The recent death of one of only six remaining Irrawaddy river dolphins in the Mekong River, Laos, is a poignant reminder of the desperate situation these critically endangered animals are facing. Cambodian villagers discovered the carcass of the female dolphin April 1 in Phnom Penh. She was thought to have been one of the oldest …read more.

The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission has issued an order (Cause No. 44513) to begin use of a new area code in central Indiana. The order authorizes the communications industry to implement what is called an “all-services distributed overlay” or “area code overlay” to resolve issues with the 317 area code numbering shortage. Without the change, …read more.

Honda Manufacturing of Indiana LLC announced today that it is celebrating a production milestone: the one millionth car built at the plant. The completion of HMIN’s one millionth vehicle comes only six and a half years after production began at the $800 million facility in Greensburg on Oct. 9, 2008. In addition to manufacturing the …read more.

[weaver_youtube yJE0sKFJ3nc rel=0] Garth Brooks was on hand yesterday for a ribbon cutting in Indianapolis to dedicate the new Child Life Zone at Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health. The singer and his Teammates for Kids Foundation chose the hospital for the organization’s eleventh and largest Child Life Zone in the country. Child Life …read more.

[weaver_youtube JnBx__Qj3r4 rel=0] Huntington county commissioners will launch an investigation into what caused a 600 pound piece of limestone to fall from the west end of the courthouse on Jefferson Street early Sunday morning. According to police reports, delivery drivers for the Herald Press were nearby and heard a loud crashing noise, causing them to call …read more.

Police in Tahlequah, OK, intercepted a package last week containing a stuffed bunny that was delivering a lot more than candy or eggs. The toy was concealing $30,000 worth of methamphetamine. “We’ve intercepted narcotics before,” said Tahlequah Police Chief Nate King. “The Easter bunny, I thought, was a strange touch.” According to police, two condoms …read more.

A team of Rose-Hulman students has been specially chosen for the second year in a row to develop prototype parts for an international automotive competition. The goal of the Valeo Innovation Challenge is to create smarter, more intuitive cars for the future. There is a $109,000 prize for first place. More than 1,300 project proposals …read more.

Indiana State Police were called out to I-69 near Pendleton to corral a group of cows walking along the side of the busy interstate earlier today. Officials with Madison County Emergency Management said the incident occurred in the southbound lane near the 229 mile marker. Traffic was slowed and at times stopped while officers worked …read more.

New research suggests that a 1,000 year old Anglo-Saxon potion used to help eye infections may hold the key to wiping out the modern-day superbug MRSA. The 10th century recipe for “eyesalve” was discovered in Bald’s Leechbook, one of the earliest known medical textbooks, at the British Library. Christina Lee from the University of Nottingham, …read more.

A Muncie man accused of abandoning his two dogs, one of which died of starvation and hypothermia, was charged April 1 with two counts of animal cruelty. Rodrico C. White, 34, will face a maximum one year jail term for each of the two class A misdemeanors upon standing trial in Muncie. However, according to …read more.

The department of library and information science at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis has launched an open online course exploring public libraries. The free, four week course is open to anyone, anywhere. It will cover four topics: customer service and the user experience; youth librarianship – best practices to serve our youngest patrons; improving library services …read more.

Not long before sunrise tomorrow morning, April 4, the full moon should turn a lovely shade of celestial red during a brief total lunar eclipse. The eclipse will be visible from all parts of the United States, however eastern North America will only see the beginning stages of the eclipse before sunrise, starting at about …read more.

As the excitement surrounding the NCAA Final Four tournament in Indianapolis this weekend builds, a new milestone is being celebrated. A giant bracket on the side of the JW Marriott in downtown Indianapolis has officially made the Guinness Book of World Records. An adjudicator confirmed that it is the largest sports tournament bracket details this …read more.

The Indianapolis International Airport unveiled a new statue honoring local aviation pioneer Colonel Harvey Weir Cook April 2. Col. Cook founded Indiana’s first principal airport in 1931, which would later become IND. He was considered a pioneer in commercial and military aviation. The seven foot tall bronze statue stands on a pedestal made from Indiana …read more.

