Capko, who has been an assistant at SMU for the past two seasons, brings a load of experience to Muncie. Capko began his coaching career at Marshall as a graduate assistant before moving onto Stetson and then Georgia Southern.

Most of Capko's experience comes under head coach Andy Enfield, who he coached under at both USC and SMU.

Capko spent eight seasons at USC between 2016-2024, where he served as an assistant and associate head coach. In 2024 he followed Enfield to SMU where he spent two seasons.

In his time with the Mustangs, he was named one of the top "power 5 assistants" in the country by the Athletic, along with being one of the 50 Most Impactful high major assistant coaches by Silver Waves Media.

In his playing career, Capko started at the University of Florida, playing under legendary head coach Billy Donovan, but transferred after one semester there. He then transferred to the University of South Florida where he was a nominee for Big East Player of the Year during his senior campaign.

"Chris Capko is an exceptional basketball coach," Ball State Athletic Director Jeff Mitchell said in a press releasefrom the university."His breadth of experience at the NCAA Division I level, combined with his elite recruiting acumen and expertise in player development, set him apart from an incredibly strong pool of candidates and made him the best coach to lead our program."

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

But Head Coach Brady Sallee said he "wasn't going to hear it" following a loss to Toledo in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) tournament semifinals. Despite falling short in the conference tournament, the Cardinals exceeded expectations.

Ball State finished with a 26-7 overall record and a 16-2 MAC record, which tied Miami (OH) for the regular season title.

Sallee only had four returners on the team and only two of those returners in the starting lineup. The head coach had to work from scratch, and try to put together a team that could fill the shoes that last season's conference champions left.

In a season full of conference dominance, come from behind wins and win streaks, the Cardinals rounded up a positive 2-25-26 campaign.

Here are beat reporters Kyle Stout and Rylan Crum's thoughts on the team's season, and what needs to happen moving forward for the Cardinals to stay competitive.

Kyle:

Ball State saw a lot of player development this season. I think that is something that really contributed to their success, as the team had little returners entering the season. The two returning players that provided the biggest contributions for the Cardinals were senior center Tessa Towers and sophomore guard Grace Kingery.

Starting with Towers, the jump from her junior to her senior season is one that Sallee described as "unbelievable." Towers went from a player averaging under five minutes per game to being selected to the All-MAC first team.

She averaged a near double-double this season, with 14.7 points per game and 8.4 rebounds per game on 54.8 percent shooting from the field.

Kingery took a massive leap in year two after limited playing time in her freshman season. The guard went from only about 14 minutes per game to leading the team in minutes per game with 31.1.

Kingery averaged 13.4 points per game and shot nearly 41 percent from behind the arc, which led to her being selected to the All-MAC honorable mention team.

Those two players will be key next season for the Cardinals, assuming they return to the school. If each of those players had this big of a jump from last season, a full season in the starting lineup should only lead to more development next season.

An obvious reason for the Cardinals success this season came from Bree Salenbien. The senior forward transferred from Gonzaga for her last year of college eligibility, and helped the Cardinals reach new heights.

Salenbien averaged 15.8 points per game, 7.4 rebounds per game and was second on the team in assists per game with 3.8.

The Cardinals played through Salenbien throughout the season, and Sallee said it felt like the team had another point guard playing the power forward position.

The loss of Salenbien will leave a big void for the Cardinals on next season's team. I expect the team to go after a similar prototype player this offseason, as this year's squad deeply benefited from Salenbien's ability to consistently get to the rim and distribute.

Another player that will be important for the Cardinals to keep going into next year is junior guard Karsyn Norman.

The lead guard for the Cardinals averaged 9.4 points per game and led the team with 4.9 assists per game. On last year's team, former guard Ally Becki led the way for the Cardinals, and entering this season, there was a question mark at the point guard position.

But Norman filled in very nicely with the Cardinals, and the team did not lose a step offensively, as they led the MAC in assists per game and points per game. A key to any team's success is their point guard, and as long as Norman is in command for the Cardinals, the team will be in good hands.

Along with the development of Towers, Kingery and Norman, the Cardinals will also rely heavily on some of the freshman from this season.

Rylan:

One positive for the Cardinals heading into next year in the talent of the underclassmen. This season Ball State had eight underclassmen, six of those being freshmen, and five of those freshmen being from overseas.

One of those freshmen from overseas, Aniss Tagayi from France, led the team in steals this year with 1.6 per game along with being 16th in the MAC for steals per game. Tagayi was also named to the MAC All-Freshman Team and MAC All-Defensive Team.

After her defensive performances this year, Tagayi will be looked at as one of the defensive leaders last year. Although she averaged 8 points and 53% from the field per game, defense is her specialty. Her final stats on the defensive side after her first year are 5.4 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 0.7 blocks per game.

Tagayi isn't close to being the only underclassmen to be excited about next season, as Alba Cabellero also showed a lot of promise this year.

