For Ball State in the Rio Verde Tournament, the pars they were tied with lead into 15th place with 30 pars for the entire tournament. Another thing to mention is for the par threes they tied for 8th place with 20 pars. In the par fours they were tied in tenth place with 49 pars in total. For par fives, they were tied in first place with 12 under pars.

In the other categories, they were tied in fifth place for birdies and had 30 birdies overall.

Another one is in the eagle's category, particularly tying in third place with only one eagle. In the bogey category they were placed in seventh place with 66 bogeys. Furthermore, in double bogeys "," they were tied in 12th place with 11 total double bogeys.

Head Coach Cameron Andry had this to say about the team's performance: "I thought [from] tee to green; we were pretty good and there were a few mistakes, maybe a few more yesterday. Then we had the first two days but [from] tee to green we were pretty darn good. You know, we hit a lot of fairways, hit a lot of greens and regulation."

Andry also said they were not as efficient in scoring, wedges and putting.

Individual recaps for the Rio Verde Tournament

Junior JJ Gregston scored nine points individually with her being placed in 22nd place. In her first round she scored two above par, second round she scored four above and third round three above. For her par threes she tied for 64th place and was six above in that category. In par fours she tied in 14th place with five above in this par section. Par fives she was tied in 17th place with two below par fives. In total, her pars were tied in fifth place with 39 in total. For eagle she was tied for first place and had only one eagle. For birdies, she tied for 68th place and three above in birdies. For bogeys, she tied for 79th place and nine above in bogeys but for doubles she was tied for 48th place and two above in doubles.

Andry was happy with Gregston's performance on the weekend.

"I thought JJ played really well, really for all three rounds. And the thing I was most encouraged about for her was her tee-ball. She hit a ton of fairways [and] was nearly automatic with her driver and that has kind of been her Achilles heel at points in her career."

Another thing that Andry said about Gregston is that she feels like if Gregston can keep control of her driver, she can go out and score well consistently.

"I wasn't surprised by that because she's worked really hard at it and I think she's been working on the right stuff to be able to hit a big powerful baby cut out there and really be in control with the driver, but it was really good to see her do it for a whole tournament."

Senior Sabrina Langerak, scored ten points with her being placed in 22nd place. In both the first and second rounds, she scored two above par but in the third round she scored six above. In par fives, she was placed in second place with five under in this category. In par fours, she was tied for 41st place and nine above in par fours. In par threes, she tied for 64th place and six above in threes. Overall pars, she was placed in 93rd place and had 19 in total for pars. In birdies, she was tied for 27th place and six above in birdies. In bogeys, she tied for 63rd place and 12 above in bogeys while in doubles she was tied for 48th place in two above in double bogeys.

"Sabrina played really, really solid the first two days and played really solid yesterday," Andry said. "She had back to back doubles early in the round and then kind of fought back and was only two over with four to go and then finished with you know four straight bogies to end the round. So I know she is kind of frustrated about that."

Senior Sarah Gallagher scored ten points with a placement in tenth place. In both the first and second rounds, she scored two above but in the third round she scored six above. For par threes, she was tied for second place and one under in par threes. In par fours, she was tied in 69th place and 13 above for that section. For par fives, her placement was in 12th place with three under in the par fives. Overall in pars, she was tied in 45th place with 31 pars. For Birdies, she was tied for 12th place and eight above in total for birdies. Single Bogeys, Gallagher tied for 53rd place and 13 above in those bogeys while for doubles got tied in 48th place with two above in doubles.

Sophomore Sophie Korthuijs scored ten points with her being placed in 22nd place. In the first round she scored four above, second round scored seven above and then scored one below in the third round. For threes, she was placed in 25th place with three above in threes. With the fours, she got in 41st place with nine above in fours. For fives, she tied with 17th place and two under in fives. Overall in Par, she was in 45th place with a score in pars of 31. Korthijs, in birdies, got tied for 27th place and six above for birdies. She was tied in 22nd place and 16 above for bogeys but for doubles she did not have any.

Andry was happy with Korthijs' weekend.

"Sophie's round yesterday was really, really good. She struck it really well. Putter was still kind of bulky, you know, if she would have seen a few more putts go in,I mean that round it was 71, it could have easily been 68. So I was encouraged by that."

Junior Jenna Estravillo scored 18 points with a total placing for herself at 58th place. She scored seven above par in the first round, six above in the second round and fifth above in the third round. Estravillo, in threes, had been set for 10th place particularly in a tie with two above in threes. Fours, she got in a tie for 41st place with nine scored above in fours. Fives got tied in 90th place with seven above in fives. In Pars, she finished with 21st place and had 35 in total for Pars. Estravillo, in birdies, was tied for 81st place and six above for birdies. In bogeys, she was tied for 44th place and 14 above but for doubles she was tied in 29th place and three above in doubles.

Senior Jasmine Driscoll scored 19 points placing her into 66th place. She scored eight above par in the first round, five above par in the second round and eventually scored six above par in the final round of the tournament. In par threes, she finished with a tie in 64th place and six above in threes. For par fours, she got a tie in 69th place with 13 above par fours. Fives, tied for 36th place and equal for par fives. In pars, she was tied for 87th place and 25 in pars. Driscoll, in birdies, was tied in 20th place with seven above for birdies. In bogeys, she was tied for 22nd place and had 16 above but in doubles she was tied in eighth place with five above par for doubles.

WHAT'S NEXT?

While they did not have a lot of time to practice for Arizona, for the Puerto Rico Invitational, they will hopefully practice a lot more before they go.

Andry knows the first tournament back was more of getting the players real game reps again, before the rest of the season ensues.

"After winter break, you really are just kind of knocking off the rust on some of those shots and just remembering you know how it feels to really go score."

Andry said he will really enjoy being able to go down with all the team heading to Puerto Rico Mar. 3-5.