The Indianapolis Museum of Art will change its admission pricing beginning April 7. Visitors will now pay a flat general admission, rather than the previously used a la carte pricing for special exhibitions and parking. The new admission ticket will allow patrons access to the IMA’s upper campus, including the museum galleries and special exhibitions, along …read more.

The Indiana Dunes State Park has made USA Today’s list of the nation’s 10 Best State Parks. The list started with a panel of experts nominating 20 state parks for consideration, then the public was encouraged to vote during the month of March for their favorites. Indiana Dunes State Park finished seventh in the rankings, …read more.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway and longtime affiliate Chevrolet have announced an agreement on a multi-year extension of their partnership. Key elements include: Chevrolet will continue its role as an official sponsor of the Verizon IndyCar Series Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis, the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race and the Crown Royal presents the “Your Hero’s Name …read more.

A new monument will be erected this summer at James Dean’s birth site in Marion, with a dedication ceremony to be held Sept. 30, the 60th anniversary of the actor’s death. Loretta Walker, director of Main Street Marion, and David Loehr, owner of James Dean Gallery, have been developing plans for the proposed tribute. It …read more.

The Pro Gaming League has announced that Indianapolis will host season two of the Halo Championship Series, a professional video gaming tournament centered around the Xbox game Halo. The tournament will take place June 26 through June 28 at the Indiana Convention Center in conjunction with Indy PopCon, a gaming and pop culture convention. It …read more.

Bluffton police arrested Jeremy W. Reed, 37, an Indiana State Excise officer, March 30 on charges of sexual misconduct with a minor and dissemination of matter harmful to minors. According to an affidavit of probable cause filed in Wells county, Reed is accused of “sexting” with and inappropriately touching a 15 year old girl. Police …read more.

The Potawatomi Zoo in South Bend is mourning the loss of Ivory, a beloved 18 year old white Bengal tiger, who was humanely euthanized March 30 after a period of physical decline due to old age. “A decision like this is never a simple one, but after assessing her quality of life and consulting with …read more.

Authorities are saying two boys are responsible for a fire that seriously damaged a Waterloo playground March 29. The Waterloo Fire Department was called to Francis Thomson Memorial Park around 5 p.m. Sunday, near downtown Waterloo. It took approximately an hour to get the fire under control due to high winds. No one was hurt, …read more.

The last week has produced some interesting animals found by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, District 3, which includes Benton, Boone, Cass, Carroll, Clinton, Fountain, Montgomery, Tippecanoe, Warren and White counties. Officer Brenda Louthain responded to a call about an armadillo that had been struck by a car near the Washington Street bridge in …read more.

Can renewable energy be available when customers need it as opposed to only when the sun shines or wind blows? Storing energy from the sun and wind and using it efficiently on the electric grid will be the focus of new research at Southern Indiana’s Battery Innovation Center (BIC) near the Crane Naval Surface Warfare …read more.

Two men, one of which was an airline employee, were arrested in separate incidents involving loaded handguns at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago March 27. Transportation Security Administration agents using an X-ray machine on the carry-on bag of James Long, 50, an airline employee, detected a loaded 9 mm Ruger ST40C inside around noon Friday. …read more.

A team of Purdue students who created a soybean-based air freshener have taken top prize in the 2015 Student Soybean Product Innovation Competition, sponsored by the Indiana Soybean Alliance. The team consisted of Evan Anderson, an agricultural and biological engineering major from Churubusco; his brother Sean Anderson, a forestry major; and Sara Richert, a public …read more.

Silver Lake brand has voluntarily recalled all lots of its Easter egg cookies due to an ingredient that was not listed on the packaging. The company announced this morning that the cookies were being recalled because egg was not declared in the ingredients. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to eggs could have …read more.

Indiana Conservation and Federal Fish and Wildlife officers are investigating the death of a bald eagle found in Dubois county, and at the same time attempting to locate the nest which may potentially be in danger. On March 19, conservation officer Kenny Tincher responded to a report of an injured eagle in northwestern Dubois county …read more.

