The settlement was first announced in early April, but the case hadn't yet been dismissed by the court.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana, which represented Swierc, announced on May 26 that the settlement includes compensation for lost wages, attorneys' fees and costs, removal of disciplinary records related to her termination and a change in her employment record to reflect a voluntary resignation rather than a termination.

"Suzanne was speaking as a private citizen on a matter of public concern when Ball State fired her over a private social media post," said Stevie Pactor, Senior Staff Attorney at the ACLU of Indiana, in a press release. "The First Amendment does not allow government institutions to retaliate in those circumstances, and this settlement reflects that."

The university had its own interpretation of what the settlement meant.

According to an email sent by Ball State President Geoffrey Mearns to senior university leadership on May 26, Mearns said he authorized the $225,000 payment because it was "substantially less than the anticipated amount of our University's legal fees to defend the case."

"The settlement does not vindicate Ms. Swierc's claims, as her lawyers have stated today," Mearns said.

Swierc, Ball State's former director of health promotion and advocacy, sued Mearns after she was terminated in September 2025 following a Facebook post she made after the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

The lawsuit centered on whether Swierc's Facebook post was protected speech under the First Amendment.

Swierc's initial comment stated, "Charlie Kirk's death is a reflection of the violence, fear, and hatred he sowed. It does not excuse his death, AND it's a sad truth."

Her statement culminated with references to several victims of school shootings from Minneapolis and Colorado, emphasizing that these tragedies also deserve one's attention. Swierc concluded her Facebook statement with "Charlie Kirk excused the deaths of children in the name of the Second Amendment."

Swierc's post on her private Facebook page was screenshot and reposted, going viral due to the responses. This led to calls for her termination from Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita and Randall McCallister, a former Republican candidate for Indiana State House Representative in District 34.

RELATED: Suzanne Swierc's firing incites responses from political figures, student organizations

Rokita referred to Swierc's words as a "vile comment," according to his Facebook post. He called comments such as hers "outrageous" and said that "they should make people question someone's ability to be in a leadership position."

Mearns defended his decision to terminate Swierc, arguing her comments resulted in significant disruption to university operations.

In his message on May 26, Mearns said the university received hundreds of complaints following the widespread circulation of the post on social media.

He wrote that the university office fielded threatening phone calls and emails, staff members reported concerns for their safety and university employees were unable to perform their normal duties because of the volume of communications.

Mearns also cited concerns about the university's reputation, enrollment and fundraising efforts.

"Some people indicated their intent to withhold donations to our University. One person claimed to be the parent of three current students, and the person's social media post indicated that the students would not be reenrolling at our University," Mearns said in the statement.

The president said his decision was informed by a recent federal appellate court ruling, Hedgepeth v. Britton, which examined the First Amendment rights of public employees and the impact employee speech can have on educational institutions.

RELATED: President Geoffrey Mearns addresses senate on Swierc lawsuit and free speech issues

Mearns wrote that he concluded he had both the legal authority and professional responsibility to terminate Swierc's employment because of the disruption caused by the post.

The ACLU disagreed with that interpretation and argued throughout the litigation that Swierc was speaking as a private citizen and that her speech was constitutionally protected.

Greg Fallon, associate vice president for university communications and digital strategy, said there would be no further comment from the university beyond Mearns' statement.

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

About a year and a half ago, Gainbridge officially incorporated sustainability into its operations, hiring Maddie Plank as the Sustainability Project Coordinator for Pacers and Sports Entertainment.

In a recent news update, Gainbridge's parent company, Pacers and Sports Entertainment, published a mission statement centered on climate-smart operations, community impact and sustainability partnerships.

Plank said Indianapolis' growing environmental initiatives helped motivate Gainbridge's sustainability efforts. She also credited local partnerships as a major reason the organization has been able to expand its programs.

"It took time to learn about the community that we reside within," Plank stated, "But we're not trying to function in a vacuum, which has been very helpful."

Gainbridge partners with local non-profits like Teachers' Treasures, Habitat for Humanity, and Pedal and Park. Plank said that when materials like posters, merchandise, and furniture used by the arena are no longer in use, Gainbridge donates those items instead of sending them to a landfill.

That is where an organization like Teachers' Treasures comes in. The group is a local organization whose mission is to give school supplies and divert reusable materials from landfills to teachers in Marion County.

Zach Hall, director of logistics for Teachers' Treasures, said partnerships with organizations like Gainbridge can create meaningful community impact.

"It motivates us to know that by diverting these materials as long as possible, out of the landfills, and using those materials to help children and help our teachers and our community, we can raise up that morale," Hall said, "By taking those items and putting them into the hands of kids, we can create a little bit of hope or a little bit of just positivity in the community"

Another sustainability partnership came through "Pedal to the Pacers," a 2025 collaboration between Pacers Sports & Entertainment and Central Indiana Cycling that encouraged fans to bike to games instead of driving.

Anthony Cherolis, director of Central Indiana Cycling, said he hopes the growing event encourages safer roads and more sustainable transportation in an area of Indianapolis he believes needs improvement.

"We support multi-use trails in all areas of the city as we're looking to reduce the number of polluting, greenhouse gas-emitting motor vehicle trips," Cherolis said.

While appreciating the sustainable work Gainbridge does, Cherolis said there is still room for improvement. Cherolis said that excess traffic surrounding the fieldhouse on game day often makes for unsafe streets and contributes to Indy's air pollution. Indy already ranks 11th worst for annual particle pollution in the air out of more than 200 metros nationwide, according to a new report from the American Lung Association.

"Greater Indianapolis now has hundreds of miles of multi-use trails, and I think, in addition to what they're doing, Gainbridge can take advantage of that," Cherolis said.

League-wide sustainability initiatives from the NBA and WNBA, along with support from Pacers Sports & Entertainment ownership and the Simon brothers' commitment to environmental efforts, have also helped the push toward sustainability.

"All of that together kind of created the perfect storm to formalize this position for sustainable actions," Plank said.

Internal strategy has also helped Gainbridge Fieldhouse focus on sustainability. Officials have put in a number of waste management systems, like public-facing trash and recycling bins, while incorporating educational videos about recycling on the large screens during events.

"Our education campaigns seem relatively successful in altering fan behavior," Plank said, though she also noted the corporation is looking for better ways to gauge the public's reaction.

There are also several waste collection methods behind the scenes making Gainbridge more green, including composting in the kitchen and recycling excess materials in merchandising. Plank said the process can move quickly during events, and she credited staff for helping keep operations running smoothly.

According to Plank, the creation of the sustainability role also contributed to a broader culture shift at Gainbridge, including changes in how the venue manages energy use on non-event days.

Those "Off-day" protocols include dimming arena lights by 25% to 50% to reduce energy consumption. Plank also said discussions are ongoing about how best to heat and cool the building when it is not in use.

"The cultural shift has just been about being cognizant of what we're using and how we can reduce that," Plank said.

With all the progress, recent changes have also added ongoing challenges for the Sustainability Project Coordinator. One of these is the balance of company aesthetic and sustainability when it comes to the premium spaces. The waste management in these spots has proven more difficult for Plank to balance, compared to the rest of the fieldhouse.

"In our premium areas, we've been trying to pilot some systems to sort of revamp the waste collection in the suites," said Plank, "There are some things that have been working, but this is the infrastructure we're working most to change right now."

With Plank's guidance, Gainbridge has introduced composting and single-stream recycling.

Using bailers, staff compile large chunks of recycled material and send them back into the market. Gainbridge also incorporates composting into kitchen habits and is looking to expand more on this form of waste management, according to Plank.

