But bad turned to worse quickly for the Cardinals, as they saw their 20-14 lead evaporate and turn into a 14-point deficit going into halftime.

Ball State (4-11, 0-3) fell to Eastern Michigan (8-8, 2-2) 74-52.

During the Cardinals' cold stretch, the team shot 1-10 from the field and turned the ball over four times. They helplessly saw Eastern Michigan go on a 25-5 run in the final ten minutes of the half.

"We did some really good things early," Head Coach Michael Lewis said. "And then when they flipped the game with some good pressure, we struggled to get the ball down the floor."

The offensive woes continued into the second half, as the Cardinals went four minutes without scoring and could only watch as Eastern Michigan took a 23-point lead. The lead kept growing for the Eagles, with their largest lead of the game being 31.

Senior guard Elmore James IV said the Cardinals got too comfortable after their early success and he said that is something a team cannot do in college basketball, especially at this level.

When the Cardinals had their long-lasting scoring drought, the team struggled to find open looks all across the court. Sophomore guard Davion Hill noted that once Eastern Michigan amped up the pressure in the backcourt, the team started taking bad shots.

"After that, that turns into miscommunications on defense coming down, [then] you feel like you're losing your lead, and it just turns into a downward spiral," Hill said.

The Cardinals only recorded ten assists on the night, and Lewis said the team's inability to pass the ball is a big reason for their offensive struggles. The head coach said the issues do not all stem from assist rates, or the team's willingness to pass the ball, but their quality of passes.

"We're a really poor passing team," Lewis said. "Shots were hard to come by tonight and there was a handful of them that we took ourselves out [of] just because we throw one at somebody's feet."

All game, the Cardinals allowed the Eagles to have wide open shooters across the floor, whether that was behind the arc or under the basket. After Ball State's loss to Buffalo on Jan. 3, Lewis talked about how communication amongst the players needs to be better moving forward.

The head coach said that communication did not improve against Eastern Michigan, and that it has not all season.

"Our communication is not good," Lewis said. "It hasn't been good all year, wasn't good in the summer, wasn't good in the fall, and it's showing now."

The Eagles shot 11-21 from behind the arc in the game. The Cardinals struggled to get to open shooters all game, and Hill said that those are the type of things that "doesn't take skill", and things that need to be better.

James said that defending the ball was a struggle all game, and moving forward, it is something the team needs to continue to work on and build habits on.

"We didn't guard the ball the right way today," James said. "[When we're] able to sit down and guard the ball and keep the ball in front that doesn't happen."

The box score tells a big portion of the story on how the Cardinals' night went against Eastern Michigan. The Eagles had more rebounds, more assists and shot a much higher field goal percentage than Ball State.

The Cardinals have had a less-than-ideal start to conference play. The team has lost the three games by a combined 43 points. Despite that, James still believes that the team can turn things around moving forward, and they will have a chance to do that when they go on the road to play Massachusetts on Jan. 10.

"I know we can turn things around, so we just got to keep staying with each other and keep believing," James said.

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

Baird is currently in the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery, according to the press release, while his office will continue to provide its services.

"Congressman Baird and his office remain steadfast in their commitment to serving constituents and focused on advocating for Hoosiers at the highest levels of government," according to the press release.

This story will be updated as more information is released.

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

Robert and Helen conducted research in 1929 in Muncie, naming the project Middletown. This research focused on six key areas of life in Muncie: "Getting a Living," "Making a Home," "Training the Young," "Using Leisure," "Engaging in Religious Practice," and "Engaging in Community Activities." The conclusion was that ultimately, Muncie's core values and beliefs have remained safe for 35 years.

The Lynds created a follow-up to this research study in 1937 during the Great Depression to observe the effects of economic hardship on the community. What they ultimately found was that the social structure remained intact despite widespread economic distress.

Later on, a group of people decided to pick up on this research and create a center for Middletown studies at Ball State University. The center focuses on the drastic shift between the original Muncie Middletown studies compared to its current state.

Some of the people in the group joined for personal experiences, and others with a profound interest in the shift in history. Chris Fluke is a mixture of both of these, having been the previous director of Middletown Studies at Ball State University.

He recalls that back in the 1910s, the gas in Muncie ran out. It was particularly known for its glass making, which used a lot of natural gas, but when that ran out, factories began to leave, with a small percentage of those that stayed. Bruce Gelhoed also recalled this deindustrialization in the 1910s. He believed that this was regional instead of being primarily focused on Muncie.

This still created a significant shift in the Muncie community. Many jobs, such as companies like General Motors, Warner Gear, and Delco-Remy, were major employers that all closed their Muncie operations by the late 1900s. Leading to significant job losses and a shift in the local economy, the citizens of Muncie are leaving lots of families in confusion. One of which was Chris' family in the 1990s.

"My dad worked in a factory. It was started as Westinghouse and they made big electrical transformers that went out in 1999, and it is one of the many factories that [closed] in the 80s and the 90s. They employed several 1000 people. He was all right, but it ended up costing him," Chris said.

Chris is a prime example of how the Muncie community was during this time. It's the harsh truth that came after the deindustrialization. The current director of Middletown studies at Ball State, James Connolly, is one of these current researchers who dives deep into the topic of deindustrialization.

"I'm a historian who studies the history of cities. I knew about Middletown research before I came here. It was, it was an interesting facet of life in Muncie, and what Ball State was doing in Muncie," James said.

Middletown research has come so far from the beginning of the 1900s to now. There are many layers in the Middletown research as it not only focuses on the industrial downfall, but other things in Muncie as well.

Research is still being done at Middletown studies at Ball State's Bracken library and James is peeling back many layers of history and will continue to do so in the following years.

Sinners

Willow Emig: Everything about this film was breathtaking. Sinners takes you on a journey that is captivating from start to finish. The music is amazing and is weaved into the stunning visuals in a brilliant way. There are not enough words to describe how good this movie truly was, you really do just have to watch it.

Sam Jasionowski: In a time where reboots and live action remakes are favored over original content, Sinners really pulled through this year with its storytelling, music, and acting. Putting vampires into a period piece was such an interesting choice that really paid off. The entire cast ensemble was brilliant. There was no actor that lacked in performance over another, in such a short time, the audience gains a connection with every character on screen. Michael B. Jordan's portrayal of Smoke and Stack was so unique it truly felt like two different actors were playing their characters.

The use of music in the film was so powerful. Intertwining musical genres created by Black people into one song, "I Lied to You,"was such a mic drop moment well into the second act of the film, only Ryan Coogler could do it. I hope to see a Sinners sweep at the next Oscars but if there's one category that I want to see it win over others, it would be for Best Original Song.

One Battle After Another

Ian Frasier: I felt that One Battle After Another presented a really natural and organic critique of fascism in the U.S. Underneath that is a heartfelt narrative of a stoner dad trying to rescue his daughter. Sean Penn as Colonel Lockjaw is one of the best villains in any movie I've seen recently. It's not often you feel intimidated by a character who's shown to be as awkward and pathetic as Lockjaw is. Without spoiling too much, you almost feel sympathy for him by the end. Almost.

Now You See Me: Now You Don't

Liv Young: An amazing addition to the Now You See Me series, Now You See Me: Now You Don't, completely stunned me. I've always been a huge fan of the series and was very excited to finally get another movie. The movie brings back all of our favorite characters and introduces a few new protagonists. It reminds us of everything we loved about the first two movies while giving us a nice, new twist that makes this long-awaited movie completely unique.

F1

Jackson Walter: Brad Pitt is a badass and this movie was awesome. Seeing him race alongside real F1 drivers was really cool. The soundtrack of F1 might be some of Hans Zimmer's best work so far. Even though it might have not been realistic to FIA regulations, it was a fantastic movie and a great performance by everyone involved.

