<![CDATA[Ball State Daily RSS Feed]]> Wed, 04 Feb 2026 18:02:24 -0500 Wed, 04 Feb 2026 18:02:24 -0500 SNworks CEO 2026 The Ball State Daily <![CDATA[Temperatures rising and flurries falling]]>

Tonight: Overnight temperatures are expected to drop to around 12 degrees. Skies will be overcast, and winds will be relatively calm.

Tomorrow: Temperatures will be in the low teens tomorrow morning, but are going to rise to the mid-20s throughout the day. Skies will be cloudy with slight chances of snow flurries in the afternoon. The winds will be coming from the south-southwest at around 10 mph.

Seven-Day Forecast: Daytime temperatures finally reach above freezing as we make our way later into this week and early next week, with high temperatures ranging from 23 degrees to 45 degrees. overnight lows are also expected to reach above freezing by next week. Chance of snow return to our forecast, with a 70 percent chance of snow on Friday.

- Weather Forecaster Halle Dziekan

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X @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



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<![CDATA[9-1-1 What's Your Hot Take E30: 9x10 Recap]]>

In this episode of 9-1-1 What's Your Hot Take, Sam and Willow discuss the events of season 9 episode 10 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

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<![CDATA['Vigil for the Victims' Feb. 6]]> According to an event flyer, Ball State students will host a "Vigil for the Victims" Feb. 6 at 6:30 p.m. at University Peace Plaza.

Jan 26, The Associated Press confirmed "at least six people have died during the Trump administration's intense immigration enforcement campaign in the U.S."

The on-campus vigil will commemorate the half dozen victims killed by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, according to the flyer.

The vigil is open to the public at no cost.

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

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<![CDATA[Muncie Central boys basketball team off to a great start]]>

MUNCIE, Ind. - The Muncie Central boys basketball team has turned things around this season as they are 7-6 through the first half of the season. If they stay on this pace, they will finish with their best record since the 2022-23 season. One bright spot in the season so far is sophomore guard Jaxson Johnson jumping in points per game, going from 11 last season to 18 PPG this season.

" My teammates are trusting in me, and my coaches are trusting in me. They put me in the right positions to score… also, my confidence last year as a freshman, I was trying to figure things out, and this year I have more confidence," Johnson said.

Another reason why the team is having so much success this season is that they brought head coach Jeff Holloway back, who last coached for the team in 2016.

"The more I thought about it, this is home. I graduated from here so it just felt right to come back and give back in that way." Holloway said.

Holloway has been around the game of basketball for a majority of his life, as he not only played for and graduated at muncie central but also played college basketball at Arkansas State University and played some basketball overseas as well. Holloway takes these experiences and brings them to his current team.

"The way things are kind of taught, I was fortunate enough to play for certain guys in high school, certain guys in college, and I got to play overseas a little bit. Got to see how the game played internationally," Holloway said.

And like any team, Holloway already has his goal set in his mind for the team for the rest of the season.

" I think our team goal for the most part is 500 or better and then win a sectional game, and then go from there, everything else is a bonus," Holloway said.

At the end of the day, no matter how the rest of this season goes, things are looking good for the Muncie Central boys basketball team. Their next game is at home on Tuesday, January 27, against Hamilton South Eastern. The tipoff for that game is at 7:30 p.m.

Any comments? Contact Michael Baugh atmichael.baugh@bsu.edu

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<![CDATA[ICC: Indiana House narrowly rejects firing squad execution bill]]> A bill to add the firing squad as an execution method in Indiana failed in the House on Wednesday, falling three votes short of the required constitutional majority.

The legislation could still be brought back for another vote before Monday's legislative deadline, however.

Bipartisan opposition toHouse Bill 1119doomed the measure with a48-47 tally. In the 100-member House, a bill must earn at least 51 votes to advance or be defeated.

Nineteen Republicans and 28 Democrats voted against the bill, which would allow the Indiana Department of Correction to choose between lethal injection anda firing squadwhen carrying out death sentences.

The unsuccessful vote came a day after lawmakers removed nitrogen hypoxia as an execution option. Additional amendments adopted Tuesday added mental health screening requirements for members of the execution team and revised language governing media witnesses to executions.

Related:Indiana lawmakers remove nitrogen hypoxia from execution bill

Bill author Rep. Jim Lucas, R-Seymour, framed the proposal as a continuation of Indiana's legal death penalty history.

