Indianapolis, IN
How Micah Beckwith reacted to author John Green referring to him as his ‘nemesis’
Superman has Lex Luthor. The Joker has Batman. Indianapolis author John Green’s “nemesis,” he said Sunday, could very well be in the running as Indiana’s next lieutenant governor — Micah Beckwith.
Details remain scarce on whether either men have donned brightly colored spandex and duked it out on a rooftop overlooking Monument Circle. Both, however, have sparred on issues regarding censorship.
Green recently aired his opinions about the Noblesville pastor and self-described Christian Nationalist on Instagram after Saturday’s Republican state convention, in which Indiana delegates slapped down U.S. Sen. Mike Braun’s preferred choice of state Rep. Julie McGuire in the lieutenant governor’s race and selected Beckwith instead. Beckwith will now join Braun on the November election ballot to face Democrat Jennifer McCormick, Libertarian Donald Rainwater and both parties’ nominees for lieutenant governor.
Green wasn’t thrilled by the news. Because Indiana is a red-leaning state, Beckwith’s chances of landing in the lieutenant governor role are high.
‘New nemesis just dropped’ What John Green said about Micah Beckwith
Beckwith is “the lowest form of culture warrior,” Green said on Instagram, bemoaning Beckwith’s candidacy in a video posted with the phrase “New nemesis just dropped.”
“I don’t know how to put it generously, but he’s just one of those people who will exploit any vulnerable or marginalized population in order to make himself more popular,” Green said.
Green concluded the video saying, “I’ve always wanted to have a lieutenant governor personally hate me, and now it seems my dream may come true.”
Does Micah Beckwith ‘hate’ John Green?
It’s possible the hate might be one-sided.
IndyStar reached out Monday to Beckwith, who said he had no “ill feelings” toward the best-selling author of “Looking for Alaska” and “The Fault in our Stars,” despite a flair-up last year in Fishers.
“I haven’t heard much from John Green since the whole Hamilton County Public Library Board thing,” Beckwith said. “I don’t hate (John Green) at all.”
What happened between John Green and Micah Beckwith in Hamilton County?
On social media, Green said both he and Beckwith are “not on the best of terms” after the ultra-conservative pastor — then a Hamilton East Public Library board member — led efforts last year to remove books off the shelves in the library’s teen section.
In addition to scores of other material, staff pulled Green’s coming-of-age novel, “The Fault in Our Stars” out of the teen section due to a policy labeling it not “age appropriate.” Green’s book was returned later after intense public backlash.
HEPL board, director discuss collection review policy
Hear Hamilton East Public Library director Edra Waterman explain why the board’s policy led to “The Fault in Our Stars” being moved.
Clark Wade and Michelle Pemberton, Wochit
Beckwith, however, told IndyStar he regrets Green’s novels were included in the purge.
“Honestly, I was upset that even some of his books got moved in the first place,” Beckwith said, who later resigned from the library board to concentrate on his campaign. “That was never the intention. It was designed to go after pornographic and very graphic material and move them into the adult section.”
What books by John Green are being challenged in Indiana and elsewhere?
Green is no stranger to controversy from officials challenging his books. The popular author is known for young adult novels that touch on prickly subjects involving sexual maturity, teenage angst and mental health.
According to an exclusive investigation by sister publication The Des Moines Register, Green’s 2006 debut novel, “Looking for Alaska,” a story that follows a boy who leaves home for boarding school and meets a girl named Alaska Young, is among the most challenged books in Iowa.
He and other authors are suing the state of Iowa over a law seeking to remove books from libraries and classrooms. Green also has faced book challenges in his home state of Indiana.
John Green’s ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ moved out of library’s teen section
John Green said he’s not going to Fishers anytime soon after his book was removed from the teen section, meaning “no Top Golf or IKEA for a while.”
Elissa Maudlin, Jenny Porter Tilley, Rachel Fradette and Jenna Watson, Wochit
What books did Hoosiers in Indiana challenge in 2023?
Indiana’s top ten most challenged books in 2023, according to the America Library Association, are as follows:
- “Looking for Alaska,” by John Green.
- “It’s Perfectly Normal,” by Robie H. Harris.
- “The Goats,” by Brock Cole.
- “Gender Queer: A Memoir,” by Maia Kobabe.
- “Crank,” by Ellen Hopkins.
- “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,” by Sherman Alexie.
- “Jesus Land: A Memoir,” by Julia Scheeres.
- “The Bluest Eye,” by Toni Morrison.
- “The Glass Castle,” by Jeannette Walls.
- “Water for Elephants,” by Sara Gruen.
Others are reading: Indianapolis author John Green among most banned authors in Iowa. He’s suing
John Tufts covers trending news for the Indianapolis Star. Send him a news tip at JTufts@Gannett.com.
ATLANTA (WISH) — Tyler Goodson, who played for the Indianapolis Colts the past three seasons, is joining a new team.
The Atlanta Falcons announced on Thursday that they have signed the free agent running back.
Goodson appeared in 33 games during his time in Indy, rushing for a total of 234 yards. He had one rushing touchdown back in 2024.
The rushing touchdown came during the Colts’ win over the Miami Dolphins that season. The rushing touchdown in that matchup was Goodson’s first career NFL touchdown during the regular season.
“For me it was a lot more exciting,” Goodson said following that game. “A moment I’ve been waiting for and it’s just surreal for me to be in this position. And I just thank God for it.”
Goodson also had 103 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown with the Colts. The receiving touchdown also came during the 2024 season, in a loss to the Buffalo Bills.