Marty Supreme

Ian Case: Marty Supreme is an unbelievable buzzer-beater for one of my favorite films of the year. Timothée Chalamet's performance as the titular Marty Mauser is beyond captivating as he indulges in an odyssey of egoism and self-satisfaction. The 1950's setting paired with a quintessentially 80's soundtrack makes this story feel timeless, and the supporting cast adds so much to the movie, with wild cards like Tyler the Creator and Kevin O'Leary alongside wonderful performances from Odessa A'zion and Gwyneth Paltrow. With Marty Supreme, Josh Safdie has effectively deconstructed the overly boisterous "hustle grindset," showing the harm it leaves in its wake.

Superman

Chris Dawson: Superman was the perfect move to kick off James Gunn's DCU, and it set the tone perfectly. The way Gunn uses color and music in his work is amazing, and he has even introduced me to my favorite band, Foxy Shazam. Introducing lesser known characters, and giving actors that were previously cheated was a great choice. Being able to see a universe where things have already started instead of going through the same old origin story was very refreshing, not to mention the characters having actual depth and emotion. James Gunn stayed true to the source material, but made it fit his vision of his Superman.

"Maybe that's the real punk rock."

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

Images: A24, Warner Bros, Warner Bros, Lionsgate, Apple, A24, DC

Sherman previously served in the Indiana General Assembly after Republican precinct committee members selected her in June 2019 to replace retiring Rep. David Frizzell, according to Indiana Public Radio. She served the remainder of his term through November 2020 and later ran for the Indianapolis District 93 seat in the 2020 election, which she lost.

Much of Sherman's career has been spent in government. According to Indiana Public Radio, she has served on the staffs of former Govs. Bob Orr and Mitch Daniels, worked forformer U.S. Rep. Susan Brooks and held a deputy commissioner role at the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. More recently, Braun appointed Sherman toa governor-led committee formed to identify and recommend candidates for appointment to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, according toIndiana Capital Chronicle.

Sherman studied political science and business administration at Ball State University and graduated in 1977.

She replaces Renae Conley, who retired from the Board of Trustees at the end of December after 12 years of service, according to previous reporting from the Ball State Daily News. Conley, who had served on the board since 2014, played a key role in the hiring of Ball State President Geoffrey Mearns

RELATED: Board of Trustees approves new academic calendar for 2026

Sherman's term will run through the end of 2029. Braun also reappointed trustees Mike McDaniel and Julie Griffith to terms ending in 2029.

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

Stricter cellphone bans, more focus on STEM and increased school "efficiency" are shaping up as some of the highest-priority education debates Indiana lawmakers will tackle during a fast 2026 legislative session that starts back up next week.

The session will be shorter than usual - ending by late February - after legislators already convened for two weeks in December on redistricting. Senate bills must be filed by Jan. 9, and House bills by Jan. 14.

Multiple education bills have already moved, and one - a cellphone crackdown proposal - was heard in the Senate education committee in early December. Caucus leaders in the Republican-dominated General Assembly won't formally roll out their priority agendas until next week, however.

At an annual legislative conference hosted last month in Indianapolis, lawmakers and Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner previewed a crowded policy landscape shaped by academic recovery concerns, declining enrollment, student disengagement and growing unease about children's use of technology.

Cellphones in classrooms - and beyond

One of the most visible education debates of the coming session is already underway: whether Indiana should expand restrictions on student cellphone use to cover the entire school day.

Under current law - approved by lawmakers in 2024 - schools must prohibit cellphone use during instructional time unless a teacher permits it for academic purposes.Senate Bill 78would go further, requiring public schools to ban cellphone use "from bell to bell," including during lunch and passing periods, with limited exceptions.

The billalready received public testimony in the Senate Education Committee in Decemberand was authored by committee chairman Sen. Jeff Raatz, R-Richmond. Raatz said the committee is likely to vote on the measure early this month.

Supporters argue the change would reduce distractions and improve student focus and mental health. Opponents - including some parents and students - have raised concerns about safety, emergencies and local control.

Jenner signaled broader alarm about technology's impact on children, calling for a statewide conversation that extends beyond classrooms.

"I cannot tell you how much it is impacting our children," Jenner said. "We are seeing seven- and eight-year-old[s] with social media accounts. We are seeing nine-year-old[s] on anxiety medicine because they're obsessed with the number of likes and the comments."

House Education Committee Chair Rep. Bob Behning, R-Indianapolis, said lawmakers are also exploring ways to regulate social media platforms themselves, particularly the algorithms that keep children engaged.

"We're also … looking at some language that could potentially avoid litigation, but goes after the algorithms," Behning said. "That's what's getting the endorphins … that impact their cognitive ability."

More work on literacy

Lawmakers and education officials continue to tout Indiana's recent gains in early literacy, driven by state investments in reading instruction and intervention. But Jenner said the work is far from finished - and may prompt additional statutory changes on top of major policies passed in the last two sessions.

"We've seen some great success in reading, but we have a lot more work to do," Jenner said, noting that the statesaw a 5% jump in reading proficiency. Current law requires schools with fewer than 70% of students reading proficiently to participate in a state literacy cadre program,which provides targeted, evidence-based instructional support for teachers.

"What we wanted to see is … should we adjust that percentage a bit, or should we do a rolling average of some sort," Jenner said. She emphasized that any changes should avoid creating an unfunded mandate.

One persistent challenge, she added, is middle school literacy.

"The only needle that we have not moved in Indiana is middle school reading," Jenner said, pointing to seventh- and eighth-grade outcomes as key concerns heading into 2026.

Doubling down on STEM

Beyond literacy, lawmakers and state officials signaled a renewed push to strengthen math and STEM instruction - an area they acknowledged is lagging behind recent reading gains. STEM is shorthand for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

Behning said Indiana's success with literacy initiatives could serve as a model forfuture investments in math, particularly early numeracy.

"We know that if we're going to be successful in STEM, we have to be successful in math," Behning said. He pointed to the state's literacy cadre as an approach lawmakers could look to replicate in math classrooms.

Behning added that many educators were never trained in "foundational, explicit skills in math," leaving schools struggling to improve outcomes without additional state support.

Funding equity and school operations

Education funding is also expected to remain a flashpoint, particularly for districts withweak property-tax bases. Rep. Ed DeLaney, an Indianapolis Democrat who sits on the House Education Committee, warned that public schools' share of the state budget has declined over the past decade and urged greater state investment to support high-need districts.

"If we move money to them from the state," he said, "that may free up some local property taxes."

But legislators are also watching closely as Indianapolis leaders advance recommendations from the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance, which calls for a new authority to manage school facilities and transportation across traditional public, charter and innovation schools.

Supporters say the plan could reduce costs and allow school boards to focus more on classroom outcomes. Critics worry about local control and whether similar models could spread statewide.

"I think we'll be able to learn some things and probably apply them more broadly in Indiana," Jenner said,while stressing that conversations around consolidation and shared services look very different outside Indianapolis.

Rural lawmakers and education leaders, she added, are closely watching how urban proposals could influence policy elsewhere, particularly in counties facing population decline, long bus routes and limited resources.

Jenner cautioned legislators against using enrollment alone to drive decisions, however, instead urging them to weigh student outcomes and fiscal health when considering changes.

"I would challenge the General Assembly that those are the two elements, at the very least, that we need to understand statewide," Jenner said.

Other priorities rolling in

Education advocacy groups are also beginning to roll out their own legislative priorities, calling on lawmakers to address school funding, staffing and student supports.

The Indiana Coalition for Public Education hascalled forgreater state investment in K-12 schools, more equitable funding for districts with limited property-tax bases, and caution against additional mandates without funding.

Meanwhile, the Indiana School Boards Association isurging lawmakersto focus on local flexibility, shared services, school safety and workforce-related learning, while reducing regulatory burdens on districts.

The Indiana State Teachers Association, the state's largest teachers union, has not yet released its 2026 agenda.