" It will be a good challenge. It's a good field. There are some really high quality mid-major teams," Andry said.

Contact Ethan Kelso at Ethan.Kelso@bsu.edu.

In this special episode of 9-1-1 What's Your Hot Take, Sam and Willow invite special guests Mason and Ian to guess which plot lines given to them are real and which ones are fake.

Music track: Talk by Chill Pulse

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Copyright Free Music for Videos

Hosted by: Sam Jasionowski and Willow Emig

Special Guests: Mason Mundy and Ian Case

Edited by: Sam Jasionowski

Graphic by: Willow Emig

Their mission is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

For Delaware County, their basketball season is well underway, but these games are just a part of their goal.

"The thing we try to do in Special Olympics is to empower our athletes to be able to go out there and voice their own concerns," Special Olympics President and CEO Jeff Mohler said. "We want them to speak on their own behalf, and they don't need me to do that."

The organization's impact extends beyond the court. With more than 20,000 athletes and Unified partners, they use the sport as a way to make a community. For one player, every game is more than just basketball.

"Pretty much since my daughter died, I was in a dump and everything else, but it brought me back," Josh Denton said.

Denton has been playing with the Delaware County Cardinals for two years. Basketball to him is not just about the points; it's about teamwork.

"Teamwork is when you actually have to trust other people on your team, or else it's not going to work out."

The Delaware County Cardinals coach, Barb Cox, oversees the team's operations. She says the strength of the team comes from each other.

"Yes, they have a disability, but everybody has something that makes them unique," Cox said. "All of these guys try their best and their hardest, and they just want to be involved."

Cox and the Delaware County Cardinals plan to continue their momentum going through the rest of their season. To get involved in the program, visit their website.

Contact Amelia Winter with comments at amelia.winter@bsu.edu.

"Our country is winning again," Trump said. "In fact, we are winning so much that we do not know what to do about it."

Speaking before a joint session of Congress, the president boasted about what he views as economic wins, touting the U.S. has made a "turnaround for the ages," since his second term began.

The president reiterated that his administration has delivered on campaign promises, pointing to a decline in gas prices and success at the border, where illegal immigration crossings have declined.

"Today, our border is secure, our spirit is restored, inflation is plummeting and incomes are rising fast. The roaring economy is roaring like never before, and our enemies are scared. Trump said, drawing applause and chants of "USA! USA!" from Republicans as Democrats stayed silent.

Trump once again boasted foreign investments of $18 trillion - a figure that has been disputed by many economists, and the White House's own data. The U.S. posted a trade deficit for 2025, not a surplus, and foreign direct investments were about 23% lower in the first year of Trump's second term than during the Biden years.

Theeventunfolded against the backdrop of a widening Democratic protest and mounting resistance from lawmakers who are standing by to balk at the president's remarks.

More than 30 congressional Democrats boycotted the address altogether, while others attended alternative events designed to compete with the president's messaging.

"I think we are going to hear two different States of the Union: One from the president that is going to be full of lies and then you are going to hear the truth," California Sen. Alex Padilla, who will deliver the Democrats' Spanish-language response, said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon.

Democrats who skipped the president's formal address to Congress said they were doing so because they do not want to give credence to Trump. Others showed their opposition by inviting guests who have been affected by his agenda.

California Democrat Rep. Robert Garcia invited Annie Farmer, a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender whose trafficking crimes have dogged Trump since he returned to office a year ago.

"I've invited Annie to the State of the Union so she can join other survivors and remind the President of his refusal to release all of the Epstein files," Garciawrote Monday in a post on X.

The Democratic opposition highlights the tense political moment that Trump is facing early in his second term, when the stakes are high for Republicans as they seek to keep control of Congress ahead of the midterm elections.

Trump was expected to frame the moment as one defined by economic successes and fulfilled campaign promises particularly as it related to his administration carrying out an immigration crackdown.

He was expected to appeal to his religious base as well. Trump has invited Erika Kirk, the widow of the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk, and intended to use her presence to bring attention to the "tremendous revival of faith" that has taken place since Kirk's assassination, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on X.

"The president will call on Congress to 'firmly reject political violence against our fellow citizens' with Charlie Kirk's widow in the chamber," Leavitt said.

The president's remarks could also shed light on the president's thinking regarding international conflicts brewing in the Middle East and in Mexico as Trump pressures its southern neighbor to curb drug trafficking.

Another potential issue that could come up in the address is the topic of tariffs, more so afterthe Supreme Courtruled on Friday that Trump's preferred tariffs policy was illegal and could not stand without the approval of Congress.

Trump has been adamant that he intends to impose new tariffs in different ways, and has suggested he should not need congressional approval to do so. If Trump insists on imposing new tariffs, his push will be at odds with Republican leaders.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.,told reporters on Mondaythat it would be a "challenge to find consensus on any path forward on the tariffs, on the legislative side."

However Trump handled the issue of tariffs would underscore the existential moment that Congress is in as it navigates the Trump administration's second term.

In recent months, Trump's willingness to sideline Congress in major policy decisions - whether it is trade or national security - have exposed fractures within his own party and deepened partisan divisions.

Tuesday night's event could highlight those tensions.

Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., has been critical of Trump's use of military force without congressional approval since his administration began blowing up alleged drug boats on the Caribbean Sea late last year.

As Trump says he is considering a military attack on Iran, Schiff is once again raising concerns that Trump is stoking broader conflicts abroad.

"Our allies don't trust us. Our adversaries don't fear us," Schiff said on the Senate floor Tuesday. "When the next crisis comes - and it will come, and it may even be caused by this president - we will find ourselves isolated."

Trump's push to have the federal government assert more control over elections could also expose some fractures.

In May, at the behest of Trump, the Justice Department began demanding voter registration data from states across the country. Democrats see the move as a pretext for bogus voter fraud claims down the line, as congressional Republicans tee up new barriers to voter registration through the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act.

