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How Micah Beckwith reacted to author John Green referring to him as his ‘nemesis’

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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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.”

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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:

  1. “Looking for Alaska,” by John Green.
  2. “It’s Perfectly Normal,” by Robie H. Harris.
  3. “The Goats,” by Brock Cole.
  4. “Gender Queer: A Memoir,” by Maia Kobabe.
  5. “Crank,” by Ellen Hopkins.
  6. “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,” by Sherman Alexie.
  7. “Jesus Land: A Memoir,” by Julia Scheeres.
  8. “The Bluest Eye,” by Toni Morrison.
  9. “The Glass Castle,” by Jeannette Walls.
  10. “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.



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Indianapolis, IN

IMPD: Man stabbed in downtown Indianapolis

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IMPD: Man stabbed in downtown Indianapolis


INDIANAPOLIS — A person was stabbed in downtown Indianapolis Sunday evening.

According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, officers were called to the intersection of East Market and North Delaware Streets around 8:28 p.m. to investigate a stabbing. When police arrived at the scene, they located an adult male victim with apparent stab wounds.

Photo of IMPD investigating a stabbing at the intersection of East Market and North Delaware Streets on April 19, 2026, captured by a FOX59/CBS4 crew.

IMPD has confirmed that the victim was transported from the scene to a local hospital in critical but stable condition.

Investigators believe the stabbing “stemmed from a disturbance between multiple individuals and the victim.”

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IMPD has reported that it has not identified or detained any suspects or persons of interest at this point in its investigation of the stabbing. Police have indicated that they are hoping witnesses come forward with information that can help them identify or locate the suspects.

“The officers now are doing a complete investigation,” IMPD Lieutenant Frank Wooten said during a media briefing Sunday night. “They’re going to investigate this to the best of their ability. We’re going to try to locate our suspect, arrest the suspect, prosecute the suspect and hold that suspect accountable for this heinous crime in Indianapolis. This is not an indication of what our city is about. This is not an indication of what we do downtown, and we hold this to be very serious. So, we will hold whoever did this responsible for their actions tonight.”

Sunday night’s stabbing represented a continuation of a violent weekend in downtown Indianapolis.

Early Sunday morning, two men were critically injured in a shooting near a White Castle on South Street. Before that shooting occurred, police arrested two juveniles on gun charges at Monument Circle.

Police also conducted a shooting investigation near the Hilton hotel located at 120 W. Market St. around 4 a.m. Sunday. Nobody was injured in that shooting.

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Elsewhere in the city, a person was injured in a shooting in a CVS parking lot on Kentucky Avenue Saturday evening. Another individual was killed in a shooting outside a residence in the 2300 block of South Pennsylvania Street Saturday night.

Public police reporting systems indicate IMPD has investigated nine shootings that caused injuries since midnight Saturday. During that same timeframe, IMPD has investigated six shootings that did not result in any injuries and five stabbings.

Numbers available on shootings and stabbings in IMPD’s public reporting system may not be complete, as some reports on weekend shootings and stabbings may not have been entered yet.

“This is not what we want Indianapolis to be,” Wooten said. “This is not what we expect out of the citizens of Indianapolis. We expect them to be safe, come downtown and have a good time, and be able to go home the same way they came down here. So, we will hold these suspects, once located, accountable for this crime.”

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Indianapolis, IN

1 dead after shooting on Indy’s near south side

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1 dead after shooting on Indy’s near south side


INDIANAPOLIS — One person died in a shooting on Indy’s near south side on Saturday evening.

According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, officers were called to the 2300 block of S. Pennsylvania Street at approximately 9:45 p.m. on report of a shooting. This is a residential area located near Raymond Street and Madison Avenue.

Officers reported finding an adult male suffering from an apparent gunshot wound outside a residence. The victim was rushed to an area hospital in critical condition, but later was pronounced deceased.

The Marion County Coroner’s Office has not released the deceased’s name at this time.

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Police ask anyone with information about this shooting to contact Detective Kristina Friel at the IMPD Homicide Office at (317) 327-3475 or e-mail the detective at Kristina.Friel@indy.gov. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at (317) 262-TIPS.



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Indianapolis, IN

Pirates farm report for April 18, 2026: Rafael Flores Jr. hits 1st homer in Indianapolis win

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Pirates farm report for April 18, 2026: Rafael Flores Jr. hits 1st homer in Indianapolis win


INDIANAPOLIS (Triple A, 6-14) thumped Omaha (Royals), 11-3. 1B Rafael Flores Jr. (.206) went 2 for 3 with a double, his first home run, two runs scored and three RBIs. LF Tyler Callihan (.239) went 3 for 4 with a double and his first homer, a two-run shot. DH Enmanuel Valdez (.273) went 2 for 4 with his first homer and three runs scored. RF Esmerlyn Valdez (.258) went 2 for 5 with two doubles and a run scored. SS Davis Wendzel (.269) went 1 for 3 with a double, two walks, two runs scored and two RBIs. RHP Carson Fulmer (2-0, 5.51) started, gave up three runs on three hits in five innings and earned the win. RHP Chris Devenski (1.50) and LHP Joe La Sorsa (3.24) each pitched two scoreless innings.

Next: Sunday at Omaha (Royals), 3:05 p.m.

ALTOONA (Double-A, 2-12) had two hits – both solo home runs – and beat Portland (Red Sox), 2-0. LHP Dominic Perachi (1-0, 1.80) started and went six innings, allowing three hits and two walks with three strikeouts. RHP Landon Tomkins (3.38) followed with two scoreless. RHP Jaycob Deese (3.00) worked the ninth for his first save. LF Titus Dumitru (.146) went 1 for 3 with his second homer. C Shawn Ross (.182) went 1 for 3 with his second homer.

Next: Sunday vs. Portland (Red Sox), 1 p.m.

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GREENSBORO (High-A, 10-4) lost 8-3 to Brooklyn (Mets). C Easton Carmichael (.273) went 2 for 4 with an RBI. RF Shalin Polanco (.250) went 1 for 3 with a stolen base and an RBI. 1B Jared Jones (.277) went 2 for 5 with a run scored. RHP Carlson Reed (0-1, 7.36) started, recorded one out and gave up four runs on two hits and four walks. RHP Jose Garces (3.60) pitched two scoreless innings.

Next: Sunday at Brooklyn (Mets), 2 p.m.

BRADENTON (Low-A, 5-9) allowed seven stolen bases in its 6-5 loss to Tampa (Yankees). CF Edward Florentino, starting a rehab assignment as he recovers from an ankle injury, went 1 for 3 with a walk, double and run scored. LHP Reinold Navarro (6.43) started and gave up three hits, four walks and two earned runs over three innings while striking out five. SS/1B Eddie Rynders (.128) went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI. DH Edgleen Perez (.238) went 1 for 4 and drove in two runs. LF/CF Josh Tate (.208) went 2 for 5 with an RBI. 2B/SS Antonio Pimentel (.154) went 2 for 4 with a double. RHP Greiber Mendez (5.40) and RHP Noah Murdock (0-1, 9.00), who took the loss, each gave up two hits and one run in one inning. RHP Treyson Peters pitched the final three innings, allowing five hits, one earned run and one walk while striking out two.

Next: Sunday at Tampa (Yankees), noon

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