The Cardinals fell to the Bulls 85-72. The loss was Ball State's tenth in the early season.

Ball State had an offensive clinic against Earlham on Dec. 29 when they shot 64 percent from the field and had five players score double digits, but the Cardinals did not replicate that performance against Buffalo.

Until a late run in the game, the Cardinals were shooting poorly which has been the narrative all season. Lewis said that the team has not been shooting the ball well all season, and there are "non-skill" plays that need to happen in order to stay in games, like effective communication.

"We've got to become a lot better at the things that take no talent," Lewis said. "A team that maybe doesn't have what others have, but you can play hard and compete, and I didn't feel like we had that to start the game and that's really disappointing."

The Cardinals fell behind early in the contest, as they dug themselves into a 14-point deficit after nine minutes of play. Even with the slow start, the Cardinals gathered themselves and never let Buffalo take a 20-point lead and took a 16-point deficit to the break.

But Buffalo's dominance continued into the second half and once the Bills took a 20-point lead with nine minutes to play, it was all but over for the Cardinals.

Lewis said that a big deal of their constant double-digit deficits was due to the Cardinals' slow start to the game, and he said he wants to see that change moving forward.

"[We] got off to a really poor start, [and I] don't really know the reason for that," Lewis said. "I thought we lacked energy early; I thought we lacked physicality the whole game."

Lewis noted that the team has been getting off to better starts as of late, but he said that was not the case against Buffalo.

Despite the Cardinals' second-straight conference loss, there were still some positives. Ball State had four players in double digits, but that was the extent of the Cardinals' scoring. Past junior guard Armoni Zeigler, sophomore guard Davion Hill, senior guard Devon Barnes and senior guard Elmore James IV, the rest of the team combined for nine points.

The Cardinals also are still dealing with a plethora of injuries, being without junior guard Joey Hart, senior guard Juwan Maxey and sophomore forward Kayden Fish.

"[We] really put ourselves behind the eight ball when you have the availability of your roster the way that we do right now," Lewis said.

MAC play did not start off the way that the Cardinals' envisioned. But the team's two losses came against the two toughest teams in the conference, and the Cardinals have many opportunities coming up to bounce back.

Lewis said that the team needs to come prepared no matter who they are playing against and knows what the team needs to improve on.

"We need to grow and learn from each game," Lewis said. "Our communication is a real issue and our decision making overall particularly in our backcourt must improve for us to become better."

Ball State will have a chance to bounce back on Jan. 6, when Eastern Michigan will pay a visit to Worthen Arena.

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

Six days after a senior official at the Food and Drug Administration sent asweeping internal emailclaiming that covid vaccines had caused the deaths of "at least 10 children," 12 former FDA commissioners released anextraordinary warningin the Dec. 3 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

They wrote that the claims and policy changes in the memo from Vinay Prasad, the head of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, pose "a threat to evidence-based vaccine policy and public health security" and break sharply from long-standing scientific norms.

What is unfolding inside the FDA is not a narrow dispute over covid vaccines. It is an attempt, according to critics and vaccine scientists, to rewrite the rules governing the entire U.S. vaccine system - how risks are weighed, how benefits are proved, and how quickly lifesaving shots reach the public. Former agency leaders warn that if these changes take hold, the consequences could be lasting: fewer vaccines, slower updates, weakened public trust, and more preventable outbreaks.

Prasad made clear he sees the moment as corrective. "Never again will the US FDA commissioner have to himself find deaths in children for staff to identify it," he wrote, telling employees the agency's mission, and its "worldview," would change.

Prasad's email reopened old arguments about covid vaccines, using what is generally considered weak and misleading science in the peer-reviewed research community. He claimed that FDA staff had found "at least 10" deaths in children that happened "after and because of" covid vaccination, using reports from theVaccine Adverse Event Reporting System.

The VAERS system is notoriously crowdsourced, meaning anyone can contribute, and scientists say it serves only as a clearinghouse for reports. For example, a person could file a report saying that after getting a flu shot, their hair turned purple. Though that report would remain in the database until it was reviewed, it cannot prove the cause of medical events. But Prasad argued that the true number of deaths was likely higher because many cases go unreported.

On Substack,Inside Medicinereported Dec. 11that Prasad used incomplete information and that a Dec. 5 internal FDA memo set the pediatric death toll from covid shots somewhere between zero and seven. Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson Emily Hilliard wrote, "The FDA's investigation into deaths caused by Covid vaccines is still ongoing and there's no final count yet of those deaths."

Prasad also accused the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of downplaying the risk of heart inflammation, called myocarditis, in young men; criticized the agency for approving shots for teenagers; and suggested that school and workplace vaccine mandates may have "harmed more children than we saved," adding that "we do not know if we saved lives on balance."

By comparison,more than 2,100 American childrendied of covid itself since the pandemic began, the CDC reported.

Based on his erroneous and misleading claims about covid vaccines, Prasad proposed a major overhaul of how vaccines are approved. He said the FDA should stop relying on immune markers to establish the efficacy of shots, such as antibody levels, and instead require large placebo-controlled randomized trials that track hospitalizations and deaths before approving most new vaccines.

Many immunologists and vaccine experts say it's unethical to test vaccines known to be effective against disease with a control group that would receive a placebo, exposing them to infection.

"There is a rock-solid principle in bioethics that it is unethical to test any drug or vaccine against a placebo if it is known to be safe and effective. The reason is that such placebo-controlled trials would effectively deny patients access to a vaccine that could prevent a dangerous infectious disease," said Lawrence Gostin, a professor of global health law at Georgetown University.

Prasad called the current flu vaccine system an "evidence-based catastrophe," questioned the approval of vaccines for pregnant women based on immune response alone, and raised concerns about giving multiple vaccines at once. He told staff to rewrite FDA guidelines to match his new "worldview" and said anyone who disagreed with his "core principles" should resign.

The former FDA leaders expressed alarm in the NEJM article. They said Prasad is exploiting public frustration over the federal response to covid to spark doubt about the entire childhood vaccine system, which could undo decades of success in protecting children from deadly diseases.

"This is really different. And it's really dangerous. And people will be hurt, particularly by the vaccine decisions," former FDA commissioner Robert Califf said in an interview. He also warned that Prasad's proposed policies - which he noted echo positions on vaccines held by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime anti-vaccine activist - could shake the entire vaccine market.

"The goal of RFK seems to be to make it impossible for vaccines to be available in the U.S.," he said. If the proposals advance, he added, "it won't be a viable business."

Hilliard pushed back sharply on those concerns, writing: "The American people deserve evidence-based science. Prasad's email lays out a philosophical framework that points us toward that higher standard. We will soon release documents laying out that framework and data confirming how the COVID vaccine resulted in children's deaths that previous leadership failed to properly investigate."

For generations, the childhood vaccine program has depended on clear rules, strong safety systems, and public trust. Experts say Prasad's ideas, based on claims they argue are not supported by real evidence, could make it much harder to test, approve, and deliver vaccines to families.

Fueling Parental Doubt

Prasad's memo indicates he considers VAERS reports as proof that vaccines caused children's deaths. The system, though, is designed to be only an "early warning system" for potential safety issues with vaccines that can be investigated further.

"VAERS signals should never be taken as proof of true vaccine risks without careful, confirmatory studies," said Katherine Yih, an epidemiologist and longtime investigator with the Vaccine Safety Datalink, a CDC program.

Doing so, scientists say, directly feeds public fear at a time when many parents are already unsure whom to trust.

"Causation requires converging evidence, not just one report or coincidence," said Robert Hopkins, medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.

Prasad's framework, however, treats uncertainty as a reason to halt development entirely.

Experts fear this doubt won't stay limited to covid vaccines. Once parents start to question the FDA's honesty, they may begin doubting long-standing vaccines for measles, polio, or whooping cough - shots that have protected children for decades.