"Because so much of what we, right now, consider as trash is actually compostable, we're debating on if there's a world where [the trash] compactor actually becomes a compost compactor," Plank said.

Gainbridge's waste management efforts have resulted in an average diversion rate of 15% to 30%, meaning that portion of materials is being composted or recycled instead of sent to landfills, according to officials.

"It's been a pretty big stride, I think, painting a clearer picture for future progress with big wins in the operational setting," Plank said.

Plank said she is grateful for the progress made so far in sustainability efforts at Gainbridge and across the Indianapolis community.

"Because I am a team of one, every bit of Pacers sustainability is rooted in both the company's values and the way I believe in sustainability," Plank said. "I'm so grateful to have that impact."

For comments, questions or concerns, email Bentley Ford at bentleyford.reports@gmail.com

This story was produced in part with financial support fromCarbon Neutral Indiana. The reporting and production of this piece were overseen by faculty and/or staff within the Department of Journalism at Ball State University to ensure adherence to professional and ethical standards.

That is how Army veteran Adam Leach set the tone for the 154th annual Memorial Day service at Muncie's Beech Grove Cemetery May 25. The service brought together community pride, military traditions, and time for reflection and celebration.

The event featured various community members as speakers, including Mayor Dan Ridenour, who led the Pledge of Allegiance, and music from America's Hometown Band. Rev. Henry Hansen Jr., chaplain of American Legion Post 19, led a group invocation.

"To this proud military, wherever they're serving throughout this group, be with them [and] guide them," Hansen Jr. said.

After the recognition of service members present, Delaware County Republican Party Leader Tim Overton read the names of local veterans who'd been buried at the cemetery since last Memorial Day. President of American Legion Post 19, Karla Smith, led the placement of the wreath with Hansen Jr.

The ceremony closed with an interfaith benediction from Interfaith Minister George Wolfe and a rifle salute, which was followed by the playing of taps. Wolfe noted the variety of grave markers in the cemetery and encouraged audience members to be mindful of this diversity.

"This sacred space is a wonderful example of diversity, equity and inclusion, and how important that's been in our country," he said.

Organizing the event was Troy Watters, the cemetery's superintendent, who got emotional while thanking the Delaware County Honor Guard, volunteers who show up for every military funeral in the cemetery.

"If it's plus 100 degrees or 10 below zero, they're here," he said.

Watters also singled out Karen Good, president of the Yorktown Historic Society Genealogy Center, who has spent years tracking down veterans buried at Beech Grove without proper grave markers, working to order and place new stones.

Congresswoman Victoria Spartz was also in attendance and framed the day in terms of national resilience and gratitude.

"Every nation is judged by how we honor the memory of the people who sacrificed for us," she said during her remarks.

For more information on Beech Grove Cemetery and its upcoming events, head to its website at beechgrovecemetery.com.

Literature on societal issues often explores their origins and their impact. A 2020 study conducted by authors Sarah Font and Kathryn Maguire-Jack reviewed previous data regarding the definitions and prevalence of child abuse and neglect.

They provided recommendations for how policies can reduce the scope and suggested definitions of child abuse vary by state and federal law, exploring limitations of data gathering surveys-including Child Protection Services (CPS) reports.

The authors note that underrepresentation of abuse reports often occurs due to household underreporting or systemic misunderstanding. Due to neglect being something that can happen because of poverty, and emotional abuse being difficult to prove in court, courts often favor documenting physical abuse or neglect reports.

CPS systems find favor in this as well. The study states, "Additionally, maltreatment subtypes commonly co-occur, but a single form of maltreatment is sufficient to justify intervention. Thus, CPS investigators may choose to pursue allegations of abuse or neglect that are easiest to document."

With selective definitions and handling of reports, correlational studies that relate these issues to social policy are done to reach decisions on what could change in the child welfare system.

Studies looking at income related to child maltreatment find "relatively modest increases in income may reduce an individual's risk of a CPS report by about 10 percent." In the opposite effect, reduced access to employment can increase reports.

Maltreatment policy changes should be considered. Beyond antipoverty programs, multiple factors have rarely been studied, such as reducing substance use and expanding healthcare.

The authors state that if research is done with these factors and policies are implemented, it can benefit how child maltreatment is handled and reduce the overall rate of instances across the country.

The cycle of child abuse only continues with laws and systems shaping how it is treated, but nonprofits work hands-on with the community and attack the cycle at its roots.

Firefly Children & Family Alliance is a nonprofit organization that provides services for children and struggling families. They address needs like child abuse or neglect prevention, home-based struggles and recovery assistance.

Chris Talley, senior director of marketing for Firefly, works with promotional material and social media marketing. He has been with the organization since 2022.

He and his team focus on communicating the organization's message to not only the public, but to their own staff as well. His goal is to ensure the staff members know how to answer questions, refer to resources and provide the encouragement clients need.

Despite the focus he wants to achieve, Chris also hopes that clients won't forever need their services, and he wants to utilize impactful brand reach more than brand recognition.

"I'm more interested in reaching as many people who might need our services as we possibly can, or somebody becoming aware of our services, not knowing that down the road they might also need to use those services," Chris said.

Firefly's tagline is "light in the darkness", and during times of crisis or the lowest points of people's lives, the best thing the organization can do is be there and guide clients to the way out.

Firefly's current CEO was seeking services from Firefly's former Children's Bureau when she was young and her family was struggling, but now she has run the organization for the last 10 years.

Since then, Firefly has expanded to 20 different locations statewide, which helps tens of thousands more children each year. The organization is celebrating its 175th anniversary, and they have a fundraising goal of $175,000 to give back to clients and help with direct relief.

As costs for living increase and resources for families begin to diminish, Firefly hopes it can be a safe haven for those in need and provide assurance that families can get back on their feet.

"We can always give them the tools to give themselves a better life, which is a net improvement for our communities," Chris said.

Of course, family struggles are only one side of the coin. Food insecurity is a large-scale problem that affects communities all over the world.

According to ScienceInsights, "As of 2024, roughly 673 million people worldwide experienced chronic hunger, representing about 8.2 percent of the global population."

These numbers represent an estimate lower than those in 2023 and 2022, but are larger than in pre-COVID-19 years and continue to grow now. How extreme food insecurity happens among a nation is usually caused by a chain reaction of multiple factors that bring down the country's well-being.

It can begin with war, which displaces farmers and ships carrying supplies, then prices rise due to limited supply, then families risk being malnourished, the economy slows down and so on.

Another population that suffers quietly is children. According to the aforementioned article, "In 2024, an estimated 150.2 million children under five were stunted, meaning they were too short for their age due to chronic malnutrition. That's 23.2 percent of all children in that age group worldwide."

This can also lead to another chain reaction, causing potential cognitive impairment, academic failure and health complications.

Other issues that complicate food insecurity and make the process of diminishing the effects harder are food waste and the climate of an area. Food waste is measured in billions and usually doesn't go to the places that need it, and the climate can complicate crop growth.

Despite the endless cycle, local food banks always find ways to distribute healthy foods to those in need.

Second Harvest Food Bank is a nonprofit food bank that serves eight counties in East Central Indiana, including Delaware County. They are a partner food bank of both Feeding America and Feeding Indiana's Hungry. Its mission is to provide food security and poverty relief for its communities.

Second Harvest does not turn anyone away due to income or other barriers. Individuals juggling several jobs yet still facing food insecurity are recognized and supported with dignity.