As the freshmen from Spain only started two games this year, that number will rise next season following the departure of Tessa Towers.

Towers started at the post in the 31 other games Cabellero didn't, with Alba coming in for her off the bench most of the season.

While Cabellero only started two games, she saw action in 32 of the Cardinals contests, averaging 4.2 points and 5.0 rebounds per game while shooting 50% from the field. As she will most likely be starting down low next season for Ball State, we'll only see these numbers rise as her career goes on.

Both Cabellero and Tagayi aren't new to playing on a big stage, as they've both won Fiba championships with their respective countries. Caballero won the Fiba U20 Euro Basket championship with Spain in 2025, and Tagayi was a part of France's 2024 Women's European Championship squad.

As of now the Cardinals have one commit for the class of 2026 and 2027 respectively. Lillian Barnes (class of 2026) from Valparaiso, Indiana, signed with Ball State in November. She is currently ranked 93rd nationally and 7th in the stage amongst the class of 2026.

Class of 2027 player Kenzie Koch committed to the Cardinals in October, and this is a recruit to be excited about. From Charlottesville, Indiana, Koch is a four star recruit ranked third in the state and 53rd nationally.

If no one transfers out this offseason, Ball State will have 11 total returners as they only had two seniors this previous season. The most important returner could be current sophomore Grace Kingery, who had a breakout year, tying her career high in scoring once (23 points), and breaking it twice (24 points and now 25 points).

In 2024-25, Kingery played in 31 games averaging 14 minutes per game. This past season she started in as many games as she played last year, averaging 13.4 points and 2.7 rebounds a game while shooting 45% from the field. With her 13.4 points a game, Kingery was third on the team in scoring this past season. An improvement from eight on the team last season with 4.8 points per game.

When it comes to Kingery, improvement has been the name of the game in her first two seasons in Muncie, something we hope rolls over into her junior year.

The 2025-26 Cardinals roster only has two players graduating this year, meaning next year will be proving grounds for some of the players who didn't see much action this season.

One of those players being current freshman Brooke Winchester. Winchester played in 14 games this season, averaging 6.5 minutes per game along with 2.1 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.

With the departure of Towers, the 6 foot underclassmen could be put in the position to take on the role Cabellero had this season.

Contact Kyle Stout and Rylan Crum with questions via email at kyle.stout@bsu.edu or on X @kylestoutdailyn and at Rylan.crum@bsu.edu or on X @RylanCrum.

Norris died Thursday morning in Kauai, Hawaii, his family confirmed Friday morningon social media.

"It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning," the statement said. "While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace.

"To the world, he was a martial artist, actor, and a symbol of strength. To us, he was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, an incredible brother, and the heart of our family. He lived his life with faith, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to the people he loved. Through his work, discipline, and kindness, he inspired millions around the world and left a lasting impact on so many lives."

The family said it was thankful to Norris's fans, who to him "were not just fans, you were his friends."

Last week, the star posted a martial arts video on Instagram in which he hit a sparring partner with a combo before saying to the camera, "I don't age, I level up."

"I'm 86 today!" Norris wrote in the caption. "Nothing like some playful action on a sunny day to make you feel young. I'm grateful for another year, good health and the chance to keep doing what I love. Thank you all for being the best fans in the world. Your support through the years has meant more to me than you'll ever know."

One of America's most famous martial artists, and certainly the most frequently memed, Norris leveraged his black belt skills to build a successful television and film career. Although his action star status ultimately made Norris a household name, he told Sharyl Attkisson on a 2017 episode of the news magazine show "Full Measure" that he was a true martial artist "who dabbles in acting" rather than the other way around.

The world champion held black belts in karate, taekwondo, tang soo do, Brazilian jiu jitsu, judo and the martial arts discipline he founded himself, chun kuk do.

He acted in more than 30 action films and numerous television projects, but it was the 1972 film "The Way of the Dragon," in which he starred alongsideBruce Lee, that put Norris on the map. Norris went on to star in action films including "Missing in Action" in 1984 and its sequels, "Firewalker" in 1986 and "Sidekicks" in 1992, as well as the 1986 film "The Delta Force," the 1990 sequel "Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection," and 1991's "The Hitman."

Perhaps his best-known project, the television series "Walker, Texas Ranger," which he starred in and executive produced, was inspired by the 1983 American neo-western "Lone Wolf McQuade," also starring Norris. The series ran from 1993 to 2001 and followed Cordell Walker, a Texas lawman who battles crime with a black belt and strong moral compass.

"While our hearts are broken, we are deeply grateful for the life he lived and for the unforgettable moments we were blessed to share with him," the family said in its statement. "The love and support he received from fans around the world meant so much to him, and our family is truly thankful for it."

©2026 Los Angeles Times. Visit atlatimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Lavender Closet aims to provide a safe space for the queer community, but the resources they provide are open to everyone. They help aid those in need by providing clothes and other necessities. They offer soap, shampoo, and self-hygiene products. In the future, they hope to expand their operations and offer bigger things, like furniture. But those who volunteer their time to help keep the doors open say it's about more than just the resources.