A new study from the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at University of Connecticut is recommending that energy drinks be governed by the same rules as tobacco products. The study points to negative health effects on children ages 12 to 17 associated with the highly caffeinated drinks. The study, which will appear in …read more.

According to the Department of Workforce Development, Indiana added 1,700 private sector jobs in February, continuing a recent trend of increases. The state has experienced private sector job growth for 20 of the last 25 months. February’s gains were concentrated in the private, education and health services, leisure and hospitality and manufacturing sectors. Private sector …read more.

Oprah Winfrey plans to auction off furniture, paintings, designer clothes and other personal belongings from her Chicago residence next month. Leslie Hindman Auctioneers announced March 24 that the proceeds from the sale will benefit the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa. The school helps disadvantaged high school-aged girls learn to become future …read more.

Mitch Daniels has been named to Fortune Magazine’s list of 50 greatest world leaders for 2015. The former White House budget director and Indiana governor is included because, the magazine states, he has taken his business sense to academia as the president of Purdue University. Fortune notes that Daniels, number 41 on the list, has …read more.

According to population estimates released March 26 by the US Census Bureau and analyzed by the Indiana Business Research Center at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, population growth rates have slowed in many Indiana communities in 2014. Statewide, Indiana added approximately 26,140 residents in 2014, a 0.4 percent increase from 2013. In comparison, Indiana …read more.

By KARA BROOKS Office of Indiana Governor Mike Pence Governor Mike Pence has declared a public health emergency in Scott County due to an outbreak of HIV that has reached epidemic proportions. The declaration was issued in Executive Order 15-05, which orders the state to coordinate a multi-agency response, and provides additional resources and tools …read more.

An Auburn man is facing a charge of public indecency after taking off his clothes inside the Allen County Library. According to the report, the manger of the library at 536 E. Dupont Road, Fort Wayne, called police at approximately 10:30 a.m. March 24 after confronting the man, who was sitting at a computer station …read more.

Thanks to an Indianapolis Metro Police officer, an injured cat stranded in the middle of I-465 is safe and recovering now. IMPD Officer Dodd spotted the cat huddled against a barricade in the middle of the busy interstate last Friday morning. He worked with Indiana State Police to slow and divert traffic so he could …read more.

Indiana’s Fair Oaks Farms took home first place at the US Cheese Championship March 17-19 in Madison, WI. Master cheese maker Bruce Workman’s Havarti cheese was the champion. Fair Oaks Farms Havarti Dill and Gouda also received second place honors, while the Smoked Gouda and Havarti Onion placed fourth. There were 1,892 entries of cheeses …read more.

Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne sent out a campus-wide alert of a dangerous situation this afternoon. According to university police, a student reported seeing a man with a handgun at approximately 12:30 p.m. in parking lot 11off W. Campus Drive near the science building. Officers stated the man did not point the gun at …read more.

The National Wildlife Federation has named Indianapolis among the top ten cities for wildlife in a recently released ranking in celebration of National Wildlife Week. Indianapolis was eighth on the list of cities. Factors named included the number of certified wildlife habitats (932); the White River’s importance to the city, both for people and wildlife; …read more.

At approximately 4 p.m. Monday March 23, the Allen County Sheriff’s Department responded to an accident involving two vehicles on Lafayette Center Road, Fort Wayne. One of the vehicles in the crash was a truck that had been hauling pigs.

Lauren Robel, Indiana University provost and executive vice president, signed a preliminary agreement March 23 with the IÉSEG School of Management in Paris, France, on behalf of IU’s Kelley School of Business and the College of Arts and Sciences. The memorandum of intent for academic collaboration represents the first step toward partnerships between the school …read more.

More than 5,000 people visited Leicester Cathedral in the United Kingdom to see the coffin of King Richard III on Sunday. The remains will be laid in state until a reburial ceremony to be held Thursday, led by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The former king’s skeleton was discovered under a parking lot in 2012. Richard …read more.

According to the website Eye Opener, there are several reasons why stepping on a LEGO toy hurts so much, despite the minuscule size of the building bricks. For starters, each small LEGO can take up to 4,240 Newtons of force without breaking. That means unless you weigh 953 pounds, they won’t be crushed or even …read more.

