Indiana
French wins Lifetime Achievement Award for efforts to help Indiana businesses
Purdue’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) recently awarded Mark French, a Polytechnic professor of mechanical engineering technology and renowned “Guitar lab” instructor, with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his effect on Indiana businesses.
As reported by Julie Warner with MEP, French has been involved with Indiana business consultation practices for nearly a decade. They say that he has acted as the project manager on “over 115 different industry projects.”
The award was granted for French’s longstanding support of the Technical Assistance Program, which runs TAP40. TAP40 has many participating entities at Purdue (including both MEP and Purdue Polytechnic), and is designed to provide Indiana businesses with 40 hours a year of fee-free assistance and consultation.
“[French] has an impressive ability to connect with clients, understand their problems and provide solutions, all while making the process enjoyable,” John Drach, manager of the TAP40 program, said to MEP.
During a follow-up with Purdue Polytechnic, Drach also stated that the Lifetime Achievement Award is at least in part due to French completing “almost three times” as many projects as other TAP40 participants, with a probable impact on hundreds of jobs in the Indiana business community and a record of success stretching into the eight-figure mark.
“Through the guidance of Dr. French, Indiana companies gain access to an entire lab of results-focused faculty and graduate students in the engineering sector that provide hands-on solutions to organizations’ most intriguing problems whether it be a material issue, product validation complication, or more,” states Ranae Stewart, Senior Executive Director of Purdue MEP. “We know our clients are in the best hands and will see immediate, measurable results through Dr. French and his team. It is a well-deserved recognition, and we look forward to even more projects with him.”
Read the original story from Purdue MEP.
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Indiana
‘Foul play’ suspected in death investigation on Indiana-Ohio state line, Wayne County officials say
WAYNE COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) — Police are investigating the death of a person who died in the emergency department of Reid Health in Richmond.
Wayne County Coroner Brent Meadows was notified of the death Wednesday evening, according to a media release. Evidence has reportedly indicated that foul play is involved.
Officials believe the incident may have occurred in the area of the Petro Travel Center in New Paris, Ohio, just across the Indiana-Ohio state line.
The coroner’s office said the deceased person has been transported to the Miami Valley Regional Crime Laboratory in Dayton, Ohio, for a forensic autopsy and identification.
The office is still working the locate and identify the victim’s family.
This remains an active investigation.
News 8’s Michaela Springer contributed to this report.
Braden Smith spent four seasons with Purdue basketball proving all the power conference programs who overlooked him missed out.
Now the former Boilermaker point guard has a chance to do the same in the NBA.
Smith, a Westfield native, is headed to the Pacers after Indiana traded for him when the Chicago Bulls selected him with the 38th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, a source confirmed to IndyStar.
Smith is Purdue’s third draft pick in five years, joining lottery picks Jaden Ivey and Zach Edey among a group of now 11 NBA draft selections to play at Purdue under Matt Painter.
Here’s a look at Smith’s Purdue career and what he brings to the Pacers.
Before capping a career that includes two Big Ten regular season and two Big Ten Tournament championships, along with helping Purdue end a 44-year Final Four drought, Smith broke former Duke guard Bobby Hurley’s all-time NCAA assists record.
Along the way, Smith took home the 2025 Bob Cousy Award as the nation’s top point guard in a season where he also was the Big Ten Player of the Year. A two-time consensus first-team All-American, Smith finished his Purdue career eighth in career points (1,932), third in steals (249) and has the top three assist seasons in school history that helped add to his NCAA record total of 1,103.
Smith’s knock is his 5-foot-10 1/2 height measurement, but that didn’t deter him from being one of college basketball’s top players.
What Smith lacked in height, he made up for in basketball IQ. He’s lethal with a midrange jump shot and showcased an unblockable fadeaway that allowed him to shoot over lengthier defenders. He mastered manipulating defenses while playing with marquee big men the last four seasons.
His role in the NBA likely will be not require him to be the team’s primary playmaker immediately. Smith’s awareness of that fact pushed a more defensive-minded approach in preparation for the next level. At the NBA Draft Combine in May, Smith showed he’s capable of defending elite guards.
Smith is an elite competitor who never showed to shy away from the dirty work, which is something that can help him earn NBA minutes as a rookie while trying to find his footing in an unfamiliar backup role.
Nathan Baird and Sam King have the best Purdue sports coverage, and sign up for IndyStar’s Boilermakers newsletter.
The body of a 13-year-old boy was recovered from Lake Michigan during a multiple-day search near a beach in Michigan City, Indiana.
Officials did not provide further details.
A search has been underway since Monday night after witnesses reported seeing a child wearing red shorts enter the water.
Michigan City police said officers responded to a possible drowning just before 5:40 p.m. on Monday near Washington Park Beach.
Police said the child disappeared underwater just south of the lighthouse and did not resurface.
A search was initiated with dive efforts, a fishing boat, drone technology, and a medical helicopter deployed.
The Michigan City Fire Department said three divers suffered minor injuries during the search and are being treated at Franciscan Health. Fire officials said divers encountered “challenging water conditions” before the search was suspended.
Officials have not identified the body recovered.
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