However, the nonprofit isn't immune to resourcing struggles. Recently, the government released cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, which affect the families and individuals they serve. Other government programs that provide for Feeding America Food Banks also cut resources that help communities.

Some of this situation was due to the most recent government shutdown, and other, more long-lasting resource cuts have been due to changes in national policy and budgeting. Second Harvest, other food banks, farmers, corporations and ultimately many families have been affected by these changes.

CS Hendershot, director of development and marketing, oversees fundraising and marketing of the organization. Due to breaks in the supply chain, their team scrambled to purchase extra food while other food banks were competing for the same limited resources.

"We had a bit of a delay getting additional inventory to our warehouse because all of the food banks were suddenly having to purchase more food, it was difficult to even find that food, because we were all fighting to get it," CS said.

Although this downturn was unexpected for the organization, CS and the staff are working hard to prevent future incidents. They are also currently working on a plan to expand their reach to communities that don't have nearby food pantries.

Despite efforts by nonprofits like Second Harvest, there is still a social stigma around those experiencing food insecurity.

"The stigma, or the stereotype that these are lazy individuals that don't want to work is certainly not something that we see," CS said.

When CS is thinking of how to tell the story of the mission of their organization, they make sure to put the food-insecure neighbor first. They describe those stories with dignity and in a way that inspires action.

They also use social media platforms to give people accurate information. They include interactivity and clarity to emphasize the organization's cause and activities.

CS personally hopes that, eventually, communities in East Central Indiana will no longer be hungry and be provided pathways toward opportunity and success.

Nonprofit organizations do so much more than what meets the eye. While research gives the world information on the impacts of societal issues, nonprofits reach deep and find people where they are and how they want to be reached. Slowly but surely, societies can begin to heal when nonprofits help save the day.

Officials said Elin Lewis underwent the FDA-approved treatment for transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia at Riley Hospital for Children, making her the first patient in the state to receive the therapy.

The press release from Riley Children's Health said the procedure marks a shift from lifelong disease management to a potential cure for the inherited blood disorder, which affects about 1,500 people in the United States.

Beta-thalassemia requires regular blood transfusions to maintain hemoglobin levels and prevent organ damage, but can lead to complications such as iron overload, fatigue and organ failure.

The gene therapy uses a patient's own stem cells, which are collected, genetically modified to include a functional beta-globin gene, and then infused back into the patient to produce healthy red blood cells.

According to Riley, Elin underwent stem cell collection in November 2025, returned for infusion in February 2026, and is now recovering as expected with engrafted gene-modified cells.

Doctors at Riley said clinical data shows most patients who complete the therapy no longer require transfusions.

The procedure was performed through Riley's Red Blood Cell Curative Clinic, which provides treatment for patients with sickle cell disease, thalassemia and other rare blood disorders, according to the health system.

Physicians involved in the program said the therapy expands treatment options for patients and could reduce or eliminate the need for lifelong transfusions, though long-term outcomes are still being monitored.

Contact Ball State Daily News via email at editor@bsudailynews.com.

Imagine too that as you're falling asleep that night, a hum can be heard coming from your backyard. It's not from your air conditioning unit or the bugs that make up the backdrop of sound on a humid July night. Instead, it comes from a group of windowless buildings, each the size of a Walmart, standing just a few hundred yards from your home. Just one state over in Illinois, that's a real issue for residents as they say they can hear the data centers 24/7, according to Jason Knowles and Maggie Green's investigative report for ABC7 Chicago.

With new centers appearing routinely across the U.S., Muncie could soon be just another steppingstone along the way. But what is an AI data center, and why is it a big deal?

IBM defines an AI data center as "a facility that houses the specific IT infrastructure needed to train, deploy and deliver AI applications and services. It has advanced compute, network and storage architectures and energy and cooling capabilities to handle AI workloads."

It sounds like a giant server warehouse, but the further you look into what exactly these centers provide, the more divisive it becomes.

John West, the department chair of urban planning at Ball State University, named five reasons these massive server hubs have become such a talking point recently.

"On the one hand is the immediate creation of jobs for building a data warehouse center," West said. "So that's something that a lot of people speak in favor of. The second is that there is a certain number of IT staff who stay behind and manage."

The creation of both short-term and long-term jobs is definitely a positive in the eyes of any local economy. More money in the pockets of workers means more money going back to the local businesses. When Amazon announced their $11 billion AI data center "Project Rainier" in New Carlisle, Indiana, it was estimated by then-Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb that it would create at least 1,000 new jobs. However, there is a flip side to this coin. While it may create thousands of jobs, many will be short-term, as pointed out by Melinda Messineo, a sociology professor at Ball State whose work involves environmental sociology.

"The construction jobs are temporary," Messineo said. "These centers don't require a lot of employees. And so, I ask the question, 'What is the business model? Is this about reducing the cost of labor?' If it's reducing the cost of labor, then that means Hoosiers are losing jobs."

While AI data centers do create jobs, it's also important that regulations are set in place to make sure that there aren't jobs outside of the data center realm being lost. This problem goes beyond just an economic standpoint too, according to West.

"On the other side, the opponents tend to emphasize three very tightly related issues," West said. "There's the question of how it affects the electrical grid, and the thing that's most important to the public is how it affects rate payers. Then there's the question of water usage because they need to be cooled. So how much water, and where is that water coming from? And then the third issue is broadband access. You have to consider whether or not you are going to have to expand your internet infrastructure."

Since these data centers are connected to online services, they must have connective capabilities. If the infrastructure such as fiberoptic cables aren't available in the area, the company must work to put them in, which could include above or below-ground lines running through properties of local residents.

It's clear too that Indiana welcomes these data centers with a staggering 88 different sites across the state as of Feb. 26, 2026, according to this map produced by the website Data Center Map. Indianapolis leads the way with 45 different centers out of the 88 within Indiana. Indy isn't the only major home, though, as Fort Wayne and South Bend have 15 and 13 centers, respectively. There's even nine near Gary, next to the Indiana-Illinois border.

This isn't just a local issue either despite it lying in the hands of the local government. According to Darby Stipe's article posted in the November 2025 edition of "Mother Earth News," "So far, no federal legislation exists to regulate the development or use of AI, leaving consumers to their own devices when weighing convenience against the costs." Stipe adds that "considering that producing a single AI-generated image can use the equivalent of a bottle of water or as much energy as charging a smartphone, the costs are high." Yet still, the decision remains in the hands of the smallest forms of government.

This issue paired with limited space in Delaware County is what Muncie now faces. Local leaders like Mayor Dan Ridenour and Delaware County commissioners are being tasked with making a decision as to what they see best. When speaking to a class at Ball State University, Ridenour spoke in favor of a potential AI data center in Muncie. The mayor even went as far as stating that companies such as Microsoft and Google have come forward, announcing their serious interest in making Muncie the home of their next data center.

However, Microsoft responded when asked about the validity of their plans in a way that left plenty of ambiguity by saying "Microsoft owns land for the purpose of datacenter development in La Porte and St. Joseph County, Indiana. We will continue to evaluate sites across the US in order to expand our datacenter footprint and meet the growing demand for cloud and AI services." Google was also asked about these same claims but did not respond to the inquiry.

Deciding where to place these data centers also comes down to the issues of zoning.

West continued his discussion by explaining why finding the space for a potential data center is a little different than most other industries.

"There's a public process for deciding what are called variances in zoning regulations," West said. "Zoning law might say, 'This can be agriculture; this can be industrial; this can be housing.' They (data centers) don't necessarily fit into any of those categories. Oftentimes, they have to seek a variance before they come into town."