"I love the space. I love being in here. It feels cozy. Also, when we had our grand opening, it just truly felt like community. There was so many people hanging out, having fun," Izzy Thompson said.

Thompson is the director/founder of Lavender Closet and a graduate student at Ball State. They're proud of the progress the group has made so far. All of Lavender Closet's resources are given by donation, and it's the members of the community that help keep the mission alive.

Community is important to Lavender Closet, and they hope to build a strong connection with other queer organizations nearby. A few weeks ago, to help decorate their space, they hosted an event. Those who showed up could help paint Lavender Closet's mural.

While the mural is still in progress, it's easy to notice the support Lavender Closet has received so far. The nonprofit hopes to host more events like that one, drawing in more members of the queer community and creating a space of inclusion for all.

Contact Addison Hampshire with comments at addison.hampshire@bsu.edu

Women's Week at Ball State University (March 23-27)
Women's Week will feature lectures, presentations, workshops, musical performances, a poster session, a film with discussion, panel discussions and a book discussion. All events are free.

March 23

• Keynote by Dr. Aria Halliday, Marie Rich Endowed Professor in Arts and Sciences and associate professor of gender and women's studies and African American and Africana studies at the University of Kentucky, at 2 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom. The talk, "Where Are Black Girls Safe?" will be followed by refreshments and a book signing.

March 24

• "A Brief History of the Muncie Post-Democrat," presented by Daisy Dale, at 12:30 p.m. in Student Center Cardinal Hall A.
• "Womanhood Workshop" crafting event at 3:30 p.m. in the Peace and Conflict Center.
• "Women of Song," featuring Vox Anima, Vola Voce and White River Sound, at 7:30 p.m. in Sursa Hall.

March 25

• WGS Capstone Poster Session at 5:30 p.m. in Burkhardt Building, Room 109.
• "Fair Play" film screening as part of the Reel Stories Film Series at 6:30 p.m. in Burkhardt Building, Room 109. Rachael Smith, assistant teaching professor of women's and gender studies at Ball State University, will lead a discussion following the film.

March 26

• Disability Awareness Month speaker Natalie Dickey at 3:30 p.m. in Student Center Cardinal Hall A.

March 27

• "Civic Education and the Modern Suffragette: Protecting Voting Rights at the Sequicentennial" at 1 p.m. in Student Center Cardinal Hall A. Sponsored by the League of Women Voters and AAUW.
• Disability Awareness Month Book Club featuring Year of the Tiger: An Activist's Life by Alice Wong at 3 p.m. in the Student Center Pineshelf Room.

For more information, visit:
https://commcenter.bsu.edu/message/march-23-27-is-womens-week-at-ball-state-university

Time Tracking and Absence in Workday: What Employees Need to Know
Learn how to enter time, request absences and review balances in Workday. This session covers essential tasks and best practices for employees using Workday Time Tracking and Absence.

Multiple dates available:

• Thursday, April 2 | 10-11 a.m. | Online
• Monday, April 13 | 2-3 p.m. | Online
• Tuesday, April 21 | 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Online

For more information, visit:
https://commcenter.bsu.edu/message/time-tracking-and-absence-in-workday-what-employees-need-to-know

Fly Well: Travel the Universe Without Leaving Campus
The Charles W. Brown Planetarium at Ball State University offers an opportunity to experience the wonders of space. Located in the Cooper Science Complex, the planetarium hosts shows that take visitors through galaxies, planets and the night sky.

The planetarium is one of Indiana's largest science education spaces. Whether interested in astronomy, looking for an evening activity or trying something new on campus, the planetarium offers a unique experience. Upcoming programs are available online.

Build belonging, seek support, fly well.

For more information, visit:
https://commcenter.bsu.edu/message/fly-well-travel-the-universe-without-leaving-campus

For more information, go toBall State's Communication Center.

Gov. Mike Braun revealed a new economic development initiative Tuesday aimed at creating 100,000 high-wage agriculture and life sciences jobs over the next decade.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation will commit $1 billion in tax credits over 10 years toward jobs in agriculture and life sciences.

The commitment is the first of its kind targeting specific industries following an executive order from Braun last year directing Indiana's 15 economic regions to submit formal growth plans to boost economies, per capita income and educational attainment.

"Indiana is the leader in life sciences," Braun said. "We are the premier destination for human therapeutics, animal health, agri-tech, biotechnology and environmental innovation."

He designated the Central Indiana Regional Development Authority, or CIRDA, as the first regional steward to coordinate and execute the initiative.The region is already home to global companies like Eli Lilly, Elanco Animal Health and Corteva Agriscience.

"Indiana will be an epicenter for reshoring and expansion in this area," Braun said.

The regional initiative is an outgrowth of the earlier Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative, or READI, which focused on quality of place projects.

"The governor recognized that the state is not one economy, but a series of regional economies," Commerce Secretary David Adams said.

