Coutinho was placed on administrative leave in March while county officials conducted an investigation involving the agency. At the time, commissioners provided limited details regarding the nature of the investigation.

The vote comes after Meagan Coutinho, John Coutinho's wife and a former employee of the Delaware County Emergency Management Agency, was charged in connection with allegations involving county resources and funds. John Coutinho has not been charged with a crime.

Related: Delaware County suspends emergency agency directors, citing 'investigation'

Meagan Coutinho was arrested earlier this month and charged with six felonies, including theft, misconduct and conflict of interest. The investigation shows that about $200,000 had been stolen while she was the office manager between 2021 and 2026.

After voting to remove Coutinho, the commissioners then unanimously voted to promote Deputy Director Cory Kissick to lead the agency.

The county's EMA is responsible for coordinating emergency preparedness, disaster response and recovery efforts throughout the community.

Before approving Kissick's promotion, commissioners praised his leadership. Commissioners described Kissick as highly qualified for the role and credited him with managing the department effectively since March.

They also cited the agency's response to recent severe weather and expressed confidence in Kissick's ability to lead the department moving forward.

Contact Ball State Daily News Editor-in-Chief, Cameron Noe, ateditor@bsudailynews.com.

"It's too early to tell," National Weather Service meteorologist Alexander McGinnis said. "There is a chance that there may have been a tornado in the Muncie area. It's not likely, and we'll have to take a closer look."

Indiana Michigan Power reported on Friday that a nearly 8,000 customer peak outage occurred across its East Central Indiana service region overnight, including just under 5,000 in the Muncie area.

By 2 p.m. on June 12, approximately 3,500 customers in the region remained without power, according to I&M.

Despite widespread damage, the National Weather Service in Indianapolis had not confirmed a tornado in Delaware County as of the afternoon on June 12, but survey teams were dispatched to Muncie to assess damage and determine whether the destruction was caused by a tornado or powerful straight-line winds.

Assessment teams have identified a path of damage extending across Muncie and into eastern Delaware County, according to the Delaware County Emergency Management Agency (EMA).

The damage path appears to begin near the intersection of Morrison Road and Peachtree Lane on Muncie's west side, continuing through areas just south of Ball State University, across neighborhoods south of downtown Muncie, and eastward along the Kirby Avenue corridor toward Selma.

Significant structural damage has been observed in areas south of the Town of Selma.

Among those affected was Selma resident Sara Hodges, who returned to her home the night of June 11 to find much of her roof torn from her house.

"My whole roof was ripped off and it's in my driveway," Hodges said. "There was water pouring into my living room and back bedroom."

Hodges said she was at her boyfriend's house nearby when the storm moved through. Neighbors later called to tell her something had happened to her home.

When she arrived, portions of the roof were scattered across the driveway and water was pouring into her house. She and her 10-year-old son were unable to stay there overnight.

"It's just kind of one of those devastating things," Hodges said. "Your home and then all your stuff and all your things, they're kind of ruined. But thankfully, for me and my son no one was there and no one was hurt. It's just all stuff that can be replaced."

No injuries or fatalities have been reported, EMA said.

The National Weather Service in Indianapolis will review findings and determine whether the damage across the area was caused by straight-line winds or a tornado.

"The National Weather Service will use this information, along with field inspections, to determine whether the damage was caused by straight-line winds or a tornado," said a press release from EMA

That determination of a tornado can be complicated.

"We have received numerous reports of damage, and we are uncertain yet if there was a tornado in Delaware County or Muncie," said McGinnis. "We actually have some people who are heading there right now who are going to be checking that out for us."

According to McGinnis, the NWS received a preliminary damage map from Delaware County emergency officials showing reports of downed trees, roof damage and structural impacts across Muncie and surrounding areas.

While some residents suspected a tornado may have occurred, McGinnis said investigators would need to examine damage patterns before reaching a conclusion.