With limited room and zoning implications, Ridenour said any data center would most likely be built on the outskirts of town. Even if a center were to be built outside of city limits, it is still highly likely that Muncie residents would feel the effects. The issue is that those effects are still relatively unknown, according to Michael Burayidi, a professor of urban planning at Ball State.

"This is relatively new for municipalities, and that is why they are grappling with the issue now," Burayidi said. "They're not sure exactly what the long-term impact is going to be. In terms of urban support; in terms of revenue generation; in terms of the demand for municipal services; we don't know yet what these impacts are going to be."

One effect that has been felt in other places witnessing this data center boom is electric bills rising. In a New York Times article from August 2025, Ivan Penn and Karen Weise detailed these rising costs.

"Nationally, the average electricity rate for residents has risen more than 30% since 2020, after years of relatively modest increases," Penn and Weise said. "Much of that increase has been driven by utilities' catching up on deferred maintenance and hardening grids for extreme weather."

Penn and Weise feel as though AI could increase that growing number.

"It is difficult to predict what that will mean for consumers' power bills," the pair said. "But recent reports expect data centers will require expensive upgrades to the electric grid, a cost that will be shared with residents and smaller businesses through higher rates unless state regulators and lawmakers force tech companies to cover those expenses."

On top of the potential rising costs of electricity, there's also the possibility of limited water as mentioned earlier. As a city, Muncie draws water from the White River, Prairie Creek Reservoir and four underground wells as stated by Indiana American Water in their 2024 annual report. While Muncie may not be facing a water shortage at the moment, an overabundance of AI data centers does carry the potential to put unnecessary strain on the watershed, according to Jason Donati, the Muncie superintendent of sanitation and recycling.

"With weather and climate change, we're seeing more droughts," Donati said. "Our infrastructure is struggling to keep up. How can we prepare for these inevitable events and things that are happening? We're having trouble doing that."

There are also the effects of contamination of natural resources in areas affected by AI data centers. In a 2025 study done by Shaolei Ren and Adam Wierman for the "Harvard Business Review," the pair found that these centers released several air pollutants such as PM2.5 - a form of particulate matter 30 times smaller than a human hair - and nitrogen oxides. Ren and Wierman state that these pollutants are dangerous because they "can penetrate deep into the lungs and are linked to a variety of health outcomes such as asthma, lung cancer, heart attacks and even premature deaths." The duo even added that "air pollutants like PM2.5 are considered 'non-threshold,' meaning there is no safe level, and any increase poses a health risk."

Donati echoed these worries in his statements.

"I've read a little bit of information about concerns about using it for cooling," Donati said. "But is it polluted when it's going back out? It's growing so fast and so quickly that to catch up with the current information is very challenging."

While much of this may seem hypothetical, it is far from that. AI data centers are popping up across the country, and Indiana is no different to this trend. While Indiana has enacted several bills such as House Bill 1007to help lessen the strain on the electrical grid, it still doesn't address the growing number of diesel generators - and the resultant pollutants- used by the centers to supplement the deficit between the energy needed and energy available. Furthermore, House Bill 1007 doesn't address the high level of water usage by these data centers, a number expected to reach between 60 and 124 billion gallons of consumption by 2028, according to the 2024 United States Data Center Energy Usage Report.

Among the energy usage, the water usage, the jobs created and all the other effects an AI data center can bring to an area, it's important to stay informed on the positives and negatives. Transparency is key to understanding how you could be affected and how Delaware County can be kept sustainable for generations to come.

This article was written for Cardinal Media by a student in the School of Journalism and Strategic Communication in a classroom environment with a faculty advisor. It was not produced by independent student media.

At Ball State, that spirit comes alive in the energy that shakes the rafters on a Saturday night, where pride painted in cardinal red and white transforms a game into something greater than competition. Few places capture that connection more than Cardinal Chaos, Ball State's student section organization, where game day has become a defining part of the college experience.

Established by Ben Carr in 2023, Cardinal Chaos was created to put the wings back into Ball State's student section. For Carr's successor, Carter Campbell, that mission became part of his Ball State experience from the moment he arrived on campus as a freshman.

"Our main goal is to increase the student section attendance, as well as bringing attention to athletes within Ball State athletics … Our whole goal is to just make that home atmosphere the best it can be within the [Mid-American Conference] (MAC), and hopefully we're going to continue to make that better," Carter said.

Now at the helm of bringing chaos to the Nest on game days, Carter approaches spreading Division I fandom with a touch of nuance and a bit of nostalgia rooted in America's pastime.

Growing up around the professional sports atmosphere in Detroit inspired Carter to always bring the energy to Cardinal Chaos. For him, every game day, win or lose, is about more than just the scoreboard. It's about showing up, standing proud and flying with the lesson that loyalty means being there no matter the outcome.

"I believe we're becoming a household name around campus, and that's kind of huge for us, because to start small, as we did, and now, in the past, basically three years, we've built up to people know[ing] who we are, and building off of that, and people want to be with us,"
Carter said.

As the leadership of Cardinal Chaos has been passed on, the student section has found its legs and its voice within the campus community, growing its chants and chirps louder with every game day in the stands.

As part of its unifying mission to rally students behind the Cardinals, Cardinal Chaos has continued to grow its presence on campus. The organization's identity has solidified, and with that, new doors have opened, sparking on-campus partnerships with Ball State athletics as well as working alongside other student organizations and expanding its impact beyond the stands.

The strides the organization has made since its establishment, the opportunities are not the only thing that has evolved. The spirit, celebration, and energy they bring to the stands have evolved and show their spirit.

Cardinal Chaos's efforts don't end in the stands. The organization also helps promote on-campus gymnastics meets by hyping up the crowd and generating excitement around the sport. Their outreach extends online, where they run interactive challenges and content aimed at building stronger connections within the Ball State community.

Carter recognizes that the ground Cardinal Chaos has gained in supporting campus sporting events over the past few years is a testament to the strong, unified team behind the organization. Together, they rally around Ball State athletics in an effort to make the MAC fan experience one of the best in the conference.

"There's a great group of people in Cardinal Chaos, and they're very knowledgeable and very smart. We help each other out, and that's how we stay on top of everything. This team has been great. [I] couldn't be [happier,]" Carter said.

Where professional sports' primary draw is the competitive nature and winning a championship, athletic programs not only shape futures and bridge a gap between community and university, but also shape traditions that go far beyond just the scoreboard.

Research supports that connection. A study on collegiate athletics and community impact found that programs help build what researchers call social capital, as sports "serve as important sites for the socialization of community members."

The traditions and legacies symbolized in trophy cases in the halls of universities were not built overnight, but rather through repeated shared experiences, bringing students and the community together to experience a rally that unites a tradition of a game, a sport, and a stadium that becomes like home.

Experiencing the highs, the lows, and hopefully a couple of championships, a bond is created by residents in the meaning of what some schools have in their mascot that symbolizes that connection, not only to the school, but the community that the team represents.

The same research shows that fan engagement is a key driver of that connection, as "alumni and fans feel significant attachments to their university and teams, and these attachments greatly influence the creation of social capital."

And once the bond grows and the team plants roots in their community, they show up for the fans like they show up for the players in the seats, going to community engagements like food banks and parades to show that being a college athlete is not just about serving your teammates on the court, but paying it forward to the people who show up to watch you in the stands.

In smaller-market programs especially, athletics can serve as a unifying force, with schools becoming focal points for community pride and identity in ways that differ from larger, professional sports markets, "as athletics function as a visible "front porch" of the university" that shapes how communities connect to it."

