Associated Press: Megan Rapinoe says she'll retire after the NWSL season and her 4th World Cup

By Associated Press / July 10, 2023

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — U.S. women’s soccer star Megan Rapinoe is ready to retire after an illustrious career in which she won an Olympic gold medal, two World Cups and never shied away from using her platform to spotlight social issues. Rapinoe, 38, announced Saturday her fourth World Cup will be her last and she'll officially retire with the OL Reign at the end of the National Women's Soccer League season.

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WORLD NEWS

Associated Press: Zelenskyy hails Ukraine's soldiers from a symbolic Black Sea island to mark 500 days of war

By Associated Press / July 9, 2023

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy marked the 500th day of the war Saturday by hailing the country's soldiers in a video from a Black Sea island that became the symbol of Ukraine’s resilience in the face of the Russian invasion. Speaking from Snake Island, Zelenskyy honored the Ukrainian soldiers who fought for the island and all other defenders of the country, saying that reclaiming control of the island “is a great proof that Ukraine will regain every bit of its territory.”

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BALL BEARINGS

Bedside Burnout

By Savannah Jordan / July 7, 2023

Growing up, Kadee Klafka, registered nurse, always wanted to help others. She always imagined herself in healthcare and always had a curiosity for medicine.

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TRACK AND FIELD

From one bird to the next

By Zach Carter / July 7, 2023

Kendra Keesling was set on Ball State when she was making a decision when it came to her future education. But after four years of being a cheerleader, volleyball player, and track and field athlete for Delta High School, the senior and soon-to-be nursing major’s athletic career seemed to be coming to its conclusion. “I really had the mindset that I do not want to do sports in college,” Keesling said. “I think I'm just gonna focus on my schooling and figure out who I am as a person outside of athletics.”

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MEN'S VOLLEYBALL

Two Cardinals selected for the USA Men’s Collegiate National Team

By Elijah Poe / July 6, 2023

Vanis Buckholz started playing volleyball during his sophomore and junior year in high school, and only a handful of years later, Buckholz has now been selected to play on the USA Men’s Collegiate National Team. “I tried out my sophomore year in Spring and that was my first time ever playing volleyball and absolutely fell in love with it,” Buckholz said. “My summer going into junior year I started club volleyball at Balboa Bay, then I fully committed to it my junior year in high school.”

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SOFTBALL

Lacy Schurr steps down from Ball State Softball head coach, heading to Pitt

By Staff Reports / July 5, 2023

Ball State Softball head coach Lacy Schurr is stepping down from her position and will move into a role with the coaching staff at the University of Pittsburgh, according to Ball State athletics. “We are grateful to Lacy for her contributions to the Ball State program, and we wish her well at Pitt,” said Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell. “Our program is on an upward trajectory, and I’m excited to search for a coach that continues our upward path.”

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Best CBD Gummies, Edibles, Oils, Vapes in AskGrowers Review Rating

July 5, 2023

CBD is a popular over-the-counter remedy for stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia today. It has gained immense popularity after a wave of legalization that allowed consumers to access a broad range of products with promising health benefits. These items offer a legit alternative to expensive and addictive painkillers and antidepressants, offering people with chronic health conditions a viable way out of the pharmacological industry's hooks. Thus, CBD is on the rise, and more and more customers join the niche daily to pick optimal solutions. 

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NEWS

Ball State University and Heartland Film partner for film production students

By Staff Reports / July 5, 2023

Ball State University film production students are getting an opportunity to learn from Heartland Film, an Indianapolis-based company according to the press release. Heartland Film is well known for hosting the Heartland International Film Festival. It will also be a partnership between Heartland and the University’s new Radiance Cinema. 

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NATIONAL NEWS

Associated Press: The American flag wasn't always revered as it is today. At the beginning, it was an afterthought

By Associated Press / July 4, 2023

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — In the bedroom of the Betsy Ross House, a reconstruction of where the upholsterer worked on her most famous commission, a long flag with a circle of 13 stars hangs over a Chippendale side chair and extends across the floor. Over the weeks in 1776 needed to complete the project, Ross would have likely knelt on the flag, stood on it and treated it more like an everyday banner — not with the kind of reverence we'd expect today.

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LOCAL EVENTS

Where to celebrate Independence Day in Delaware County

By Staff Reports / July 3, 2023

As Independence Day approaches there are a variety of locations to celebrate around Muncie and Delaware County. The City of Muncie will have Fireworks on The Levee. It will be on the Muncie Central High School grounds. It is an annual tradition and will also be able to be viewed from the downtown area. It is free to the public. The Canan Commons will have “Our American Character” with America’s Hometown Band. They will be playing the Fourth of July music. It is free and open to all with lawn space available. It will be concluded with fireworks. 