"I understand this is a sensitive topic, and I respect and truly appreciate everybody's passion and emotion on this issue, but the actual issue is not the death penalty - that's been decided over 200 years ago," Lucas said. "And since then, this issue right now is simply amending existing Indiana law to include another method that we have done for the past 200 years, by evolving (execution) methods.

Lucas traced the state's history from hanging and electrocution to lethal injection, arguing that the firing squad is a response to modern challenges.

"The drugs that we are using to carry out lethal injection are becoming harder and harder to come by," he added, referring to the high cost ofpentobarbitalused inIndiana's execution process.

Firing squads have never been legal in Indiana.

Opponents from both sides of the aisle countered that the bill raises moral and practical concerns and risks accelerating executions without fully addressing the broader debate around capital punishment.

Rep. Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington, emphasized that the measure, in its latest form, no longer hinged on drug availability.

"The bill was amended to essentially now say that it doesn't matter if it's difficult to get the drugs that would allow a humane execution," Pierce said. "And now we're just going to let the Department of Corrections decide whether they want to use the lethal injection or firing squad."

"I would hope that our society has advanced a bit since our state was founded, and would find a firing squad to be a barbaric way to form an execution."

- Rep. Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington

"I would hope that our society has advanced a bit since our state was founded, and would find a firing squad to be a barbaric way to perform an execution," he continued. "At the end of the day, we are killing a person, we are taking a human life in the name of the state, in the name of the people of Indiana. And I think that we should be very careful, and do that as humanely as possible, and we shouldn't be in a big hurry to do it."

Rep. Bob Morris, R-Fort Wayne, additionally raised concerns about wrongful convictions and the mechanics of a firing squad.

"You can't tell me with 100% certainty that the person committed the crime," Morris said in passionate floor remarks. "One thing is for certain - you will never bring that life back when it is gone."

And Rep. Becky Cash, R-Zionsville, noted that since 1973 more than 2,000 people have been exonerated from death row nationally.

Democrats also questioned whether the state was "moving backwards."

"The death penalty - it simply has to go," said Rep. Ed DeLaney, D-Indianapolis. "All this fuss is about our embarrassment with this heinous way of ending a life - a life of a person who, by definition, is not deserving of much of anything except the one thing the good Lord gave them, which is the life. It's not for us to take it away. It's not for us to fuss about how we take it away."

"It's not for us to kid ourselves that the only reason we're here is because that chemical costs too much or doesn't work right," he concluded. "We should vote this bill down and get onto the real topic, which is to end this immoral procedure of killing another human being."

Meanwhile,a Senate proposal authorizing firing squadseffectively died after committee leaders declined to hold a vote to advance the measure to the full chamber.

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<![CDATA[Cardinal Spotlight: Meet Maddie Grove]]> 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.


The first Cardinal stepping into the spotlight is Maddie Grove, a junior majoring in wildlife biology from Bolingbrook, Illinois.

Grove has had a passion for working with animals since she was a little girl, but she credits her high school AP biology class for sparking her interest in ecology and evolution. That spark led her to major in wildlife biology.

"The coolest part of my major is hands down the fieldwork," Grove said, "I get to hold wild frogs and birds during class time."

Her courses have also taken her on trips, like the weekend long trip to Goose Pond she went on with her wildlife biology class. There, she was able to get hands-on experience with trapping techniques researchers use when working with animals like turtles, fish and mice.

Her classes aren't the only way she has been able to get hands-on experience in her studies. She has been able to take part in extracurricular opportunities to have more experience for her resume and to have more firsthand practice in various aspects of her field.

"I was very surprised by how many out-of-class opportunities my program provides," said Grove, "from field trips to volunteering opportunities, there is always a way to gain more experience."

Grove has also been able to build her resume and connect her passion for sustainable agriculture with her wildlife biology studies, as she spent her summer working with the Land Institute in Kansas. There, she was able to learn more about the agricultural sector in the United States and help work to pioneer more sustainable agricultural methods through plant breeding.

Her summer work is not the only thing she has connected to her love for wildlife biology. She has two tattoos that symbolize her enthusiasm.

"The most 'me' thing about me is probably my tattoos," Grove said. "I think that they are a great representation of my experiences and my personality."

Her meaningful ink includes a small black bear she got while in the Smoky Mountains and a morning glory flower that serves as a reminder of her summer internship.

As Grove flies toward graduation, her skills and passion continue to soar with her.


Want us to tell your story?Or, do you know someone who should have their story told?Email us at cardinalmedia@bsu.edu.

