This section is dedicated to some of the best hard news stories I've completed during internships at the Indianapolis Star and Chattanooga Times Free Press, as well as stories from my three years as a reporter at the Indiana Daily Student and other internships.
Look inside house where man lay dead for 9 months
The Lafayette home where 88-year-old veteran Gerald "Scooter" Gavan Jr. lay dead on the living room floor more than nine months is set for demolition.
While the outside of the home looks fairly innocuous, once inside the house, it becomes clear why it's being torn down.
While the outside of the home looks fairly innocuous, once inside the house, it becomes clear why it's being torn down.
Rossville, Ga., bans abortion clinics, pill mills
Council members in Rossville unanimously passed two ordinances Monday night -- one to forbid abortion clinics within Rossville city limits, and one to help keep "pill mills" out of the city.
Indiana's only sexual assault victim advocacy group closes
The only organization dedicated solely to fighting sexual violence in Indiana has suspended operations indefinitely.
The Indiana Coalition Against Sexual Assault (INCASA) suspended all operations June 27 after staff members were informed by the board of directors that a "substantial amount" of taxes, including payroll taxes, had not been paid dating back to 2012.
The Indiana Coalition Against Sexual Assault (INCASA) suspended all operations June 27 after staff members were informed by the board of directors that a "substantial amount" of taxes, including payroll taxes, had not been paid dating back to 2012.
Duggars come to Chattanooga, push for Yes on Amendment 1
Josh Duggar, the oldest child on the TLC show “19 Kids and Counting,” and his wife, Anna Duggar, made a stop in Chattanooga on Tuesday to urge voters to vote yes on Amendment 1. The proposed constitutional amendment would give state lawmakers authority to regulate abortion and abortion clinics.
“We think that passing Amendment 1 is extremely key to moving in the right direction to protect women and children,” Josh Duggar said before the rally Tuesday morning.
“We think that passing Amendment 1 is extremely key to moving in the right direction to protect women and children,” Josh Duggar said before the rally Tuesday morning.
2-car collision leads to tree crash
It started with a bang.
IU sophomore Xinya Cheng was driving north on Woodlawn Avenue in her white Mini Cooper, boyfriend Jincheng Liu in the passenger seat. He was visiting her on his spring break from the University of Delaware.
Donn Hall was pulling up to the stop sign at the intersection of Woodlawn Avenue and Cottage Grove Avenue in his blue 2012 Camaro. It was finally clean, he said, because of all the rain.
Hall began to drive away from the stop sign, and Cheng slammed into the front left tire of his car, in a burst of smoke. The bang echoed for blocks.
Liu got out of the passenger side of the car and began yelling at Hall.
“He didn’t stop,” Liu said.
IU junior Vincent Rowold was walking to class with his friend, IU junior Eli Staton, when they heard the crash and turned. As they watched, the Mini Cooper began to roll backward.
IU sophomore Xinya Cheng was driving north on Woodlawn Avenue in her white Mini Cooper, boyfriend Jincheng Liu in the passenger seat. He was visiting her on his spring break from the University of Delaware.
Donn Hall was pulling up to the stop sign at the intersection of Woodlawn Avenue and Cottage Grove Avenue in his blue 2012 Camaro. It was finally clean, he said, because of all the rain.
Hall began to drive away from the stop sign, and Cheng slammed into the front left tire of his car, in a burst of smoke. The bang echoed for blocks.
Liu got out of the passenger side of the car and began yelling at Hall.
“He didn’t stop,” Liu said.
IU junior Vincent Rowold was walking to class with his friend, IU junior Eli Staton, when they heard the crash and turned. As they watched, the Mini Cooper began to roll backward.
BHSN combats unprecedented student porn problem
Principal Jeffry Henderson learned of the explicit photos circulating throughout Bloomington High School North when one girl met with administration to discuss a conflict she was having with another student.