Adams toured the15 regionslast year to see how well the counties and cities were aligned economically.

"I asked each of the regions to identify your strategy, focus on the industries that are core strengths to your economy," he said.

Central region first up

CIRDA is the first region to come forward with a growth strategy, which ties together the region's human, animal and plant health sectors.

"Central Indiana is a unique ecosystem - we have the ability to discover it, we have the ability to make it, we have the ability to move it, and we also have the ability to apply it or heal it around health care," Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness said.

Conditional tax credits awarded through the initiative can only support jobs that pay at least 125% of the county median wage, Adams said.

The $1 billion commitment accounts for about one-third of the IEDC's available tax credits, Adams said.

Braun explained the initiative's focus on agriculture and life sciences, citing the industry's high wages.

"It's a growth industry. Other states are trying to corner that market," he said.

University presidents and industry executives attended Tuesday's event and praised the initiative.

"The life sciences sector in Indiana is an important driver of economic success, creating jobs and opportunities for Hoosiers while delivering innovative health solutions," Stephen Ferguson, chairperson of the Cook Group, said in a statement.

"This announcement by Gov. Braun will position the state to capitalize on our strengths and facilitate more growth for future years to come."

Vanessa Green Sinders, president and CEO of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, said "Indiana's continued prosperity depends on creating an environment in which employers can grow and people can build careers.

"Gov. Braun recognizes this, and the state's new investment in agriculture and life sciences advances a clear signal that Indiana is serious about competing for-and winning-the race for talent attraction and the next generation of private-sector growth.

At its last meeting, SGA reviewed the requirements and senator choices for president pro tempore nominations. The two senators who had been nominated and accepted the nominations were Gracie Hamilton and Grace Recrucha.

RELATED: Ball State's Student Government Association elects new officers

Gracie Hamilton, a third-year political science and legal studies dual major, is a part of Ball State's Honors College and is a political science department student ambassador. Hamilton has been a part of SGA for two years, a part of the collegiate caucus whip for one year and served on all out-of-senate committees.

Hamilton said she wants to focus on three main points as president pro tempore:retention, recruitment and representation.

For retention, Hamilton said she wants to keep senators within the senate and maintain the current number of senators.

"I want to provide a list for potential organizational visits that you can use to make the process of staying here a little bit easier. A survey for current senators, what we don't like, what we want to see changed," Hamilton said. "Then same thing for exit interviews for leaving senators."

Hamilton wants to represent groups such as Ball State University Spectrum, Alliance for Disability Awareness and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

She also wants to help represent SGA senators by working more closely with them to track the progress of pending legislation and clearly communicate student concerns to the administration at Ball State.

"I've had to work with our current pro temp while navigating upper university administration, [and] while getting the election day off legislation passed," Hamilton said. "So, I think I'm in a really good position to help you all with that next year, and just like clearly communicat[e] student concerns to those upper levels."

Grace Rerucha, a second-year psychology major, is on SGA's finance and student engagement committees. Rerucha has been in SGA for two years and is a member of the Alpha Phi Omega sorority as the open-bidding chair.

Rerucha said she wants to focus on three main points as president pro tempore:retention, recruitment and personality.

Rerucha's plan for recruitment is to hold more SGA Senate-sponsored events on campus and to increase the SGA senate's social media presence.

"I actually facilitated recruitment this past spring, so I was able to bring in new members, and I found out what worked, within it, and how to get the best people and how to get them," Rerucha said.

For retention, Rerucha said she wants to continue past ideas while introducing "business buddies" to keep people on SGA and ensure they are enjoying their time on it.

"I like to plan things for the group, and I like to make sure I can foster a group environment and personality. You want a welcoming and friendly person for recruitment and retention, to make sure people are happy and enjoying what they do," Rerucha said.

After both candidates presented their platform points, they retreated to the outside of Cardinal Hall B for the senate to hold its election to choose the next president pro tempore.

After a few minutes, the voting was complete, and with 16 of 30 votes, Hamilton was elected the president pro tempore for the next academic year.

Afterward, SGA welcomed special guests to address the senate on initiatives that different departments at Ball State are working on.

Associate Vice President of Facilities Planning and Management Rodney Nasiri spoke about recycling rates and educated students on what can and cannot be recycled. Nasiri said that Ball State wants to reduce the amount of trash contamination.

"Right now, our recycling load is pretty contaminated, and so we have a lot of improvements to do, and it starts with us, kind of like a grassroots effort here," Nasiri said.

Nasiri said they are planning to have people stand at high-traffic areas on campus April 6 to speak with students about the issue, and are currently looking for volunteers for one-hour shifts of tabling.

"We're going to identify about three or four areas where there's a lot of activity…we're going to have individuals stand there and look at [it] with some guidelines in terms of … how to recycle, and what to put where," Nasiri said.

Director of Student Conduct Kaleigh Richardson also spoke to SGA about the university review board. He asked the senate to consider approving the faculty and staff members who would serve on it.