"Science must be transparent," Gostin said. If families believe the FDA is misusing data or silencing experts, confidence in the entire vaccine system can collapse, he said. "There's a public narrative that people have lost trust in science, but that's not true. The vast majority want the FDA to make decisions based on the best scientific evidence. Once they believe that the agency is marginalizing scientists and cherry-picking evidence, their trust will plummet."

Delicate Vaccine Pipeline

Prasad's new framework will likely make it far harder for companies to produce or update vaccines. The 12 former FDA commissioners warned that requiring clinical trials for all new or updated shots would slow vaccine improvements and leave people unprotected. His plan, they wrote, "would impede the ability to update vaccines in a timely fashion, especially for respiratory viruses."

For fast-changing viruses like flu and covid, this could be disastrous. There's simply not enough time to run full clinical trials every time a virus mutates.

There are also major business effects. Vaccine development is costly, and companies may decide the U.S. is no longer worth the risk. If companies slow down or leave the market, families could face shortages, fewer innovations, and fewer protections for their kids.

'Checks and Balances'

Science depends on open and public debate. Prasad's memo warned his employees against it. In addition to demanding that FDA staff members who disagree with him resign, he said their disputes should stay private and called leaks "unethical" and "illegal."

Susan Ellenberg, a former director of the FDA's Office of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, warned that Prasad risks destroying the process that makes science credible. "If disagreement is treated as disloyalty, you lose the only mechanism that keeps science honest," she said.

Without strong internal debate, safety reviews become weaker. "You lose the checks and balances that make vaccine safety science credible," said Kathryn Edwards, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center who served on the Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment Network during the covid pandemic.

Errington's legislative work has primarily focused on issues such as reproductive health care access, environmental protection, equal pay, sexual assault law reform, public education, universal pre-K and affordable child care. She also helped pass a public safety bill signed into law last session, giving first responders access to critical medical information at accident scenes. In the Facebook post announcing her eventual departure, Errington said that helping constituents navigate state systems has been one of the most "satisfying" parts of her job.

In the same post, Errington also criticized Indiana's long-standing one-party rule and recent efforts to redraw congressional maps.

RELATED:Indiana breaks tradition with potential early redistricting

"The recent wrong-headed attempt to bully the Republican supermajority to redraw Indiana's congressional district maps for political gain in mid-decade has deepened my belief that one-party rule is bad for Democrats, bad for Republicans, and bad for Hoosiers," she wrote. "Indiana has had nearly 20 years of one-party rule. We don't need another Republican in the Indiana House of Representatives."

As part of her announcement, Errington endorsed Muncie City Councilwoman Sara Gullion to run for House District 34 and said she will serve as Gullion's campaign chair.

A new tool with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)shows the average incomes for college graduates, and Indiana cosmetology schools rank at the bottom.

The Department of Education released the earnings indicatorthis month. Students will get a"lower earnings" disclosureif their selected institution produces graduates that earn on average less than those with just a high school diploma. Thedepartment saidthe data will show choices in college education can translate into real-world earnings.

In Indiana, the average high school graduate is making $36,806 this year, according tofederal data.Seven post-graduate institutions reported their graduates made less than that four years after graduation.

The schools are:

• Tricoci University of Beauty Culture in Highland
• Don Roberts School of Hair Design
• J Michael Harrold Beauty Academy
• PJ's College of Cosmetology in Clarksville
• International Business College in Indianapolis
• Taylor Institute of Cosmetology II
• Tricoci University of Beauty Culture in Lafayette

Taylor Institute of Cosmetology graduates had the lowest earnings, making about $19,000 after adjusting for inflation.

Of the seven schools in Indiana that reported lower earnings, six are cosmetology and beauty schools. International Business College is now the Vet Tech Institute of Indiana, according to itswebsite.

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology topped Indiana institutions, with graduates making an average of $105,649 four years after graduation. University of Notre Dame graduates came second, making more than $99,000.

"The Department emphasizes that the earnings indicator is intended to inform, not limit, student choices," it said in a release. "Students and families should have the full picture before making postsecondary education choices, and earnings outcomes are one of many factors students and families should consider alongside cost, mission, location, and personal interests."

The "lower earnings" disclosure will be sent to students after they complete the FAFSA. It only applies to first-year undergraduate students, the department said.

Indiana high school seniors are required to complete the FAFSA by April 15, unless they opt out.

A few months ago, I sat in the press box at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, the home of the Purdue Boilermakers' football program. Growing up as a fan of Indiana University athletics, my childhood self would have felt like he was in enemy territory - and maybe a small part of me still did.

​But jokes aside, I covered the game for Kee On Sports Media Group as Ball State football fell to the Black and Gold 31-0. Though the game was one-sided and not the best outing for the Cardinals, it was one of the best days of my year.

This was partially due to the four colleagues I worked alongside, and the great and sometimes wild conversations we had.

But there was another reason. I felt amazing.

It feels weird saying that out loud - even more weird to type it on my laptop. Before summer started, I considered not writing this year. At one point, I wondered if I had chosen the wrong career.

If you can not tell by my last few columns, country music is a big part of my life. This summer, Parker McCollum released his self-titled album.​

The final track, titled "My Worst Enemy," is a tune that talks about mental health. McCullom sings about being his own literal worst enemy and how the voices in his head are the only ones he hears. When listening to the album, I played the song once. Then again and again.

It reminded me of the rough stretch because I could relate to multiple lyrics and the overall message the song portrayed.

This was due to my personal negativity towards life and, more importantly, my work. Throughout my time on this planet, I have commonly motivated myself with negative thoughts. But after years of trying to outrun some of those thoughts and my self-hate, time caught up with me.

When I was a sophomore at Delta High School, I went out on a whim and took a newspaper class. At that time, I dreaded writing. But I figured that would be easier than playing music or doing art, and I had to pick one of the three options for a credit.

I started working on sports features, and to my surprise, I loved it. I took that class for three years, and it is still one of the best decisions I have ever made. After reading an article about my favorite baseball player of all time - Cincinnati Reds legend Joey Votto - which connected me with some personal tragedy, I knew I wanted to write for the rest of my life.

I was hooked, but I wanted to be the best I could be. While sportswriting was my thing at Delta, I also played golf and was on my high school team for three years.

I was not the biggest kid then - not much has changed - and I would constantly watch competitors out-hit me by a long way. It pissed me off.

So, I used to tell myself things like, "If you do not practice at this level or this length of time, you will never beat them.' I did that all the time with different circumstances throughout the sport.

It actually worked.

So when I graduated, I began doing the same thing with my writing and reporting. I constantly told myself that if I messed up or missed a game, I would never get a job. True story.

But I never got carried away or got to a point where I could not control it. And again, it worked. But things catch up to you.

In spring 2024, I lost a great uncle. He was someone who was in my life constantly as a kid, and a man I truly adored. I thought I grieved that properly, and I felt fine that entire summer.

But by early winter, family, school and work things began to hit lows at the same time. Things such as my 21st birthday did not feel as special, especially having a father who passed away when he was just 19-years-old. That alone opened my mind to past traumas that I still have not told many people about, and how it allowed some really bad moments to come back to me.

Stuff like that did not leave my mind for days, and with some other factors in my life, I never felt appreciated. Not once.

Instead of doing anything productive to fix this or my own thoughts, I came up with a wonderful idea: put all of this into my writing and use it as negative motivation.

News flash - not a great idea.

It worked for about four weeks. But then again, my negativity and motivation of self-hate pulled me under. I had my first anxiety attack that winter. Only a few people know about that because I was too embarrassed to ask for help. It happened in a place where I felt safe and a space I honestly loved at one point.

I was all alone and, for one of the first times in my life, I felt completely helpless. I do not think I ever recovered from that. It affected me more than I thought as I could not breathe for a few moments. According to a 2023 article from Healthline, an anxiety attack can trigger things like episodes of stress and depression, which were things I experienced.