"The Trump administration is not being shy about threatening to undermine and steal this November election," Padilla said. "They know that their record is not just unpopular but has been so harmful to working families that their only hope to stay in power is to initiate a voter purge."

Democrats' concerns have been heightened by comments made by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem last week in which she outlined plans to station federal immigration agents at polling stations "to make sure we have the right people voting, electing the right leaders"

Tonight: We are going to see a low of 31 degrees tonight staying just below freezing and having pretty persistent cloud cover throughout the night. Wind gusts are still going to be pretty high even reaching 40 mph in some places.

Tomorrow: We can start to feel some of those warmer temperatures start to come through with a high of 45 degrees and will also see the sun peek out as clouds start to roll out of the area. Winds will stay lower around 10 to 15 mph, but still having a possibility of gusts up to 20 mph.

Seven-Day Forecast: We are going to be a little all over the place tracking the next seven days. We are going to start off with temperatures in the mid-40's on Wednesday and Thursday and then seeing a big spike to almost 60 degrees on Friday. Saturday we are also going to see similar temperatures to Friday but then we will cool back down to the mid-30's by the end of the weekend. Cooler temperatures will still linger around on Monday but Tuesday we could actually see a possibility of freezing rain as some cold core showers pass through the area.

- Weather Forecaster Jonas Hinderer

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

I have experienced many different angles of being diagnosed with neurodivergence over the course of my life. It caused overwhelming emotions that I was not necessarily able to grasp.

My entire life, teachers had told my parents I was extremely gifted but had trouble focusing. Many teachers and professors later wrote it off as me being "chatty" simply because I did not fit the stereotype of being neurodivergent. It was not until I was 18 that I finally got my first diagnosis, and to this day, I am still unsure whether or not it is the correct one.

For years, women and young girls who were struggling with attention, sensory overload or social exhaustion have been told they were being dramatic, anxious, lazy or overcompensating. Only recently have medicine and societal perceptions begun to acknowledge what many women facing these challenges already know.

Attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and high functioning autism have been hiding in plain sight and completely overlooked. This is not because they are rare conditions, but rather because they do not look the way clinicians were trained to expect.

According to a January 2025 article published by Understood, Kathleen Nadeau, the founder and director of one of the largest private ADHD specialty clinics in the United States, states that many women and young girls experience what is called inattentive ADD. The article states, "Girls and women with ADHD are more likely to have the inattentive type of ADHD."

Inattentive ADD comes with many internal struggles, such as constant anxious thoughts, early issues of negative body image, the need to strive for perfectionism and extreme time awareness, according to a March 2025 article published by Cleveland Clinic. All of these major symptoms are ones that go unnoticed by many.

The prevailing image of ADHD remains a hyperactive young boy bouncing in a classroom chair, unable to keep still or be quiet. Meanwhile, autism is still commonly associated with young males who exhibit obvious social difficulties or repetitive behaviors.

These stereotypes have shaped diagnostic tools and research samples for clinical judgment for decades. This results in the quiet, widespread underdiagnosis of girls and women, particularly those with inattentive ADHD, high-functioning autism or both, sometimes referred to as AuDHD.

According to research reported in a November 2024 article published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the gender gap in diagnoses does not reflect the true prevalence. ADHD affects an estimated 11.4 percent of children in the United States.

Boys are diagnosed at roughly twice the rate of girls in childhood, but that disparity shrinks dramatically in adulthood. However, a red flag is that many girls are being missed early on. A review published by The National Institute of Medicine notes that inattentive symptoms, more common in girls, are less likely to trigger referrals because they are quieter and less disruptive in classroom settings.

One of the major reasons girls and women go undiagnosed is because of masking. At a young age, many of us learn to consciously suppress behaviors that might be seen as odd, impulsive or socially unacceptable.

We memorize conversation scripts, mimic peers and overcompensate for executive dysfunction through perfectionism and performance. Masking may reduce external disruptions, but it comes at a cost for the person internally.

Not only that, but according to an October 2024 article by Cleveland Clinic, studies link long-term masking to higher rates of anxiety, depression and burnout among autistic women.

This is something I have experienced most of my life. Instead of having my own personality, I have become a scrapbook of everyone I have ever loved. Sometimes it may feel daunting, but there are some beautiful aspects to it.

However, the long-term effects of masking have led to significant personal self-doubt and a constant need to be the best at what I do.

Societal expectations also play a powerful role.

Girls are often praised for being compliant and empathetic, traits that can conceal inattentiveness or sensory overload. Teachers interpret female distractions as daydreams rather than a student who needs evaluation.

Clinicians may also unconsciously downplay them, especially when they do not align with traditional male-based diagnostic models.

According to a 2023 survey that was published in a March 2025 article by Frontiers, the survey found that many teachers overlooked girls' struggles and that their female students were more likely than boys to go undiagnosed with ADHD, citing behavioral bias and limited training amongst faculty.

The consequences of missed diagnoses extend well into adulthood. If left untreated, ADHD is associated with difficulties in time management, employment stability and emotional regulation. Similarly, autism can go unrecognized until adulthood, when social and sensory demands increase and coping strategies begin to collapse.

I was not diagnosed until I was 18, and when it came to my personality, I always felt as though it was too much. I was constantly pretending, even when the racing thoughts refused to stop.

Ultimately, underdiagnosis is not just a medical failure, but a societal one.

When systems are built around narrow definitions of what is considered normal, those who adapt quietly are likely to be overlooked. Girls and women with ADHD and autism have always been here, excelling while struggling, masking and surviving without the proper terminology to name or validate their experience.

Although it may seem quieter, it does not mean the screaming voices in our heads shut off. Neurodivergence in women and girls is equally important to the stereotyped diagnosis they have for boys.

As a society, we need to take girls' requests for help more seriously. It can cause significant emotional conflict if not diagnosed early.

Contact Macey Kessler via email at macey.kessler@bsu.edu.