Superfans, coaches and casual viewers often notice the evolution of sports season to season from the stands, the sidelines, or the television screen. But Richard Seymour, Teachers College department chair emeritus, has witnessed those changes unfold over more than four decades from a different vantage point: the classroom.

"Each game has changed. Basketball is different. Soccer is different. Even football has changed with kickoffs, rules changes and targeting that are now part of today's game," Seymour said.

Sports fandom, traditions and culture are shaped by the environments they grow from; the gyms, fields and communities that elevate certain moments and figures into something larger than the game itself.

In Indiana, that identity has long been tied to basketball, forged through generations of players and icons who turned passion into tradition and left a lasting imprint on how the sport is experienced across the state.

The atmosphere surrounding college and high school athletics often differs from professional sports. School traditions, student sections and community involvement can create a closer connection between teams and the people who support them.

For students, parents, alumni and faculty, those elements can become an important part of how they experience the game.

An educator for most of his adult life, Richard views sports as more than competition. He sees the real-world connections, the discipline, preparation and accountability athletes carry with them long after the final whistle.

Those transferable skills, he notes, don't stop at the field or track but extend into classrooms, careers and everyday life, reinforcing why athletics can be a powerful teacher beyond the game itself.

"I'm a former distance runner. The preparation that goes into running is a life skill. When you start a long-distance race, it's all your preparation. There's no time out. There's no half time. There's no substitute runner. Same thing in your career. You don't get second chances for a first interview. Whatever you do to prepare means you're either going to be a success or not be as much of a success," Seymour said.

For those who dismiss sports as "just a game," Richard views athletics as something far broader a shared experience that brings people together through competition, pride and tradition. Across cities, campuses and state lines, sports create moments of connection that extend well beyond the final score.

The crowd will fall silent and the lights will dim. No matter the sport, soccer, cross country, football or baseball, the games will come and go, rules will change, and eras will evolve.

What remains is the connection between the students, faculty, alumni and fans who continue to fill the stands and classrooms, carrying Ball State and Muncie forward long after the final whistle.

He earned a $3,000 award and national recognition for his work in historic preservation and community-centered design.

Carroll-Tubbs was one of only three undergraduate finalists selected nationwide. He is also Ball State's first undergraduate finalist since 2019 and only the third student in university history to receive the distinction.

Named for renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, the Landscape Architecture Foundation's Olmsted Scholars Program "honors students who are using ideas, influence, communication, service, and leadership to advance sustainable design and foster human and societal benefits," according to its website. Each accredited landscape architecture program in the United States and Canada nominates one student annually for the honor.

For Carroll-Tubbs, the recognition reflects years of work focused on preserving Black history through landscape architecture.

"I use landscape architecture as a means to prevent historic erasure," he said. "That means working on projects that allow me to do research on historical aspects of that site and use those to inform what decisions should be made going forward on that site to make sure that those elements are not erased by design."

Much of that work grew from his 2023 internship with Indiana Landmarks through its Black Heritage Preservation Program. During the internship, Carroll-Tubbs researched historically Black settlements across Indiana and documented more than 115 communities for archival preservation.

He also contributed conceptual landscape designs honoring figures such as George Tompkins, a Black man lynched in Indianapolis in the 1920s, and former U.S. Representative Katie Hall of Gary, Indiana, who helped establish Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a federal holiday.

Carroll-Tubbs said his largest and most meaningful project was his thesis centered on Greenlawn Cemetery in Indianapolis, a historically Black cemetery site he hopes to help preserve through a future cultural landscape report.

April Westcott, assistant teaching professor of landscape architecture and Carroll-Tubbs' faculty mentor, said his dedication stood out since early in his academic career.

"He's found a lane of landscape architecture that doesn't really exist," Westcott said. "His work with historic preservation is just a space that no other student is in. Ahmaud is so smart, and he recognized that, and he's used that to really leverage this national platform that he's created for himself."

Westcott said Carroll-Tubbs' commitment extends far outside the classroom, crediting his independent research, conference presentations and networking efforts as examples of his drive.

"I hope what he does not only brings awareness to the topic of historic landscapes and the importance of saving black historic landscapes, but also just says in general to students: Find your passion within the profession and run with it," she said. "The world needs this diversity of people finding new ways to do new things and Ahmaud is the example of that."

Carroll-Tubbs said the award has reinforced his purpose within the profession and encouraged him to continue pursuing preservation work focused on marginalized communities.

As he prepares for the next stage of his career, Carroll-Tubbs hopes his recognition inspires other students to pursue meaningful work within design fields.

"This experience allowed me to discover my 'why' for pursuing a career in landscape architecture more and more deeply," he said. "Once I figured that [landscape architecture] could be used this way, it kind of gave me all the motivation I needed … Finding your why is incredibly important."

Contact Trinity Rea via email at trinity.rea@bsu.edu or on X @thetrinityrea.

Ridenour announced the appointment during an appearance on WMUN. Green will serve in a limited capacity while the mayor is away from City Hall for several weeks throughout June and into July.

"It's not like he will be in the office every day running the city, but he will be there in those instances where something needs to be signed or handled," Ridenour said.

The mayor is scheduled to undergo surgery June 2 after revealing his prostate cancer diagnosis in late April via a video on the City of Muncie's Facebook page. In that announcement, Ridenour said doctors discovered the cancer following an October biopsy and a follow-up appointment earlier this spring that showed the disease had progressed rapidly.

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

Ridenour previously said he expects to miss "six to eight weeks of work" during recovery but expressed confidence in the city administration's ability to continue operations during his absence.

"I really think that the team is put together and is pretty strong [and] knows what its mission is," Ridenour said in the April video. "... I honestly don't feel like they need me to know what decisions to make."

Under Indiana Code 36-4-5-8, a mayor who is temporarily unable to perform official duties may appoint either a deputy mayor or a member of the city's legislative body to carry out executive responsibilities. Muncie no longer has a deputy mayor position after the Muncie City Council voted to defund the role in late 2024, leaving the appointment of a council member as the available option.

Green, a Republican representing District 1 and currently serving as council president, will oversee any official mayoral actions requiring authorization during Ridenour's recovery. Green was elected president earlier this year after Republicans gained a 5-4 majority on the council.

In his initial announcement, Ridenour asked residents for prayers as he prepares for surgery, adding that his primary concern is preventing the cancer from spreading to other organs.

"This is not something that I think the procedure is the risk," Ridenour said. "The major risk is that if it progresses so fast before we get it removed that it gets into other organs."

This story will be updated with more information as it becomes available.

Contact the BallState Daily News with comments ateditor@bsudailynews.com.

Created through a partnership between Muncie Central High School and the Muncie Police Department (MPD), the program exposed students to topics including modern policing, crisis response, forensics, evidence handling and investigative scenarios.

Arin Phillips, an MPD officer who developed the program, said it was designed to build on earlier mentorship efforts and give high school students a hands-on look at law enforcement and related fields.

The class also included tours of city hall and presentations on public safety careers from professionals, according to the district. Students said the program helped clarify career interests in fields such as criminal justice and psychology and provided a more realistic view of law enforcement.

The program is part of the Career Employment Collaborative Section Network, an initiative aimed at connecting students with local employers and preparing them for careers after graduation while supporting workforce development in Delaware County.

Contact Ball State Daily News via email at editor@bsudailynews.com.

The report evaluates the efficiency of IDEM's environmental programs, specifically those managed by the Office of Air Quality (OAQ). The OAQ is tasked with ensuring state compliance with the federal Clean Air Act.

