"Obviously the world is what it is, so knowing that we have the platform of being Division 1 athletes, we have a little more publicity than the average person might have, we wanna put that to a greater cause, and this is kinda something we thought that'd be able to not only help us as people but also help out other people," Holmer said

Managing sports, school, a social life and a job like this one can take a toll on someone, but Holmer is reminded that there is a positive to what they are doing.

"I'm the one who's choosing to do this. There's a positive as to why we are doing it, we are helping somebody out, something that they wouldn't be able to do, like they need a task done, we're there to do it," Holmer said.

Whether it's moving furniture or shoveling driveways, it isn't about the money for them. It's about the relationships and bonds they build.

"The elderly, I love helping them, just connecting them and seeing what their story is really inspires me to keep doing what I'm doing and just working hard every day," Stumbaugh said.

One special relationship they have built is with a local veteran.

"And it's just sad, you know, seeing, obviously, he wants to be able to do those things, you know, he relies on us to be able to do, and he's called us back multiple times to come help him again. So it's kinda those relationships that we're able to build," Holmer said.

Even though Holmer is a senior, Stumbaugh plans to carry on the legacy next year and continue to make an impact in the community. They are open to services in Delaware County and the bordering counties.

Contact Cameron Noe with questions at cameron.noe@bsu.edu.

The Cardinals took down the Northern Illinois (NIU) Huskies 83-48.

A catalyst for the Cardinals' success has been sophomore guard Grace Kingery. The guard played 23 minutes in the game. She scored 23 points.

"She got going and it just kind of ended the game quick," Head Coach Brady Sallee said. "It just kind of overwhelmed them."

The guard has scored 22 or more points in two consecutive games, and her 23-point performance against NIU ties her career high.

"It's the ball movement," Kingery said. "Playing with my teammates, they know when to find me."

The Cardinals' offense has reached new highs in their last two games. Against NIU, the team only recorded 12 turnovers, while forcing 20. Sallee said their ability to keep the turnovers low is something that has "been building."

The team recorded a season high 30 assists against Kent State Feb. 1 and followed that up with 58 percent shooting from the field against NIU.

Sallee said the team is now understanding their identity, and it is showing in the results. Being this far into conference play results in the team being "scouted deeply", but these offensive performances have given the head coach confidence in his team.

"In the grind of February, to see us playing this cleanly and this well is exciting," Sallee said. "And I think we got some more in us."

The Cardinals did not only have success behind the arc hitting nine threes, but the team also excelled in the paint. Sallee said the team wants to play inside out, and that was evident with their 40 points in the paint.

"We firmly believe if we win the points in the paint, we're going to win the game," Sallee said.

The win against NIU has given Ball State their tenth MAC win of the season, giving glimpses of the 2025 tournament team who started the MAC season 12-1. Senior center Tessa Towers said the chemistry on the team is high, and the "vibes are good."

"I feel like right now, we're the closest we have ever been," Towers said. "The whole team [has] just really bought into it."

Coming up next, the Cardinals will host Troy Feb. 7 for the MAC-Sun Belt Conference (SBC) challenge. Sallee said that the feeling of playing in a game with so much weight is "why kids come here."

Sallee said that the game with Troy is an NCAA tournament level game. The head coach said having the ability to play Troy this late in the year is a "great deal."

"It's going to be real," Sallee said. "It'll be great for us to get a taste of that level and having to play at that level."

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

Tonight: As the night continues, temperatures will slowly decrease, eventually reaching a low of 12 degrees. There will be a light north wind of 5 mph with cloudy skies. 

Tomorrow: Temperatures will stay in the mid-20s and below, reaching a high of 24 degrees around 5 p.m. Clouds will remain cloudy and we'll see a slight increase in wind speeds, just around 10 mph.

Seven-Day Forecast: Temperatures will remain in the 20s, eventually jumping up to the mid-30s on Friday. Expect snowfall Friday morning followed by cloudy skies. After a chilly Saturday with a high of 21 degrees, temperatures will begin to climb through the week, reaching a high of 45 degrees on Tuesday. 