Today: Windy and cloudy conditions during the day today with a high of 38 degrees and winds at 20 mph. Although it will feel very cold today, we can look forward to warmer temperatures in the upcoming days.

Tonight: Temperatures sitting around 31 degrees with winds persisting overnight. Skies will be cloudy and wind chills will be making it seem a lot colder, so make sure to bundle up!

Tomorrow: We will finally see the sun tomorrow as it peaks through the clouds and heats us up. Temperatures will be sitting in the 40s for most of the day while winds stay at 10-15 mph.

Seven-Day Forecast: We are going to be on quite a roller coaster for the next week weather-wise. The next couple of days temperatures will sit in the low-40s with a slight chance of snow on Thursday morning. Over the weekend it is going to be very warm for this time of year with possibilities of Muncie hitting 56 degrees on Saturday. After the warm weekend, Monday and Tuesday are going to take us by storm with chances of snow and freezing rain, also with a temperature drop.

- Weather Forecaster Daphne Gibaud

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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

For the Love of the Craft

Olivia Lauryn Dean was born Mar. 14, 1999, in East London, England. She grew up with parents who were super supportive of her aspiring musical endeavors. With her mother being a civil servant and her dad a tech-based career. She didn't have to come from a necessarily musical family for them to recognize the art form she chose to shine through. Her mother introduced her to the BRITS school, the "number one leading performing and creative arts school in the UK." Alumni include musical legends such as Adele and Amy Winehouse. Here, she could learn formally about music and be around people who are like-minded. The encouragement from her mother, and seeing family members thriving with artistic careers made young Dean believe that this is a possible life to thrive from herself, she explained on the And the Writer Is…podcast.

Dean is absolutely not an overnight success, in fact, she is a decade in the making. In 2017, while still in Brits School, she had her first gig atServant Jazz Quarters, A bar and music venue in London where she sold out the capacity of 70 tickets. From here on, she became very passionate for the love of the game, continuing to perform at any gig she could get her hands on. From performing at a prawn restaurant with three people to performing for an audience of zero, Dean did it for the love of music, no matter who was watching.

Fast forward to 2021 where she was awarded Amazon Music UK's Breakthrough Artist of the year. She also went viral with her exceptional performance at a Camden Town Jazz Cafe in London, with the 35-minute set garnering over seven million views and introducing millions to Dean's discography. With this momentum, she released her five-song project, "Growth," revolving around the theme of growing and outgrowing aspects of life, such as getting comfortable with her own company, with the song "Be My Own Boyfriend." While simultaneously posting covers to the likes of Aretha Franklin andRadiohead on YouTube. Starting an on-the-road tour in a truck with her band, she titled "From Me to You," she would play sets on beaches, bars, and parks, having missed performing while being in lockdown. She worked hard and settled her name in the music industry, letting us know she's here to stay, and this is only the beginning.

A Messily Beautiful Debut

Throughout the next couple of years, she would go on to crafting her 2023 debut album, Messy. Following up her first EP, the singer's first official album was shortlisted for the esteemed Mercury Prize, stating on its website, "It is the music equivalent to the Booker Prize for literature and the Turner Prize for art." At this time she is only 24 years old, and according toOnes to Watch, she described the project as "an album about learning to fall in love again, the fear that comes with it, and finding independence within that." She states that she named the album after she completed all the songs on it, going on to say that the word messy just came to her as a perfect way to wrap up the experience, yet in a beautiful way. The single, "Dive," was without a doubt her first song to push her more into the spotlight internationally, appearing on Genius to annotate the lyrics to the song. Paired with this single, she also teased the album release with tracks "UFO" and "Carmen" for the Messy album rollout. "Carmen" was the first time she wrote about her lineage, and is the closing track to this wonderfully authentic debut. The track is an ode to her grandmother, who immigrated to the UK at 18 years old as a part of the Windrush generation. Dean wanted to archive her life and sacrifice through this track, with what she describes as a jubilee. She describes her reasoning behind creating the song on a panel at the British Library, "I'm a product of her bravery, I'm able to live the life that I'm living now because she had the foresight of needing to change everything for the people coming after her."

International Stamp of Approval

It's 2025, and it's time for her sophomore album rollout with The Art of Loving. In an interview with Apple Music, she says virality has had its effect on many aspiring artists, primarily in the 2020's. Fortunately, this made its impact on her career and gave her yet another boost. After releasing singles "Man I Need"and "Nice to Each Other," they went viral on TikTok, garnering millions of views with the choruses being used as popular sounds. Experiencing official international acclaim. Crossing over oceans from her home in the UK into mainstream American streaming and radio. "Man I Need" becoming certified platinum, "Nice to Each Other" and "A Couple Minutes" earning Gold, along with the album itself,The Art of Loving, according to theRIAA. Speaking of "A Couple Minutes," its virality certified her credibility with the COLORSperformance of the song, garnering over seven million views. Award season was quite nice to her, with Dean earning her very first Grammyfor Best New Artistat the 2026 Grammy Awards.

A Masterclass in Achieving Your Dreams

Throughout her 10-year-long career, Dean has been active and maintained her love for music through and through. She teaches us that, "if you do a job you love, you'll never work a day in your life." As of now, she is preparing her Art of Loving Tourand six sold-out nights at the O2, which is a big accomplishment for UK musicians. She has taken a break from the big year she has just had in 2025 and is preparing to perform a show at the BRIT Awards. Where she has also been nominated for five awards: Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for the Art of Loving, Best Pop Act, and Song of the Year for tracks "Man I Need" and "Rein Me In"with indie/heartland rock artist Sam Fender. She is also the new face of Burberry Her where she also included an exclusive original song along with the ad.