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NATIONAL NEWS

Associated Press: What to know about Fourth of July holiday origins and traditions

By Associated Press / July 2, 2023

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The Fourth of July is Americana at its core: parades and cookouts and cold beer and, of course, fireworks. Those pyrotechnics also make it an especially dangerous holiday, typically resulting in more than 10,000 trips to the emergency room. Yet fireworks remain at the center of Independence Day, a holiday 247 years in the making. Here are five things to know about July Fourth, including the origin of the holiday and how fireworks became part of the tradition.

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NATIONAL NEWS

Associated Press: Morning-after pill vending machines gain popularity on college campuses post-Roe

By Associated Press / July 1, 2023

SEATTLE (AP) — Need Plan B? Tap your credit card and enter B6. Since last November, a library at the University of Washington has featured a different kind of vending machine, one that's become more popular on campuses around the country since the U.S. Supreme Court ended constitutional protections for abortion last year. It's stocked with ibuprofen, pregnancy tests and the morning-after pill.

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NATIONAL NEWS

Associated Press: How the Supreme Court student loan decision affects you

By Associated Press / June 30, 2023

NEW YORK (AP) — The Supreme Court has ruled the Biden administration overstepped its authority in trying to cancel or reduce student loan debt, effectively killing the $400 billion plan, which would have canceled up to $20,000 in federal student loans for 43 million people. Of those, 20 million would have had their remaining student debt erased completely. The court's decision means, barring an act of Congress, those Americans are on the hook for payments starting in October.

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NATIONAL NEWS

Associated Press: Court rules for a designer who doesn't want to make wedding websites for gay couples

By Associated Press / June 30, 2023

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a defeat for gay rights, the Supreme Court's conservative majority ruled Friday that a Christian graphic artist who wants to design wedding websites can refuse to work with same-sex couples. The court ruled 6-3 for designer Lorie Smith despite a Colorado law that bars discrimination based on sexual orientation, race, gender and other characteristics. Smith had argued that the law violates her free speech rights.

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LOCAL NEWS

Local community events weekend roundup

By Staff Reports / June 30, 2023

Many events are going on this weekend around Muncie and Delaware County. Yorktown will have its Farm and Artisan Market from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. The market is in Walnut Grove in Morrow’s Meadow Park. The park has playgrounds, trails and launching sites for kayak trips. Tonne Winery will have the Hunter Lee Band play as a part of their Music Series. The concert will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Food available will be La Patrona and Farmland BBQ. It is encouraged to bring your own lawn chairs. 

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BALL BEARINGS

Maternal Memories

By Mya Cataline / June 30, 2023

The long cold hallway. Beeping coming from every room. Fluorescent lights every 10 steps… I counted.

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AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

Associated Press: Supreme Court strikes down affirmative action in college admissions, says race cannot be a factor

By Staff Reports and Associated Press / June 29, 2023

The Supreme Court  struck down affirmative action in college admissions, forcing institutions of higher education to look for new ways to achieve diverse student bodies.

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Is Lebron’s Legacy on the Line If He Fails to Win Another Title?

June 29, 2023

In his 20th year in the league and at 38 years of age, Lebron James is still making the headlines.  For all the right reasons. He has just been voted in the All-NBA Third Team for the second year in a row, showing that his years are indeed stopping him down. Which is an absolute beastly achievement not many other players have displayed. But, for all his greatness, his team’s season is crumbling before James’ eyes.

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NEWS

Band student moves to the beat of her own drum

By Madelyn Moore / June 29, 2023

She stands at 5 feet, 6 inches tall, with a pounding heart. There’s a moment of silence. Counts are whispered. She breathes, then, drumsticks are flying. When the question of ‘who’s good?’ was on the table, students at the Music For All Summer Symposium, held June 24 through July 1 on the campus at Ball State University, were quick to turn their heads and look at Evey Arleth. 

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NATIONAL NEWS

Associated Press: Smoke and haze from Canadian wildfires leave Detroit with some of the worst US air quality

By Associated Press / June 28, 2023

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit area woke up Wednesday to some of the worst air quality in the United States as smoke from Canada's wildfires settled over most of the Great Lakes region and unhealthy haze spread southward, as far as Missouri and Kentucky. The Environmental Protection Agency’s AirNow.gov site showed Detroit in the “hazardous” range and warned that “everyone should stay indoors and reduce activity levels.”