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Photo provided by Maddie Grove.

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<![CDATA[Ball State Men's Basketball falls to Bowling Green State]]> Ball State men's basketball lost their second straight Mid-American Conference (MAC) game Feb. 3, as they fell to Bowling Green 77-5.

The Cardinals never held a lead in the game.

The team only had two scorers in double digits, with junior guard Armoni Zeigler scoring 11 points on 3-11 shooting from the field and sophomore guard Davion Hill contributing 15 points off the bench.

Bowling Green dominated Ball State on the boards by a large margin, as the Cardinals only brought in 21 rebounds compared to the Falcons' 38.

A bright spot in the game for the Cardinals was the turnover margin, as they only turned the ball over ten times, while Bowling Green turned it over 14 times.

The Cardinals will try and get back into the win column Feb. 7, when they will travel to UL Monroe for the MAC-Sun Belt Conference (SBC) challenge.

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

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<![CDATA[Will temperatures finally reach above freezing?]]>

Tonight: This evening you can expect cloudy skies with temperatures to sit around 15 degrees. Winds coming from the north-northeast at 7 mph.

Tomorrow: Temperatures are still remaining below the freezing point for tomorrow with 15 degrees as you are heading out the door in the morning then begin to reach up to 22 degrees by the evening. Conditions will stay rather cloudy throughout the day with some possibly sunshine peaking through. Winds coming from the north-northeast around 6 to 8 mph.

Seven-Day Forecast: Subfreezing temperatures continue but not for much longer. Throughout the next seven days temperatures will rang from a low of 21 degrees to a high of 42 degrees by early next week. You can expect partly cloudy conditions throughout with some possible sunshine and a 40 percent chance of snow flurries on Friday.

- Assistant Chief Weather Forecaster Elizabeth Myers

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X @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

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<![CDATA[Read United Works to Uplift Young Readers in Anderson]]> ANDERSON, Ind. - IREAD is a nationally recognized reading exam for second and third-graders that measures reading level and comprehension. If students fail before they end third grade, they could be held back. Due to recent state laws, around 3,000 students were expected to be held back in 2025 alone. Programs like Read United are working with community schools to turn the page and create new stories for students.

"By targeting these students that we considered those bubble kids or bubble students, ones that we think 'hey if they get a little more attention, a little more one on one, we can really see some growth', and we have seen that," Director of Communication and Public Relations for Anderson Community Schools Brad Meadows said.

More than 40 Read United volunteers work in Anderson Community Schools. Two of them being Meadows and Kim Williams. Each volunteer gets two students for two 30-minute sessions once a week. Volunteers use games, books and other activities to help build reading skills, excitement and wonder.

"I love that excitement that they have when they read a difficult word, or you know, just last week I was with one of my girls, and she said look how much we've read!" Williams, Vice President for Resource Development and Marketing at Heart of Indiana United Way, said. "You know she was just so excited about what she's accomplished."

Because of this program, Anderson schools saw a 10.5% increase in the number of students who passed IREAD than the year prior, being the largest increase in the state.

"It's just pride. I had one of the two kids I was working with last year who, a teacher came up to me towards the end of the year and was so excited to say how awesome this little boy had done and that he had passed his i-read and just saying did he tell you and he just had a big smile on his face," Williams said.

Currently, Muncie Community Schools does not have any Read United programs, but United Way is hoping to get some up and running in the future. To volunteer, you can sign up through Read United at the beginning of the calendar year, or you can contact Anderson Community Schools.

Contact Abby Urban with comments at abigail.urban@bsu.edu.

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<![CDATA[New exhibit on campus showcasing Black culture]]> MUNCIE, Ind. - There are many ways students express their creativity throughout college, especially on campus. In honor of black history month, Ball State's Fourth Wall Art Gallery welcomes "Still I Rise," an exhibition discussing black history through artifacts and art pieces.

The "Still I Rise" exhibition is an open area for students to learn and contribute their own work to. Located on the fourth floor of the Arts and Journalism Building, the pieces reflect the culture and history of Black Americans and Ball State evolution.

"This is one of those opportunities where I'm able to take black history and really turn it into something where everybody can participate," Christian Mason said.

Christian Mason, creator of 'Still I Rise,' prioritized Black history growing up and felt he had to make a project of his own to fulfill his creative itch. His background is not the main cause for the exhibit, but Faith Mackenzie, a student employee at David Owsley Museum of Art, tells us there is a lack of art inclusion in DOMA, which makes this exhibit even more meaningful.