McGinnis said most storm damage surveyed elsewhere in central Indiana has been attributed to straight-line winds rather than tornadoes. A survey conducted in Clinton County on June 12 found damage there was caused by wind rather than a tornado.

The strongest officially recorded wind gust in Muncie was 41 mph at the Muncie Airport, though McGinnis said damage reports suggest winds in some areas may have reached 60 to 65 mph.

I&M said wind speeds reached up to 75 mph during the storm, contributing to widespread damage across the city.

For Hodges, the storm was unlike anything she had experienced in the 12 years she had lived in Selma.

"It's one of those things where I'm just like, how is this even happening?" she said.

Her cleanup effort included moving salvageable belongings away from damaged rooms and covering the exposed roof with a tarp to prevent additional water damage. Across Selma, Hidges said residents were already cutting fallen trees and clearing debris from properties.

Despite the damage, Hodges said the experience reinforced the importance of taking severe weather warnings seriously.

"I feel like I used to be one of those people who liked to sit out in the storms and didn't really think tornadoes or damage like that could happen around here," she said. "Everyone just needs to be cautious and take it more seriously than we used to."

McGinnis also urged residents to remain weather aware heading into the weekend, noting another round of potentially severe thunderstorms between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. with rainfall amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, and to expect higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

According to the NWS, I&M said crews are actively working to restore outages, with about 500 crew members and 1,250 additional workers from surrounding utilities assisting in restoration efforts.

The company estimated an 11 p.m. restoration time on June 12 for the most affected customers in Fort Wayne and Muncie.

The electric utility said outages were caused by a combination of downed power lines, broken poles and fallen trees. Crews are working in hazardous conditions, including areas with live wires and debris.

"We are working quickly, but safely to restore power," Demetrious C Lewis with I&M said. The company also urged residents to avoid downed power lines, treat non-working traffic signals as four-way stops and report hazards to 1-800-311-4634 or local authorities.

Contact Ball State Daily News Editor-in-Chief, Cameron Noe, ateditor@bsudailynews.com.

RELATED: Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour announces cancer diagnosis, leave of absence

Judge J. Quirk Cole of Delaware Circuit Court No. 1 authorized Howe to continue exercising the powers and duties of the mayor's office during Ridenour's recovery.

The order notes that all actions lawfully taken by Howe as acting executive will carry the same force and effect as actions taken by the mayor. It also specifies that the arrangement does not remove Ridenour from office or create a vacancy in the mayor's position.

In a statement released on June 11, the City of Muncie said Ridenour's surgery "went well and as expected" and that he is currently recovering at home. The city said the temporary appointment is intended to ensure continuity of government operations and city services while the mayor focuses on healing.

The court found that Ridenour's inability is physical and temporary in nature and is not the result of any mental incapacity. The order states that Ridenour is currently unable to discharge the powers and duties of the mayor's office while recovering from a medical condition requiring continued recovery.

Court documents also indicate that Ridenour anticipated returning to the full discharge of his duties upon completion of his recovery period.

Common Council President Jeff Green filed a verified statement with the court under Indiana Code 36-4-5-8(c), asserting that Ridenour was temporarily unavailable to discharge the duties of the office. The filing was accompanied by an affidavit from Ridenour acknowledging his temporary inability to perform mayoral responsibilities.

The ruling allows Howe to continue serving as acting executive for the duration of Ridenour's temporary inability. Unlike the initial designation announced on June 1, the court order does not establish a specific end date. Instead, Howe's authority will remain in effect until Ridenour recovers and resumes his duties in accordance with Indiana law.

RELATED: Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour appoints Councilman Jeff Green to run city during absence

Contact Ball State Daily News Editor-in-Chief, Cameron Noe, ateditor@bsudailynews.com.

According to a press release from IU Health, the free one-day camp will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on August 8 at the Minnetrista Cultural Center.

Camp Good Grief is offered through a partnership between IU Health and Redcrest Healthcare and is open to children ages 6 to 16. The program is designed to help young people navigate grief through activities including art, music and play while providing education about loss and coping strategies.

