Higher Ed & Free Speech: Ball State will pay a $225,000 settlement to a former employee fired over a Facebook post criticizing Charlie Kirk, with the ACLU saying the university retaliated against protected speech. Local Government Security: Indianapolis City-County Council ethics panel approved keeping councilors’ home and business addresses off public ethics forms after a councilor’s home was shot at in an apparent data-center-related attack. Marijuana Policy Fight: Indiana AG and other states sued to block the Trump Justice Department’s move to reclassify marijuana from Schedule 1 to Schedule 3, arguing the administration skipped required rulemaking. Sports Betting Regulation: Indiana’s Dave Yost-led AG coalition urged the CFTC to recognize state authority over sports-related prediction markets, calling them gambling. Energy & Cost Pressure: NIPSCO seeks approval to power Google and Amazon data centers using capacity from the Merom coal plant, drawing criticism that it could mean higher bills and more pollution. Public Safety & Community: Buddy Benches were dedicated for First Responders in two Kentucky fire departments, and Indiana State Police reminded drivers to move over for emergency vehicles after a close call with a semi. Wildlife Management: Indiana’s bobcat trapping quota proposal drew heavy pushback at a Natural Resources Commission hearing, with opponents warning a higher quota could wipe out bobcats within a decade. Gov. Braun & College Affordability: Braun highlighted a second year of frozen in-state tuition and mandatory fees across Indiana’s public colleges and universities.