Passed in 1970, the federal Clean Air Act aims to protect public health and welfare in addition to regulating any unsafe pollutants in the air.

"Since 2002, Indiana has seen significant decreases in the emissions of these criteria pollutants," the report said.

The criteria pollutants are carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, particulate matter and sulfur dioxide. Much of this pollution results from running vehicles and industrial machines that are powered by fossil fuels.

These pollutants, which largely stem from vehicle emissions and industrial fossil fuel combustion, have dropped significantly since 2000:

• Carbon Monoxide is down 70%
• Lead is down 89%
• Nitrogen Dioxide is down 77%
• Ozone Precursers are down 70%
• Particle Matter is down 68%
• Sulfur Dioxide is down 94%

Rebecca TeKoltse, Climate and Energy Director at the Hoosier Environmental Council (HEC), said that while the data is positive, the rise of global warming has shifted the scientific focus toward clean energy and carbon neutrality. She also said that Indiana is just one of the many states working to take up the pursuit.

"Twenty-five years ago, there was a much different scientific perspective as it relates to climate change," TeKoltse said. "Zooming out on a larger time horizon, I think the urgency has gone up quite a bit; now a number of municipalities, countries, etc, are taking climate action really seriously."

TeKoltse noted that with shifting priorities at the federal level, the responsibility for sustainability often falls to localized institutions. The HEC currently works with the Indiana General Assembly and the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to advocate for cleaner energy strategies and environmentally friendly local ordinances.

"Hoosier Environmental Council has a prerogative goal for Indiana to be a place where people have access to clean air, clean water, natural lands and affordable clean energy," TeKoltse said.

Allen Carter, Communications Director for IDEM, said that IDEM has seen a 74 percent reduction in criteria air pollutants. This means Hoosiers have eliminated nearly three-quarters of these specific emissions over the last 25 years.

"Over the past 25 years, Indiana has seen remarkable environmental progress," Carter said, "These positive trends reflect the impact of long-term sustainability efforts as well as the work of state and local partners committed to protecting natural resources."

For more information on Indiana's environmental progress, view IDEM's annual report here or visit their website at https://www.in.gov/idem/.

For comments, questions or concerns, email Bentley Ford at bentleyford.reports@gmail.com

This story was produced in part with financial support fromCarbon Neutral Indiana. The reporting and production of this piece were overseen by faculty and/or staff within the Department of Journalism at Ball State University to ensure adherence to professional and ethical standards.

Scouts moved through the cemetery's four American Legion sections, carefully placing flags at each grave marking a veteran's service. The troop was joined by members of Girl Scouts Troop 30420 and volunteers, all working to ensure that those who served are remembered ahead of the holiday.

Jeffery Wallace, assistant scoutmaster for Boy Scouts' Troop 22, said the experience helps young people connect with the meaning of Memorial Day.

"Doing this gives you a sense of the history of what these people have done for us, because these people fought for our rights, and we need to honor them," Wallace said. "One day is really not enough, but at least we do this much."

Troy Watters, superintendent of Beech Grove Cemetery, said the troop initiates the project each year and has built a lasting relationship with the cemetery through service projects and community involvement.

"They set their schedule every year to do this. It's honoring the veterans that's passed away and it's a great thing," he said

Watters noted that flags are placed on every known grave in the sections, with additional markers spread throughout the cemetery's 120 acres where veterans are buried. The cemetery plans to continue expanding its legion sections.

Beech Grove Cemetery will hold its annual Memorial Day ceremony at 11 a.m. May 25, featuring America's Hometown Band and a guest speaker. The cemetery also holds a Veterans Day observance each year at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11.

For more information on Beech Grove Cemetery and its upcoming events, head to its website at beechgrovecemetery.com. To learn more about Boy Scouts Troop 22, visit their website, theoutdoorstroop.org.

Contact Trinity Rea via email at trinity.rea@bsu.edu or on X @thetrinityrea.

The operation involved the Delaware County Hazardous Materials Team, Delaware County Sheriff's Bomb Squad, Emergency Management, Delaware County EMS, Muncie Fire Department and Liberty-Selma Fire Department.

According to the release, "in the basement of a downtown restaurant undergoing renovations," asafe specialist discovered a device attached to a safe's internal door mechanism and contacted emergency services after recognizing it as a possible chemical anti-tamper system.

Responders determined the device was still intact and active despite being more than 100 years old. They believed the substance inside was likely chloropicrin, a toxic respiratory and eye irritant historically used as a warning agent and fumigant.

The release stated there was no threat to surrounding neighborhoods or the downtown area because of the limited quantity of hazardous material. Hazmat technicians removed the device using a double-containment system before transporting it to the Delaware County Sheriff's training range for disposal.

After a controlled detonation, Hazmat personnel confirmed the device had been destroyed and no residual chemical contamination remained. Officials said the incident demonstrated the importance of interagency cooperation and specialized emergency response training.

"This incident represented an uncommon but important reminder that historic materials and devices can still present modern-day hazards," the release said. "Thanks to the expertise of the safe technician who recognized the threat and the coordinated efforts of all responding agencies, the situation was safely resolved without injury or public impact."

Contact the BallState DailyNews via email at editor@bsudailynews.com.

Each yearfrom southern to central Indiana, theWhiteRiver fills with more than just water-it fills with trash peopleleavebehind-and a community determined to change this.

Meet Sarah Chapman, a Denver native majoring in media with a minor in media promotion and management. The senior is set to complete her degree in the 2026-27 school year.

Chapman found her path to media through a lifelong love of film. At Ball State, she has appreciated how flexible the program is.

"The coolest part of the media program is how customizable it is - you can kind of shape it to cater to your career interests," Chapman said.

Chapman has been involved in several student organizations at Ball State, including Ball State's Pride of Mid-America Marching Band, known as POMA, where she is a color guard member.

"My favorite opportunity I've had at Ball State has to be being trusted to be a leader of multiple groups, in the media college and outside of it," Chapman said.

"A small thing that brings me joy is the first time we hear the full band play at the beginning of a POMA season," Chapman said.

Chapman says one moment that shaped who she is was "seeing my sister perform in winter guard for the first time, after I dragged her into doing the sport."

Chapman is also passionate about travel, particularly sharing experiences with people she is close to.

"If money wasn't an issue, I would travel to every country with my friends and be able to experience all the different cultures," Chapman said.

She says making time for the people she cares about is central to who she is.

"The most 'me' thing about me is making time for everything and everyone I care about," Chapman said.

Looking ahead, Chapman hopes to work in political communications - something she says tends to surprise people.

"In the future, I'd like to work on media and communications for political campaigns, and I get the opportunity to do so this summer," Chapman said.

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

The Indiana Secondary Market for Education Loans - which operates under the name INvestEd - issues private student loans at interest rates starting at 4.26% to 8.51% - far below the maximum 17.99% interest rate charged by some of its for-profit competitors.

The nonprofit's motto is simple: The best student loan is no loan at all.

But leaders at INvestEd anticipate a surge in demand for private loans once tighterfederal student loan restrictions and borrowing limits take effect July 1.

What is INvestEd?

Lawmakers created the secondary student loan market by statute in 1981 to make college affordable and accessible for Hoosiers.

The private nonprofit lender takes no money from the state, despite its existence by statute.

In its early years, INvestEd purchased outstanding student loans from banks and other private lenders - issuing bond deals, securitizing loans and paying origination fees for students who took out federal loans - without directly lending money, according to William Wozniak, vice president and chief marketing officer of INvestEd.

Financial aid experts from the nonprofit started visiting high schools in the early 2000s to teach students and parents about their financial aid options - an initiative now present in 300 Indiana high schools.

