Latest news with #NinaMasonPulliamCharitableTrust
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Call them fireflies or lightning bugs, but are there fewer in Indiana than in the past?
Editor's note: This story was originally published in 2022. We are republishing it as part of our summer coverage. Chasing lightning bugs on a summer night is a rite of passage for many young Indiana residents. In fact, Indiana's state insect is a lightning bug. There are about 40 species of what are called Lampyridae, or light-emitting beetles, in Indiana and more than 1,900 types worldwide. They've been around for millions of years, but some Hoosiers say it feels like they're seeing fewer flashes across the night sky than in the past. Lightning bugs or fireflies: What are those glowing insects called? So, are lightning bugs disappearing from Indiana? 'If we go from qualitative assessment alone, they seem to be on the decline,' said Sérgio Henriques, who serves as the Invertebrate Conservation Coordinator for the Indianapolis Zoo's Global Center for Species Survival. Part of the problem, however, is that there isn't adequate data on lightning bugs to speak with specificity. Researchers across the country, like Henriques, are working to gather more information and assess the threat of extinction. 'It's complicated and it depends on the species,' Henriques said of the level of threat. 'But overall, they're not doing great.' There are several reasons why fireflies are at risk. The first is an issue that plagues many struggling species: loss of habitat. Fireflies do well in areas with some moisture and humidity — they often live near ponds, streams, marshes, rivers and lakes or in the margins where these areas meet fields and forests. However, development and climate change are shrinking places where they survive. They also are suffering because of light firefly's light is like a whisper, Henriques said, 'while our lights are really loud in comparison and drown them out.' Fireflies have a lifespan of just a couple months. All the lights at night disorient them and can interfere with their ability to find a mate. Scrub Hub: Is there a good turf grass replacement that's dog-friendly and low- or no-mow? One of the other main threats comes from chemicals: The use of pesticides and herbicides on lawns can wreak havoc on fireflies. Henriques said there are 'little and easy' things Hoosiers can do to help lightning bugs. He suggests reducing lights at night, planting native species or installing a rain garden. Another option: reducing the chemicals you use on your yard or in your house. 'Fireflies are a privilege,' he said. 'It would be such a waste of a treasure if they were to decline or be gone.' IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Are there fewer fireflies in Indiana than in the past?
Indianapolis Star
04-05-2025
- Business
- Indianapolis Star
IndyStar newsroom to grow with new positions, summer interns
Show Caption The newsroom is expanding with two grant-funded journalist positions focused on environmental reporting and First Amendment issues. Multiple summer internships are being funded through grants from various organizations. Google the term "building the boat while sailing it" and you'll inevitably come upon a number of articles on change management and leading in times of crisis. The phrase is probably my most frequently uttered idiom of the past two decades, as it reflects my ever-changing experience as a journalist over the past 22 years. Case in point: In my first 15 months here at IndyStar, we've hired 17 full-time journalists, seen eight colleagues leave for other opportunities, and helped 11 interns — with another eight about to join us this summer — grow through their early careers, all while significantly adjusting our deadlines and workflows amid the ongoing consolidation of U.S. newspaper printing facilities. That may seem like a lot of turnover, but IndyStar is fortunate to have more than 25 journalists who have served Central Indiana with trustworthy local news for more than five years each. Veteran photojournalists Kelly Wilkinson and Michelle Pemberton, reporters Dana Hunsinger Benbow, Scott Horner and John Tuohy, multimedia manager Clark Wade, administrative manager Kim Mitchell, investigative editor Tim Evans, sports editor Nat Newell and local news editor Shari Rudavsky have each been at IndyStar for more than 20 years. That level of deep local knowledge and connection to Central Indiana has allowed our newsroom to take a teaching hospital approach as our newer hires — myself included — learn while working alongside these mainstays of the Indianapolis journalism scene. That's also how you build the boat while sailing it — not by the effort of one person, but through the combined efforts of a dedicated crew. Today, I'm pleased to share news of a few upcoming additions to IndyStar's newsroom. IndyStar to welcome two grant-funded journalists in May Our newsroom of more than 60 full-time journalists is about to expand thanks to the generous support of funders who share our interest in strengthening local journalism in Central Indiana and beyond. The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust has supported IndyStar's environmental journalism since 2022. Through the trust's support, reporting from Karl Schneider and former IndyStar environmental reporter Sarah Bowman has been published free to all readers. Early this month, Sophia Hartley will join the team, filling the position Bowman vacated last year. Hartley graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a