Though I told myself that I would find ways to improve it all, the more my mental health declined. I never tried or let anyone in to help with the negativity I had running through my veins.

The one and only instance I asked an adult for help, my situation was downplayed and I was advised to 'figure it out.' That only worsened my mental state. Following that interaction, anytime I did let people know, I would fight them on any advice I was given.

According to a 2025 article from Marque Urgent Care, frequent criticism and negative thoughts can create pathways to the brain which turns that all into a state of sadness. It was suffocating, and though I hid how bad it was from family and some others, it was noticeable to multiple people.

I was not the guy I used to be. I was not the person I was raised to be.

For a while, I hid it behind laughter and jokes and other forms of disguise. But some knew. I pushed people away and damaged relationships because I changed so much, and that affected how I treated others. I destroyed some friendships, and I still regret that.​

But I impaired myself as well. I would get home after writing a game recap. Three hours later, I would toss and turn in my bed thinking about the story. "Maybe I could have asked this question or phrased this better." And, "Maybe I could have done this or that."

It was miserable. This feeling kept me up at night, and sleep became an exercise I did not know anymore. A 2025 article from the Stanford Medicine News Center says that people who have insomnia-like symptoms are 17 times more likely to have anxiety and other problems.

Yet it was not just my writing that was affected. Anytime someone said something I disagreed with or in moments I felt criticized, I would either deny it or let it break me down mentally and emotionally. Even in moments where I felt I was mistreated, I never allowed for there to be a conversation. Fight or flight were the only two options I was willing to consider.

It got even worse as I lost another family member - the third major family death in a four-year span - and had another get a cancer diagnosis.

I was lost.

But finally, something positive happened, and it centered around a certain story I wrote. This time, I focused on an athlete who was, to herself, broken, and was feeling the same way I did. I recently told her my situation at that time, but she never knew I was struggling throughout the interview process.

A few weeks after writing the feature and its release, I interviewed the same athlete on her senior day. Speaking with her father, he shared what the story did for him as a parent. His words of encouragement were something I still can hear to this day.

And there it was.

The story and the way it impacted a family reminded me of why I got into this field. I remembered why I loved journalism and what that Joey Votto story did for me. It was the first time I had written a piece all semester where I told myself it was good and could not find any way to improve it.

It saved me, because at that moment, I asked myself one question: If I can write something like this at 40 percent, what can I do at 80 or 90 percent? What could I do at 100?

After deciding that I did want to write for my senior year, I wondered what I could do to improve. This is when I finally asked for help. Some of my biggest supporters were my roommates. Those five gentlemen - Adam, Michael, Sam, Logan and Malachi - were influential throughout the spring semester, and that continued during the summer.

I owe them all credit and I will never be able to pay that back.

First, I did little things. I followed motivational quote pages on social media - it sounds dumb, I know. Then I made more time for other things, like fishing and hiking - anything that seemed positive and that I enjoyed doing on my own. I also began taking the advice I received from close friends and family.

I am still trying to get one percent better every day, and there are still times I struggle. In those moments, I do not try to hide it or let it destroy anything around me. I just feel how I have to feel, whether that is crying or taking a few minutes to myself. I just understand that the situation will not last forever.

But the path to ending negativity starts with wanting to be better. Days like that day in West Lafayette make me feel it is worth it.

We all go through things as people. Sometimes we fall, we fail and we think the world is over. It is called being human. Recently, we have seen that in politics, situations when it comes to basic human rights and even in the world of journalism itself.

But that's a column for another day.

However, if you let those moments bring you down, the good times will go right by, and you will miss them. Because of that, we as a society need to stop focusing on the little things that annoy us and focus on the bigger picture.

We only get so much time to enjoy our world, and that alone needs to be celebrated with every breath we take.

Contact Zach Carter via email at zachary.carter@bsu.edu, zachcarter039@gmail.com or via X @ZachCarter85.

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Delaware County is under a tornado watch until 9 p.m. Sunday, according to the National Weather Service(NWS). Showers and thunderstorms are expected to move through the area this evening, bringing the potential for damaging winds and tornadoes.

Outside of storms, strong winds are expected to increase this afternoon and continue through Monday. A wind advisory is in effect from 6 p.m. Sunday to 5 p.m. Monday, with winds of 20 to 30 mph and gusts up to 50 mph. According to the NWS, these winds could knock down tree limbs, blow around unsecured objects and cause power outages.

Wind gusts may continue to reach 45 to 50 mph into Monday afternoon before gradually decreasing. A few light snow showers or flurries are also possible Monday, but no accumulation is expected.

Residents are advised by the NWS to secure outdoor items, use caution while driving and stay alert for changing weather conditions this evening.

This brief will be updated with more information as we have it.

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

The Indiana Attorney General's office confirmed in a recent email that they have filed an appeal regarding the protest case involving Ball State University student Cooper Archer.

Archer was previously charged with two counts of disorderly conduct after being arrested during a Feb. 28 Board of Trustees (BOT) meeting.

He, along with five other students, was removed from the meeting by the University Police Department (UPD) after the group of protestors spoke about issues ranging from Ball State's donors and their alleged ties to the war in Gaza to concerns about redlining, housing inequity and transparency from trustees about the background of Vice Chair Brian Gallagher.

RELATED: UPDATE: Court date assigned for arrested protestors

UPD and university administrators said the group of students disrupted the meeting by yelling after being told to stop, to which the protestors claimed they were asking questions they felt had been ignored by the administration.

All five students were charged on March 7 with two misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct: one for disrupting an assembly and one for making "unreasonable noise."

Archer's trial took place on the morning of Nov. 21, where Judge Thomas A. Cannon Jr. acquitted him on both charges.

With a lack of sufficient evidence from the state, Cannon approved defense attorney Vincent Walker's motion for acquittal due to the fact that political speech is protected in the BOT meetings by the U.S. and the state.

RELATED: Ball State student acquitted on two charges of disorderly conduct

After Archer was acquitted on both disorderly conduct charges, the Attorney General filed an appeal Dec. 17, with the appeal decisions made in consultation between both offices.

No court date has been scheduled yet to revisit Archer's charges.

This brief will be updated with more information as we have it.

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

WASHINGTON- Lawmakers in 2024 let lapse the authority for states to reimburse food stamp recipients who lost their benefits to fraud. Several lawmakers want to reverse course.

In the two years theAgriculture Departmenthad the reimbursement authority, it identified 1.9 million fraudulent transactions using stolenSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Programbenefits. Nearly 679,000 households were impacted, and $322.5 million in benefits were reimbursed the second quarter of fiscal 2023 through the first quarter of fiscal 2025, according to the USDA.

But the victims now have no available options to reclaim the benefit because the USDA's SNAP reimbursement program expired afterDec. 20, 2024.

The theft is personal toIowaRepublican Rep.Zach Nunn.

"This began from a situation in my home state ofIowa, where we had a veteran who had his benefits taken from him," Nunn said last week. "I literally had to take groceries to him to help get him through the month."

The experience prompted Nunn to introduce a bill in June that would again give states the authority to reimburse SNAP benefits stolen through skimming, cloning or any other unauthorized electronic transfer. His bill would also set civil penalties for theft at twice the value of the benefits, using the penalty money to pay for the reimbursement.

"The fraudsters and the scammers are continuing to enfranchise themselves, where, tragically, in too many cases, there's Americans out there who are not getting the SNAP benefits that they deserve," Nunn said.

Recipients are often unaware their benefits have been stolen until they reach the checkout and are left scrambling for alternatives, sometimes having to choose between buying food or paying bills.

Rep.Grace Meng, D-N.Y., introduced a similar measure in April to require states to reimburse stolen SNAP money using federal funds. Her nine co-sponsors include threeRepublicans: Reps.Mike LawlerofNew YorkandBrian FitzpatrickandRob Bresnahan Jr., both ofPennsylvania.