The move to the Falcons will be a homecoming of sorts for Goodson, who is a native of Suwanee, Georgia. He also attended North Gwinnett High School.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Butler University Police Department is seeking the public’s help in identifying a group of people who broke into and vandalized Hinkle Fieldhouse.
The incident happened sometime Saturday, according to a post from Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana.
Security camera video of the group – four males and one female – shows them entering the fieldhouse through a side door, entering one at a time before turning and disappearing out of view.
Crime Stoppers says the group vandalized a concession stand, stole alcoholic drinks, and then stole a $12,000 headset. Butler PD estimates the stolen communication equipment is valued at around $15,000.
Anyone with information was asked to contact Crime Stoppers. Officials say a reward of up to $1,000 will be offered for details leading to any arrests.
Indianapolis, IN
Pittsburgh Pirates’ Konnor Griffin, MLB’s No. 1 prospect, opens season in Indy with Indians
INDIANAPOLIS — For the second time in three years, the biggest draw in minor league baseball has landed at Victory Field.
Konnor Griffin, MLB’s No. 1 prospect, nearly made Pittsburgh’s Opening-Day roster at the tender age of 19 years old, sparking the imagination of Pirates fans when he launched two home runs in the same Grapefruit League game in late February.
By all accounts, Pittsburgh considered bypassing the Triple-A level with Griffin altogether, keeping the young shortstop in major league camp until the final weekend of spring training.
But the Pirates ultimately decided Griffin needed to open the season with the Indians when they take on St. Paul at 6:35 p.m. Friday at Victory Field, turning Pittsburgh’s loss into a big gain for Indianapolis for the second time in three seasons.
Two years ago, the Pirates decided to ramp up superstar pitching prospect Paul Skenes slowly, a decision that gave fans in Indianapolis seven starts to see a pitcher who would almost immediately turn into one of the best pitchers in the game.
For longtime Indians broadcaster Howard Kellman, the chance to see Skenes and Griffin in Indianapolis uniforms in a span of three short years brought to mind the 1989 season, when future Hall of Famers Randy Johnson and Larry Walker played on the same Indians roster.
Griffin and Skenes obviously won’t play in Indianapolis together.
Their presence leaves an impact.
“That means a great deal,” legendary Indians broadcaster Howard Kellman said. “You’re looking at the stars of tomorrow.”
Griffin’s path to Indianapolis wasn’t like the one Skenes took to Victory Field.
Skenes was already battle-tested, a star who’d made his name pitching LSU to a College World Series title and a pitcher everybody knew was ready for the big leagues. The Pirates sent Skenes to Triple-A as part of an effort to ramp him up slowly, limiting the young pitcher’s innings in his rookie year.
Griffin still has something to prove.
Drafted out of high school with the No. 9 pick in 2024, Griffin shot up the prospect rankings by batting .333 and slugging .527 while going from Low-A Bradenton to High-A Greensboro to 21 games with Double-A Altoona to end the 2025 season.
The raw tools are undeniable. The power that got the baseball world talking in February is accompanied with speed, good defense at shortstop and every other tool a team could want.
“Tremendous young man, very mature for his age, goes about his work the right way, goes about the game the right way, great with his teammates,” Indians manager Eric Patterson said.
But Griffin still has to improve his pitch recognition. Frustrated by the insane amounts of spin that big-league pitchers put on the baseball, Griffin hit .148 with 11 strikeouts in his final 10 games, 27 at-bats in total.
He wanted to make the big-league team, and he probably pressed a little.
“I’m at my best when I’m playing freely, playing fun, having a good time,” Griffin said. “I’m trying to get back to that, not worrying too much about the pressure outside.”
Griffin is also adjusting to life as baseball’s top prospect, a level of attention that essentially changed overnight. While he was obviously a top-10 pick in 2024, there were eight players taken ahead of him, including Oakland’s Nick Kurtz, who won the American League Rookie of the Year award.
A high school pick like Griffin is supposed to take a couple of years to develop into a top prospect, attention building along the way.
Griffin essentially went from a relative unknown to carrying the weight of Pittsburgh’s expectations in a span of about six months, although he’s adamant that the increased attention doesn’t affect him.
“It’s definitely internal,” Griffin said. “I don’t worry too much about the outside noise. I have high expectations for myself.”
Whatever the reason for Griffin’s slide in the final two weeks of spring training, he knows what he needs to change.
“Being thrown into the fire, facing those big-league arms, that was a good experience for me,” Griffin said.
Big-league pitchers are going to take advantage of a hitter who chases too many offerings outside the strike zone, and Griffin was swinging too much, uncharacteristic of a player whose on-base percentage was .415 across three levels last season.
“Take your walks, get on base, affect the game,” Griffin said. “Being patient, getting the right pitches to hit, not trying to do too much every time I go up to the plate.”
The paths Skenes and Griffin took to get to Indianapolis are different.
The goal, now that they’re here, is the same. Skenes was called up to the big leagues on May 8; Griffin wants to force the Pirates to bring him up to Pittsburgh as soon as possible.
“For all of these guys, you’re an injury away from the big leagues, you’re a sneeze off the field away from the big leagues,” Patterson said. “It’s about preparing these guys for when they get the call.”
The entire baseball world thought Griffin would get the call before his 20th birthday.
And there’s still time. Griffin doesn’t turn 20 until April 24th.
Better get out to Victory Field to catch a glimpse of baseball’s No. 1 prospect while he’s still here.
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