- Weather Forecaster Dillinger Clark

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Formerly a full month of events, the fundraising events have since been condensed into a full week of celebrations to maximize engagement. The Week of Miracles focuses on boosting registration for the event, fundraising, stewarding, increasing community involvement, as well as team and morale building for the organization.

"We think of our week of miracles as like a happy and hopeful event," Halle Cole, Director of Riley Relations at BSUDM, said. "And what better way to celebrate that than with ice cream!"

Savanna Stanton, Director of Fundraising for BSUDM, was in charge of setting up the Dine-to-Donate at Berrywinkle. In addition to the frozen yogurt shop, Stanton has helped arrange similar events at restaurants like Chipotle, HotBox Pizza and The Frozen Boulder in Muncie.

Stanton said that her favorite event during the Week of Miracles was their Battleship game night which occurred on campus at Lewellen Pool on Thursday, Jan. 29. Battleship night was a community event that raised awareness for their fundraising campaign and encouraged participation of other student organizations on Ball State's campus.

At Berrywinkle, and the various events taking place in the days prior, BSUDM members were given the opportunity to connect with Riley families and recenter with their mission to help those in need by making healthcare more accessible for children. At the frozen yogurt shop, the Muncie community joined several of BSUDM's members to enjoy a frozen treat while supporting the children being treated at Riley.

"This event is really important to us, we really appreciate when businesses are willing to pair with us, because it is mutually beneficial," Payton Bunn, Director of Riley Relations for BSUDM, said. "We bring customers in to them, and they bring funds back to our children's hospital."

With aspirations of going into the medical career in her future, Bunn has expressed that she especially enjoys being able to give back to the hospital.

For BSUDM, Bunn has the important job of overseeing their 8 partnering high schools. Bunn does much of her work in leadership development, and especially enjoys engaging with local kids and families.

"I believe that if we have the capacity to, it is our duty to give back to our community," Bunn said.

Becoming a part of BSUDM is how Bunn found her place on campus.

"Freshman year can be very scary, I'm an out of state student, so I found lots of community here" Bunn said. "These people are the kindest, hardest working people I've ever met in my entire life."

For some members, like Cole, joining BSUDM meant something beyond friendship and community.

"When my niece was 4-years-old, she was diagnosed with lymphoma and was treated primarily at Riley Hospital," Cole said. "So Riley has always kind of held a special place in my heart."

Cole said that discovering BSUDM and their mission to raise money for Riley after at a spring activity fair felt "perfect." She knew without a doubt that BSUDM would be exactly where she belonged. Since joining BSUDM, Cole has been elected as Director of Riley Relations. In this role, she has the unique opportunity to work one-on-one with patients of Riley and their families.

Cole's favorite event during their Week of Miracles was their "Night of Hope," which took place on Wednesday, Jan. 28. This structured cause-connected event was all about sharing stories and bonding with Riley families. The event featured stories and photos of those who have been impacted by BSUDM's mission to improve healthcare for young patients. Cole described the event as very impactful, as it allowed the Dance Marathon community to reflect on the work they've done thus far to support Riley children.

Executive board members like Megan Moshak, who serves as Vice President of Internal Affairs for BSUDM, have worked very hard all semester to help BSUDM reach their ultimate goal of creating hope and uniting to heal those who need our help most.

As well as participating and attending events like the one held at Berrywinkle, Moshak works with the entire executive board to plan and oversee the celebration on the day of the Dance Marathon.

This year, Ball State's Dance Marathon will be held on campus in the Student Recreation and Wellness Center. To donate or register for the event, visit bsudm.org!

Contact Tatum Harris with comments at tatum.harris@bsu.edu.

Tonight: Overnight temperatures are expected to drop to around 12 degrees. Skies will be overcast, and winds will be relatively calm.

Tomorrow: Temperatures will be in the low teens tomorrow morning, but are going to rise to the mid-20s throughout the day. Skies will be cloudy with slight chances of snow flurries in the afternoon. The winds will be coming from the south-southwest at around 10 mph.