  Jackie Rolston of New Paris is now facing charges for the death of 19-month-old Kirk Coleman after the child died while under her watch. According to a probable cause affidavit filed in Elkhart Superior Court Friday, Rolston informed investigators that the young child had acted “fine all morning with no problems, walking, playing, watching …read more.

Eli Lilly and Company and Innovent Biologics, Inc., announced one of the largest biotech drug development collaborations in China thus far today in Beijing. Under the agreement, Lilly and Innovent will collaborate to develop and potentially commercialize at least three cancer treatments over the next decade. The agreement creates possible new treatment options for cancer patients, …read more.

Yesterday, scientists announced the discovery of a prehistoric crocodile ancestor that roamed North Carolina 231 million years ago. The 9 foot long beast, named Carnufex carolinensis which translates to “Carolina Butcher,” walked around on its hind legs and ate early mammal relatives and other small prey. The skull, spine and upper forelimb of the huge …read more.

Monopoly is launching a new “Here and Now” US edition this fall that will include a space for Indianapolis on the board. Fans were asked to vote which US cities should be part of the game and the top 22 made the cut. The winners were announced on World Monopoly Day March 19. Indianapolis ranked …read more.

[weaver_youtube rFGiHm5WMLk rel=0] John Green, the best-selling author from Indianapolis who wrote “The Fault In Our Stars,” has a new movie based on his book “Paper Towns,” which will debut July 24. The trailer for the movie debuted this morning on the Today Show. It’s described as a coming-of-age story about two characters, Quentin and …read more.

[vimeo 120891166 w=500 h=281] Several Purdue students have teamed with data company Perscio to create an app that will predict how many people will go to the doctor for the flu up to five days in advance. Based on an algorithm that uses CDC data, travel patterns, social media posts about the flu and other …read more.

Anyone traveling the Indiana Toll Road and wanting to get on or off at Lake Station this summer will find the ramps closed due to major construction, according to the Indiana Department of Transportation. Beginning March 30, the westbound ramp at Exit 21, Lake Station interchange, will be closed for 13 weeks to rebuild three structures in …read more.

State Farm Insurance announced Tuesday, March 17, it has been given permission by the Federal Aviation Administration to test drones for commercial use. State Farm plans to study using the unmanned aircraft to assess damage to large structures and respond to natural disasters. The company feels the use of drones will help speed up the …read more.

Indiana Governor Mike Pence has announced he will join the governors of 10 other states in opposing more protective limits proposed by the federal government for smog-forming pollution linked to asthma and respiratory illness. The group of governors is sending a letter to the US Environmental Protection Agency regarding the stricter ozone standards. Currently, all …read more.

Ball State University announced today that John Schnatter, founder and CEO of Papa John’s Pizza, will deliver the annual spring commencement address at 10 a.m. May 2. In addition to being the ceremony’s keynote speaker, he will also receive an honorary doctor of laws degree. Schnatter graduated from Ball State in 1983 in business administration, …read more.

An Indiana-based organization with the goal of helping put smiles on the faces of kids battling cancer has been nominated for a “Do Good” segment on the talk show “The Real,” airing today. Liz Niemiec, currently a junior at Butler University, started the Little Wish Foundation in honor of Max Olson, who was just seven years …read more.

As the 25th anniversary of Ryan White’s death nears, the Indiana Historical Society plans to honor his legacy with the release of a new book, “The Quiet Hero: A Life of Ryan White.” In 1985, global attention turned to the 13 year old White when his attempt to return to school after being diagnosed with …read more.

The Indiana University Chamber Orchestra will perform four concerts this week in Seoul, South Korea, during the students’ spring break. Professors Jorja Fleezanis and Stephen Wyrczynski will lead the group of 36 students. The ensemble will perform at Sookmyung Women’s University March 17 and Seoul National University March 18, followed by a performance to entertain …read more.

Tiffany Two, the oldest living cat according to The Guinness Book of World Records, celebrated her 27th birthday with a party thrown by owner Sharron Voorhees this weekend in San Diego. For a cat, 27 years is equal to approximately 125 years for humans. Voorhees said that despite her age, Tiffany Two gets around well, …read more.