Sources: Spotify, BRITSschool, Spotify, Spotify, YouTube, ServantJazzQuarters, NME, CamdenTownJazzCafe, YouTube, Spotify, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube, YouTube, Spotify, MercuryPrize, MercuryPrize, OnestoWatch, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, JCWI, YouTube, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, X(FormerlyTwitter), YouTube, Grammys, OliviaDean, Instagram, AlbertHall, Spotify, Spotify,BurberryHer

Images: Instagram, Instagram, Instagram, Instagram

Ball State's Counseling Center provides individual counseling, group therapy, support groups and community mental health services. All services are funded through student fees, allowing enrolled students to have access without extra cost.

In addition to one on one counseling the center hosts workshops and outreach events across campus. Building an environment that makes emotional wellness important. Aiming to reach students who may not initially seek traditional therapy.

While the demand for counseling services has increased in recent years so has the effort to increase resources. Reflecting the rise of stress levels, as well as the awareness of mental health. Having access to support is a key part of student success.

"Feels on wheels was a program we started last semester around finals week, we have stress balls and coloring books, handing those out can be helps to students, we have recently looked into getting therapy dogs on campus," explained director of Counseling and Health Services, Dr. Bill Betts

Inside the counseling center, there is a dedicated space offering students more than just traditional therapy. During business hours it provides free massage chairs, light therapy and self help materials. Designed to create an atmosphere where students can decompose and get out of their traditional environment.

If in person counseling is not the right fit students also have access to online support through Ball State University's Counseling Center called WellTrack. Offering professional mental health support digitally. A canvas course is also available to help provide students with encouragement and tips that benefit students emotional well being. This allows students to privately engage in mental health services in a space they feel is most comfortable.

As the weight of course work and campus life grows, the counseling center remains focused on providing support and resources. Whether it's a quick chat with a counselor or participating in a mental health workshop, students don't have to face anxiety or depression alone.

"Students say coming to the Counseling Center helps them stay in school. Our last survey we did 89% of students said that coming to the Counseling Center helped them stay at Ball State, and 80% of students said it helped them with their classes and be more productive. We really do know our services can be helpful and are effective for students." Betts said.

The Counseling Center aims to ensure every student feels supported through their college experience. If you are somewhere you know is facing mental health challenges, reach out.

Contact Rayanna Goble with comments at rayanna.goble@bsu.edu.

Tonight: Surface and upper-level ridging will make its way into our area tonight as low pressure exits eastward. Looking at models, mid to high level clouds riding tonight's ridge will provide the cloudiness for tonight. Along with this ridge warm air will also return, but will mostly lead to slight upper level warming. Another notable element worth mentioning is wind chill temperatures and wind gusts. The wind chill and wind gust combo will make tonight's low of 20 degrees feel a lot colder. Dress very very warm.

Tomorrow: Low pressure from the west assisted with short waves will enhance the probability of a system coming into our area. Tuesday specifically will serve as a transitional day where weather will change from one pattern to another. As high pressure moves eastward out of our area the winds shift direction becoming southerly. This provides our area with warmer air (warm air advection). This warmer air from the south is the leading reason our temperatures will be in the 40's.

Seven-Day Forecast: That low pressure that I mentioned before will continue to strengthen just west of us (towards the upper Mississippi) on Wednesday. The more it strengthens, the more we're at risk for wind and better snow and rain chances. During the day Wednesday we'll continue to experience warm temperatures and more of the southerly wind along with mostly dry conditions. But come Wednesday night into Thursday morning a cold front associated with our strengthening low will increase our cloud coverage and create pre-frontal rain, possibly snow. As our low moves towards the Great Lakes and the cold front passes through, temperature drop and wind direction shifts Northwest , no longer receiving warm southerly flow. Thursday is when we'll feel the change in everything . Come Friday though, the return of high pressure will build again clearing out the skies and pushing for low-50's. The warm up is a result of the angles ridge shifted towards the Atlantic coast. Saturday will likely be our warmest day starting our Spring break off with warmth. A clipper also known as a small, quick, light precipitation along with a cold air snap may also bring colder temperatures, increasing cloud coverage and possible rain and snow mix Saturday into Sunday.

- Weather Forecaster Rachel Fulton

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

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John Mulaney: Mr. Whatever

John Mulaney is coming to Emens on his Mister Whatever tour! John Mulaney is a three-time Emmy Award, Critics' Choice award and WGA award-winning writer, comedian and actor. He consistently tours, and he has sold out venues around North America, from Madison Square Garden multiple times to the Hollywood Bowl.

• Price: Adult: $149.50 / $119.50 / $99.50 / $79.50, Reserved Seating
• Location: Emens Auditorium
• Date and Time: Sunday, March 1, at 7:00 p.m.

Ball State University Men's Basketball v. UMass - Alumni Day

Cheer on the Cardinals as they face off against UMass! Don't miss the opportunity to celebrate their alumni at this special game!

• Price: Free for Students
• Location: Worthen Arena
• Date and Time: Tuesday, February 24, at 7:00 p.m.

Lavender Closet Grand Opening

The Lavender Closet is opening! Come stop by to check out the new space, grab some new clothes, and hang out with some crafts and snacks! Lavender Closet's goal is to provide resources and a safe queer space to the Muncie and Ball State community by offering free clothing, affirming items, and a welcoming place to exist as you are.

• Price: Free
• Location: Community of Hope, 1986 W. Main Street, Door 1
• Date and Time: Thursday, February 26 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Yoga is for EveryBody: Free Community Class

Yoga is for EveryBody is not just a class-it's a celebration of unity and mindfulness. Led by Che'Reese Anderson, MBA, MSN/HC, RN, and CEO of Namaste, this Vinyasa yoga session links breath with movement through creative sequences, offering a dynamic practice that adapts to all levels. Whether you're new to yoga or an experienced practitioner, this class provides the perfect opportunity to connect with your body, mind, and spirit in a supportive, welcoming environment. Participants are encouraged to bring their own yoga mat (or beach towel), wear comfortable clothing, and come with an open heart.