Seven-Day Forecast: Daytime temperatures finally reach above freezing as we make our way later into this week and early next week, with high temperatures ranging from 23 degrees to 45 degrees. overnight lows are also expected to reach above freezing by next week. Chance of snow return to our forecast, with a 70 percent chance of snow on Friday.

- Weather Forecaster Halle Dziekan

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In this episode of 9-1-1 What's Your Hot Take, Sam and Willow discuss the events of season 9 episode 10 of 9-1-1.

Music track: Talk by Chill Pulse

Source:https://freetouse.com/music

Copyright Free Music for Videos

Hosted by: Sam Jasionowski and Willow Emig

Edited by: Sam Jasionowski

Graphic by: Willow Emig

Jan 26, The Associated Press confirmed "at least six people have died during the Trump administration's intense immigration enforcement campaign in the U.S."

The on-campus vigil will commemorate the half dozen victims killed by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, according to the flyer.

The vigil is open to the public at no cost.

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

MUNCIE, Ind. - The Muncie Central boys basketball team has turned things around this season as they are 7-6 through the first half of the season. If they stay on this pace, they will finish with their best record since the 2022-23 season. One bright spot in the season so far is sophomore guard Jaxson Johnson jumping in points per game, going from 11 last season to 18 PPG this season.

" My teammates are trusting in me, and my coaches are trusting in me. They put me in the right positions to score… also, my confidence last year as a freshman, I was trying to figure things out, and this year I have more confidence," Johnson said.

Another reason why the team is having so much success this season is that they brought head coach Jeff Holloway back, who last coached for the team in 2016.

"The more I thought about it, this is home. I graduated from here so it just felt right to come back and give back in that way." Holloway said.

Holloway has been around the game of basketball for a majority of his life, as he not only played for and graduated at muncie central but also played college basketball at Arkansas State University and played some basketball overseas as well. Holloway takes these experiences and brings them to his current team.

"The way things are kind of taught, I was fortunate enough to play for certain guys in high school, certain guys in college, and I got to play overseas a little bit. Got to see how the game played internationally," Holloway said.

And like any team, Holloway already has his goal set in his mind for the team for the rest of the season.

" I think our team goal for the most part is 500 or better and then win a sectional game, and then go from there, everything else is a bonus," Holloway said.

At the end of the day, no matter how the rest of this season goes, things are looking good for the Muncie Central boys basketball team. Their next game is at home on Tuesday, January 27, against Hamilton South Eastern. The tipoff for that game is at 7:30 p.m.

Any comments? Contact Michael Baugh atmichael.baugh@bsu.edu

The legislation could still be brought back for another vote before Monday's legislative deadline, however.

Bipartisan opposition toHouse Bill 1119doomed the measure with a48-47 tally. In the 100-member House, a bill must earn at least 51 votes to advance or be defeated.

Nineteen Republicans and 28 Democrats voted against the bill, which would allow the Indiana Department of Correction to choose between lethal injection anda firing squadwhen carrying out death sentences.

The unsuccessful vote came a day after lawmakers removed nitrogen hypoxia as an execution option. Additional amendments adopted Tuesday added mental health screening requirements for members of the execution team and revised language governing media witnesses to executions.

Related:Indiana lawmakers remove nitrogen hypoxia from execution bill

Bill author Rep. Jim Lucas, R-Seymour, framed the proposal as a continuation of Indiana's legal death penalty history.

"I understand this is a sensitive topic, and I respect and truly appreciate everybody's passion and emotion on this issue, but the actual issue is not the death penalty - that's been decided over 200 years ago," Lucas said. "And since then, this issue right now is simply amending existing Indiana law to include another method that we have done for the past 200 years, by evolving (execution) methods.

Lucas traced the state's history from hanging and electrocution to lethal injection, arguing that the firing squad is a response to modern challenges.

"The drugs that we are using to carry out lethal injection are becoming harder and harder to come by," he added, referring to the high cost ofpentobarbitalused inIndiana's execution process.

Firing squads have never been legal in Indiana.

Opponents from both sides of the aisle countered that the bill raises moral and practical concerns and risks accelerating executions without fully addressing the broader debate around capital punishment.