The university review board reviews serious conduct cases, such as protesting rights, and whether they involve academic or disciplinary issues, such as protesting conduct rules.

"The university review board is convened when we have conduct cases that result in proposed sanctions of suspension or expulsion. So those are fairly rare, and these cases would go to a hearing if the student requests that, or if the student has not participated in that process, to give them the full extent of due process available to them," Richardson said.

The members who were asked to be approved on the review board were:

• Nick Baumgartner, instructor of special education
• Angie Boyle, grant manager for the office of research
• Charity Coffman, assistant director of organizational development and learning
• Candy Dodd, associate program director for the entrepreneurial leadership institute
• Jason Dunham, senior lecturer of chemistry
• Erik Ippel, equal opportunity and employee relations specialist
• Kyla McKillip, assistant director of talent acquisition
• Jim Mills learning center assistant director
• Greg Rocheleau, associate professor of criminal justice and criminology
• Jim Shimkus, head of research and teaching services
• Evette Simmons-Reed, teaching professor of applied behavior analysis
• Laura Suman, head of access services and open education
• Wendy Watson, assistant teaching professor of criminal justice and criminology

SGA held a vote on whether or not to pass the new university review board while Richardson stayed outside the room. After the vote concluded with 29 yays, three nays and zero abstentions, the board was approved.

SGA then reviewed a budget request from the student safety committee for its "Coffee with a Cop" event. The event will be held at the Ball State University Green March 19, from 12-3 p.m., to provide students with a connection to the University Police Department and its officers.

The items requested include: 360 donuts for $575, eight 96-ounce jugs of coffee for $140 and another eight 96-ounce jugs of apple cider for $35, which, when rounded up, totaled $750.

SGA approved the budget request with 28 yays, one nay and two abstentions.

SGA will meet again next week, March 25, at the L.A. Pittenger Student Center in Cardinal Hall B at 3:15 p.m.

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

Tonight: Clouds and winds increasing as we go throughout the evening. Temperature getting down to 50 degrees.

Tomorrow: Temperature reaching the upper 60s. Overcast skies for most of the day with wind gusts up to 25 mph.

Seven-Day Forecast: Peak heating through the weekend, with the max temperature reaching the upper 70s on Sunday. Low pressure system coming in Sunday evening, bringing showers and a possible thunderstorm. Starting the work week with temperatures in the mid 40s. Back to the upper 60s by Friday.

- Weather Forecaster Elia Stowers

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

Tonight: Clear start to our night before clouds start to make their way in. We will still be experiencing around the same gusty winds that we have been experiencing in our region recently with the winds staying to the south around 10 mph, however gusts will be up to 20 mph. We will reach a low of 44 degrees so a heavy coat will still be needed if you do need to head out tonight.

Tomorrow: Warmer and above average temperatures can be expected for the next week including Friday. At the bus stop expect the temperature to be around 50 degrees, so a light jacket is suggested as temperatures will be very mild. Afternoon hours temperatures will be very comfortable, reaching 60 degrees. Eventually by your evening commute, you can lose the jacket as temperatures will reach 75 degrees. Time to pull your shorts and t-shirts back out!

Seven-Day Forecast: Expect warmer temperatures for the next week as spring weather is coming. Gusty winds will still continue to linger around, however on the bright side, we do not have a severe threat or storms for the next week ahead. Ice and snow from the system that moved out this past week will begin to melt, so expect spots on roads and sidewalks to be slick and wet. As for the next week temperatures will be on a increasing trend eventually by Sunday reaching our high of the week of 83 degrees. Monday we cool off slightly to 60 degrees but later warm back up to the 70's again by Wednesday, and 81 by Thursday.

- Weather Forecaster Kendra Heath

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

"I think this is very important, people know their local sheriff personally, because you know like I said working in the schools, I did that for eighteen years. Two jobs for eighteen years and I truly enjoyed it." David Williams, Sheriff Candidate said.

His experience in the Delaware County's school system and as a Sergeant pushed him into wanting to take a leadership role.

"I started and became a police officer, that's when I was like, hey I am the type of individual, I want to get every certification possible, I want to be the best possibly, and i want to do everything I possibly can, while I'm young enough, and I wanna make an impact." Williams said.

Williams and his supporters took part in the Muncie Saint Patrick's Day parade that is held downtown Muncie.

"It is so exciting, I mean, first of all we love Saint Patrick's Day, and it's great to be here, Dave is just a great guy, so I do not think I would be any place else, even though its a little chilly out here, but I would not want to be anywhere else," Todd StJohn, a supporter, said.

"If people could see the sheriffs department, or the ball state police department, or the Muncie Police Department, really any police department in Delaware County and look at us as were here and we are not the bad guys, we are here to help you guys, we are here to protect and serve, and that's just the bottom line," Williams said.

William's is hoping to serve a new role as County Sheriff in this year's 2026 election.