Master of Science in Science Writing. We're excited for Sophia to join the team and share stories of the many ways Hoosiers interact with and impact our natural resources and environment. Later this month we'll also welcome a new First Amendment reporter, as part of an effort that will bring new reporting to five USA TODAY Network newsrooms. Our new reporter will share stories of the increasingly frequent tensions involving the five freedoms of the First Amendment. For review, the First Amendment states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." These positions are made possible thanks to the generous support of the Freedom Forum's Local Press Initiative and Journalism Funding Partners, a nonprofit that works to increase the depth, diversity and sustainability of local journalism. Grant funding to support summer internships at IndyStar We also have the Central Indiana Community Foundation and Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting to thank for their support of IndyStar's robust summer internship program. Grant funding from the two nonprofits will place seven student journalists and recent college graduates into summer internships starting in May and June. Our 2025 Pulliam Fellows funded through CICF are: Marissa Meador, Indiana University; Sam Habashy, Northwestern University; Matthew Cupelli, University of Florida; HG Biggs, Ohio University, Joshua Heron, Arizona State University, and Dow Jones News Fund intern Ethan Hylton, Goldsmiths University of London. Juliann Ventura, Northwestern University, will be our Ida B. Wells Society investigative fellow. We'll also bring on a video intern through our Gannett Forward Summer Internship Program. We're recruiting for a pop culture reporter, with more to come Finally, we're in active recruitment for a pop culture to join our staff and report on Central Indiana's many cultural offerings, from concerts and festivals to Hoosiers on TV and much more. We'll have more recruiting news in the future, as getting to "fully staffed" is always a work in progress. Thanks for letting me share a few updates here, and thanks for reading IndyStar.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
IndyStar newsroom to grow with new positions, summer interns
Google the term "building the boat while sailing it" and you'll inevitably come upon a number of articles on change management and leading in times of crisis. The phrase is probably my most frequently uttered idiom of the past two decades, as it reflects my ever-changing experience as a journalist over the past 22 years. Case in point: In my first 15 months here at IndyStar, we've hired 17 full-time journalists, seen eight colleagues leave for other opportunities, and helped 11 interns — with another eight about to join us this summer — grow through their early careers, all while significantly adjusting our deadlines and workflows amid the ongoing consolidation of U.S. newspaper printing facilities. That may seem like a lot of turnover, but IndyStar is fortunate to have more than 25 journalists who have served Central Indiana with trustworthy local news for more than five years each. Veteran photojournalists Kelly Wilkinson and Michelle Pemberton, reporters Dana Hunsinger Benbow, Scott Horner and John Tuohy, multimedia manager Clark Wade, administrative manager Kim Mitchell, investigative editor Tim Evans, sports editor Nat Newell and local news editor Shari Rudavsky have each been at IndyStar for more than 20 years. IndyStar investigation: Legacy of racist, brutal police culture still plagues city of Elkhart That level of deep local knowledge and connection to Central Indiana has allowed our newsroom to take a teaching hospital approach as our newer hires — myself included — learn while working alongside these mainstays of the Indianapolis journalism scene. That's also how you build the boat while sailing it — not by the effort of one person, but through the combined efforts of a dedicated crew. Today, I'm pleased to share news of a few upcoming additions to IndyStar's newsroom. Our newsroom of more than 60 full-time journalists is about to expand thanks to the generous support of funders who share our interest in strengthening local journalism in Central Indiana and beyond. The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust has supported IndyStar's environmental journalism since 2022. Through the trust's support, reporting from Karl Schneider and former IndyStar environmental reporter Sarah Bowman has been published free to all readers. Early this month, Sophia Hartley will join the team, filling the position Bowman vacated last year. Hartley graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a Master of Science in Science Writing. We're excited for Sophia to join the team and share stories of the many ways Hoosiers interact with and impact our natural resources and environment. Wander Indiana: 5 unique Hoosier outdoor sites you need to visit this spring or summer Later this month we'll also welcome a new First Amendment reporter, as part of an effort that will bring new reporting to five USA TODAY Network newsrooms. Our new reporter will share stories of the increasingly frequent tensions involving the five freedoms of the First Amendment. For review, the First Amendment states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." These positions are made possible thanks to the generous support of the Freedom Forum's Local Press Initiative and Journalism Funding Partners, a nonprofit that works to increase the depth, diversity and sustainability of local