Rep. Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington, emphasized that the measure, in its latest form, no longer hinged on drug availability.

"The bill was amended to essentially now say that it doesn't matter if it's difficult to get the drugs that would allow a humane execution," Pierce said. "And now we're just going to let the Department of Corrections decide whether they want to use the lethal injection or firing squad."

"I would hope that our society has advanced a bit since our state was founded, and would find a firing squad to be a barbaric way to perform an execution," he continued. "At the end of the day, we are killing a person, we are taking a human life in the name of the state, in the name of the people of Indiana. And I think that we should be very careful, and do that as humanely as possible, and we shouldn't be in a big hurry to do it."

Rep. Bob Morris, R-Fort Wayne, additionally raised concerns about wrongful convictions and the mechanics of a firing squad.

"You can't tell me with 100% certainty that the person committed the crime," Morris said in passionate floor remarks. "One thing is for certain - you will never bring that life back when it is gone."

And Rep. Becky Cash, R-Zionsville, noted that since 1973 more than 2,000 people have been exonerated from death row nationally.

Democrats also questioned whether the state was "moving backwards."

"The death penalty - it simply has to go," said Rep. Ed DeLaney, D-Indianapolis. "All this fuss is about our embarrassment with this heinous way of ending a life - a life of a person who, by definition, is not deserving of much of anything except the one thing the good Lord gave them, which is the life. It's not for us to take it away. It's not for us to fuss about how we take it away."

"It's not for us to kid ourselves that the only reason we're here is because that chemical costs too much or doesn't work right," he concluded. "We should vote this bill down and get onto the real topic, which is to end this immoral procedure of killing another human being."

Meanwhile,a Senate proposal authorizing firing squadseffectively died after committee leaders declined to hold a vote to advance the measure to the full chamber.

The first Cardinal stepping into the spotlight is Maddie Grove, a junior majoring in wildlife biology from Bolingbrook, Illinois.

Grove has had a passion for working with animals since she was a little girl, but she credits her high school AP biology class for sparking her interest in ecology and evolution. That spark led her to major in wildlife biology.

"The coolest part of my major is hands down the fieldwork," Grove said, "I get to hold wild frogs and birds during class time."

Her courses have also taken her on trips, like the weekend long trip to Goose Pond she went on with her wildlife biology class. There, she was able to get hands-on experience with trapping techniques researchers use when working with animals like turtles, fish and mice.

Her classes aren't the only way she has been able to get hands-on experience in her studies. She has been able to take part in extracurricular opportunities to have more experience for her resume and to have more firsthand practice in various aspects of her field.

"I was very surprised by how many out-of-class opportunities my program provides," said Grove, "from field trips to volunteering opportunities, there is always a way to gain more experience."

Grove has also been able to build her resume and connect her passion for sustainable agriculture with her wildlife biology studies, as she spent her summer working with the Land Institute in Kansas. There, she was able to learn more about the agricultural sector in the United States and help work to pioneer more sustainable agricultural methods through plant breeding.

Her summer work is not the only thing she has connected to her love for wildlife biology. She has two tattoos that symbolize her enthusiasm.

"The most 'me' thing about me is probably my tattoos," Grove said. "I think that they are a great representation of my experiences and my personality."

Her meaningful ink includes a small black bear she got while in the Smoky Mountains and a morning glory flower that serves as a reminder of her summer internship.

As Grove flies toward graduation, her skills and passion continue to soar with her.

Want us to tell your story?Or, do you know someone who should have their story told?Email us at cardinalmedia@bsu.edu.

The Cardinals never held a lead in the game.

The team only had two scorers in double digits, with junior guard Armoni Zeigler scoring 11 points on 3-11 shooting from the field and sophomore guard Davion Hill contributing 15 points off the bench.

Bowling Green dominated Ball State on the boards by a large margin, as the Cardinals only brought in 21 rebounds compared to the Falcons' 38.

A bright spot in the game for the Cardinals was the turnover margin, as they only turned the ball over ten times, while Bowling Green turned it over 14 times.