For more information on Delaware County's election go to co.delaware.in.us

Contact Mira Bloomer with comments at mira.bloomer@bsu.edu.

"You can add that bass drum."

"Ready…one, two, one, two, half-time…"

Every Tuesday and Thursday, inside a studio space of Ball State University's Music Instruction Building, you can hear the loud bang of drums, delicate keys of a piano and vocalists warming up, mixed with the sound of chatter and laughs echoing through the room.

Established in 2017 by Area Coordinator for Music Media Production Dr. Christoph Thompson, Ball State's Studio Band is the university's commercial music ensemble. With a focus on performing contemporary pop, R&B and soul, Studio Band brings a different sound to the Muncie community.

Associate Lecturer of Music (Jazz Percussion) and Studio Band director Cassius Goens grew up in Muncie and attended Ball State. A lifelong music lover, Goens said he began playing the drums at age 10. He played in school bands throughout middle and high school, and began playing gigs when he started college. After switching his major a few times, he graduated with a bachelor's in general studies with an emphasis in music.

In 2014, Ball State's College of Fine Arts reached out to see if Goens was interested in assisting with its Jazz degree, and in 2023, he was approached to direct Studio Band.

Now, with 14 performers and four student staff members, Goens has changed Studio Band's dynamic to be a fully immersive experience for students.

"Sometimes pop music, R&B, rock - everything that falls under that commercial umbrella - can be looked at as not legit, when we come from this kind of classical, jazz background. My goal is to make people realize that it's needed and it is important," Goens said.

As director, he books gigs, secures venues, arranges music, manages the budget and more, but most importantly, gives his students hands-on opportunities, equipping them to be professional musicians or to work in the professional music world. Goens said his goal is for students to have "real-world experience," and he does this by putting the band in positions to perform at real venues with real audiences.

Fourth-year Ayden Thurnau is one of only two guitarists in Studio Band and has been with the group since his freshman year. He communicates with the other guitarist to split parts and flesh out harmonies and rhythms, making the song work and filling out the arrangements.

Thurnau said he feels prepared to play in a professional band or be a session musician because of the skills he has learned over the past four years.

"A lot of the tunes we've learned are in that [commercial music] repertoire, and I just know them at this point. Whatever I don't know, because of the short turnaround time when we get charts, it's made me a really good sight reader and a really good ear too," Thurnau said.

Thurnau has been playing guitar since third grade and grew up surrounded by music, with his father also playing guitar and being a member of multiple bands. Musicians such as Brandi Carlile and The Beatles, and jazz guitarists Jim Hall and Wes Montgomery, inspired Thurnau to take guitar more seriously.

Thurnau said he wouldn't want to be in any other ensemble in the school of music.

"[Studio Band gives you] a lot of practical experience on what it's like to live as a performing musician in an ensemble, where nowhere else in the school of music has that," Thurnau said. "It also lets the community see a different side of the school of music."

Studio Band has added a horn section, more singers, multiple guitarists, drummers and bassists in recent years. Goens also added new positions, including social media manager and photographer, fourth-year Bailey Land, and choreographer, third-year Jaidyn Bush.

Opportunities to perform have also significantly expanded over the last few years. Studio Band has performed at the Jazz Kitchen in Indianapolis for the past two years, selling out their performance last year. This fall, the group performed around 10 times, including shows at Be Here Now and Room 5 Piano Bar.

Members of Studio Band see themselves as more than an ensemble; they see themselves as a family. From sending daily texts in their group chat to practicing at each other's houses the night before gigs, the students are connected beyond the music.

Second-year Shelby Woodcock, Studio Band vocalist, described Goens as a "father figure" for the group, noting that their bond helps with the communication in Studio Band.

"We have that connection and that bond where he can joke around, but also we know when it's time to take things seriously," Woodcock said.

As a pre-nursing major, Woodcock said she does not want a music career, but has a passion for performing. She grew up dancing competitively and joined her high school's show choir, where she realized she loved singing more than dancing.

For Woodcock, music is an outlet for her to "get out of reality."

"High school was really rough for me, [mentally], so leaning towards music and just singing my heart out when nobody's home, even if it sounds bad, I keep going…making sure that 'okay, you can do this,'" she said.

Woodcock said she originally wanted to join Studio Band her freshman year, but missed auditions. Goens told her to audition the following year, so after taking her freshman year to focus on major requirements, she auditioned last semester.

"Studio Band was that way to have fun, but still be a part of something that is important to other people. It was a good mix," Woodcock said.

Third-year Essence Eaton has been a vocalist for Studio Band since her first year at the university. At the time of her audition, Eaton was a music media production major, and Studio Band served as just an ensemble course credit.

Now a communications major with a concentration in news and cultural entertainment, she has returned to Studio Band because of the learning opportunities, the connections and the people.

"We all have different majors, some are MMP, some are even nursing or director majors, but what we all have in common is music. I feel like music is so spiritual and music brings people together," Eaton said. "When we're all in one space, and we're singing, or we're dancing, or we're playing what we really love, it's just one big family connection."