She had sent a nude photo to her boyfriend, and then, when they broke up, he showed it to a friend. Since then, at least 100 students have seen the photo, and her conflict was with one of them.
Police discovered 18 other students have sent explicit photos of themselves.
She had sent a nude photo to her boyfriend, and then, when they broke up, he showed it to a friend. Since then, at least 100 students have seen the photo, and her conflict was with one of them.
Police discovered 18 other students have sent explicit photos of themselves.
Principal who failed to report student rape brought to Ind. Supreme Court
Three and a half years ago, a 16-year-old girl at Muncie Central High School was dragged into a school bathroom and raped by another student during her lunch period. Her attacker then returned to finish lunch with his friends. The girl, crying and bleeding, went to the front office to report the assault to the principal.
What happened next led to a legal debate that went all the way to the Indiana Supreme Court.
What happened next led to a legal debate that went all the way to the Indiana Supreme Court.
Father arrested in son's murder
A Morgan County man faces a preliminary murder charge for the fatal shooting of his 19-year-old son Sunday.
David Carrender, 49, is being held without bail in the Morgan County Jail and is expected to be arraigned Wednesday, Morgan County Sheriff Robert Downey said.
David Carrender, 49, is being held without bail in the Morgan County Jail and is expected to be arraigned Wednesday, Morgan County Sheriff Robert Downey said.
Carrender pleads not guilty in son's murder
Morgan County resident David Carrender said he will plead not guilty in the Oct. 13 murder of his 19-year-old son, Wyatt Carrender.
Super Bowl Village draws visitors from around state, country
It’s cold and raining, but everyone is looking to the sky. Families huddled under umbrellas have faces turned upward, and nobody seems to speak. They’re all waiting and watching.
Then, a low roar ripples through the crowd, and far above, a man and a woman glide down a zip-line strung from a nine-story tower to a platform on the other end of the street, right in front of the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis.
Then, a low roar ripples through the crowd, and far above, a man and a woman glide down a zip-line strung from a nine-story tower to a platform on the other end of the street, right in front of the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis.
IUPD Chief Keith Cash dies Wednesday
IU Police Department Chief Keith Cash died Wednesday around 6:20 p.m. of a heart problem after being transported to IU-Health Bloomington Hospital. He was 50 years old and a 29-year veteran of IUPD.
Monroe County Coroner Nicole Meyer said after the autopsy that Cash died of natural causes as a result of of aortic stenosis.
Monroe County Coroner Nicole Meyer said after the autopsy that Cash died of natural causes as a result of of aortic stenosis.
IU on Strike leads march across campus
The doors to Ballantine Hall were pushed open, and shouts of "Raise Hell, not tuition!" echoed through the halls. Students came to the doorways of classrooms to watch as nearly 250 participants in IU on Strike reached one of the last stops on their march across campus to protest tuition hikes, wage freezes and lack of diversity at IU, among other things.
Kelley Professor Thomas Battle dies
Thomas Battle, an adjunct professor of finance in the Kelley School of Business, died suddenly Monday at age 66.
Battle collapsed during his 8 a.m. class. After responders tried to revive him at the scene, he was transported from Kelley to IU Bloomington Health hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Battle collapsed during his 8 a.m. class. After responders tried to revive him at the scene, he was transported from Kelley to IU Bloomington Health hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Journalism, CMCL, telecom could merge
Communication education at IU could undergo a massive overhaul if a proposal currently on the provost’s desk is approved by the Board of Trustees later this semester.
The proposal, prepared by a faculty committee, provides for the merging of the IU School of Journalism, Department of Telecommunications and Department of Communication and Culture. According to the proposal, cinema and media studies, communications and public culture, journalism, telecommunications and emergent media arts could be part of a new school, tentatively titled the School of Communication, Media and Journalism.