The Cardinals will try and get back into the win column Feb. 7, when they will travel to UL Monroe for the MAC-Sun Belt Conference (SBC) challenge.

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

Tonight: This evening you can expect cloudy skies with temperatures to sit around 15 degrees. Winds coming from the north-northeast at 7 mph.

Tomorrow: Temperatures are still remaining below the freezing point for tomorrow with 15 degrees as you are heading out the door in the morning then begin to reach up to 22 degrees by the evening. Conditions will stay rather cloudy throughout the day with some possibly sunshine peaking through. Winds coming from the north-northeast around 6 to 8 mph.

Seven-Day Forecast: Subfreezing temperatures continue but not for much longer. Throughout the next seven days temperatures will rang from a low of 21 degrees to a high of 42 degrees by early next week. You can expect partly cloudy conditions throughout with some possible sunshine and a 40 percent chance of snow flurries on Friday.

- Assistant Chief Weather Forecaster Elizabeth Myers

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X @NLIWeather for breaking weather updates.

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

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

"By targeting these students that we considered those bubble kids or bubble students, ones that we think 'hey if they get a little more attention, a little more one on one, we can really see some growth', and we have seen that," Director of Communication and Public Relations for Anderson Community Schools Brad Meadows said.

More than 40 Read United volunteers work in Anderson Community Schools. Two of them being Meadows and Kim Williams. Each volunteer gets two students for two 30-minute sessions once a week. Volunteers use games, books and other activities to help build reading skills, excitement and wonder.

"I love that excitement that they have when they read a difficult word, or you know, just last week I was with one of my girls, and she said look how much we've read!" Williams, Vice President for Resource Development and Marketing at Heart of Indiana United Way, said. "You know she was just so excited about what she's accomplished."

Because of this program, Anderson schools saw a 10.5% increase in the number of students who passed IREAD than the year prior, being the largest increase in the state.

"It's just pride. I had one of the two kids I was working with last year who, a teacher came up to me towards the end of the year and was so excited to say how awesome this little boy had done and that he had passed his i-read and just saying did he tell you and he just had a big smile on his face," Williams said.

Currently, Muncie Community Schools does not have any Read United programs, but United Way is hoping to get some up and running in the future. To volunteer, you can sign up through Read United at the beginning of the calendar year, or you can contact Anderson Community Schools.

Contact Abby Urban with comments at abigail.urban@bsu.edu.

The "Still I Rise" exhibition is an open area for students to learn and contribute their own work to. Located on the fourth floor of the Arts and Journalism Building, the pieces reflect the culture and history of Black Americans and Ball State evolution.

"This is one of those opportunities where I'm able to take black history and really turn it into something where everybody can participate," Christian Mason said.

Christian Mason, creator of 'Still I Rise,' prioritized Black history growing up and felt he had to make a project of his own to fulfill his creative itch. His background is not the main cause for the exhibit, but Faith Mackenzie, a student employee at David Owsley Museum of Art, tells us there is a lack of art inclusion in DOMA, which makes this exhibit even more meaningful.

"We have I think maybe 20 pieces in the entire collection, and that's a rough estimate- that are all accredited to black artists but that's not a lot considering we have 10,000 pieces in the entire collection," Mackenzie said.

The exhibition is open to all, and many students who participate find it uplifting to have the opportunity to showcase their hard work.

"I love being a part of the culture here at Ball State not just as a black artist, but as an artist in general," said Mackenzie.

There will be a reception to celebrate the exhibition on Feb. 6 from 6p.m.-7 p.m. at the Fourth Wall Art Gallery. Art pieces are still being accepted throughout the exhibition until Feb. 12. Students should contact Mason for any new additions.

Contact Kahmara Munn with comments at Kahmara.munn@bsu.edu.

Today: The temperature will reach a high of 31 degrees with cloudy skies. Winds will be coming from the north at 9mph. Cold day for any activities planned and if your going to get some food or on a walk make sure you bring a coat.

Tonight: Cloudy Skies with wind going north north east 7mph. The low is going to be 14 degrees, so if you want to go out make sure to bring a coat.

