Ben Thorp

3 weeks ago | wfyi.org | Benjamin Thorp |Ben Thorp

April 24, 2025 Indiana lawmakers rejected a measure to require schools to carry medications used to reverse an opioid overdose. Instead, they approved language that would expand the kinds of opioid reversing medications that can be stocked in schools. HB 1376 was signed into law by Gov. Mike Braun on Tuesday. The bill author, Rep. Pat Boy (D-Michigan City), said she was disappointed that lawmakers struck down the effort to require schools to carry the medications.

3 weeks ago | lpm.org | Ben Thorp

At her mother's home in Illinois, Tracy Balhan flips through photos of her dad, Bill Speer. In one picture, he's smiling in front of a bucket of sweating beers and wearing a blue T-shirt that reads, "Pops. The man. The myth. The legend."Balhan's father died last year after struggling with dementia. During one episode late in his life, he became so agitated that he tried to exit a moving car. Balhan recalls her dad — larger than life, steady and loving — yelling at the top of his lungs.

3 weeks ago | wfyi.org | Benjamin Thorp |Ben Thorp

April 19, 2025 A large group of anti-Trump protestors gathered Saturday at the Indiana Statehouse, part of an ongoing national protest movement. Local organizers said this is the tenth protest they’ve held so far this year. Chanting, holding signs and listening to guest speakers, members of the crowd said they're worried about a laundry list of issues — from free speech to deportations — arguing that the Trump administration is behaving in an unlawful manner.

1 month ago | wfyi.org | Benjamin Thorp |Devna Bose |Ben Thorp

April 15, 2025Unable to load the audio player. You could try direct download? At her mother’s home in Illinois, Tracy Balhan flips through photos of her dad, Bill Speer. In one picture, he’s smiling in front of a bucket of sweating beers and wearing a blue T-shirt that reads, “Pops. The man. The myth. The legend.” Balhan’s father died last year after struggling with dementia. During one episode late in his life, he became so agitated that he tried to exit a moving car.

1 month ago | wfyi.org | Benjamin Thorp |Ben Thorp

April 9, 2025 Workers at the Indianapolis VA Hospital are required to go back to the office starting on April 14, as part of a new federal policy. The change was announced to VA employees in February, with supervisors already having to report in-person. But some are raising concerns about the move. They say the change will impact staff and could harm patients. Emails and PowerPoint slides presented to staff and obtained by WFYI show the VA hospital doesn’t have enough office space.