Dairy Queen is celebrating its 75th FANiversary today, offering a free treat to customers who stop in to thank them. Participating Dairy Queen and DQ Grill Chill locations will give customers a free small vanilla soft serve cone during regular business hours today. Limit one per customer. DQ is requesting customers to make a donation …read more.

A shooting early Sunday morning, March 15, outside Piere’s Entertainment Center in the Marketplace of Canterbury, Fort Wayne, has left one man dead. Another victim was treated and released from the hospital Sunday. The name of the deceased victim has not been released pending notification of the family. The Fort Wayne police department responded to …read more.

Police in Akron, OH, are searching for a man who was caught on camera defecating on a car. The father of the victim took the picture. According to Akron Police Lieutenant Rick Edwards, similar incidents have been reported in the same area dating back to May 2012. A total of 19 reports have been filed …read more.

Police in Muncie are determined to find out how a meth lab ended up inside a Wal-Mart restroom late Thursday night, March 12. Authorities were contacted by employees of the store at 1501 E. 29th St. at approximately 11:30 p.m. regarding a suspicious backpack in the men’s restroom. Upon arrival, officers found an active meth …read more.

Bob and Nancy Hawkins, Middlebury, have had a lifetime of service to the community. This is why Rich Utley, 2015 Elkhart County Fair Board President, selected them as the parade marshals for the 2015 fair on Sunday, July 26. Bob, born in St. Joseph County and Nancy, in Elkhart County (growing up in the New …read more.

Despite the difficulty of competing with major national chain fast food restaurants, two of which are just feet away, Mr. Happy Burger in Logansport remains popular among locals and tourists to the area as well. Owner Bob Shanks opened Mr. Happy Burger in November 1961, and at that time you could get a burger, fries …read more.

A Batesville, IN, man has discovered that a painting he bought at a yard sale for 50 cents ten years ago may be worth a lot of money. Jesse Ronnebaum bought the early 1900s picture of seven guys shooting pool because it stood out to him for some reason. He recently noticed it said “Palette …read more.

A Fort Wayne man who admitted his role in a major marijuana trafficking ring has been sentenced today to 14 years in prison under the terms of his plea agreement. Michael Fabini was arrested in December 2012 on more than 40 charges of drug trafficking, money laundering and unlawful financial transactions after police raided his …read more.

Police have arrested Barbara Duncan, 53, and her daughter Amber Morgan, 28, in connection with mail thefts from as many as 25 Indiana counties. The two were found in a Seymour, IN, motel with several bags of mail ranging from IDs to bank letters to credit cards and more. Police from Winamac to Evansville had …read more.

Legendary coach and trustee of Trine University Lou Holtz will speak at 10:30 a.m. March 27 as part of the distinguished speaker series in the T. Furth Center for Performing Arts at Trine. The school announced the formation of the Lou Holtz Leadership Institute last year, which works with employees, corporations, faculty and students in …read more.

The Indianapolis Zoo has welcomed a pair of endangered Amur tigers as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan program. Luka and Maxim, who are both two years old, were born at the Peoria Zoo in Illinois. The brothers join the zoo’s other Amur tigers, six year old Andrea and her …read more.

Vera Bradley Inc. has announced plans to close it’s factory in New Haven, affecting approximately 250 workers. The handbag, luggage and accessories maker announced Tuesday, March 10, that it will close the factory May 9 unless business conditions require swifter action. CEO Robert Wallstrom stated in a news release that part of the reason for …read more.

The Indiana Commission for Higher Education announced yesterday that 12 Indiana colleges will receive a portion of $1.8 million to fund the development or expansion of programs that help more low-income students graduate from college. Specifically, the money will fund programs that support students who receive state financial aid for college through either the 21st …read more.

A Goshen neighborhood is being extremely watchful after a report of a suspicious person in a gray pickup truck following some girls who were walking to school Friday, March 6. The girls told police the truck approached them at an intersection and started driving slowly behind them as they walked to West Goshen Elementary. Police …read more.