The camp is facilitated by IU Health team members, primarily nurses and other clinicians. Children will learn ways to preserve memories, honor loved ones and connect with peers who are also experiencing loss.

According to the release, childhood grief is common and can be difficult for families to navigate. It also notes that unaddressed grief can increase the risk of challenges, including depression, suicide, poverty and substance abuse.

Organizers say providing understanding, support and opportunities for children and teens to express their thoughts and feelings can help them develop healthy coping skills.

Registration is required and spots are limited. Families can register through July 27. More information is available by calling 765-747-4273 or emailing ECRCampGoodGrief@iuhealth.org.

Contact Ball State Daily News Editor-in-Chief, Cameron Noe, ateditor@bsudailynews.com.

The Udall Undergraduate Scholarship is one of the country's most prestigious awards for college sophomores and juniors, according to its website. The scholarship is awarded based on commitment to careers in the environment, Tribal public policy, or Native health care, along with leadership potential, record of public service, and academic achievement.

In 2026, the Udall Foundation increased the number of scholarships from 55 to 65 and the award amount from $7,000 to $7,500. This year's class was selected from 383 candidates nominated by 181 colleges and universities.

Em Allen, Roman Hughes, Trey Michael Mathews, Jack Tagle, and Kade Wereley-Bross have been selected for Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards. Third-year student Gem Sambugaro has been selected for the Udall Undergraduate Scholarship.

The Fulbright awards will allow Ball State recipients to spend the upcoming academic year abroad as English Teaching Assistants or graduate students.

Allen, a graduate who majored in English with a concentration in literature, received a Fulbright award to pursue a master's degree in English literature at Ulster University in Northern Ireland. Hughes, who holds a master's degree in English studies from Ball State, will teach English at a university in Poland.

Mathews, who majored in Spanish and minored in history, will teach English in Honduras. Tagle, who majored in English, will teach in Thailand. Wereley-Bross, who earned a degree in theatre with minors in technical theatre and German, will teach in Germany. Sambugaro, a third-year Honors College student majoring in biology and pre-veterinary preparations, is one of 65 Udall scholars selected this year from across the country.

This is the second consecutive year a Ball State student has been named a Udall Scholar.

A coalition launched weeks ago is said to have nearly 3,000 signatures supporting Indiana closed primaries. Max Engling, thesecretary of state candidatewith backing from top Hoosier Republicans, listed it as apriority. And at least one state representative already has a bill draft request for the next session to close primaries.

Advocates say closed primaries would prevent opposition influence and strengthen parties' candidates. Critics contend they'd reduce the opportunity for voters, including independents, to participate.

"It just depends on what you think primary elections are for," said Marjorie Hershey, a political science professor emeritus at Indiana University.

Primary systems in the United States vary. According to theNational Conference of State Legislatures, they take six forms.

Open primaries, the most common, allow voters to choose whichever party's ballot they'd like, a choice that remains private. Fifteen states have them.

Indiana's system is considered partially open. While Hoosier voters can choose any party's ballot, their pick can be considered a form of registration if they choose to run for office. The candidate's two most-recent primary election ballot selections affiliate them with that party understate law.

Indiana Code has anothercaveat. Party members can challenge a prospective voter based on party affiliation at the ballot box or on election day. Primary voters have to meet one of twocategories: voted for a majority of that party's nominees during the last general election, or will vote for a majority for most of that party's candidates at the next general election.

This is the provision challenger Paula Copenhaver cited in the GOP Senate District 23 race. In apetitionto the Indiana Recount Commission, Copenhaver claimed around a dozen people may have voted in the Republican primary despite not being eligible to, based on social media posts and local media reports indicating they weren't Republicans. The certified results of the election had Copenhaver behind by three votes to incumbent Sen. Spencer Deery. The recount could continue for weeks.