• Price: Free
• Location: Center Building, Minnetrista Museum and Gardens
• Date and Time: Saturday, February 28, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Indiana's early voting period would be cut from 28 days to 16 days in ayear-old pushrevived by Republican state senators.

The proposal for fewer early voting days was added Monday by the Senate Elections Committee through anamendment;no public testimony was allowed.

Committee Chair Sen. Mike Gaskill, R-Pendleton, said the change he proposed would still allow for three weekends of in-person early voting ahead of Election Day.

"A shorter amount of time for early voting will save money and also make it easier to administer the election," Gaskill said.

Fewer days proposal criticized

Democratic senators and voting-rights advocates berated the proposal as one that would mean longer lines for people wanting to cast their ballots early and hurt Indiana's alreadylow voter turnout.

Of the 1.4 million early ballots cast in the 2024 general election, about 300,000 came during the days proposed for elimination, said Sen. J.D. Ford, D-Indianapolis.

"I think this is going to increase those lines and put some really heavy burdens on our (county) clerks," Ford said. "Essentially this is going to take away from working-class folks who need that time because they might have an inflexible work schedule or caregiving responsibilities or even transportation issues."

The early voting change was inserted intoSenate Bill 1359, which was focused on rules for when local election officials could scan early voting ballots. The committee voted 7-2 along party lines to advance it to the full Senate.

Gaskill didn't allow any public testimony on the amendment, saying the committee had heard from the public about shortening the time for early voting when it considered a similar bill last year.

That 2025 proposal called for a 14-day early voting period. It cleared the Senate Elections Committee but never was called for a full Senate vote becauseit did not have enough support to pass.

Proposal called "sneak attack"

Julia Vaughn, executive director of the voting-rights group Common Cause Indiana, said she was "extremely disappointed that such a major policy change was made with no opportunity for public comment."

"This is a sneak attack on early voting and I urge voters to tell their senator to vote no," Vaughn told the Indiana Capital Chronicle.

The bill cleared the House last month, so if the early voting change wins Senate approval it could become law without any public testimony on the issue during this year's session.

Gaskill called his proposal for a 16-day early voting period a compromise from last year's 14-day proposal.

"It did have testimony last year, quite a bit in this committee," Gaskill said after Monday's meeting. "So it's not like we're bringing a topic out of nowhere that's never been discussed before. It was vetted quite at length last year."

Gaskill cited criticism raised by other Republican legislators about Indiana having an "election month rather than an Election Day." He said the change would shift Indiana from having one of the country's longest early voting periods to being in the middle range.

"I'm of the opinion that the shorter period is a compromise between folks that do have concerns about election integrity with a longer period of early voting," Gaskill said. "It still puts us kind of in the middle of the pack of what other states do."

According to MAP, an independent think tank, 14 states have early voting lasting more than 22 days. Another eight states range between 15-21 days of early voting. Twenty-two states are between 7-14 days.

The Representation, Innovation, Support and Engagement (RISE) ticket had Senator Quinn Davis running for the presidential position with Senator Addy Morey alongside him in the vice presidential position.

The WORK ticket had current Chief of Staff Caleb Trinoskey in its presidential position with Senator Finley Gay alongside him in the vice presidential position.

The RISE ticket won the election with 810 votes which is approximately 70% of the vote.

Both tickets had gone to their social media platforms to give out their messages to their supporters and what they are now planning to do after the results.

The RISE ticket thanked every student and organization that they had met during their campaign and that they are excited to start working on all of their platform points.

"We're so excited to start turning our platform points into action and to keep having real conversations about how we can continue improving Ball State together." RISE said via Instagram Feb. 18. "None of this would have been possible without your support. Thank you to everyone who listened to us, talked with us, voted for us, endorsed us, and most importantly, believed in us."

The WORK ticket said they were frustrated with their outcome with all the work they had put in and being excited to implement their platform points into legislation in SGA.

"Seeing Ball State students passionate about our platform was a reminder that SGA can do great things on this campus, and that trust between SGA and the student body can be earned." WORK said via InstagramFeb. 18.

WORK said that they will continue to serve on the SGA next year and will plan on bringing their platform points with them.

The inauguration of the RISE ticket will be April 15 at 3:15 p.m. in Cardinal Hall B at the L.A. Pittenger Student Center.

Contact Landon Jones via email landon.jones2@bsu.edu

According to the Ball State Career Center's Cardinal Job Fair page, a job fair like the one on Wednesday contributes to a 93 percent career placement rate, which leads among other comparative schools.

However, in the midst of handing over résumés and taking headshot pictures, some students find trouble finding a job that fits their degree after graduation. This comes from a competitive job market.

Ball State's Career Center coordinator of employer relations Kyle Bell says many students can get ahead in finding a job by making good impressions and strong connections with the employers they meet.

"First impressions are huge," Bell said, "Employers will want to be able to have that connection. They're seeking that connection just as much as the student is."

If students did not attend the event, they still have a chance to keep up in the search for post-graduation work. It would involve keeping up with the competition and having awareness.

"I would describe [the job market] as competitive," Bell said. "So, students have to be on their game and have to really find ways that they're going to be able to be a step above other folks."

But, finding a job is not an individual effort. Bell reveals how the process takes many people along the way.

"Utilize your network of people. Utilize your friends," Bell said. "It honestly takes a village to help you get where you're going."

For help with a job or career, go to the Ball State career center or go to Cardinal Career Link.

Contact Evan Shotts with comments at evan.shotts@bsu.edu.

There is a picture in a cardboard box that hides under a cobbled together window seat, nestled against volumes of memories memorialized in slowly aging photo paper. A small girl with tousled blond hair stands in her living room, swallowed by a giant black t-shirt, the logo prominent in its bold orange and navy blue ferocity.

This small girl, face permanently stuck in a look of consternation, has been dealt the world's largest heartbreak: a life-long allegiance to the Chicago Bears.