The proposal, prepared by a faculty committee, provides for the merging of the IU School of Journalism, Department of Telecommunications and Department of Communication and Culture. According to the proposal, cinema and media studies, communications and public culture, journalism, telecommunications and emergent media arts could be part of a new school, tentatively titled the School of Communication, Media and Journalism.
Audience members arrested at Sexual by Design event
An audience member was arrested after being removed by IU Police from the ClearNote Campus Fellowship sponsored Sexual by Design lecture in Ballantine Hall Friday night.
The individual had shouted statements while evangelical pastor Doug Wilson was speaking. When asked to stop, the she was noncompliant and the emcee of the event requested the student be removed by officers.
The individual had shouted statements while evangelical pastor Doug Wilson was speaking. When asked to stop, the she was noncompliant and the emcee of the event requested the student be removed by officers.
Campaign spending to increase by $1 billion
Despite a struggling economy, 2012 presidential campaign spending is predicted to hit an all-time record high, according to experts at the Center for Responsive Politics. The numbers are projected to come in at $6 billion, up $1 billion from the 2008 presidential elections.
Kappa Delta party draws scrutiny
The news broke Friday through a post on Jezebel: “Indiana sorority girls attend totally cute homeless-themed party.”
The sorority is the IU chapter of Kappa Delta, and the article discusses a party thrown during Little 500 week.
Michael Goodman, senior assistant director for fraternity and sorority life at IU, said inappropriate themes are not a new occurrence.
The sorority is the IU chapter of Kappa Delta, and the article discusses a party thrown during Little 500 week.
Michael Goodman, senior assistant director for fraternity and sorority life at IU, said inappropriate themes are not a new occurrence.
Graffiti attacks fraternity with AIDS claims
Chalk graffiti was found on campus early Thursday morning, stretching from the south steps of Showalter Fountain to behind Woodburn Hall, past Ballantine Hall and toward the Phi Gamma Delta house on Third Street.
The graffiti referenced Fiji, stating at the beginning near Showalter “GOT AIDS, THEY DO, FOLLOW THE LINE.”
The graffiti referenced Fiji, stating at the beginning near Showalter “GOT AIDS, THEY DO, FOLLOW THE LINE.”
Q&A with Israeli Consulate General
Shahar Arieli, the deputy consulate consul general of the Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest in Chicago, was in Bloomington this week. He was invited by members of the Helene G. Simon Hillel Center and gave a talk there about Middle Eastern politics.
His job entails promoting relations between Israel and Midwestern states and nurturing cultural and educational cooperation between the U.S. and Israel.
The IDS asked Arieli about his job and his thoughts about the current state of Israel.
His job entails promoting relations between Israel and Midwestern states and nurturing cultural and educational cooperation between the U.S. and Israel.
The IDS asked Arieli about his job and his thoughts about the current state of Israel.
IUDM raises more than $1 million for Riley
Every year, IUDM has seen increased participation and larger donation totals. This year, more than 1,600 dancers participated, and the event raised $1,801,207.20 for Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, an all-time record.
IUDM has been at IU for more than 20 years but experienced many changes this year that made the event especially challenging for coordinators, said Michael Cheng, director of morale for IUDM.
IUDM has been at IU for more than 20 years but experienced many changes this year that made the event especially challenging for coordinators, said Michael Cheng, director of morale for IUDM.
Rabid bat bites sleeping student in Teter Quad
On March 21, a rabid bat bit a resident of Teter Quad, said Mark Land, associate vice president for university communications.
The student was sleeping when the bat bit him. Land said the student then woke up, shook the bat off in the hallway and went back to sleep.
Later that day, the bat was captured alive by Teter staff and sent to the Indiana State Department of Health for disease testing. It died on the way.
On Thursday, the bat was determined to be rabid.
The student was sleeping when the bat bit him. Land said the student then woke up, shook the bat off in the hallway and went back to sleep.
Later that day, the bat was captured alive by Teter staff and sent to the Indiana State Department of Health for disease testing. It died on the way.
On Thursday, the bat was determined to be rabid.