The Centers for Disease Control is warning about an increase in heroin use and overdose in the Midwest and across the country, as a new federal study reports that heroin-related deaths have tripled since 2010. The national report also found that most deaths from the highly addictive drug occurred among while males age 18 to …read more.

U.S. News and World Report has released its annual ranking of the best graduate schools in the country and several Indiana colleges have made the grade once again. The list examines programs in business, education, engineering law and medicine. Here are where Indiana’s schools and graduate programs ranked in each category: Business 21 (Tie). Indiana …read more.

A small satellite designed and built by a Grant County company with Taylor University ties is in low-earth orbit following its release Tuesday evening from the International Space Station. The Globalstar Experiment and Risk Reduction Satellite (GEARRS) was developed by Grant County-based NearSpace Launch, Inc. (NSL) and funded by the Air Force to demonstrate near …read more.

The South Shore railroad line will debut a new express train from South Bend to Chicago beginning March 16, with a goal of getting passengers to the windy city in approximately 90 minutes. The ‘Sunrise’ express train will depart South Bend at 6 a.m. (Eastern time zone) and make only two stops along the way, at …read more.

Internet hackers claiming to be a part of ISIS took over an Indianapolis art nonprofit website this morning. The ISIS logo and Arabic writing appeared at the top of the page for Indianapolis Downtown Artist and Dealers Association, with music and a message in English saying “Hacked by the Islamic State. We are everywhere.” The …read more.

The Indiana National Guard has announced that it will open its third STARBASE program in the state at the South Bend National Guard Armory in early 2016. The Guard has already begun the program in Fort Wayne and Indianapolis, which have become tremendously popular. STARBASE brings a unique form of science, technology, engineering and math …read more.

Cryotherapy is fast becoming a popular way to treat pain from pulled muscles, sore joints and other numerous injuries. Dr. Charbel Harb of CryotherapyIndy is the first to offer the recovery process in the Hoosier state. “It doesn’t feel as cold as an ice bath by any means. It’s way more comfortable,” said Dr. Harb. …read more.

A dedication will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 7, for 58 new headstones placed on graves in Maple Hill Cemetery, Plainfield, IN. The markers will honor babies that died before birth or during infancy as far back as 1957. A local ministry, He Knows Your Name, spearheaded the effort. Linda Znachko, founder, believes …read more.

A popular Easter treat has come out with a new creation. Prairie Farms will be selling Peeps-flavored milk. The milk will come in several different varieties, including Peeps chocolate marshmallow, Peeps marshmallow and Peeps Easter egg nog. The company will also hold a recipe contest for creations including the milk. The Peeps milk will have …read more.

A carriage that belonged to President Abraham Lincoln will begin its journey from South Bend’s Studebaker National Museum to Washington, D.C., today. The Lincoln carriage will be on display at the Smithsonian as part of an exhibit about Lincoln’s assassination this spring. President Lincoln was shot April 14, 1865, at Ford’s Theatre. After the assassination his …read more.

Since 1961, an Indianapolis family has been creating a huge ice covered tree out of scrap lumber and tree limbs. It has become a local attraction, with thousands stopping by to see it. The Veal’s Ice Tree has become a tradition for three generations. It began with a simple act of nature, when a strong …read more.

Truven Health Analytics has released its annual list of 100 Top Hospitals and four Indiana hospitals have made the cut, including St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, Dupont Hospital in Fort Wayne, St. Vincent Hospital in Carmel and Parkview Huntington Hospital. Since 1993, the study has identified US hospitals with the best overall performance based on …read more.

[weaver_youtube kt-tCvheG88 rel=0] Movoto recently created a video of an “Indiana food” taste test, asking six people from the West Coast to try foods that are popular in the Hoosier state and recording their reactions. The Californians seemed suspicious of several of the foods and had some pretty amusing things to say about them. One …read more.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources reports that it stocked 31.9 million fish in 70 counties in 2014. In a typical year, stocking numbers usually range between 22 and 24 million fish. The increase was due primarily to a nearly record number of walleye eggs collected by DNR biologists for hatchery production and a higher …read more.