"We have I think maybe 20 pieces in the entire collection, and that's a rough estimate- that are all accredited to black artists but that's not a lot considering we have 10,000 pieces in the entire collection," Mackenzie said.

The exhibition is open to all, and many students who participate find it uplifting to have the opportunity to showcase their hard work.

"I love being a part of the culture here at Ball State not just as a black artist, but as an artist in general," said Mackenzie.

There will be a reception to celebrate the exhibition on Feb. 6 from 6p.m.-7 p.m. at the Fourth Wall Art Gallery. Art pieces are still being accepted throughout the exhibition until Feb. 12. Students should contact Mason for any new additions.

Contact Kahmara Munn with comments at Kahmara.munn@bsu.edu.

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<![CDATA[Clouds with continued subfreezing temperatures ]]>

Today: The temperature will reach a high of 31 degrees with cloudy skies. Winds will be coming from the north at 9mph. Cold day for any activities planned and if your going to get some food or on a walk make sure you bring a coat.

Tonight: Cloudy Skies with wind going north north east 7mph. The low is going to be 14 degrees, so if you want to go out make sure to bring a coat.

Tomorrow: Cloudy skies during your morning commute with it being 16 degrees outside wind coming from north north east at 6mph, at 12 p.m. skies will clear up a little with it being 22 degrees with winds coming from north north east at 8mph. at 5 p.m. it will be 23 degrees with wind coming from the north at 8mph.

7-Day Forecast: It will be a cold week with temperatures being in the mid 20s but don't let that fool you, we will have snow flurries on Friday with the temperature being 37 degrees and during the weekend and into next week temperatures will be reaching mid 30s to 40s.

-Weather Forecaster Jon Urbina-Reyes

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X @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



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<![CDATA["Scalez and Tailz Exotics" Makes Its Way to Muncie's Children Museum ]]> MUNCIE, IN- For the first time ever, "Scalez and Tailz Exotic" was hosted at the Muncie Children's museum this past weekend to educate groups of all ages about exotic reptiles.

Izzy West, the director of educational services for the "Scalez and Tailz Exotic," has worked with animals her entire life and getting the chace to educate people on reptiles means the world to West.

"Our main goal is to educate people and just help them understand that these aren't scary animals at all," West said.

"Scalez and Tailz Exotic" originally started when West rescued one of her snakes that was abandoned in a shoe box, now, she uses the platform to help educate communities about how reptiles can be neglected too

"Everyone thinks that it's a dog, a cat or a horse. You know what I mean a horse, a farm animal," West said. "These are one of the most neglected animals, reptiles are just kind of brushed under the carpet."

Growing up with various rescued animals her entire life, what West wants most of all is for people to think twice before buying a pet, especially an exotic one.

"Learn the animal, learn their habits, learn their diet, learn their requirements, if you learn all those things about them you're going to have a happy animal that will thrive," West said.

Scalez and Tailz exotics also offers events for birthdays, school events, fundraisers and more for the community. For more information go to their face book page @scalezandtailzexotic.

Any comments? Email Wyatt Maher at wyatt.maher@bsu.edu

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<![CDATA[Snow flurries and continued subfreezing temperatures]]>

Tonight: Temperatures will remain cool this evening with the low being 19 degrees. The wind will also be calm tonight remaining around 5 mph, but still bundle up if you plan on going out this evening.

Tomorrow: Temperatures will rise in the morning to 22 degrees as you start your commute to work or school with a 40% chance of light snow before 1 pm. At noon, the temperature will be 28 degrees with the high tomorrow being only one degree higher at 29 degrees. The wind will be calmer in the morning, but increase slowly throughout the day, with speeds up to 10 mph towards the late afternoon.

Seven-Day Forecast: The sun will begin to shine again on Wednesday with temperatures dropping back into the low-20s. Cloud cover will return on Thursday with the temperatures rising to a high of 25 degrees. A 30% chance of light snow on Friday morning with the first sign of above freezing temperatures expected to be in the mid-to-low 30s. Temperatures will return to 25 degrees for the high on Saturday with partly cloudy conditions for the start of the weekend. Sunday and Monday the highs are expected to be above freezing with temperatures in the high-30s and low-40s.

-Weather Forecaster Evan Reed

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X @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



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<![CDATA[The 2026 Grammys are over… here's what you missed]]> While most of the award show season is all about the film industry, this weekend was all about music with the Grammys. With artists like Lady Gaga, Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, and Kendrick Lamar nominated, here's who went home with awards.