The Bears have not won a Super Bowl since 1985, have not appeared in the championship game since the Colts' victory in 2007 and have been unable to obtain a winning season since 2018. Until now.

This season the Bears had their first winning season in seven years and broke their playoff losing streak with their first post-season win in 15 years over their long-time rivals the Green Bay Packers.

The team's second-year quarterback, Caleb Williams, broke the franchise's old single-season passing record with 3,942 yards, which was previously held by Erik Kramer during his 1995 season.

Williams led the league this year in fumbles recovered, defensive back Kevin Byard III held the most interceptions in the NFL this season and the team as a whole had more comebacks during the 2025 season than any other.

The now 106-year-old franchise broke records with their six regular season wins after trailing in the fourth quarter or last two minutes of the game. Their post-season game against the Packers left them with an 18-point deficit, requiring them to score 25 points in the fourth quarter alone to secure the victory.

It was with these impressive last minute feats that a team, one that was accustomed to letting down its fans, sparked hope and reignited loyalty among football fans around the Midwest, only further encouraged by the designation of a new moniker: the "Cardiac Bears."

The small girl from that picture now sat on a large, overworn and well-loved couch in a different living room, no longer swallowed by a t-shirt, but still enveloped in warmth as the man who started it all sat next to her in his own bright orange regalia.

His large hands kept busy, one wrapped around a dripping can of India Pale Ale (IPA) hastily bought from the closest Kroger and the other tangled in the fur of the world's most talkative mutt. He sat on the edge of his seat, loud encouragements for the "boys" falling from his mouth and rebounding off the glass screen of the TV that separated him from the field.

Cardiac arrest is not something to fear often. However, it is in these moments where the timer slowly counts down, the ball is on the wrong side of the field and the sound of a heartbeat fills your ears that a heart attack does not sound too impossible.

Then, an interception, two remaining minutes and the mutt is howling alongside the man's cheers. He turns, grin falling across his face, IPA dripping, and it is palpable how important this moment is to him - his boys are doing the impossible yet again.

The sheer amount of monumental victories by the Bears this season was not just celebrated in that singular household, rather the celebration seemed to ring through so many midwestern homes and slowly across the country.

The Bears took the NFL by storm, collecting distraught fans from other franchises after their team lost. The team's underdog spirit and band full of successful rookies and fresh-faced players seemed to remind people of what the sport was really about - sportsmanship, passionate athleticism and good ol'fashioned rivalry.

The Packers and Bears have faced off many times in past seasons, as well as this one, and Bears fans everywhere can be summoned with the iconic chant of "Packers Suck!" no matter what team they're playing.

Foam Party Hats created a "Graterhead" hat for Bears fans to wear in honor of their rivalry, the oldest in the NFL, and was quickly inundated with orders. The hats have since gone viral, and upon opening their website, Foam Party Hats will send you to a screen apologizing for the inability of their production to keep up with demand. New orders will not even begin to be filled until later this month.

These "Graterhead" hats are not the only thing that has gone viral in honor of the Chicago Bears and their impeccable last-minute game play.

Caleb Williams has long been notorious in the league for his painted nails, a tribute to his nail-technician mom, creating some controversy among the football community due to their association with more feminine characteristics.

However, after the Bears' first post-season win, a video went viral on TikTok of a group of male fans attending a nail salon before the team's face-off against the LA Rams on Jan. 18. While the video was initially intended to rally fans before the divisional round, it has encouraged a conversation about perceived femininity within sports.

For years, football has remained a boys' club with very limited female appearance among staff and officials. However, in more recent years, this number has been growing. Perhaps even more importantly, female engagement with the sport and the NFL as a whole has slowly been increasing in recent years.

Sponsor Pulse has found that as of the 2025 season, 59 percent of American women have been tuning in to NFL games. Many have attributed this shift to the presence of Taylor Swift at Chiefs games, resulting in scores of her fans flooding the stadiums' seats. This rise in female fandom among the more "machismo" sport has been a large step forward for the industry in terms of equality, both on the field and off.

On the other hand, equality is not something extended to only one side of the playing field; rather, it is a platform built to elevate everyone to the same level. And while it can be celebrated that women are more welcome within the professional football space, it feels meaningful that a Black man with colored nails previously labeled as "woke" or "girly" is afforded the opportunity to create trends within his sport.

Williams' painted nails encouraged fans to set aside their preconceived notions of masculinity and the way it applies to American football. It is because of his tribute to and connection with his mother that other men, especially within the Chicago area, felt secure enough to mimic the quarterback's manicure and further break down the barrier between masculinity in theory and masculinity in practice.

In addition, Williams' affinity for matcha also seemed to strike home with many Bears fans, male and female alike. Soldier Field now sells a matcha cocktail called "Wired In" in honor of the now iconic player's taste in both beverages and headphones.

While the season ended too short, much to Williams', the team's and fans' dismay, leaving fans to pack up their "Graterhead" hats and remove their festive nail polish, it left something behind for everyone to hold on to.

The Bears are just getting started. Whether it be with time-defying wins, creating a stronger and closer community, or slowly but surely changing the way we look at men in high-profile, high-contact sports, the Chicago Bears have started something that their fans will make sure they finish.

The young girl from before is a little older now, a little taller, more mature when she looks into the lens of a camera, but her allegiance remains the same. She talks to the TV now, just like her dad taught her. "The boys" only play well if she acts like they can hear her coaching from the couch, and when she turns to look at the man who forced her in that shirt so long ago, he will look her in the eye, smile and say, "Bear Down!"

And I will say right back, "Bear Down, Dad."

Contact Kyler Effner via email at kyler.effner@bsu.edu.

Although the temperature was 27 degrees, the Muncie community still showed up. Thousands of people gathered for the organization's largest fundraising event of the year to "brave the cold and bring hope to the hungry, the homeless, and those broken by addiction," according to its website.