[weaver_youtube BbeDgiou6-U rel=0] A thief in Ireland saw instant retribution for a crime when a brick he attempted to throw at a car windshield to smash it bounced back and hit him in the face instead, knocking him out cold. The criminal was caught on surveillance video near The Pheasant Pub in Drogheda. The suspected …read more.

The Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department received a report of a third threat this year that there was a bomb inside Concord High School. Similar to earlier threats reported on Jan. 15 and Jan. 26, today’s message was found written on a wall inside a girl’s bathroom. The threat stated that a person would bomb the …read more.

The recently released 2014 Forbes billionaires list, an annual ranking of billionaires from around the world, includes five Hoosiers. The top spot in Indiana is claimed by Carl Cook, of the Bloomington-based Cook Medical Group family, at 216th overall with a net worth of $6.5 billion. He became the CEO of the company in 2011 …read more.

RapidView LLC, a Rochester-based environmental technology company, is finding success in diversifying by opening Schnabeltier creamery and winery. Matthew Sutton, vice president of sales and marketing, says the company’s equipment for cheese-making came from the Netherlands and the milk they use for their products is local. He hopes that the venture will help attract tourism …read more.

(Photo courtesy of Notre Dame) A funeral mass for Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., will be celebrated at 2 p.m. March 4 in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the Notre Dame campus. Hesburgh was the president of the University of Notre Dame from 1952 to 1987. Rev. Thomas O’Hara, C.S.C., will preside. Rev. …read more.

LIVABILITY.com has named Indianapolis among the top ten best downtowns for 2015. It came in at number three. The website stated that Indy’s neighborhoods are continually evolving into hip destinations which attract young families and professionals, helping to make the city’s business and cultural center one of the best in the US. LIVABILITY considered the …read more.

KFC is developing an edible coffee cup for its stores in the United Kingdom to mark the launch of Seattle’s Best Coffee being sold in its restaurants. The “Scoff-ee Cup” will hold coffee, but will actually be made of cookie wrapped in sugar paper and lined with a layer of heat-resistant white chocolate that will …read more.

By LETTIE HAVER Community Outreach Manager, Acres Land Trust Frozen waterfalls, more than 60 bald eagles and a short “sugar bush” season make ACRES Land Trust’s Wabash County nature preserves a northeast Indiana outdoor destination right now. “Believe it or not, it’s a great time to visit a nearby preserve or venture into a new …read more.

A Michigan company has begun producing a bulletproof baseball cap that they hope will help save the lives of police officers who are shot in the head. “We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback from police officers because they can’t wear riot gear every day,” stated Tom Nardone of Bullet Safe. “This is a friendlier …read more.

Matthew Carrington, 36, former assistant swim coach at North Central High School in Indianapolis, has pleaded not guilty to child seduction charges stemming from an alleged inappropriate relationship with a student. The student, a member of the swim team, has accused Carrington of sending explicit text messages to her and fondling her on school grounds. …read more.

Ivy Tech Community College and the Hoosier Lottery have announced a partnership to provide free financial literacy education. Together, the two are launching a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), an educational experience that uses interactive test questions to provide basic financial skill guidelines. Participants will learn various aspects of money management, from budgeting and managing …read more.

Facebook added a new feature Wednesday, February 25, that is designed to help put suicide prevention information at users’ fingertips. When someone sees a post that they think may suggest the author is considering suicide, they can now click on a drop down menu and report it to Facebook. The reporting activates a series of …read more.

The Michigan Board of State Canvassers is planning to finalize the wording of a statewide ballot proposal residents will see in May regarding sales tax. Michigan voters will be asked whether or not they support increasing the state’s sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent. If approved, the expected additional $1 billion in tax …read more.

A study from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy shows that charitable giving in the United States is projected to increase by 4.8 percent in 2015 and an additional 4.9 percent in 2016. The report is presented by philanthropy consulting firm Marts & Lundy. The expected growth exceeds the annual rates of growth …read more.

Southeastern Indiana is experiencing an HIV outbreak, with 26 confirmed and four preliminary HIV positive cases in the last two months, according to state health officials. The majority of the new cases are reportedly linked to injected drug abuse of the prescription drug Opana, which contains oxymorphone and is more potent than Oxycontin. Only a …read more.