Nunn's bill doesn't have any co-sponsors.

SNAP provides benefits to about 42 million people monthly.

"The loss of the restoration of stolen benefits has been devastating for folks that have, you know, gone to the grocery store and found all of a sudden they didn't have anything in their SNAP account to pay for the food that they need. And that's usually how folks find out," saidEd Bolen, the director of SNAP state strategies for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

"It's like $6.20 a day on average for folks, but it really makes a difference for them to be able to buy food for their families. To suddenly not have that is devastating," he said.

Congressused a 2023 appropriations law to allow states to use federal funds to reimburse stolen benefits. The program was extended once by a continuing resolution.Democratspushed for a four-year extension a year ago, butCongresslet the authorization lapse afterDec. 20, 2024.

Gina Plata-Nino, the SNAP director at the Food and Research and Action Center, a nonprofit organization, said not having a mechanism in place to reimburse stolen benefits "defeats the purpose of the [SNAP] program."

"This is supposed to be an anti-hunger program," Plata-Nino said. "If you don't get those funds, then it's frustrating its purpose."

Skimming, cloning and phishing

Fraudsters cash out SNAP benefits between the first and 10th of the month, often through bulk purchases of easily sold items, according to the FBI.

Skimming occurs when fraudsters install devices inside of card readers such as ATMs, capturing electronic benefit card data and PIN entries. Using that information, they then make fake cards known as clones. Phishing involves the fraudsters posing as officials and using emails, texts or phone calls to get cardholders to disclose information.

"We spoke to the chairman of the Ag Committee. We are hoping to bring that forward as part of an overall package here. As we start to mark up this year's farm bill, I think this is a priority issue," Nunn said.

House Agriculture Chairman Glenn "GT"Thompson, R-Pa., wouldn't say whether reimbursement legislation will be attached to the next farm bill. He said before the holiday recess that he plans to mark up the bill in January.

"Obviously, we're taking everything under advisement as we prepare for 'Farm Bill 2.0,' so I don't really have a status update to where it is," he said.

Chip technology

ButThompsonalso said states need to do more to prevent theft. Most EBT cards have magnetic strips that make them susceptible to skimming. Chip-enabled cards are generally safer to use because there's fewer devices that can steal chip data, according to the FBI.

"Obviously, states need to do a better job as they implement the SNAP program to prevent theft. They have the tools to do that now. States have the authority to use innovation,"Thompsonsaid as he pulled his credit card out of his worn brown leather wallet, pointing to the chip. "To use basically what we all carry on our credit cards, which is chip technology, and chip technology would go a long ways of reducing that."

OnlyCaliforniahas upgraded SNAP EBT cards to chip technology. The USDA says six states have chip card projects in progress:Oklahoma,Alabama,Virginia,Maryland,New JerseyandMassachusetts.

"We're looking at both sides of it. I don't know where we're going to wind up on it. I will say the states already have the authority under their administration to take that step,"Thompsonsaid.

Plata-Nino and Bolen both said the July reconciliation law would make it hard for states and territories to afford a switch to chip-enabled cards. The bill cut the federal share for SNAP administrative costs from 50 percent to 25 percent starting in fiscal 2027.

"There are still some conversations with some states engaging in possibly some chip technology, but considering what just happened with HR 1, some states are reconsidering if that's the right path," Plata-Nino said.

Bolen saidCongressshould do more to aid states in the transition to chip, including pushing for regulations and providing funds, but theGOPdoesn't appear receptive to that message.

"How hard is it? How expensive really is it to transition to chip cards? Everybody else is doing it. You're not going to get a credit card today without a chip,"Thompsonsaid.

California's 2023-24 spending plan designated $50 million to improve EBT card technology and security, including the issuance of chip and tap-to-pay technology.

The deadline for states to decide whether to participate in SUN Bucks - a federal program that helps provide money for meals during the summer - is approaching, afterIndiana opted out of the programlast year.

But local groups focused on hunger say the program helped feed hundreds of thousands of children while school was out, and warn students could struggle to eat during the summer if the state doesn't opt back inbefore the deadline on January 1.

More than 660,000 children in Indiana received food assistance through SUNBucks in 2024, before the program was halted in 2025, according to the Indy Hunger Network.

Mark Lynch, director of advocacy with the Indy Hunger Network, said the program has become more important as the Trump administration moves to restrict federal food assistance.

"When these schools go on summer break, even with the kind of balanced schedule, these students are not getting the nutritious meals they had access to," Lynch said.

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In 2024, Indiana participated in the SUNBucks program. But in 2025, Indiana notified the federal oversight agency that it wouldn't be participating. That didn't stop the state from participating in future years,according to a lettersigned by the deputy director of FSSA.

Last year, thirteen states opted out of administering SUN Bucks, theIndiana Capital Chronicle reported. But this year, Iowa, one of the states that opted out last year,announced that it's back in.

Iowa had initially moved towards a program distributing meals to eligible families over the summer, but found that program too complicated to manage.

That's exactly why groups in Indiana want the state to opt in - since it's easy to manage and most of the costs are provided by the federal government.

Matthew Feltrop, the executive director of A Longer Table, an Indianapolis nonprofit focused on food access for young people, said consistent access to food is critical for kids' success, and SUNBucks is a low-cost way to help during school breaks.

"It's really unconscionable that we would forego a program that is federally funded that can help kids succeed in their future."

Farrah Anderson is an investigative health reporter with WFYI and Side Effects Public Media. You can follow her on X at @farrahsoaor by email atfanderson@wfyi.org.

Journaling

The craft of journaling comes in many forms, such as gratitude journaling or junk journaling, with the concept growing increasingly popular online through various social media platforms where users are anxious to give a "tour" of their journal.

According to The University of Rochester's Medical Center, journaling, the practice of writing down your thoughts and feelings to understand them more clearly, can enhance self expression by helping to reduce stress, manage anxiety and cope with depression, allowing you to "gain control of your emotions and improve your mental health," according to the center.

For tips on how to find and maintain a journaling method that works best for you, read here.

Keep a Planner

According to Wayne State University's Academic Success Center, the act of keeping a planner, whether daily, weekly or monthly, can help with time management and boost productivity by serving as a centralized location to allocate information and identify "time-wasting activities."

Using a planner also helps to reduce stress. "By planning ahead, you can break large projects into manageable steps, track progress and avoid last-minute stress," according to the success center.

By planning ahead for workplace tasks via purposeful use of a planner one can also ensure a firmly cemented work-life balance.

Establish a Regimented Sleep Schedule and Routine

A restful night's sleep provides several benefits.

In May 2024, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported that "Good sleep is essential for our health and emotional well-being."

Adequate sleep, according to the CDC, reduces stress, boosts mood and immunity and lowers one's risks of chronic health conditions like Type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure.

The CDC recommends adults, ages 18 through 65, get a minimum of seven hours of sleep each night.

These nine steps can help you establish a consistent bedtime routine - even in adulthood.

Contact Katherine Hill via email at katherine.hill@bsu.edu.

For the past decade, the effort has been led by chairperson Kevin Gibson, who coordinates donations, works with local organizations to identify families in need and recruits volunteers to help carry out the program.

Although the program differs from the national Toys for Tots initiative, Kevin said it shares the same heart, beginning decades ago when firefighters stepped in to donate toys after a family lost everything on Christmas Eve.

The tradition has been carried out ever since.

Now, the fire department relies heavily on its partnership with the Department of Child Services to help families from all over the county. Once families who qualify meet the program's guidelines, they can sign up for a designated time for their children to pick out toys to enjoy on Christmas.

Kevin said the program serves children 12 and under and offers a wide range of items, including books, crafts, board games, dolls, remote-controlled cars, skateboards and sports equipment. He also said they try to match gifts to families' needs - including selecting board games that can include everyone in larger households.