The walk started in front of the Muncie Field House on Walnut Street. Participants walked through the heart of downtown Muncie, took a right onto 8th Street and finally a left onto Liberty Street. The walk ended at the Muncie Mission Ministries building, where people who participated were greeted with music, snacks and community.

The organization's history dates back to the Great Depression, when Rev. Eddie Thomas opened a soup kitchen in 1930 to serve hot meals and share messages about "God's redeeming love," according to the organization's website. By 1931, Muncie Mission was serving meals, offering worship, counseling and job referrals to those in need.

Fast-forward almost a century, and the Mission is still serving the Muncie community.

The organization is often asked why the event isn't hosted in May. Vice President of Community Engagement Leigh Edwards said the walk is intentionally scheduled for every February.

"We want everyone in our community to take a minute and think about who we walk for. Those [who] maybe don't have shelter tonight, or don't have a roof over their head. That is why we walk in February," she said.

Edwards went on to praise long-time participant and volunteer Mary Ippel, explaining, "If we had a queen, she would be our queen."

When asked about the annual event, Ippel said, "It's not just caring for the soul, but caring for your body and the physical aspects of people in need."

As a double amputee, Ippel experiences phantom pains. According to the Cleveland Clinic, phantom pain is when you feel pain in a missing body part after amputation or limb loss.

"Each step is painful," Ippel said, but her husband is there to hold her hand. While she said she can walk the event on her own, she said it's easier when she is holding his hand.

Ippel views herself as a servant to the cause, as she loves serving and working. She has been volunteering with the Muncie Mission every Monday for the last 16 years, practicing intentional thankfulness every day.

Mary raised just under $30,000 this year alone.

The Muncie Mission set its fundraising goal at $175,000 this year. It achieved far beyond its goal, raising just over $185,000 for the organization to provide resources such as medical care, free meals and more to those who need it.

Contact Kyle Ingermann with comments via email at kyle.ingermann@bsu.edu.

But from that point in the game to the final buzzer, the Cardinals could not get over the hump, as they fell to Miami (OH) 68-64.

"I felt like the whole game it was hard to get a bucket," Head Coach Brady Sallee said. "You've got to credit Miami; they didn't give us much space to play in."

Sallee said there were a couple times that Miami (OH) made toughness plays and Ball State did not. The head coach said that is what games like this come down to.

The game was a more competitive and physical matchup than the two team's first game, a game that saw the RedHawks take home a 20-point victory. Sallee said he saw improvements in the game, mostly with the team's defense and rebounding.

The head coach said the team needs to take "a couple of those building blocks" moving forward.

"Hopefully we see them [Miami (OH)] again when it really matters," Sallee said.

Ball State recorded 22 turnovers in the game, which Sallee said proved to be a difference maker. The head coach said the team cannot turn the ball over that much and expect to beat a team like Miami (OH).

"In a game where every single possession matters and you're working your tail off to try to score, and you give it away 22 times, it's hard to win that kind of a game," Sallee said.

All season, the Cardinals have taken advantage of senior center Tessa Towers' ability to draw attention to herself in the post and using that to kick the ball out to open three-point shooters. Although Towers' 22-point performance drew RedHawks defenders in, the Cardinals were not able to take advantage of open threes.

The Cardinals shot 4-18 from behind the arc, while the RedHawks more than doubled the Cardinals' makes, knocking in 12 from three-point land.

"I thought that was a real story of the game when we go back and watch film [and see] the number of times we just got caught watching the ball," Sallee said.

Sallee said the number of times the Cardinals allowed the RedHawks to kick the ball out to wide-open shooters was "head scratching."

With the MAC tournament being just around the corner, this game had obvious weight on it, with Miami (OH) and BallState holding the top two seeds in the conference. Even though the Cardinals were on the wrong side of this one, Sallee believes having a game like this before the tournament starts is important.

Sallee wants to be able to have another opportunity to beat Miami (OH) in a potential matchup in the MAC Championship. But the head coach said there are still a lot of things the team needs to improve on if they want to be able to play in a Saturday championship matchup in the MAC tournament.

"From now until then, we got to take care of business, we can't just count our chickens," Sallee said.

The Cardinals have not lost much this season, and especially as of late. The loss to the RedHawks snapped the team's seven-game win streak that they possessed entering the game. But Sallee is confident in his team's ability to bounce back after losses, even though the team has not had to do it much.

"Our kids have been great in practice [after a loss] and have done some good things that way, so I would expect nothing less," Sallee said.

The loss to the RedHawks have dampened the team's chances at the MAC regular season title and the chance to be the number one seed in the conference tournament. The Cardinals now will need help from other teams to win the regular season title.

Next up, Ball State will host Akron Feb. 25 at Worthen Arena.

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

Co-director Payten Romig attributed the play to being reminiscent of "The Hunger Games" and "Divergent." The action-packed dystopian play forces the audience to take a trip down memory lane while facing their own pasts.

"I think there is something really interesting in looking at the cultural context around us and why we really long for these kinds of dystopian tales," Romig said.

While reminiscing brings value to the plot, the friendships make it even more nostalgic. This complicates the dynamics within the five-person cast, warning those watching how painful words can be.

"It's about girlhood, power, and I mean the best way I can describe it is like a post-apocalyptic 'Mean Girls,'" student actor Will Swigart said.

With the rise of looking back at the year 2016, people today find themselves lost in the past. The romanization of a decade ago has created a longing that plays out in "Veal." Using power dynamics, brutality and friendships, it depicts the open wound that the past can feel like.

"I think it's a really good reminder of how self-reflection is important, but also the importance of making sure we're not getting lost in the rose-colored glasses of it all," Romig said.

To find out more information, check the Department of Theatre and Dance's Instagram page, @ballstatetheatredance.

Contact Arlene Thompson with comments at arlene.thompson@bsu.edu.