INvestEd then launched its own tool for borrowers to compare interest rates and the true cost of competing loan products.

But it wasn't until 2015 that INvestEd started issuing its ownloans for Hoosier students and parents, a decision Wozniak attributes to the organization's loan comparison tool.

The nonprofit is able to keep interest rates low because "we don't have shareholders that need a 13% return," he said.

Interest rates start at 4.5% with a maximum rate of 8.5% depending on the borrower's credit score - beating many private lenders and the federal government, which will boost the interest rate for parent loans to 9% in July.

"We're not chasing them to 2.84% because that's bait and switch," Wozniak said.

Lawmaker questions accessibility

Rep. Greg Porter, D-Indianapolis, looks at the INvestEd's tax filings - the $240 million in assets and liabilities reported to the IRS in 2024 dwarf the $6.75 million it awarded grants that year, and executive salaries that "would make Wall Street blush" - and wonders if INvestEd could do more to assist low-income Hoosiers.

"They're sitting on a lot of money," said Porter, who is the top Democrat on the budget-writing House Ways and Means Committee.

A minimum credit score of 670 on the scale of 850 is required for INvestEd's standard loan, though borrowers can apply with a co-signer to improve their odds of qualifying.

Porter wonders whether that threshold is locking out low-income studentsat a time when borrowing limits on federal student loans and state financial aid cuts are expected to send more Hoosiers to private lenders.

"We need to make sure that those low-income students, or people that are struggling and trying to better themselves, have all the tools in the toolshed, and the threshold from my perspective is too high to meet those needs," Porter said.

Wozniak said INvestEd's money isn't sitting idle, as only $15 million is "truly liquid capital."

The nonprofit has $120 million in active loans and $130 million committed to banking partners, with nearly $21 million lent to borrowers in fiscal year 2024.

"That's not optional, those funds are what allow us to borrow at rates low enough to pass savings on to Indiana students and families with our current lending activity," he said.

Remaining assets are used behind the scenes to keep interest rates affordable and to inform Hoosiers of their financial aid options, Wozniak said.

Alternative student loans

Without credit score limits, Wozniak said INvestEd wouldn't be able to keep interest rates so low.

"There'd be boards across the doors," he said. "… People would just take (the loan) and then they wouldn't repay and then it would be over, and that would be the end."

College sophomores, juniors and seniors who don't meet those requirements may submit their transcripts to be considered for an academic merit loan using an alternative credit score, though default rates are higher for these borrowers - a risky investment for INvestEd.

The nonprofit also offers parent loans and refinancing for borrowers paying off high-interest loans from other lenders.

It does not publicly disclose loan approval rates.

Financial aid first

The bulk of INvestEd's work still revolves around financial literacy.

Counselors visit Lawrence Central High School on the northeast side of Indianapolis several times each year, assisting seniors and their families as they navigatethe federal financial aid application and scholarship deadlines.

Lawrence is one of 300 Hoosier high schools that partner with INvestEd for financial aid advising.

The nonprofit's website makes it easy for families to compare college costs, find scholarships or choose a career and school.

Counselors even meet with families to map out a plan to pay for college.

Their advice: maximize grants and scholarships first, then apply for aloanat the lowest interest rate possible from a trusted lender.

"(Families) have that reassurance that they are submitting information correctly," said KaNeasha Koebcke, director of counseling at Lawrence Central High School.

Many Lawrence Central students qualify for financial aid like Indiana's 21st Century Scholars grants, Koebcke said, so having INvestEd counselors available for aid applicationworkshops and phone calls from families is a life-saver for her team.

"We stress that our kids need to do what they need to do academically to be eligible for those scholarships and grants, so they're not in a situation where they have to take out loans," she said.

Correction: INvestEd awarded $6.75 million in grants in fiscal year 2024, $3 million of which was used to certify teachers to offer dual-credit classes. The organization lent nearly $21 million to borrowers that year, according to Wozniak.

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Delaware County doesn't have what's called a "cumulative capital development fund," but commissioner Stephen Brand says 83 of Indiana's 92 counties do. Brand said oncechanges happen to taxesat the state level, the fund would be used to maintain and repair county buildings, and if needed, build something new.

"At full rate, it would bring in about $1.3 million a year," said Brand. "That's the estimate. That is less than what we use now out of our economic development income tax to fund, to repair, and maintain our buildings."

But residents objected to a new tax at a time when many people'sproperty tax assessmentswent up significantly, like Sandy Hunter.

"Like everyone else, my assessment went up on our house this year - $100,000. Our house is 22 years old," she said in a public hearing on the proposed fund.

And like retired business owner Linda Michael.

"My suggestion to you is learn to live within your budget. And I would be happy to help you with that, because I know how to cut costs, and unfortunately, you have to lay people off, you have to consolidate, and you have to look at the reality of things."

Commissioners then unanimously voted down the ordinance, striking creating the fund. Brand said they heard clearly from the public.

"They've given us our marching orders. They've told us to trim up our government."

Read More: Indiana public schools stand to lose $1.8 billion over two years under property tax relief proposal

Because of tax changes made in a 2025 bill, Delaware County - like many counties - will lose millions of dollars in revenue from the state. By 2028, the stateLegislative Services Agencysays the loss will be $12.3 million. Delaware Countyopposed the billbefore it passed.

Stephanie Wiechmann is the Managing Editor and "All Things Considered" Host for Indiana Public Radio. Contact her atslwiechmann@bsu.edu.

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

I was the kid on the back of the bus. Some would call it the short bus, and others would call it a bus with a lift. But I saw it as my only way to get to and from school. The only problem is the other kids who rode the bus sat in the front with their peers, while I stared out the window, dreaming of a route to the front of the bus with my friends.

I was so determined to escape the back of the bus that I convinced the bus aid to let me sit in a seat and take me out of my wheelchair one day. I had the best time of my life until the higher-ups found out, and I was once again sent to the back of the bus.

I was crushed. I cried and begged for her to let me sit in the front again, but it was a safety concern. But what about the concerns of a kid just trying to fit in when his imagination can only go so far in the back of the bus, with only a lift and a window to keep him company?

Car rides were always a comfort for me, watching the world pass me by. I found a sense of tranquility on my way to countless doctor's appointments and therapy sessions. Even when I was on the bus, feeling isolated, house after house, tree after tree and car after car, I found peace looking out at the world, knowing nothing was looking back at me in my little corner of the world.

My world got a little bigger when my parents told me that we were going to get a van that was made for someone like me. Before that, my parents had to transfer me, pick me up and physically put me in the seat and buckle me in. They would take my wheelchair apart, put it in the truck and do it in reverse when we got there for every appointment and family outing.

One weekend, my family took a trip to a dealership specializing in cars that were made for someone who moved like me.

I was like a kid in a candy shop when me and my family went into the dealership. My eyes got wide in amazement staring at all of these cars that I could go in without a physical barrier. And after a test drive, where my father had a little too much fun playing with the new,fancy car and making us kids in the back giggle, I knew it was the greatest ride I had experienced up to that point.

After the test drive, we settled on getting a 2015 Honda Odyssey adapted van.

Unbeknownst to me at the time, the first of many times waiting for something that would change my whole worldview, hinged on the slow wheels of state waiver bureaucracy money. After a few delays, I finally got my vessel to branch out into the new world in the odyssey of my independence.

As time passed by, through the window of my odyssey, firsts after firsts were accomplished and adventures from Ohio, to the Outer Banks, to the coast of Myrtle Beach were traveled. But time has a way of confronting you with questions: will I be able to take the wheel and cast my own journeys under my own power?