Other primary systems include multi-party primaries, where the top vote-getters, regardless of party, advance to the general from a single primary; primaries open just to unaffiliated voters, which exclude crossover from those registered with a particular party; and partially closed primaries, which allow parties to choose how open their elections will be.

Recent conversations in Indiana have centered around closed primaries that require party registration for participation.

To Hershey, support for a particular type comes from different views of democracy.

In one, primaries are means to form strong party identities for voters to align with for the myriad elected offices they may not be familiar with. Closed primaries produce candidates selected by the most ardent in that party.

In the other view, the widest possible participation in primaries creates good leadership, even if the nominees aren't representative of the party's mainstream.

Regardless, Hershey said, changes in primary rules produce changes in outcomes.

"And in today's politics, as polarized by party as they are, these rules changes are intended to help the party proposing them win the next election," she said.

Proposals for Indiana's closed primaries

House Bill 1029 and Senate Bill 201 in 2025, as well as 2026's House Bill 1096, sought to close Indiana's primaries by mandating affiliation either during voter registration or on a dedicated form in order to vote in the primary. The latter two bills would've automatically affiliated voters with the party they last voted for in a primary.

Rep. J.D. Prescott, R-Union City, authored the most recent attempt and was a co-author on HB 1029. He claimed there've been people in his district's counties who've pulled Republican ballots, despite being Democrats, so they can run and win as a Republican in the general.

It's "obviously a problem" and "goes against the integrity of the party," he told the Indiana Capital Chronicle.

His 2026 bill would've required voters to register with a party at least 119 days before the primary, with exceptions for people who move or 17 year olds who will turn 18 before the next general. The bill he co-authored in 2025 set a Dec. 31 deadline before the primary. Each would've given Hoosiers less time to affiliate than mostclosed-primary states; the shortest deadline, Connecticut's, is a day before the primary. Kentucky's, the longest, is around 139 days in advance.

Prescott said he's already submitted a bill draft request to close primaries in the upcoming session. The previous bill is the baseline, but there will likely be some tweaks, he said.

The specifics should remain up to lawmakers, said Logan Russell, a conservative political consultant based in Indiana, but closed primaries are needed to ensure the parties get to actually pick their nominee. States like Kentucky, Florida and Pennsylvania are great models of what it could look like here, he said.

He's the executive director of Closed Primary, a coalition launched last month that by June 3 had collected almost 3,000 signatures backing its titular goal. Support has come from Democrats, as well, Russell said.

He thinks the chances are higher now for closed primaries to pass next session because of its recent momentum. Three legislators have told him they have ideas for what closed primary drafts they'd propose would look like, he said.

Indiana's primary turnout remains low; just 17% of registered voters did sothis year. Still, Russell doesn't see closed primaries as a way to reduce turnout or disenfranchise anyone. Instead, it's to drive up party participation and get candidates most aligned with parties' interests.

An open-primary 'tradition in Indiana'

Strategically leveraging the opposing party's primary has history in Indiana, even before Copenhaver's claims in this year's Republican Senate District 23 election.

Through a billboard and media campaign, abipartisan group encouragedDemocrats to fill out Republican ballots in the May 2024 primary and vote "for a more moderate gubernatorial candidate."

At the time, Don Knebel, the president of ReCenter Indiana, said that more partisan voters tended to participate in the primaries. As a result, they'd select a more "extreme" candidatewho was "all but certain to be Indiana's next governor" as a Republican.

Adrianne Slash, the group's vice president, said the effort was to increase participation, particularly among those apathetic toward races that have been historically uncompetitive. In some places, the primary "is the one place where your voice really can make a difference and can matter," she told the Capital Chronicle.

It's a line of reasoning Mike Braun, who ended up winning that gubernatorial primary, once followed. Ahead of the 2018 U.S. Senate Republican primary, Republican National Committee voter files showed Braun had been considered a "hard Democrat" by the GOP after he'd repeatedly voted in Democratic primaries.

Hailing from Dubois County, Braun said Democrats held most of its local offices.