"The program uses both new and gently used toys. Volunteers clean them, replace batteries and check for damage," Kevin said.

He also said his rule is simple: if it isn't nice enough for his own children, it doesn't go on the table.

However, as toy prices continue to rise, the initiative feels the pressure.

According to the National Retail Federation, toy prices have risen sharply in recent years, putting additional strain on families and charitable programs alike. Even with the growing demand, the goal remains the same - ensuring every child has a present to open on Christmas.

Kevin said that while the initiative has grown significantly in recent years, so has the need for it. He explained how rising costs and rising demand place an additional financial burden on the program when purchasing toys for families.

"We have expanded our reach quite a bit. We would love to expand even further, but it can be a challenge - with rising costs and rising needs. As far as families go, we currently have about 270 signed up, and I expect another 200 to 250 more. So we're looking at upwards of 500 to 600 families just here in Delaware County," he said.

As demand grows, families also face the challenge of reaching out. Many parents hesitate before signing up, even when the need is real. Kevin said the initiative sees this struggle every year, especially as more families turn to the program for support.

"Part of the hard part is getting people to swallow their pride and admit they need help. Sometimes things happen in life that aren't under our control, and you just need a little help. That's what we're here to do; to help lessen the burden on a family during a very stressful time of year," he said.

He explained how his team experiences moments each year that remind them why they volunteer.

One that stood out to him in particular involved a girl who asked friends and family to donate toys to Toys for Tots instead of giving her birthday presents. Kevin said the decision "spoke volumes" about her desire to help other children.

Another moment that sticks with him came from a family whose child asked for only one thing: a bicycle. Volunteers were able to provide it, and on Christmas morning, Kevin received a photo of the child with the bike.

"In that moment, it shows that what we do matters," Kevin said. "It's why we do it."

Moments like that are where volunteers like Vicki Gibson come in, helping the initiative to grow into one of the community's holiday traditions by bringing joy to children in need.

Vicki has worked side by side with her son, Kevin, for years to help grow the initiative from the ground up.

"When the program first started, we didn't have a permanent place, so every year we had to move facilities. Now we have permanent places [so] we do not have to pack the toys up and store them somewhere else," she said.

Like her son, Vicki explained that there are moments throughout the years that also stay with her, including one when a mother cried after receiving a kitchen set her daughter had always wanted.

"It makes me thank God that we have this program that we're able to help families provide something for their child to open on Christmas morning," she said.

However, the initiative has had to evolve alongside shifting trends and new needs. Vicki said technology has dramatically changed children's wish lists, and sensory toys - once uncommon - are now a bigger part of what families look for.

According to the Child Mind Institute, sensory-processing challenges have been increasingly recognized in children over the past decade, impacting the types of toys many families seek.

"Technology has changed a lot… a lot of the kids are asking for video games and PlayStation stuff. And the kids have more sensory issues… we have to make sure that we get toys that they can play with," Vicki said.

Despite this challenge, Vicki said the program wouldn't be possible without the Muncie community's help.

This Christmas alone, several donations were accepted year-round at the fire station, and businesses were also encouraged to request drop boxes to collect toys.

"It's the people in the community willing to give and help the families and the children," she said.

For those interested in helping the cause in the future or seeing its impact, they can find more information on the Muncie Firefighters Toys for Tots Facebook page.

Editor-in-Chief Meghan Braddy contributed to this story.

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

Indiana legislators face some hefty fiscal decisionson how much they want to go along with thebroad federal tax cutsthat President Donald Trump pushed through Congress last summer.

Ananalysis from Gov. Mike Braun's administrationestimates that total state tax breaks on businesses and individuals could top $900 million over the next two years if the Legislature were to adopt all the tax changes included in what Republicans dubbed the"One Big Beautiful Bill."

Republican legislators are poised to take up proposals on conforming the state tax code with federal rules after the legislative session resumes Jan. 5.

The federal changes include temporary deductions for individuals who receive tips and overtime wages along with the interest on loans for vehicles built in the U.S. Otheradjustments give numerous tax breaks to businesses, including a broader deduction for some production facilities.

Chad Ranney, Braun's state budget director, called conformity with the federal tax code "a provision-by-provision decision in conjunction with the Legislature."

"There's nothing that says you have to take all or nothing," Ranney said. "We'll figure out, working with the Legislature, what makes sense from a policy perspective, what makes sense from a fiscal perspective and, frankly, what gives Hoosiers the best bang for their buck."

Details from conformity analysis

Indiana's last major conformity update came in 2023, when Indiana adopted the Internal Revenue Code as of Jan. 1, 2023, bringing the state into line with pandemic-era relief measures such as the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan.

The state analysis provided to the Indiana Capital Chronicle on Monday projects that taxpayers would save nearly $275 million over the next two years with the deduction for overtime wages.

The tax break on tips would total about $80 million during that time, while the vehicle loan deduction was estimated at $70 million.

The biggest of the business tax cuts amounts to an estimated nearly $380 million over the two-year period.

But those savings mean revenue loss for the state budget.

The tax conformity debate will come in the wake of an improved forecast of state tax collections released last week. The new projections show that the state'scash reserves could grow to nearly $5 billionby the middle of 2027 - more than double what was anticipated when the new state budget took effect in July.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Ryan Mishler, R-Mishawaka, was noncommittal on what tax code changes legislators will take up.

"Ideally it'd be nice to be revenue neutral on some of that," Mishler said. "You know, some of them are cost savings and then some would cost money. So I guess we just have to balance that out."

Legislators would likely need to act quickly to enact those tax breaks for 2025 before individuals and businesses begin filing their tax returns - andamid worries of confusionover differences in what could count toward income subject to federal and state taxes.

It is possible that lawmakers could push through a conformity bill in the first few weeks of the legislative session that is now scheduled to conclude by the end of February.

The state's Department of Revenue has been preparing "to quickly account for any changes the General Assembly may make pertaining to conformity," Ranney said in an email to the Capital Chronicle.

"Once the General Assembly has made the decision on what to incorporate into Indiana law, DOR will issue guidance and instructions to taxpayers about filing to account for the changes," Ranney said.

Arguments over priorities

Few states have so far adopted the federal tax changes despite the Trump administration urging them to do so,The Associated Press reported.

One worry with Indiana adopting all the federal changes is that it would further reduce the state's tax base, saidNeva Butkus, a senior analyst for the nonprofit Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.

That could make the state more dependent on its 7% sales tax - among the highest in the country - that now draws in nearly half of the state's revenue.

Butkus said the federal tax changes directed a disproportionate share of savings toward the wealthy. She also called the deductions on tip and overtime income "short sighted" and not equitable.

"Why should a child care worker making $30,000 and a bartender making $30,000 all of a sudden pay different amounts in taxes?" she said during a webinar put on by Prosperity Indiana last week.

Sen. FadyQaddoura, the top Democrat on the Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee, said he believed the Legislature should be cautious in adopting the federal tax changes.

Qaddoura cited concerns about federal Medicaid funding cuts included in Trump's tax and spending bill threatening to increase state costs for the health insurance program for low-income families.

He argued that rather than enacting the federal tax breaks, the state should boost funding for programs such aschild care vouchers that have long waiting listsand eliminate the state's sales tax on residential and business utility bills.

"We have more priorities, urgent priorities that we need to tackle first before we implement any of these changes," Qaddoura said. "We're not obligated to comply with the entirety of what has been sent to us."

Wake Up Dead Man may be the third film in the Knives Out saga, but it is by far not the least entertaining. With a complete tonal shift into a darker theme and a star-studded cast, it was hard not to enjoy it. Although the film is a Netflix original, there was an early screening over Thanksgiving that left a lot of online buzz about the film, proving that audiences love a classic whodunnit story.