Kendrick Lamar Sweeps Again

After a full sweep of the 2025 Grammys with his song "Not Like Us," Lamar took home six awards at this year's awards for his album GNX. Lamar also became the most awarded Rap artist of all time, surpassing Jay-Z. Lamar won Record of the Year, Rap Performance, Melodic Rap Performance, Rap Song, and Rap Album.

Bad Bunny Wins it All

Album of the Year is the biggest award of the night. The category was stacked with impressive records, including Debí Tirar Más Fotos, Swag, Man's Best Friend, Let God Sort Em Out, Mayhem, GNX, Mutt, and Chromakopia, but the one to take home the award was Bad Bunny, also known as Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, for Debí Tirar Más Fotos.

During one of his acceptance speeches, Ocasio went on stage and used his time to condemn Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), saying "ICE out" at the beginning of his speech. He goes on to say, "The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love. So, please, we need to be different. If we fight, we have to do it with love."

Steven Spielberg Hits EGOT Status

Steven Spielberg was the director of "Music by John Williams," which won Best Music Film, making him reach EGOT status. Taking home a win at these major ceremonies is extremely difficult, but Spielberg has four Emmys, one Grammy, three Oscars, and 10 Tonys. Spielberg is one of 22 people to reach this legendary status.

Record and Song of the Year

Record and Song of the Year are two similar categories, but had two completely different winners. Record of the Year-which focuses on the production of the song-went to Lamar and SZA for "luther."

Song of the Year-which focuses on the songwriting-went to Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas for "Wildflower" on her 2024 album HIT ME HARD AND SOFT. Other songs that were nominated for both categories include "DtMF," "Manchild," "Anxiety," "Abracadabra," and "Apt."

Newcomers Got Some Love

A recent tradition at the Grammys includes a performance from each artist nominated for Best New Artist, giving all of them a platform to prove why they were nominated in the first place. After all of the performances, Olivia Dean was the artist to go home with the Best New Artist, but she wasn't the only one in the category to go home with a Grammy. Lola Young won Pop Solo Performance for "Messy," and Leon Thomas won Traditional R&B Performance for "Vibes Don't Lie."

Even Movies Win Awards

Sinners became a Grammy-winning film with two wins for Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media and Score Soundtrack for Visual Media. "Defying Gravity" won the Pop duo/group performance, giving the film time to shine during the award ceremony.

This year's Grammys were full of talented artists, and next year's is sure to be a blast with the hopeful return of Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, and maybe even Beyoncé.


Sources: Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, YouTube, IMDb, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, IMDb, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify

Photos: Grammy Museum


Contact Sam Jasionowski with comments at samantha.jasionowski@bsu.edu or on Instagram @s.jasionowski.

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<![CDATA[Local after-school program MuncieP3 focuses on improving students' reading skills]]> Indiana recently recorded its "largest-ever single-year increase" in student literacy rates, according to the 2024-25 IRead results from the Indiana State Board of Education - and an after-school program in Muncie is continuing to add to that statistic.

MuncieP3 (MP3) is an after-school and summertime program at Longfellow Elementary School, specializing in improving students' reading and literacy skills.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Indiana's literacy rates declined every year, with the pandemic "exacerbating" students' literacy scores, according to data from Indiana's IRead results. In response to this, the state has made "historic investments" in helping more students read, according to the Indiana Board of Education.

MP3 is one of those investments.

"The overall goal is to make sure that our students are reading and reading proficiently by third grade," said program coordinator and director of the MuncieP3, Michael Long.

Long has been working as MP3's director for 10 years, but before that, he worked as the assistant director for two years. The program itself is under Ball State University's Early Childhood, Youth and Family Studies Department, allowing students from the university to be student aides for the program.

The program initially began after Ball State professor of early childhood, youth and family studies, Dr. Eva Zygmunt, wanted to start an immersive learning class in the community of Whitely, a neighborhood in Muncie.

In 2009, a "Mom's Night Out" event was hosted by the university's early childhood, youth and family studies department at Roy C. Buley Community Center. At the gathering, the department asked parents about their "hopes and dreams" for their children, Zygmunt said via email.

In response, parents said they valued education and wanted after-school and summer enrichment opportunities for their children to keep them on track academically. Zygmunt officially made the decision to move forward with the program after hearing this feedback, as several of the parents said they wanted their children to be taught by "trusted community members and teachers."