"So if you wanted to weigh in on your local and county elections, anybody that was a Republican there mostly voted in the Democratic" primary, Braun said in aninterviewwith CNN at the time.

But Russell, with Closed Primary, said rather than pulling opposite ballots, the emphasis should instead be on parties putting more electable candidates forward.

"The voice of the voter shouldn't be dependent upon if the quality of the party's candidate is good or bad," he said.

In 2008, right-wing radio commentator Rush Limbaugh encouraged Republicans in open-primary states, particularly Indiana, to vote for Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary. Limbaugh's effort, christened "Operation Chaos," was intended to ensure bothClinton and Barack Obamawere "so bloodied and brought down to earth" by the competitive primary that either one would lose in November.

Clinton bested Obama by around 14,000 votes in Indiana. Obama's campaign and supportersdecriedthe move as a major factor at the time, but subsequent research suggested Operation Chaos did not change the outcome

E. Frank Stephenson, an economics professor at Berry College who researched the maneuver, concluded an "absence of a Limbaugh effect suggests that states or parties holding open primaries have little to fear about their elections being mischievously influenced by activists from the opposing party."

Kip Tew, a senior adviser to the 2008 Obama campaign in Indiana, admitted the team didn't like the move, even if they didn't take any action on it. Still, he's "unequivocally opposed" to closing Indiana's primaries. Policing which ballots voters pull would be undemocratic, he said.

Crossover is "a tried and true tradition in Indiana," Tew said.

The release said the facility was developed in response to "the growing need for accessible, local treatment options" for those seeking recovery support.

"The opening of this new inpatient treatment center in Delaware County is long overdue," said Jeffrey Hansard, Chief Probation Officer for Delaware County, in the release. "For years, our community has faced some of the highest rates of negative outcomes connected to substance use disorders while lacking enough local treatment options for people who were ready to get help. This center fills a critical gap in our local continuum of care and represents hope, access, and a stronger local response to one of the most serious issues facing our community."

Indiana Treatment Centers will provide different resources and services, including medical detox, individual treatment planning, clinical oversight and more. The center will focus on long-term recovery with these initiatives.

The center's grand opening event will take place June 24 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at3000 S. Tillotson Ave., Muncie, Indiana. Attendees will have the opportunity to tour the center, meet leadership and hear from community partners.

For more information on the center, contact Indiana Treatment Centers at info@indianatreatmentcenters.com or (765) 232-2449.

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

According to a press release from the university, they said the safety of guests, community members, volunteers, performers and staff remains the University's top priority.

We Fly Fest is a large-scale outdoor event featuringperformances, activities, food trucks, giveaways, and campus tours across multiple locations. Because of the event's format and logistical requirements, it cannot be relocated indoors and will not be rescheduled, according to the release.

Ball State appreciates the enthusiasm surrounding the event and looks forward to additional opportunities to welcome visitors to campus.

Contact Ball State Daily News Editor-in-Chief, Cameron Noe, ateditor@bsudailynews.com.

The Bears released astatementsaying the NFL franchise's board of directors on Thursday "voted to advance our stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana, with the exact site to be selected."

"We believe a world-class stadium project in Hammond will transform the region connecting northwest Indiana to the South Side of Chicago through the Loop and across neighborhoods and suburbs stretching north of the city," the statement said. "It will bring Chicagoland together and deliver new opportunities to its residents and businesses."

The team did not specifically mention the Wolf Lake site near the state line in Hammond that has been under consideration for months as the possible location.

The announcement comes after Illinois legislators adjourned their spring session early Monday without endorsing any response toIndiana's stadium offer - approved by lawmakers and signed by Gov. Mike Braun in late February.

Indiana's package would create a Hammond stadium district and direct more than $1 billion in taxpayer money toward district infrastructure.

Bears officials had said for several months that their stadium options were team-owned property in the northwestern Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights and the Hammond site.

Braun's office released a statement in which the governor said "Hoosiers, help me welcome the Chicago Bears to our great state!"