Tomorrow: Cloudy skies during your morning commute with it being 16 degrees outside wind coming from north north east at 6mph, at 12 p.m. skies will clear up a little with it being 22 degrees with winds coming from north north east at 8mph. at 5 p.m. it will be 23 degrees with wind coming from the north at 8mph.

7-Day Forecast: It will be a cold week with temperatures being in the mid 20s but don't let that fool you, we will have snow flurries on Friday with the temperature being 37 degrees and during the weekend and into next week temperatures will be reaching mid 30s to 40s.

-Weather Forecaster Jon Urbina-Reyes

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Izzy West, the director of educational services for the "Scalez and Tailz Exotic," has worked with animals her entire life and getting the chace to educate people on reptiles means the world to West.

"Our main goal is to educate people and just help them understand that these aren't scary animals at all," West said.

"Scalez and Tailz Exotic" originally started when West rescued one of her snakes that was abandoned in a shoe box, now, she uses the platform to help educate communities about how reptiles can be neglected too

"Everyone thinks that it's a dog, a cat or a horse. You know what I mean a horse, a farm animal," West said. "These are one of the most neglected animals, reptiles are just kind of brushed under the carpet."

Growing up with various rescued animals her entire life, what West wants most of all is for people to think twice before buying a pet, especially an exotic one.

"Learn the animal, learn their habits, learn their diet, learn their requirements, if you learn all those things about them you're going to have a happy animal that will thrive," West said.

Scalez and Tailz exotics also offers events for birthdays, school events, fundraisers and more for the community. For more information go to their face book page @scalezandtailzexotic.

Any comments? Email Wyatt Maher at wyatt.maher@bsu.edu

Tonight: Temperatures will remain cool this evening with the low being 19 degrees. The wind will also be calm tonight remaining around 5 mph, but still bundle up if you plan on going out this evening.

Tomorrow: Temperatures will rise in the morning to 22 degrees as you start your commute to work or school with a 40% chance of light snow before 1 pm. At noon, the temperature will be 28 degrees with the high tomorrow being only one degree higher at 29 degrees. The wind will be calmer in the morning, but increase slowly throughout the day, with speeds up to 10 mph towards the late afternoon.

Seven-Day Forecast: The sun will begin to shine again on Wednesday with temperatures dropping back into the low-20s. Cloud cover will return on Thursday with the temperatures rising to a high of 25 degrees. A 30% chance of light snow on Friday morning with the first sign of above freezing temperatures expected to be in the mid-to-low 30s. Temperatures will return to 25 degrees for the high on Saturday with partly cloudy conditions for the start of the weekend. Sunday and Monday the highs are expected to be above freezing with temperatures in the high-30s and low-40s.

-Weather Forecaster Evan Reed

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

Kendrick Lamar Sweeps Again

After a full sweep of the 2025 Grammys with his song "Not Like Us," Lamar took home six awards at this year's awards for his album GNX. Lamar also became the most awarded Rap artist of all time, surpassing Jay-Z. Lamar won Record of the Year, Rap Performance, Melodic Rap Performance, Rap Song, and Rap Album.

Bad Bunny Wins it All

Album of the Year is the biggest award of the night. The category was stacked with impressive records, including Debí Tirar Más Fotos, Swag, Man's Best Friend, Let God Sort Em Out, Mayhem, GNX, Mutt, and Chromakopia, but the one to take home the award was Bad Bunny, also known as Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, for Debí Tirar Más Fotos.

During one of his acceptance speeches, Ocasio went on stage and used his time to condemn Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), saying "ICE out" at the beginning of his speech. He goes on to say, "The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love. So, please, we need to be different. If we fight, we have to do it with love."

Steven Spielberg Hits EGOT Status

Steven Spielberg was the director of "Music by John Williams," which won Best Music Film, making him reach EGOT status. Taking home a win at these major ceremonies is extremely difficult, but Spielberg has four Emmys, one Grammy, three Oscars, and 10 Tonys. Spielberg is one of 22 people to reach this legendary status.

Record and Song of the Year

Record and Song of the Year are two similar categories, but had two completely different winners. Record of the Year-which focuses on the production of the song-went to Lamar and SZA for "luther."

