Ball State study: School choice in Indiana leads to $88 million in savings on education spending in 2019-20

Students and teachers reflect on June 2021 shooting of Ball State freshman Montana Lopez

After a few hours at Brothers Bar & Grill on a Saturday night, senior telecommunications major Blake Smith received a University Police Department (UPD) text alert that said officers were investigating reports of shots fired on her street. She was the first of her group of roommates and friends to go back to her house, and texted her friend and neighbor Montana Lopez to check on him. Smith had been at Lopez’s house for a party before going to Brothers.

Patterson Block Muncie to host grand opening at First Thursday downtown

The historic Patterson Block has hosted many businesses and visitors in downtown Muncie, and on Aug. 5, it will host its grand opening under new owner Kimberly Ferguson, a native Hoosier and Ball State graduate.

Muncie Community Schools requires masks regardless of vaccination status

At a special board meeting Aug. 3, the Muncie Community Schools (MCS) Board of Trustees unveiled its reopening plan for the 2021-22 school year, which includes required face masks for all students, staff, volunteers and visitors regardless of their vaccination status.

Everyone required to wear masks indoors on Ball State's campus

Ball State President Geoffrey Mearns announced all students, employees and visitors must wear a mask indoors regardless of the vaccination status via email August 4. 

Five national stories of the week

Simone Biles returns to the Olympic competition, bipartisan bill leaves out key climate and clean energy steps, the US hits a 70 percent vaccination rate amid the COVID-19 surge, US employers ratchet up the pressure on the unvaccinated and garden to open for El Paso Walmart shooting second anniversary makes up this week's five national stories. 

Indiana State Fair 2021

This photo gallery will be updated throughout the month of August as the state fair continues.

Five international stories of the week

US expands Afghan refugee program, Belarus Olympian plans to seek asylum in Poland, Turkey battles wildfires for the sixth day, Europe's vaccine passes reveal some pockets of resistance and death toll triples to more than 300 in recent China flooding makes up this week's five international stories. 

Former Ball State softball player Jen Gilbert earns bronze medal with Team Canada at Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Jen Gilbert, 2011–2014 outfielder on Ball State's softball team and former assistant coach, played for her home country on Team Canada in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The Canadian Olympic softball team earned its first-ever Olympic medal this week, defeating Mexico 3-2 in the bronze medal game at Yokohama Baseball Stadium in Yokohama, Japan.

Beth Goetz named vice chair of NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee

At its annual summer meeting July 28, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Women's Basketball Committee voted to appoint Ball State Director of Athletics Beth Goetz to the position of vice chair for the upcoming 2021-22 school year.

Minnetrista exhibit reflects on historical Ball Brothers Corporation impact in 'Jarring Our Memories'

For more than 100 years, Ball canning jars were manufactured in Muncie and plant workers developed many memories working for the Ball Brothers Corporation and cementing Muncie’s history as a manufacturing city. The Minnetrista “Jarring Our Memories” exhibit aims to highlight and share those memories with the local community. 

Saying Yes to The Dress

Lexi Hubenak says she was never really a crier. She didn’t believe in getting emotional over a piece of clothing and used to think people who did were overdramatic, until she found her wedding dress. 

Kokomo woman releases 'Yellow Dog' children's book inspired by her therapy dogs

Cindie Hudson, Kokomo, Indiana resident and owner of two therapy dogs — Harlee and Seger — has recently published a book called “Yellow Dog.” “Yellow Dog” is about Hudson’s family trip that she took to Sanibel Island on the southwest coast of Florida. 

Muncie Community Schools raises support staff hourly pay

Two months after approving pay raises for teachers, the Muncie Community Schools (MCS) Board of Trustees voted to increase the hourly pay of support staff to $14 an hour at its meeting July 27.

Five national news stories of the week

Last victim ID'd in Florida condo building collapse, Jacoby wins swimming gold for the US, California and New York City require government workers to get the coronavirus vaccine, Biden says US combat mission in Iraq to conclude by year end and warming rivers in US West are killing fish and imperiling the industry makes up this week's five national stories. 

Five international stories of the week

Tunisia on edge as the president suspends parliament and fires the prime minister, two COVID patients dead after power outage at a Jordan hospital, 28 abducted Baptist school students freed in Nigeria, pandemic Olympics endured heat, and not a typhoon's en route and the Vatican trial opens into financial scandal rocking papacy makes up this week's five international stories. 

Summer 2021 graduates discuss future plans after Ball State commencement ceremony

At the top of her graduation cap, Mona Goggins attached pictures of her nephews and younger brother Josh. In shining letters, the words “worked hard to advocate for you” filled the remaining space. 

Mason Kupiainen

Burris Laboratory School names interim principal

Abigail E. Comber was appointed as interim principal at Burris Laboratory School for the 2021-22 academic year, as announced in a July 23 Ball State press release.

Ball State alumna Denice Torres joins board of directors for cancer treatment company Surface Oncology

Denice Torres, Ball State alumna who earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1981, was recently named a new board of directors member for Surface Oncology, a clinical stage immuno-oncology company in Cambridge, Massachusetts.