journalism. We also have the Central Indiana Community Foundation and Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting to thank for their support of IndyStar's robust summer internship program. Grant funding from the two nonprofits will place seven student journalists and recent college graduates into summer internships starting in May and June. Our 2025 Pulliam Fellows funded through CICF are: Marissa Meador, Indiana University; Sam Habashy, Northwestern University; Matthew Cupelli, University of Florida; HG Biggs, Ohio University, Joshua Heron, Arizona State University, and Dow Jones News Fund intern Ethan Hylton, Goldsmiths University of London. Juliann Ventura, Northwestern University, will be our Ida B. Wells Society investigative fellow. We'll also bring on a video intern through our Gannett Forward Summer Internship Program. Finally, we're in active recruitment for a pop culture to join our staff and report on Central Indiana's many cultural offerings, from concerts and festivals to Hoosiers on TV and much more. We'll have more recruiting news in the future, as getting to "fully staffed" is always a work in progress. Thanks for letting me share a few updates here, and thanks for reading IndyStar. Eric Larsen is IndyStar executive editor. Reach him at ericlarsen@ This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IndyStar newsroom to grow with new positions, summer interns
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
IndyStar newsroom to grow with new positions, summer interns
Google the term "building the boat while sailing it" and you'll inevitably come upon a number of articles on change management and leading in times of crisis. The phrase is probably my most frequently uttered idiom of the past two decades, as it reflects my ever-changing experience as a journalist over the past 22 years. Case in point: In my first 15 months here at IndyStar, we've hired 17 full-time journalists, seen eight colleagues leave for other opportunities, and helped 11 interns — with another eight about to join us this summer — grow through their early careers, all while significantly adjusting our deadlines and workflows amid the ongoing consolidation of U.S. newspaper printing facilities. That may seem like a lot of turnover, but IndyStar is fortunate to have more than 25 journalists who have served Central Indiana with trustworthy local news for more than five years each. Veteran photojournalists Kelly Wilkinson and Michelle Pemberton, reporters Dana Hunsinger Benbow, Scott Horner and John Tuohy, multimedia manager Clark Wade, administrative manager Kim Mitchell, investigative editor Tim Evans, sports editor Nat Newell and local news editor Shari Rudavsky have each been at IndyStar for more than 20 years. IndyStar investigation: Legacy of racist, brutal police culture still plagues city of Elkhart That level of deep local knowledge and connection to Central Indiana has allowed our newsroom to take a teaching hospital approach as our newer hires — myself included — learn while working alongside these mainstays of the Indianapolis journalism scene. That's also how you build the boat while sailing it — not by the effort of one person, but through the combined efforts of a dedicated crew. Today, I'm pleased to share news of a few upcoming additions to IndyStar's newsroom. Our newsroom of more than 60 full-time journalists is about to expand thanks to the generous support of funders who share our interest in strengthening local journalism in Central Indiana and beyond. The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust has supported IndyStar's environmental journalism since 2022. Through the trust's support, reporting from Karl Schneider and former IndyStar environmental reporter Sarah Bowman has been published free to all readers. Early this month, Sophia Hartley will join the team, filling the position Bowman vacated last year. Hartley graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a Master of Science in Science Writing. We're excited for Sophia to join the team and share stories of the many ways Hoosiers interact with and impact our natural resources and environment. Wander Indiana: 5 unique Hoosier outdoor sites you need to visit this spring or summer Later this month we'll also welcome a new First Amendment reporter, as part of an effort that will bring new reporting to five USA TODAY Network newsrooms. Our new reporter will share stories of the increasingly frequent tensions involving the five freedoms of the First Amendment. For review, the First Amendment states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." These positions are made possible thanks to the generous support of the Freedom Forum's Local Press Initiative and Journalism Funding Partners, a nonprofit that works to increase the depth, diversity and sustainability of local journalism. We also have the Central Indiana Community Foundation and Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting to thank for their support of IndyStar's robust summer internship program. Grant funding from the two nonprofits will place seven student journalists and recent college graduates into summer internships starting in May and June. Our 2025 Pulliam Fellows funded through CICF are: Marissa Meador, Indiana University; Sam Habashy, Northwestern University; Matthew Cupelli, University of Florida; HG Biggs, Ohio University, Joshua Heron, Arizona State University, and Dow Jones News Fund intern Ethan Hylton, Goldsmiths University of London. Juliann Ventura, Northwestern University, will be our Ida B. Wells Society investigative fellow. We'll also bring on a video intern through our Gannett Forward Summer Internship Program. Finally, we're in active recruitment for a pop culture to join our staff and report on Central Indiana's many cultural offerings, from concerts and festivals to Hoosiers on TV and much more. We'll have more recruiting news in the future, as getting to "fully staffed" is always a work in progress. Thanks for letting me share a few updates here, and thanks for reading IndyStar. Eric Larsen is IndyStar executive editor. Reach him at ericlarsen@ This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IndyStar newsroom to grow with new positions, summer interns