These questions all came to a head that summer. At a bonfire at our grandpa's house, my family decided it was time for my siblings and I to get some practice in the old-fashioned way - in the backyard. As test cars, my grandpa offered up our grandma's old Plymouth Breeze Burgundy, and our aunt offered up her infamous gray PT Cruiser, which was known to cruise around with antlers and a red nose around the holidays.

Our Daytona, a tree, in the yard. The goal was to take laps around a tree in our yard without causing significant damage to our extended family, grandpa's property or the cars. When it was my time to embark around the tree, I was put behind the wheel of the Breeze, with my dad riding shotgun, and completed my voyage.

Little did I know that it was not the inaugural ride I thought it was, and it was not significant proof that would earn me a spot on the road one day.

My first stop was the DMV, where I failed my permit test. It was not a good omen to get before I even got a chance to get behind the car. During the pandemic, I got evaluated to drive, and without a second look or even a chance, I was told I would never be able to drive. I handled it pretty well, because how can you crush a kid's dream when being driven around his whole life is all he knows?

And so, my life moved on. My siblings got their licenses, and they would take me out whenever they could, but playing chauffeur is not conducive to a high schooler's schedule. So, in March of my second year of high school, I talked my mom into getting a second opinion after I figured out that the landscape of Uber, Lyft and public transportation was not really my scene, especially because the ride-share apps are not really accessible for those in power wheelchairs.

My second chance laid in the hands of Mercy West Hospital in Cincinnati. But getting turned away from one of the nation's leaders in driving rehabilitation, the deck was stacked against me to ever get a shot behind the wheel.

The day before my appointment, I got entranced in the possibilities, dreaming of the independence I have always longed for and sharing it with the people I care about. Going to the store, going out to dinner, going on road trips - the possibilities consumed me.

Sitting across the table with my mom, the evaluator and occupational therapist, who thought it was peculiar that I was told I would never drive without actually being allowed to get behind the wheel. So, he gave me the chance, and that started my three and a half year journey to get my license.

I think that three and a half years of contemplating how I was going to drive could have been avoided considering my twin brother has cerebral palsy too, and he drives a car. He is not as involved, and he does not have a wheelchair, but we are twins in more ways than one.

And at my last stop on my road trip to drive, I was asked a question that changed the trajectory of my life and left me with a real chance: "Have you ever tried to drive with your feet?"

But my journey was far from over. After securing a spot behind the wheel, I picked a 2023 Traverse as the car I wanted, because it was either that or a van, and I did not feel comfortable with the size of a larger vehicle.. Once the bids were in to begin modifications on the car, which kept getting pushed back until April of last year, I learned that Marietta Mobility took a chance to make my dream a reality.

I went up there last June to do a fitting after they were done doing the bulk of the work, and it was a wonderful experience. A month later, my dad and I took a trip to bring Rex, my car, home for good.

I could not drive it right away. I needed to get used to how everything felt, and all the modifications put in were a little different than the training setup I had. But the drive back was the most gratifying experience I have ever had.. Almost four years of family sacrifices, just so I have the privilege and knowledge to drive wherever and whenever I want.

We picked up my car in late July. And for the first time in my life, I was not looking out a window. I was seeing the world through my windshield and the rearview mirror, a view I would not change for the world.

Driving has changed my life.I have been able to experience so many adventures, all of which have been blips on a map that has expanded my view of the world.

Every time I pass a bus, I think there is a chance that I will see a kid in the back, just like me, who does not want to be there, watching the world passing by. If so, I hope they see the possibilities right in front of them. I do not know what future journeys look like for me behind the wheel, but I know whatever journey lies ahead will be one of my own fruition.

Contact Dillon Rosenlieb via email at dillon.rosenlieb@bsu.edu.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, organic foods tend to cost 10% to 20% more than traditional options. These prices provide an overall look at the product type and region, but the trend is consistent: Organic food comes with a premium price.

In Delaware County, the question is not whether organic food costs more but how they can benefit most from healthier food options and afford them consistently. Some may also wonder whether the county has local resources to expand access to organic food.

"Most organic foods are priced higher due to the production requirements and certification costs," said former Delaware County resident and anesthesiologist Dr. Shaun Hansel. "The long-term health benefits can still be meaningful, even though they cost more upfront; they support a better health outcome by helping the overall diet of an individual."

The divide becomes clear: even though organic food may provide many health benefits, some households are already stretched thin and an extra $2 on a product may not fit their already tight budget.

Research suggests that many shoppers do not always avoid organic food because of the value, but more because of the untrustworthiness of the price. A 2025 study published in "Ethical Appetite" found that consumers are more willing to pay the higher prices for the organic products when animal welfare is emphasized and transparent. The study also found that organic egg and dairy prices remain higher due to strict certification requirements and production costs.

However, a national comparison suggests that organic food is not always dramatically more expensive, depending on what the consumer purchases. A Consumer Reports Analysis comparing organic and regular "whole foods" showed that some organic foods have a higher price tag. In contrast, others showed minimal differences or were cheaper in some areas. While meat and dairy continued to have the largest price gaps, carrots, spinach and beans had smaller differences.

These small price differences continue to add up quickly for families who are shopping for a full week of groceries at a time. In Delaware County, another layer to the issue is access. If more residents wanted to buy organic food, local production within the city limits would not be realistic. There is little farmland available in the city of Muncie; instead, much of the farmland is beyond the city limits in the farther reaches of the county.

"There is not currently a high need to expand organic food production within the city," said Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour. "It would require quite a bit of planning for the city that is not on the agenda for the city right now."

The affordability issue is not just in households within the county; it also extends to local schools, where budgets can be tight - even when staff want to provide a healthy alternative. Jennifer Gaddis, the director of after-school programs for Delaware Community School Corporation, is facing the affordability firsthand.

"We want to serve a healthier snack option that will provide nutrients to the students throughout the afternoon, and that will hold them till dinner at home, but my budget makes it hard to not buy the cheaper box of chips," Gaddis said. "Organic options are certainly considered when we have the opportunity and the budget to fit them in, but the consistency to purchase them is hard."

Gaddis said that occasional exposure to organic foods is surely helping kids eat healthier and broaden their food choices. Some students want to bring back the healthier snacks over the cheaper alternatives, though providing those is not always an option.

Organic food struggles are not just in the United States; they go way beyond that. A 2025 study published in the journal "Agriculture & Food Security" analyzed the Brazilian markets and found that organic food was 68% more expensive than alternatives, which limits access for low-income populations. The researchers concluded that without proper substitutions and close alternatives, food is becoming more harmful with fewer options available to purchase with proper nutrients.

In Delaware County, the same thing goes through a shopper's mind every day in their decision-making. Many are trying to feed a household while balancing bills and housing costs. Education costs and transportation. This means organic food is not their priority - even if it does offer health benefits that can be greater than those of traditional foods.

As many organic products are becoming more common in the main grocery stores and the price gaps continue to fluctuate, the view of organic food and that it belongs in a luxury household or that it is a luxury food item may slowly start to fade. In Delaware County, the organic food future will depend heavily on the shelf prices and the affordability in a household's budget. It will also depend on accessibility on the local land.

In Delaware County, organic food will remain uncertain for many, but it will continue to be viewed as a healthier option that will still be out of reach for families who would benefit most from it.

This article was written for Cardinal Media by a student in the School of Journalism and Strategic Communication in a classroom environment with a faculty advisor. It was not produced by independent student media.