"We look forward to building a partnership as strong as the '85 Bears defense, creating opportunities and economic growth that will benefit our state and the Bears organization for decades to come," Braun said. "An NFL franchise in Northwest Indiana will be an economic boost to the entire region like we haven't seen before."

House Speaker Todd Huston, who carried the Indiana stadium bill, also celebrated the news.

"I am thrilled the Bears ownership voted to develop a world-class stadium facility in Hammond. This will be a transformative project for Northwest Indiana, benefiting our entire state. The Bears have been transparent and terrific partners throughout this process," he said.

"Local elected leadership in Northwest Indiana and their constituents have been tremendous partners in making this happen. This is a fantastic win for Indiana, and I thank Governor Braun and his leadership team. The Bears join a long line of companies and residents choosing Indiana to invest, grow and pursue opportunity, and I look forward to many more making that choice."

The free community event will feature live music from Ball State student bands, lawn games, food trucks, campus activities, giveaways and appearances by Charlie Cardinal. Miss Ball State, Katey Cooper, will serve as emcee for the event.

In a press release from the university, Ball State President Geoffrey S. Mearns said the festival highlights the university's commitment to connecting with the surrounding community.

"We Fly Fest reflects Ball State's enduring commitment to fostering strong connections between our campus and the community," Mearns said in the release. "After the success of last year's inaugural event, I look forward to welcoming our friends and neighbors back to campus as we continue building on this celebration and sharing the best of what Ball State has to offer."

According to the release, attendees can begin at the Welcome Tent to receive free Ball State giveaways while supplies last. The first 500 guests will also receive vouchers for a free scoop of ice cream at the Vivian V. Conley and Hurley C. Goodall Jr. Multicultural Center.

The event will also offer Student Experience Bus Tours at 4:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., and 6:30 p.m. Tours will showcase student housing, athletics, recreation facilities and academic buildings across campus.

According to the release, free shuttle transportation will be available to and from the event, with pickup locations at Canan Common, the Common Market and the P.O.P. Shop.

Parking for the event will be free in campus parking lots and garages during the festival.

Contact Ball State Daily News Editor-in-Chief, Cameron Noe, ateditor@bsudailynews.com.

During Second Harvest of East Central Indiana's tailgate food distribution on May 28 at the Delaware County Fairgrounds in Muncie, volunteers loaded hundreds of vehicles with produce, bread and other groceries through a drive-through system designed to quickly serve families across the area.

According to Second Harvest's Director of Development and Marketing, C.S. Hendershot, the Delaware County Tailgate Distribution typically serves between 300 and 400 vehicles each event, with many picking up food for multiple households.

"When you think about it, that's thousands of individuals receiving food from this distribution," Hendershot said.

Hendershot said the organization has seen demand steadily increase as inflation and everyday expenses continue affecting local families.

According to Second Harvest of East Central Indiana's 2025 annual report, 75,970 people in East Central Indiana were estimated to be food insecure, and that's before the SNAP shutdown led to a significant increase in need.

The SNAP shutdown began in November 2025, when the federal government shutdown forced the U.S. Department of Agriculture to reduce SNAP benefits by 50% for all 274,000 Indiana households, according to the Indianapolis Recorder. Hendershot said those reductions, combined with increasing housing, utility and grocery costs, have pushed more working families to seek food assistance through organizations like Second Harvest.

"With the rise in food prices, housing costs, utilities and other everyday expenses, our lines have continued to steadily increase," Hendershot said. "Families who may have never needed assistance before now find it difficult to make ends meet."

Tailgate distributions are held twice each month in Delaware County, including one at the Delaware County Fairgrounds and another at the organization's warehouse on the first Saturday of every month.

Hendershot said the events are designed to serve a large number of households while helping reduce barriers to food access.

"Many individuals don't have access to grocery stores near them or don't have access to transportation. If someone doesn't have a reliable vehicle, simply getting to a grocery store or a food pantry can be difficult," Hendershot said.