Song of the Year-which focuses on the songwriting-went to Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas for "Wildflower" on her 2024 album HIT ME HARD AND SOFT. Other songs that were nominated for both categories include "DtMF," "Manchild," "Anxiety," "Abracadabra," and "Apt."

Newcomers Got Some Love

A recent tradition at the Grammys includes a performance from each artist nominated for Best New Artist, giving all of them a platform to prove why they were nominated in the first place. After all of the performances, Olivia Dean was the artist to go home with the Best New Artist, but she wasn't the only one in the category to go home with a Grammy. Lola Young won Pop Solo Performance for "Messy," and Leon Thomas won Traditional R&B Performance for "Vibes Don't Lie."

Even Movies Win Awards

Sinners became a Grammy-winning film with two wins for Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media and Score Soundtrack for Visual Media. "Defying Gravity" won the Pop duo/group performance, giving the film time to shine during the award ceremony.

This year's Grammys were full of talented artists, and next year's is sure to be a blast with the hopeful return of Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, and maybe even Beyoncé.

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

Photos: Grammy Museum

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

MuncieP3 (MP3) is an after-school and summertime program at Longfellow Elementary School, specializing in improving students' reading and literacy skills.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Indiana's literacy rates declined every year, with the pandemic "exacerbating" students' literacy scores, according to data from Indiana's IRead results. In response to this, the state has made "historic investments" in helping more students read, according to the Indiana Board of Education.

MP3 is one of those investments.

"The overall goal is to make sure that our students are reading and reading proficiently by third grade," said program coordinator and director of the MuncieP3, Michael Long.

Long has been working as MP3's director for 10 years, but before that, he worked as the assistant director for two years. The program itself is under Ball State University's Early Childhood, Youth and Family Studies Department, allowing students from the university to be student aides for the program.

The program initially began after Ball State professor of early childhood, youth and family studies, Dr. Eva Zygmunt, wanted to start an immersive learning class in the community of Whitely, a neighborhood in Muncie.

In 2009, a "Mom's Night Out" event was hosted by the university's early childhood, youth and family studies department at Roy C. Buley Community Center. At the gathering, the department asked parents about their "hopes and dreams" for their children, Zygmunt said via email.

In response, parents said they valued education and wanted after-school and summer enrichment opportunities for their children to keep them on track academically. Zygmunt officially made the decision to move forward with the program after hearing this feedback, as several of the parents said they wanted their children to be taught by "trusted community members and teachers."

Two weeks after the program was in development, the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) issued requests for funding new programs through the 21st Century Community Learning Center Grants, with grants estimated at $900,000 every four years. Long explained that these grants are very competitive, and only 25 to 30 programs receive funding after applying.

MP3 received a grant from the IDOE, allowing MP3 to begin the four-year grant cycle. Currently, the program is entering its fourth grant cycle, approaching 16 years in operation.

"[MP3] was birthed out of the need of the community, and right after that, the funding came," Long said.

The program applied for its four-year grant cycle in February 2025, but was rescinded in March due to President Donald Trump dismantling the DOE, which cut funding to after-school programs.

"It has been almost a year, and the funding is still not approved," Long said via email.

MP3 is still waiting for a decision from the DOE on whether grant money is still available in the department's budget. Once the DOE knows the amount of funding available, Long said it will reopen applications for its grant program.

In the meantime, MP3 is talking with local foundations about possible funding, as well as continuing to explore state and federal funding to keep the program operating.

Long emphasized how the families are an important part of the children's success with MP3. He said that, for a child to be enrolled in the program, the family would need to be interviewed to determine what works best or "fits" well for either the family or the child.

But ultimately, the students who stay all four years in MP3 become the "most successful," Long claims, saying "there is no program in the state of Indiana like what we do."

Recently, third graders IRead scores in the state of Indiana have improved from 2024-25, according to the 2024-25 IRead results. Students' literacy data grew from 2023-24 from 82.5 to 87.3 percent, representing 73,500 third graders out of 84,163 in the state.