Fourth-year Megan Selva, a vocalist for Studio Band, auditioned as a first-year student and said that through the years, her confidence has grown. She said she appreciates the tight-knit community of Studio Band and sees them as her family.

"They're my best friends. I think it's so nice to have such a personal connection to a group of people when it comes to music," Selva said. "We all understand each other, and we all want each other to succeed no matter what."

Goens said he sees members as more than his students; he sees them as his kids. He views teaching as a form of mentorship and takes that role seriously.

"I try to spend time with each individual and build a relationship with each student … I never want them to feel like they're not seen and they're just kind of in the background," Goens said. "I want them to feel like they're important to the ensemble, because they are, and it takes a team."

Studio Band will perform at the Jazz Kitchen in Indianapolis April 7 and at Feinstein's at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel, Indiana April 23. For more details, visit its Instagram @ballstatestudioband.

Contact Jessica Bergfors via email at jessica.bergfors@bsu.edu.

WASHINGTON - Electricity rates "increased significantly" in nearly every U.S. state in 2025, with residents in a dozen states seeing at least a 10% jump, according to a congressional report released by Democrats Tuesday.

Minority members of the Joint Economic Committee released state-by-state figures from monthly utility bill data showing, on average, American households paid roughly $110, or 6.4%, more for electricity in 2025, compared to 2024.

The analysis came amid other gloomy economic headlines, including asteep increasein gasoline prices since the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran began, and a lousyjobs reportlast month.

States that saw the highest spikes included New Jersey, 16.9%; Indiana, 16.3%; Illinois, 15.9%; Pennsylvania, 12.1%; Kentucky, 11.8%; Maryland, 11.6%; Tennessee, 11.6%; New York, 11.4%; Ohio, 11.1%; Missouri, 11%; Maine, 10.6%; and Washington state, 10.3%.

The District of Columbia topped the list with an increase of 23.5%, according to the two-pagereport.

Rates dropped by 18% in Nevada, 3.1% in California, 2.4% in Hawaii and 1.6 % in Arizona.

Campaign pledge

Democrats on the committee pointed to President Donald Trump's campaign promise to slash electricity costs, among other prices,by half.

Affordability is a key issue ahead of the 2026 midterm elections in November that will determine control of Congress. Trump has repeatedly referred to the issue of affordability as a "hoax."

"American families don't need a report to tell them that the President has broken his campaign promise to slash energy costs; they already feel the impact of President Trump's actions every single day. But this report is yet another indication that sky-high costs are continuing to rise - and are continuing to hurt American families," the committee's ranking member, Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., said in a statement.

The committee pulled the electricity bill data from the federal Energy Information Administration.

Full data graph can be found onIndiana Capital Chronicle's website.

As of December, the majority, by far, of electricity in the United States is generated by natural gas. Next in generation are nuclear power and coal, followed by wind, conventional hydroelectric and solar, according to the Energy Information Administration.

Experts and economists challenged Trump's campaign promise to cut domestic energy costs by expanding U.S. drilling, highlighting petroleum is priced on a global, not local, market, as noted in an October 2024reportby FactCheck.org.

Full data graph can be found onIndiana Capital Chronicle's website.

Trump recently gathered tech CEOs in the Oval Office to sign a symbolic "ratepayer protection pledge" meant to combat rising energy costs due to AI data center demand.

"It's a big deal; it's going to have a tremendous impact on electricity costs… Under this new agreement, Big Tech companies are committing to fully cover the cost of increased electricity production required for AI data centers - and that would mean prices for American communities will not go up, but in many cases, will actually come down," Trump said.

Gasoline prices, too

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a 4.8% increase in electricity costs over the past 12 months, according to theconsumer price indexfor February. The report showed energy services overall rose 6.3% year over year as piped gas utility costs spiked 10.3% since February 2025.

Expenses overall rose 2.4% over the past year, according to the latest figures, continuing to exceed the Federal Reserve'stargetof 2%.

But nowhere has a price increase been more noticeable in recent days than at the gas pump.

Gas prices nationwide averaged just under $3.72 Monday - that's up from $2.93 one month ago, according to AAA.

Roughly one-fifth of the world's petroleum products have been choked off as Iran continues to effectively close the Strait of Hormuz with threats to shell any oil tankers passing through, except for a few negotiated trips.

The U.S.-Israeli war in Iran began Feb. 28.

Tonight: The low for tonight won't get much cooler, getting down to 35 degrees. After a breezy past few days, the winds will calm down only coming out of the south at 5 mph. Fortunately, the clouds will still be sticking around throughout the night which will help warm up our temperatures tomorrow.

Tomorrow: We will be getting away from those chilly temperatures we have been feeling the past few days and the high will get in the low 60s. There will be clouds present throughout the morning, along with a few midday showers, but they will start to clear out getting into the early afternoon.