Volunteers at the distribution on May 28 continue returning because of the need they see in the community.

Ralph Arthur, who has volunteered with Second Harvest for four to five years, said he and his wife attend every Muncie distribution they can.

"It's just giving back, we've all been fortunate, and it's just an opportunity to give back," Arthur said.

Volunteering has given him a different perspective on the hardships some families face.

"It keeps you humble, I guarantee you," he said. "You see the cars that go by, and that there are people living in their car, so it just prevents you from taking things for granted."

Hendershot said many misconceptions still exist about food insecurity and who needs assistance.

"For many… they're working multiple jobs and still struggling to get by," Hendershot said. "Hunger doesn't look the way we expect."

Volunteer Teresa Jolly said she hopes more people feel comfortable seeking assistance if they need it.

"I just wish more people would take advantage of this," Jolly said. "Maybe they just feel ashamed."

Jolly, who has volunteered with Second Harvest for four years, said seeing children at the distributions motivates her to continue helping.

"When you see kids sitting in the back seat, you think, 'Oh, I hope they're not going to bed hungry,'" Jolly said. "So you say, 'Hey, do you like cookies or bananas?' and they're like, 'Oh yeah,' so that makes you feel good.

Hendershot said volunteers remain essential to operating the food bank's programs across its eight-county service area. Approximately 4,000 volunteers help with warehouse operations and food distributions each year.

"Our distributions wouldn't be possible if it weren't for volunteers," Hendershot said.

Hendershot said the need in East Central Indiana continues growing, but community support through donations, food drives, and volunteers helps keep distributions running for families who depend on them.

"Every can, box or bag helps us serve more neighbors facing hunger."

Contact Ball State Daily News Editor-in-Chief, Cameron Noe, ateditor@bsudailynews.com.

Thedocumentproclaims the nuclear family, "consisting of one husband, one wife, and any … children, is God's design for the family structure and has been the foundation of society since the creation of the world."

Although that definition specifically includes adopted and fostered children aside biological offspring, Braun's proclamation later cites research that children living with their "married, biological parents" are physically and emotionally better off.

"When families weaken, society must compensate with expensive, inferior approaches," the document reads. Examples listed include welfare systems, "schools as surrogate parents," and "police as surrogate discipline."

Braun emphasized the importance of strong families to the future of Indiana and the nation.

"As a father of four and grandfather of seven, I have seen firsthand the impact that loving, committed families can have across multiple generations," he said in posts to social media. "As we approach America's 250th anniversary, this proclamation recognizes the important role families play in shaping the future of our state and our country."

He vowed that Indiana will "continue supporting policies that strengthen families and help the next generation thrive."

Some conservatives celebrated the move on social media. That includes pastor and Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith, who responded with a colorfully illustrated version of the document.

"Take back the rainbow!" it exclaims, alongside Braun's text, signature and seal - plus a depiction of a heterosexual couple with children.

The Indiana Democratic Party pushed back against the messaging.

"Hoosiers are done with the constant culture wars from the Beckwith-Braun administration," spokesman Sam Barloga said in a statement to the Capital Chronicle.

"Thousands of families are losing out because this administration turned down federal summer meal program dollars," he said referring to the state's decisionnot to participate in a low-income schoolchild food aid program. "Hoosiers need real pro-family fighters at the Statehouse. It's time for a state government that supports every Hoosier family."

Braun appears to be following Tennessee's lead. In April, Gov. Bill Leesigned a resolutiondesignating June as Nuclear Family Month. It was originally filed in 2025.

This article is republished as part of a collaborative content-sharing agreement between Ball State Unified Media andIndiana Capital Chronicle, established to expand access to high-quality journalism and to better inform and serve the public through trusted, in-depth reporting.

This week, meet Armani Johnson, a sophomore majoring in pre-medicine from Aurora, Illinois.

She found her path to pre-medicine through a lifelong love of helping others and an interest in studying anatomy.