Indianapolis Star
04-05-2025
- Business
- Indianapolis Star
IndyStar newsroom to grow with new positions, summer interns
AI-assisted summary The newsroom is expanding with two grant-funded journalist positions focused on environmental reporting and First Amendment issues. Multiple summer internships are being funded through grants from various organizations. Google the term "building the boat while sailing it" and you'll inevitably come upon a number of articles on change management and leading in times of crisis. The phrase is probably my most frequently uttered idiom of the past two decades, as it reflects my ever-changing experience as a journalist over the past 22 years. Case in point: In my first 15 months here at IndyStar, we've hired 17 full-time journalists, seen eight colleagues leave for other opportunities, and helped 11 interns — with another eight about to join us this summer — grow through their early careers, all while significantly adjusting our deadlines and workflows amid the ongoing consolidation of U.S. newspaper printing facilities. That may seem like a lot of turnover, but IndyStar is fortunate to have more than 25 journalists who have served Central Indiana with trustworthy local news for more than five years each. Veteran photojournalists Kelly Wilkinson and Michelle Pemberton, reporters Dana Hunsinger Benbow, Scott Horner and John Tuohy, multimedia manager Clark Wade, administrative manager Kim Mitchell, investigative editor Tim Evans, sports editor Nat Newell and local news editor Shari Rudavsky have each been at IndyStar for more than 20 years. That level of deep local knowledge and connection to Central Indiana has allowed our newsroom to take a teaching hospital approach as our newer hires — myself included — learn while working alongside these mainstays of the Indianapolis journalism scene. That's also how you build the boat while sailing it — not by the effort of one person, but through the combined efforts of a dedicated crew. Today, I'm pleased to share news of a few upcoming additions to IndyStar's newsroom. IndyStar to welcome two grant-funded journalists in May Our newsroom of more than 60 full-time journalists is about to expand thanks to the generous support of funders who share our interest in strengthening local journalism in Central Indiana and beyond. The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust has supported IndyStar's environmental journalism since 2022. Through the trust's support, reporting from Karl Schneider and former IndyStar environmental reporter Sarah Bowman has been published free to all readers. Early this month, Sophia Hartley will join the team, filling the position Bowman vacated last year. Hartley graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a Master of Science in Science Writing. We're excited for Sophia to join the team and share stories of the many ways Hoosiers interact with and impact our natural resources and environment. Later this month we'll also welcome a new First Amendment reporter, as part of an effort that will bring new reporting to five USA TODAY Network newsrooms. Our new reporter will share stories of the increasingly frequent tensions involving the five freedoms of the First Amendment. For review, the First Amendment states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." These positions are made possible thanks to the generous support of the Freedom Forum's Local Press Initiative and Journalism Funding Partners, a nonprofit that works to increase the depth, diversity and sustainability of local journalism. Grant funding to support summer internships at IndyStar We also have the Central Indiana Community Foundation and Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting to thank for their support of IndyStar's robust summer internship program. Grant funding from the two nonprofits will place seven student journalists and recent college graduates into summer internships starting in May and June. Our 2025 Pulliam Fellows funded through CICF are: Marissa Meador, Indiana University; Sam Habashy, Northwestern University; Matthew Cupelli, University of Florida; HG Biggs, Ohio University, Joshua Heron, Arizona State University, and Dow Jones News Fund intern Ethan Hylton, Goldsmiths University of London. Juliann Ventura, Northwestern University, will be our Ida B. Wells Society investigative fellow. We'll also bring on a video intern through our Gannett Forward Summer Internship Program. We're recruiting for a pop culture reporter, with more to come Finally, we're in active recruitment for a pop culture to join our staff and report on Central Indiana's many cultural offerings, from concerts and festivals to Hoosiers on TV and much more. We'll have more recruiting news in the future, as getting to "fully staffed" is always a work in progress. Thanks for letting me share a few updates here, and thanks for reading IndyStar.