Two weeks after the program was in development, the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) issued requests for funding new programs through the 21st Century Community Learning Center Grants, with grants estimated at $900,000 every four years. Long explained that these grants are very competitive, and only 25 to 30 programs receive funding after applying.

MP3 received a grant from the IDOE, allowing MP3 to begin the four-year grant cycle. Currently, the program is entering its fourth grant cycle, approaching 16 years in operation.

"[MP3] was birthed out of the need of the community, and right after that, the funding came," Long said.

The program applied for its four-year grant cycle in February 2025, but was rescinded in March due to President Donald Trump dismantling the DOE, which cut funding to after-school programs.

"It has been almost a year, and the funding is still not approved," Long said via email.

MP3 is still waiting for a decision from the DOE on whether grant money is still available in the department's budget. Once the DOE knows the amount of funding available, Long said it will reopen applications for its grant program.

In the meantime, MP3 is talking with local foundations about possible funding, as well as continuing to explore state and federal funding to keep the program operating.

Long emphasized how the families are an important part of the children's success with MP3. He said that, for a child to be enrolled in the program, the family would need to be interviewed to determine what works best or "fits" well for either the family or the child.

But ultimately, the students who stay all four years in MP3 become the "most successful," Long claims, saying "there is no program in the state of Indiana like what we do."

Recently, third graders IRead scores in the state of Indiana have improved from 2024-25, according to the 2024-25 IRead results. Students' literacy data grew from 2023-24 from 82.5 to 87.3 percent, representing 73,500 third graders out of 84,163 in the state.

Success like this is what pushed curriculum coordinator Faith Serf to be part of the after-school program, having experienced how much the program helped her son.

"I knew I wanted to be a part of this community, because they were really embracing not only the student, they were embracing the families as well," Serf said. "It was a very welcoming environment."

First-grade co-teacher for MP3, Tyana Isomi, also experienced watching her own children go through the program. Both Isomi's daughter and son attended MP3, and while her daughter was a quick learner, her son had an IEP, or an Individualized Education Program, and struggled academically.

Despite these challenges, her son received support from those around him. He made friends from the start of the program until the very end, and is still friends with them now as a sophomore in high school.

"His group of friends just took care of him," Isomi said.

Once students are done with their normal school day, they can take a "brain break" to transition to the after school program. During this time, Serf said that students receive a small meal or snack to prepare them to learn.

Serf said students also have the opportunity to use a digital program called Lexia, a computer-assisted reading and literacy program that is developed to support student reading, writing and language arts skills, with a "game approach" to its learning.

"We don't look like a school day program. However, we are using the standards and the content, and we refined it so that it looks more engaging," she said.

First-grade aide and second-year Ball State student Mackenna Johnson said they give students "wiggle breaks" to let them get all their "talkativeness out."

Johnson explained that understanding a student's individual needs makes it "easier for them to learn from [staff]" by recognizing when they are hungry or simply need to move around. She continued by saying that if a student's "mind is not in the right place," then they will not be able to learn appropriately.

Along with meeting the students' needs, Isomi said the relationship with the student is a "big part" of the program.

Having grown up in Muncie herself, she knows the families and children who are part of MP3. Isomi explained how having these connections benefits the community in addressing any challenges that may arise.

Isomi also described the program as having "good" communication with the families and being able to discuss problems with parents, describing the environment as "family."

"Longfellow [Elementary] itself is family," Isomi said. "It's easy to do here, because that's just how it's always been."

Serf said she wants MP3 students to know they are valuable and that they have something to offer. She wants them to "keep their head up" and look for others who will continue to support them after their time with MP3 is over.

"Find their next Faith [Serf], find their next Mackenna [Johnson], find their next Ty[ana Isomi] out there in the world. Because they're out there. There's a lot of them out there, but if we can equip them to do that, then I feel I'm at peace," Serf said.

Contact Linnea Sundquist via email at linnea.sundquist@bsu.edu.

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<![CDATA[Opportunities to explore: Muncie's week of events]]> It's never too late to try something new! This week in Muncie you can visit local artists from downtown through First Thursday, you can attend Ball's State Symphony Orchestra's performance, learn more about astronomy at the Charles W. Brown Planetarium, or try a fused glass workshop at Minnetrista.

February First Thursday

Join the community on the first Thursday of every month for a night of gallery walks throughout downtown. Watch and learn from local artists as they perform their crafts. Support community artisans and shops as you explore the downtown community.

