial kitchen on Bracken's first floor.

Geoffrey especially appreciates Cadi for the connections she helps him make with students and faculty alike. For years, he has invited Cadi to welcome picnics for students involved in summer enrichment programs. He said having Cadi around provides a buffer for otherwise intimidating conversations.

"Of course, whenever we're walking on campus, people will see her, and we'll stop, and they'll ask to pet her," he said. "It's a way of getting people to have a conversation with me when they might otherwise not [be] inclined to."

Sierra

Jo Ann Gora served as president of Ball State University from 2004 to 2014. According to Ball State University's website, Jo Ann introduced the immersive learning initiative throughout the campus. In addition to this, Jo Ann said that she set a new bar for fundraising that allowed the university to build or renovate over 29 buildings in the 10 years she served as president.

Jo Ann's presidency marked an era of admirable progress and entrepreneurial advancement for the university as a whole, but that wasn't the only thing she brought to Ball State.

Jo Ann moved from Boston, Massachusetts, to Muncie, Indiana, with her husband, Roy Budd. Uprooting their life in Massachusetts meant a lot of change for the couple, but it also opened new doors. For example, moving into Bracken House allowed them to take in a dog.

Frank Bracken, who had grown up in the presidential estate, not only supported Jo Ann and Roy but encouraged them to get a dog while they lived there.

"Frank Bracken loved dogs, I mean loved dogs. You can talk to anybody, they'll tell you a story about Frank Bracken and dogs," Jo Ann said. "We wouldn't have had a dog if Frank Bracken didn't love dogs and didn't say to us, 'You know, Bracken House needs a dog.'"

Jo Ann said that it didn't take much more convincing for Roy to buy a dog. After growing up in rural Virginia, raising and breeding hunting dogs for most of his childhood, he was overjoyed to revisit something that brought him so much joy.

"As long as he was happy, I was happy," Jo Ann said.

But they couldn't take in just any dog. The couple was very particular when it came to selecting their new pup. The young, purebred, championship line English Setter that the couple chose was bred and trained in Iowa before being flown back to Indiana, where she resided for the rest of her life. They named the dog Sierra, after the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

Though Sierra lived in Bracken House with the president and her husband, Jo Ann made it very clear that Sierra was anything but tame and said Sierra rarely sat still.

Jo Ann recalled several instances in which Sierra ran wild through their fenced yard. Being a healthy and well-bred English Setter, Sierra had enough power and energy to jump the fence and run far away. Thankfully, her devious tendencies weren't too common. Although Jo Ann said the dog often threw fits while the couple was away, her worst habit was taking her energy out on some of the furniture, most notably the university's rugs.

"She was not a house dog," Jo Ann said. "She was a dog that liked to hunt, and she was a great hunter."

Sierra's purpose and role at Bracken House was clear: she was to be Roy's obedient hunting companion. Roy brought Sierra along on every hunting trip he went on.

Though Jo Ann and Roy moved away after her presidency, Sierra lived out the remainder of her life in Indiana. She was left with a friend of Roy's, whom he had hunted with for several years while living in Indiana. The couple agreed that Sierra would thrive happily with the attention of the man's two young daughters.

Jo Ann said that her ten-year term as president ended in her eventual retirement from the world of education. That was only the beginning, however, of her business involving dogs.

"I went from being the CEO of a university to being the CFO of a dog business," said Jo Ann. While Jo Ann was busy completing her time in office, Roy was working on a start-up for a business in breeding and training beagles. Jo Ann recalled the 54 beagle puppies she raised and weaned during her first three years of retirement.

This article is a part of Ball Bearings Fall 2025 magazine: The Archival Edition. Read more stories online at ballbearingsmag.com and pick up the print edition of the magazine across Ball State's campus now.

Cake Wars

Get ready for a fun cake-decorating competition and some friendly rivalry at Cake Wars! Team registration closes January 25at 11:59 p.m., so don't wait!

• Price: Free
• Location: Hargrave MPR inside Park Hall
• Date and Time: Wednesday, January 28 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Immunization Clinic

The spring immunization clinic will expand access to all CDC-recommenced vaccines and other immunizations. The university encourages all students, employees, and families to take advantage of this opportunity.

• Price: Free, except for the Shingles and adult RSV vaccines
• Location: Health Professions Building Room 103
• Date and Time: Tuesday, January 27 from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Ball State University Men's Swimming and Diving vs Valparaiso University

Cheer on the cardinals as they face off against Valparaiso! Show your Cardinal pride as the athlete's speed through the water and dive with precision!

• Price: Free for students
• Location: Lewellen Aquatic Center
• Date and Time: Saturday, January 31 from 2:00 pm. to 5:00 p.m.

Screwed-Up Party

Single? Taken? Complicated? Who cares! Come to Brothers for their Screwed-Up Party- where everyone's a little screwed up. Get a nut or bolt at the door, find the stranger with your matching piece, and win a prize!

• Price: Prices vary
• Location: Brothers Bar and Grill
• Date and Time: Friday, January 30 from 9:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.

Campus will resume its normal operations at 6 a.m. Jan. 27, with courses being held online. All non-essential employees have been requested to work from home, while essential employees must report for work in-person, according to the email.

Residence halls will remain open, along with front desk operations continuing normally. Housing and University Apartments offices will be closed Jan. 26.

University dining services will continue normal operations, as well as the university's Health Center, the Student Center and recreation services, such as the Student Recreation and Wellness Center and Ball Gym. Sports and athletics facilities will stay open as well.

All shuttle services and Charlie's Charter will resume their services on Jan. 27, according to the email.

Contact the Daily News via email at editor@bsudailynews.com.

Due to numerous 911 calls regarding stranded vehicles countywide this morning, according to the Facebook post, emergency responders have requested that travelers to "not place an unnecessary burden on our first responders."

According to the Indiana government website, Delaware County's travel status is at a watch level. This means that conditions pose a threat to public safety, with only "essential travel" recommended.

Along with that, emergency action plans should be implemented by businesses, schools, government agencies and other organizations, according to the website.

This brief will be updated with more information as it becomes available.

Contact the Daily News via email at editor@bsudailynews.com.

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For more information, visit the store on N Martin St., online at artmartmuncie.net or call 765-284-2919.

Contact The Daily News via email at editor@bsudailynews.com.