MADISON, Wisconsin, April 27 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release: An Indiana school board has halted its ritual of starting off its meetings with a prayer after the Freedom From Religion Foundation warned it that the practice is unconstitutional. A concerned community member informed the state/church watchdog that the Community Schools of Frankfort Board of Trustees opened each of its meetings with Christian prayer. For instance, its meetings last November  more

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, April 26 -- Indiana University Health issued the following news release: Indiana University Health posted higher operating revenue in the first quarter compared to one year ago; however, operating income decreased compared to the year before. Operating revenue increased by 5.3%, or $110.8 million compared to the year-ago quarter, to $2.19 billion. Operating expenses increased 6.9% to $2.18 billion in the first quarter, as costs of labor, supplies and drugs increased to m  more

ELKHART, Indiana, April 25 -- Mennonite Church USA issued the following news: Peaceful Options for Training and Careers (POTC) has launched a website (explorePOTC.org) where young adults across the U.S. can find information about non-military career, service and training opportunities. POTC is an independent initiative formed by Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Central Committee to address the widespread issue of military recruitment on high school campuses. "The United States military is in  more

WASHINGTON, April 25 -- The National Consumers League issued the following news release: Pennsylvania's Dallas High School students were crowned the 2024 National LifeSmarts Champion in San Diego, California, this past Sunday, April 21. Coached by Kevin West, the Pennsylvania team consisted of Captain Marie Popielarz, Artem Smagin, Kareem Almeky, Riley Dewey, and Mahi Dohl. Joining them in the final match was the Selah Gold FCCLA team from Selah, Washington. Members of the Washington team were  more

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, April 26 -- The National Federation of State High School Associations issued the following news release: Beginning with the 2024-25 season, high school wrestlers will be inbounds with only one point of contact of either wrestler inside or on the boundary line. This fundamental change to high school wrestling was one of six major changes impacting almost 30 rules recommended by the NFHS Wrestling Rules Committee at its April 1-3 meeting in Indianapolis. All recommended ch  more

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, April 23 -- The Sierra Club issued the following news release on April 22, 2024: Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that the Indiana Solar for All coalition was awarded over $117 million in funding through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund's Solar For All program. The competition, created by President Biden's landmark Inflation Reduction Act, seeks to enable low-income and disadvantaged households across America to access the benefits of low-c  more

WASHINGTON, April 26 -- The Sierra Club issued the following news release on April 25, 2024: In a major win for the climate and public health, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized four separate standards today that will slash air, water, and carbon pollution from power plants. These critically-needed safeguards will improve air and water quality for families, particularly for Indiana communities suffering from pollution from the Gibson, Edwardsport and Clifty Creek coal-burning  more

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, April 23 -- The Society of Professional Journalists issued the following news: The Society of Professional Journalists recognizes the best collegiate journalism in Region 1 with 2023 Mark of Excellence Awards winners. SPJ's Region 1 comprises Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Central and Eastern Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont. First-place winners will compete at the national level among other MOE winners from the 12 SPJ regio  more

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, April 25 -- The Society of Professional Journalists issued the following news: The Society of Professional Journalists recognizes the best collegiate journalism in Region 11 with 2023 Mark of Excellence Awards winners. SPJ's Region 11 comprises Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada and Mariana Islands. First-place winners will compete at the national level among other MOE winners from the 12 SPJ regions. National winners will be notified in the late spring. MOE Awa  more

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, April 26 -- The Society of Professional Journalists issued the following news: The Society of Professional Journalists recognizes the best collegiate journalism in Region 3 with 2023 Mark of Excellence Awards winners. SPJ's Region 3 comprises Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands. First-place winners will compete at the national level among other MOE winners from the 12 SPJ regions. National winners will be notified in the late s  more

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, April 24 -- The Society of Professional Journalists issued the following news: The Society of Professional Journalists recognizes the best collegiate journalism in Region 7 with 2023 Mark of Excellence Awards winners. SPJ's Region 7 comprises Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. First-place winners will compete at the national level among other MOE winners from the 12 SPJ regions. National winners will be notified in the late spring. MOE Awards entries are judged by pr  more

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, April 26 -- The Society of Professional Journalists issued the following news: As more protests take place at college campuses across the country, the Society of Professional Journalists reminds law enforcement that journalists should be allowed to cover the story without interference and condemns the arrest of a Fox 7 News photojournalist at Wednesday's University of Texas protest. SPJ demands that the Texas Department of Public Safety drop all charges against the photog  more

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, April 25 -- The Society of Professional Journalists issued the following news: The Society of Professional Journalists continues to call for the release of Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich and strongly condemns the Moscow court that rejected Gershkovich's appeal to end his pretrial detention. This comes just after a month marking his one-year imprisonment anniversary. "Evan should be home with his family, and not stuck behind bars for simply doing his j  more

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, April 23 -- The Society of Professional Journalists issued the following news on April 22, 2024: As Americans follow the criminal trial of former President Donald J. Trump, The Society of Professional Journalists wants the public to recognize that journalistic practices mentioned during opening statements, and by the first witness, are unethical under the SPJ Code of Ethics. In today's opening statement, defense attorney Todd Blanche said The National Enquirer's practice  more

BLOOMINGTON, Indiana, April 27 -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana issued the following statement on April 26, 2024: * * * On Thursday, pro-Palestinian protesters on the campus of Indiana University in Bloomington joined thousands of like-minded people across the United States in exercising protected political speech. Students, faculty, and others peacefully and safely occupied Dunn Meadow, a longtime campus site of protests - including occasional overnight protests. University of  more