Success like this is what pushed curriculum coordinator Faith Serf to be part of the after-school program, having experienced how much the program helped her son.

"I knew I wanted to be a part of this community, because they were really embracing not only the student, they were embracing the families as well," Serf said. "It was a very welcoming environment."

First-grade co-teacher for MP3, Tyana Isomi, also experienced watching her own children go through the program. Both Isomi's daughter and son attended MP3, and while her daughter was a quick learner, her son had an IEP, or an Individualized Education Program, and struggled academically.

Despite these challenges, her son received support from those around him. He made friends from the start of the program until the very end, and is still friends with them now as a sophomore in high school.

"His group of friends just took care of him," Isomi said.

Once students are done with their normal school day, they can take a "brain break" to transition to the after school program. During this time, Serf said that students receive a small meal or snack to prepare them to learn.

Serf said students also have the opportunity to use a digital program called Lexia, a computer-assisted reading and literacy program that is developed to support student reading, writing and language arts skills, with a "game approach" to its learning.

"We don't look like a school day program. However, we are using the standards and the content, and we refined it so that it looks more engaging," she said.

First-grade aide and second-year Ball State student Mackenna Johnson said they give students "wiggle breaks" to let them get all their "talkativeness out."

Johnson explained that understanding a student's individual needs makes it "easier for them to learn from [staff]" by recognizing when they are hungry or simply need to move around. She continued by saying that if a student's "mind is not in the right place," then they will not be able to learn appropriately.

Along with meeting the students' needs, Isomi said the relationship with the student is a "big part" of the program.

Having grown up in Muncie herself, she knows the families and children who are part of MP3. Isomi explained how having these connections benefits the community in addressing any challenges that may arise.

Isomi also described the program as having "good" communication with the families and being able to discuss problems with parents, describing the environment as "family."

"Longfellow [Elementary] itself is family," Isomi said. "It's easy to do here, because that's just how it's always been."

Serf said she wants MP3 students to know they are valuable and that they have something to offer. She wants them to "keep their head up" and look for others who will continue to support them after their time with MP3 is over.

"Find their next Faith [Serf], find their next Mackenna [Johnson], find their next Ty[ana Isomi] out there in the world. Because they're out there. There's a lot of them out there, but if we can equip them to do that, then I feel I'm at peace," Serf said.

Contact Linnea Sundquist via email at linnea.sundquist@bsu.edu.

February First Thursday

Join the community on the first Thursday of every month for a night of gallery walks throughout downtown. Watch and learn from local artists as they perform their crafts. Support community artisans and shops as you explore the downtown community.

• Price: Free
• Location: Downtown Muncie
• Date and Time: Thursday, February 5 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Ball State Symphony Orchestra

The Ball State Symphony Orchestra is a flagship ensemble of the School of Music that performs orchestral music from a wide variety of backgrounds and time periods. Come enjoy some beautiful music! This concert will also be offered as a livestream.

• Price: General Public: $8 in advance, $10 at the door | BSU Faculty/Staff/Seniors: $5 in advance, $7 at the door | Students: Free in advance, $5 at the door
• Location: Sursa Performance Hall
• Date and Time: Thursday, February 5 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

"Big Astronomy" Planetarium Show

Journey to world-class observatories in Chile's rugged Andes Mountains and arid Atacama Desert. Discover how people keep these mega-machines running and see their remarkable research results. Suitable for adults and ages 10+; all ages are welcome.

• Price: Free
• Location: Charles W. Brown Planetarium
• Date and Time: Saturday, February 7 from 5:00 pm. to 6:00 p.m.

Fused Glass Workshops: Painting with Frit

Discover the art of using fine glass frit to paint a winter scene or unleash your creativity with an abstract design. Perfect for beginners and intermediates, this class requires no glass cutting. Participants may bring their own printed images, patterns, or drawings for inspiration, or work from the provided winter scene. All tools, supplies, and safety gear will be provided. Pre-registration is required.

• Price: $35, Member Discounts Apply
• Location: Cantina, Center Building, Minnetrista Museum & Gardens
• Date and Time: Wednesday, February 4 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Thursday, February 5 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.