A Story of Religion and Power

Each film has a theme that it's going for. The first film focuses on familial issues, the second on tone deaf billionaires, and now the third on religion and power. The film follows a Catholic Church-although many would say the portrayal of religion can be more targeted towards evangelical Christians-and its two priests, Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin) and Jud Duplenticy (Josh O'Connor). After being sent to a church in upstate New York for punching a deacon, Jud realizes that the town worships the word of him and Wicks, even if he's spreading hate instead of faith. The stark differences in priests highlight the bad faith that Wicks spreads to the members of his church. The way Wicks uses his power as a religious figure really illuminates the current cultural problem of powerful figures using their platform to create a violent mob that will take every word they say as truth, with the use of religion mirroring the near-religious cults of personalities these individuals often create.

There are some scenes in the film that had me slightly doubting Rian Johnson, with some of the visuals and gags being a little too on the nose with the religious imagery, but in true Knives Out fashion, everything wraps up neatly in the third act, and all doubts are washed away.

The Stars that Shine Bright

O'Connor and Glenn Close are standout actors in the film. O'Connor's portrayal as a retired boxer-turned-priest was the perfect concoction of anger and faith. Although Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is the titular Sherlock-esque character in the series, the most interesting character is always the Watson counterpart, and O'Connor is probably the best sidekick in the trilogy, stealing the entire film. The most moving scene was when Jud gets so caught up in the mystery of who killed Monsignor Wicks, he doesn't expect Louise (Bridget Everett) to ask him to pray for her mother. O'Connor's immediate mood shift is so fascinating to watch. It makes the entire scene so much more emotional, and it makes for a perfect scene to encapsulate Jud's faith and how he helps the community.

Close's character is comedic, but pretty one-note for most of the film, which isn't a bad thing in her case, as her confession in the third act turns everything around. Having such an important monologue that ties the entire film together, Close makes the scene very compelling. Her comedic timing is also impeccable, with most of the funniest scenes belonging to her. I could watch two hours of just Martha interacting with the church.

A Swing and a Miss-Cast

The cast of the film is massive. From Kerry Washington to Brolin, there's a plethora of A-listers on screen at all times. Unfortunately, there was a lot of wasted talent as well. In a story like this, there needs to be enough ensemble members to hide the true killer, but this film had the weakest ensemble of the series. Jeremy Renner plays the local town doctor whose wife just left him, but his character was very bland. His character is supposed to be an important cog in the machine, yet there's a lot to be desired with his acting. Similarly, Andrew Scott's scorned novel writer seems to only be there to drop controversial opinions and not much else. There's a huge disconnect between Close and O'Connor's characters, almost as if they are in two completely different films altogether. The chemistry wasn't there, and it felt clunky the whole film.

Mila Kunis's Sheriff was also another huge letdown. In both this and the first film, the other law enforcement don't have much of a role, but her Sheriff was so stiff that it was hard not to notice. Jeffrey Wright plays a very minor character within the film, which is a shame because he could have easily taken on the Sheriff role much better. The film is great as it is, but with stronger actors it could have been even better.

What is Benoit Blanc's Next Mystery?

It seems like the first Knives Out film cannot be outdone, but Wake Up Dead Man is a close second for me. The setting, natural lighting, and Johnson's use of memories creating false narratives depending on who's telling the story make it hard not to enjoy the film. With a few different actors and a slightly shorter runtime, the film would be perfect.

Audiences yearn for more Knives Out films. There is a massive untapped market for this film series, and with the success of this new film, there's hope for even more to come. Benoit Blanc is such an entertaining man that even putting him in the Muppets universe could make for a perfect fourth film in the installment. Whenever Johnson decides to make the next film, it's safe to say I will be in theaters for it.

Sources: IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb

Photo: Netflix

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

Indiana's state budget surplus could grow to nearly $5 billion by the middle of 2027 under new and much rosier tax revenue projections.

Anupdated reportpresented Thursday to the State Budget Committee forecast tax collections growing by 4.2% this fiscal year and by 2.7% the following year.

That would give the state about $2.4 billion more than officials expected when the new state budget was finalized in April - and revenue growth was anticipated at 0.8% and 0.1% for the two years of the spending plan.

But Republican state fiscal leaders showed no signs of any spending boosts for the tight budget that took effect July 1.

"It was a positive forecast and it was good news for our state," House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jeff Thompson said. "But remember, we're less than 25% through this biennial budget, so there's some uncertainty still."

The revenue growth would push the state's cash reserves from what had been an expected $2.7 billion in mid-2027 - about 12% of annual state spending - to $5 billion, or about 22% of state spending. That is well above the 10-15% level that leaders usually aim for.

Democrats said the unexpected revenue should allow the state to restore spending cuts made after the Legislature was "spooked" by the dismal April forecast.

Rep. Greg Porter, the top Democrat on the Ways and Means Committee, said the state needed to make better use of the available funds rather than more tax cuts.

"The people who really need it, the special needs individuals, our children, seniors, they're going to be left out in the cold," Porter said.

Gov. Mike Braun touted the revenue forecast as "evidence that our focus on jobs and wages to grow the economy is working."

"We are boosting Hoosier wages and lowering taxes," Braun said in a statement. "While many other states are struggling to gain momentum, Indiana is thriving and Hoosiers are keeping more money in their pockets."

Medicaid costs growing slower

New projections also show Indiana'sMedicaid program costswill grow slower than expected as the number of people it covers has dropped about 15% in the first year of Braun's administration.

Medicaid officials are also planning a 10% cut in the payment rate for anautism therapy program that has drawn particular concernfor its fast-growing expenses.

The state's rising Medicaid expenditures have been amajor worry of state budget officialsfor the past several years - and a new forecast of those costs released Thursday indicated some relief.

The previous forecast released in April had Medicaid costsjumping by 9.5% during the current state fiscal year and 7.7% next fiscal year, for a total increase of $1.2 billion over those two years.

The new projections have those growth rates slowing to 3.2% and 6.4% per fiscal year, totaling about $465 million less in state spending for the two-year period.

That cost slowdown comes as Indiana's enrollment in the low-income health care coverage has dropped from about 2 million people at the beginning of this year to 1.7 million in November - a removal of about one in every seven people who were enrolled.

Family and Social Services Administration Secretary Mitch Roob, who oversees the Medicaid program, attributed much of the enrollment drop to the income verification letters now sent every three months that started in April.

But the state's Medicaid expenses haven't dropped by a similar rate because those who've not maintained their enrollment are healthy and not often seeking health care, Roob said.

"You have fewer patients, but you're covering the sicker patients," Roob told the Indiana Capital Chronicle ahead of Thursday's State Budget Committee presentation.

Roob said the state agency doesn't know yet how frequently those dropped from the Medicaid rolls by not responding to the income-verification letters eventually are re-enrolled.

"You'd probably need at least 18 months worth of data to discern that," Roob said. "I think that's an important question and it's worth knowing, but we don't know it yet."

Payment cuts for autism therapy

Medicaid officials presented their plan to reduce payments for applied behavior analysis, or ABA, therapy that is often used to improve communication and learning skills in children and young adults with autism or other developmental disorders.

The plan is to reduce the state's current ABA therapy payment rate of about $68 an hour to near what Medicaid officials say is the national average of $61 an hour.

The payment cut is planned to take effect in April for a program that has seen its use surge in recent years. More than 8,000 Hoosiers rely on Medicaid to pay for ABA therapy, with most of them between three and eight years of age.

Roob said Braun had told him to get ABA therapy costs to a "reasonable" spot.

"We think smack dab in the middle is reasonable," Roob said. "We value ABA therapy, right? But we can't afford ABA therapy for all in perpetuity."

Indiana's Medicaid program began covering ABA services in 2016, spending about $21 million over the following year.

Expenditures peaked at $611 million in 2023, and dropped slightly to $445 million in 2024, after former Gov. Eric Holcomb's administrationset lower reimbursement rates.