  • Price: Free
  • Location: Downtown Muncie
  • Date and Time: Thursday, February 5 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Ball State Symphony Orchestra

The Ball State Symphony Orchestra is a flagship ensemble of the School of Music that performs orchestral music from a wide variety of backgrounds and time periods. Come enjoy some beautiful music! This concert will also be offered as a livestream.

  • Price: General Public: $8 in advance, $10 at the door | BSU Faculty/Staff/Seniors: $5 in advance, $7 at the door | Students: Free in advance, $5 at the door
  • Location: Sursa Performance Hall
  • Date and Time: Thursday, February 5 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

"Big Astronomy" Planetarium Show

Journey to world-class observatories in Chile's rugged Andes Mountains and arid Atacama Desert. Discover how people keep these mega-machines running and see their remarkable research results. Suitable for adults and ages 10+; all ages are welcome.

  • Price: Free
  • Location: Charles W. Brown Planetarium
  • Date and Time: Saturday, February 7 from 5:00 pm. to 6:00 p.m.

Fused Glass Workshops: Painting with Frit

Discover the art of using fine glass frit to paint a winter scene or unleash your creativity with an abstract design. Perfect for beginners and intermediates, this class requires no glass cutting. Participants may bring their own printed images, patterns, or drawings for inspiration, or work from the provided winter scene. All tools, supplies, and safety gear will be provided. Pre-registration is required.

  • Price: $35, Member Discounts Apply
  • Location: Cantina, Center Building, Minnetrista Museum & Gardens
  • Date and Time: Wednesday, February 4 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Thursday, February 5 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

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<![CDATA[GALLERY: Daily News Weekly Photo Roundup Jan. 24-31]]> Daily News Weekly Photo Roundup Jan. 24-31

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<![CDATA[Ball State Men's Volleyball goes 2-0 on road trip]]> Ball State Men's Volleyball went 2-0 on their last non-conference road trip of the season. The Cardinals swept both Maryland Eastern Shore and George Mason to improve their record to 8-1.

Head Coach Mike Iandolo said despite the team not playing perfect volleyball, the confidence is still "pretty high".

"We're definitely playing cleaner more often," Iandolo said. "I think the guys are getting on a roll."

Against George Mason, Iandolo said junior middle blocker Jacob Surette was not able to make the trip because he was sick. But his absence allowed fellow junior middle blocker Will Patterson to get the starting nod.

Iandolo said the team did not "miss a beat" with a new starter in the lineup, and that showed with Patterson's five kills.

The head coach said it is nice to see multiple different players stepping up when given the opportunity.

"There's going to be points where maybe we have to make a change," Iandolo said. "Having guys being able to get some court time now in January is going to pay off for us."

The team's game against George Mason was their first true road game of the season. The only other away games the team has played have been neutral site games.

Heading into the game, Iandolo knew it would be a challenge playing in another team's gym, and the head coach felt like the team responded really well.

George Mason's fight showed in the first set, as the Cardinals were pushed into extra points, barely escaping with a 31-29 set win.

"It was their gym, they were confident, they wanted to take it to us, [and] they gave it their best shot," Iandolo said. "That [first set] was their best shot and we weathered the storm."

The head coach said he saw his team not panic and play cleaner volleyball as the game went on. He has seen his team grow in that area as the season has gone on.

Iandolo said it was a big deal to see the team respond to their loss to No. 1-ranked University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) with a win over Stanford on their trip to Phoenix Jan. 17 and 18.

The head coach has seen that response carry forward as the season has gone on.

"We've got something here, we got some guys that are pretty focused and able to move on, and we have seen it continue that way," Iandolo said.

The wins over Maryland Eastern Shore and George Mason capped off the team's non-conference schedule. Moving forward, the team will take on Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) opponent Queens Feb. 5 and 6.

The head coach said the team is still working on playing clean volleyball for the entirety of a match, leading up to conference play.

Iandolo said with non-conference play, you have to make "January as tough as you can", and the head coach has felt like the team has done that. The Cardinals have faced four ranked teams in the early season and taken away wins in three of them.

There are multiple returners from last season on the team that Iandolo said know what the MIVA looks like, and he said the team has one goal in mind for conference play.

"We have our goal, our goal is to win the MIVA, to be the best team coming out of the MIVA," Iandolo said.

The head coach said every day is a step to take in that direction, and that the team can only take care of what is in front of them.

Contact Kyle Stout with questions via email at kyle.stout@bsu.edu or on X @kylestoutdailyn.