"I would say helping others out a lot when I was younger made me want to do it as a job. It's something I thoroughly enjoy," Johnson said. "I love the look people have on their face when you make them happy. My interest in anatomy just chose which path of helping I wanted to take."

Johnson credits her family with shaping much of who she is, from developing a sense of generosity to building self-confidence.

"I can't say for sure one moment; it's more like a series of minor things. Like watching my dad giving money to the homeless or my mom teaching me self-confidence and worth or my grandmother having me volunteer at food pantries," Johnson said.

At Ball State, Johnson has pursued her interest in anatomy through her coursework. She says her favorite part of her major is the opportunity to learn anatomy.

"It is the most amazing thing," Johnson said. "You learn so much about the body and how it functions as well as different diseases. It's very eye-opening and fun in general."

Johnson's interests extend beyond medicine. She has a passion for animation and a dream of opening a cat sanctuary.

"I would make a cat sanctuary with lots of land to help the strays and make sure they have well enough space to be outside, with boundaries, and proper care," Johnson said. "It's always been a dream of mine."

At Cardinal Media, we believe everyone at Ball State has a story worth telling. Cardinal Spotlight is our way of getting to know students beyond the surface - what they're up to, what matters to them, and what makes them who they are. Ordinary college life is more interesting than it gets credit for, and we want to hear about it.

According to a press release from the historical society, the committee will guide events and the community initiatives marking 200 years since Delaware County was founded in 1827.

The bicentennial celebration will operate under the theme "History. Heart, Horizons," and is intended to highlight the county's history while also focusing on its future, the release said.

The steering committee is co-chaired by Marcy Minton of The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County, Tania Said of the Muncie Arts and Culture Council and Karen Vincent of the Delaware County Historical Society.

"This bicentennial is about more than looking back - it's about bringing people together and building excitement for what's ahead," the co-chairs said in a joint statement included in the release. "We want every resident to feel connected to this celebration and proud of the role they play in Delaware County's story and its future."

Committee members include representatives from local government, higher education, arts organizations, businesses, and nonprofit groups across Delaware County.

Members include Dr. Charlene Alexander of Ball State University, Dale Basham of the Muncie City Council, Brenda Brumfield of the Greater Muncie Chamber of Commerce, Sebastian Encina of Minnetrista Museum and Gardens, Sara McKinley of Muncie Public Library and Jason Walker of the Muncie Delaware County Black Chamber of Commerce, among others.

According to the release, the committee will work with local organizations, municipalities, businesses and residents to create events and engagement opportunities leading up to the 2027 celebration.

Planning efforts will focus on community participation, storytelling and intergenerational events aimed at celebrating Delaware County's past and future.

Additional information about bicentennial events and opportunities for involvement is expected to be announced in the coming months.

Contact Ball State Daily News Editor-in-Chief, Cameron Noe, at editor@bsudailynews.com.

"The days of just adding another five or ten percent on all your operating expenses - just don't do it," he said. "You need to keep those flat or reduce them, if at all possible."

When Governor Mike Braunsigned the tax reform billin April of 2025, a report from the Legislative Services AgencyestimatedDelaware County would lose about $6.5 million in fiscal year 2026. By fiscal year 2028, that number is $12.3 million.

Read More: Delaware County commissioners vote down proposed new tax fund for buildings

Council members say they will likely say no to funding new employees or capital projects, without other funding sources like grants.

Council member Brad Bookout said the council had already talked about not approving any new employees, but he says departments still come to the council and ask for exemptions and explain their reasoning.

Hughes replied,"They can, they can ask for anything. We have no control over that."

When the councilspoke againstthe proposed bill in February of 2025, Hughes said he thought the county would have to cut dozens of employees.

This article is republished as part of a collaborative content-sharing agreement between Ball State Unified Media andIndiana Public Radio, established to expand access to high-quality journalism and to better inform and serve the public through trusted, in-depth reporting.