Seven-Day Forecast: After the last few days where the temperatures got below freezing, we will finally be seeing a warmup as the rest of the week concludes. Thursday will have a few light midday showers with temperatures starting to rise to 54 degrees as the high. Friday and Saturday will both get up to 68 degrees with the sun peeking in and out of the clouds throughout both days. Sunday will be our warmest high of the week getting up to 72 degrees, well above the temperatures we have experienced the past few days. Unfortunately, the temperature will drop almost 20 degrees overnight and the high on Monday will only get up to 48 degrees. Now it will start to warm throughout the middle of the week getting into the high-50s on Wednesday.

- Weather Forecaster Orion Aric

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

In this episode of 9-1-1 What's Your Hot Take, Sam and Willow discuss the events of season 9 episode 13 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

Today: Expect cloudy and breezy conditions in the early to mid-afternoon. Winds will sit around 10-15 mph out of the Southwest with gusts potentially over 20. Today won't be as cold as yesterday, with a high of 41 degrees.

Tonight: The winds will gradually weaken as we head into the overnight, but cloudy conditions will remain. Tonight's low is 35 degrees with a slight breeze out of the south of around 5 mph.

Tomorrow: The beginning of the weekend warmup starts tomorrow with a high of 55 degrees. Although the temperatures will be significantly warmer, we can't rule out the possibility of some showers throughout the morning and early afternoon. Expect winds to sit around 5-10 mph.

Seven-Day Forecast: The warm air arrives just in time for the weekend. Expect highs in the high-60s and low-70s throughout the weekend with partly cloudy conditions. Our low temperatures will sit in the 30s and 40s over the next seven days. A large ridge is expected to move into the central United States over the weekend, limiting rain chances early next week. This will allowmostly sunny conditions to start the week.

- Weather Forecaster Zachary Alberson

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 clickHERE

Health insurance is not required and all testing will be conducted on a walk-in basis. For questions or inquiries, please message the department via email at hpa@bsu.edu or call 765-285-3775.

Contact the Daily News via email ateditor@bsudailynews.com.

Lease lives with autism and a rare genetic condition called CTTNB1, a neurological disorder that impairs and delays brain development. The disorder was recently found in 2011, affecting roughly one in 50 thousand children.

Lease's mom, Emily Crawford, has found support through her own research and in her community.

"We finally pulled him from public school because he was really struggling and was considering homeschooling him," Crawford said. "Then, we got the call from Hillcroft that there was an opening coming up."

Lease and his family are enrolled in Hillcroft Services Inc, a non-profit organization founded in 1953 that provides residential, employment, and community support services to individuals. They offer specialized programming, including ABA autism therapy, vocational training, and residential group living.

Lease is enrolled in the ABA therapy, where he learns skills and improves his behavior. He's made significant progress since joining.

"Tyler has grown a lot in the past several months," Clinic Director Kaitlyn Smith said. He's worked really hard on communication, not only with his therapist and his parents, but with his peers. He was not really interested at first, but now he's seeking them out to paint nails or to play."

Outside of the clinic, Lease receives additional support through Canine Companions. Canine Companions is a nonprofit that issues service dogs to help people with disabilities at no cost. Last year, Lease and his family were paired up with Russell.

"The main thing that Russell helps Tyler with is regulation", Crawford said. Tyler gets fixated on different stressors, so Russell can help redirect by nudging him or lying across him to add deep pressure."

Lease and his family continue to utilize these services, but the support from the community remains endless.

To get involved in the program, visit their website.

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

From a very young age, Taylor was curious by nature, so much so, that she earned herself the nickname "Jovi the Journalist." Despite the childhood moniker, she did not discover her passion for journalism until her freshman year of high school when she took a journalism 101 course.

Though her passion was unleashed in high school, Ball State has given Taylor the opportunity to sharpen her skills as a journalist. Her studies have helped her to feel more confident in her skills as an investigator and reporter.

"The coolest part of being a CCIM student is having the opportunity to work with great professors who have such diverse backgrounds and experience," said Taylor.

She credits her growth to the many professors who have impacted her and helped give her to tools to be more effective and confident. While the professors have helped shape Taylor, the opportunities that she has had while at Ball State have also left a lasting impact.

One such opportunity was her internship for the Indiana Senate through their press secretary program. The experience offered her insights into the innerworkings of the government, and helped her build connections that will last her a lifetime.

"Each day was a new and cool experience," said Taylor, "because the program provided us with different guest speakers from Indiana Statehouse and fostered a collaborative learning environment."

With such excellent experiences in her portfolio, it is easy to imagine her passions to be limited to the world of journalism. However, Taylor has many passions that she does not shy away from sharing.

Her passions include art, dancing and music. Most notable, however, is her deep and unwavering passion for her faith.

"The story behind that is quite amazing, I believe, in of itself but it shaped me into who I am today because I have grown so much in my faith." Said Taylor.

As she soars toward graduation, Taylor is sure to make waves with her career and her many passions.

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.