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<![CDATA[Ball State Women's Basketball takes down Kent State on the road]]> The Kent State women's basketball team won the Mid-American Conference (MAC) tournament in 2024. Ball State won the tournament in 2025.

The two teams matched up for the first team since each university held an NCAA tournament appearance on Feb.1, with the matchup being nationally televised on CBS Sports Network.

The Cardinals reached triple digits for the fourth team this season, taking down the Golden Flashes 101-91.

Head Coach Brady Sallee said that in a game of this nature, his team "better focus on competing and not the scoreboard", which he said his team did at a high level in the game.

"[When] you've got some talented players out on the floor, sometimes you just gotta play the next play and try and go answer their score with your score," Sallee said.

Sallee's team led the entire game, start to finish. That has been a narrative for the Cardinals this season, as their wins have featured them holding a lead for most of the game.

The head coach said the team was moving the ball very well from the start, which showed with their 30 assists in the game.

"We were able to just stay ahead of them with some balanced scoring," Sallee said.

It was a tight contest early for both squads, as the Cardinals entered halftime only leading by three points. But the team quickly jumped out to a run in the third quarter and saw their three-point lead grow to a game-high 16.

"In that run we played from defense to offense, we turned them over a couple times," Sallee said. "They missed some shots, we got some clean rebounds, and we were able to get out into transition."

The Cardinals' two seniors stepped up big in the spotlight of the game. Senior forward Bree Salenbien had 24 points along with a season-high of ten assists, and senior center Tessa Towers recorded a season-high 29 points along with 11 rebounds.

The senior's double-double efforts led to the Cardinals claiming their ninth conference victory.

Sallee said there is a "game experience factor" when it comes to games like this, and he said it was nice to have his seniors play the way they did in a road conference game.

"In a game like this where maybe some young ones could get rattled, you need your upperclassmen to be upperclassmen and I thought they certainly were today," Sallee said.

In a game where Ball State had 30 assists, it opened up the floor for the team to be able to make eight threes. Six of those came from the hands of sophomore guard Grace Kingery.

Kingery has been a huge factor to the Cardinals success, as the guard is averaging just north of 14 points per game in conference play.

Sallee said Kingery is "in tune with the passers and we're in tune with her."

"She's a bear to guard when she plays at that tempo and with that aggressiveness," Sallee said.

Coming up next, the Cardinals will host Northern Illinois at Worthen Arena Feb. 4.

Contact Kyle Stout with questions via email at kyle.stout@bsu.edu or on X @kylestoutdailyn.

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<![CDATA[Daleville Girls' Basketball looks ahead toward the postseason]]> DALEVILLE, Ind. - This winter, the Daleville Broncos girls basketball team has been no stranger to making history. Their 13-game winning streak was the longest in program history, surpassing the 5-game run they put together midway through last season. Their 14-5 record gives them a .736 winning percentage. As it stands, it is the highest single-season winning percentage in school history.

"They were humble about it, you know?" said Head Coach Joe Rench. "We took it one game at a time. I kept stressing how important just each game is at a time."

Joe Rench took over the reins at Daleville going into last season. In two years with the Broncos, he is already the 3rd winningest girls basketball coach in school history, with a record of 29-13.

"He cares a lot more than any of the other coaches that I've had in my four years of playing basketball," said Makenna Corbin, a senior guard for the Broncos. "I think he puts in a lot more time than my other coaches have in the past."

Rench says that the team has been successful because of their unselfish play on the court. Daleville has three players averaging double-digit scoring. The scoring surge can be attributed to the Broncos solid ball movement on offense, averaging 14 assists a game.

"We used to be one and two-dimensional. But now, we've done a really good job of getting everybody involved," Rench said.

The girls say a lot of their improvement on the court is due to better habits in practice each day.

"We are all practicing harder," said Olivia Pratcher, a junior point guard who averages 16 points, eight rebounds, and six assists per game. "We're doing things to improve, and I think that it's definitely helping and making a difference."

Daleville will host Tri Friday night in their regular-season finale. Both teams will enter the game with a 14-5 record. For the Broncos, their final game will be a good way to see where the team stands before facing a tough playoff draw in Class 1A.

"In our sectional alone, six of the eight teams have winning records, so the competition's a little bit different," said Rench.

Daleville will tip off the postseason against North Miami on Feb. 3 at Southern Wells High School.

Contact Jayden Collins with comments at jayden.collins@bsu.edu.

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