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National campaign launched to combat battery fire crisis

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National campaign launched to combat battery fire crisis


INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The National Waste & Recycling Foundation and the National Waste & Recycling Association launched a national public service campaign in January 2026 aimed at reducing battery-related fires in the waste and recycling industry.

The initiative, titled “Skip the Bin – Turn Your Batteries In!,” encourages residents to properly dispose of lithium-ion batteries and is designed to protect sanitation workers, waste facilities and surrounding communities.

The campaign follows a surge in fires linked to discarded batteries. Industry officials reported more than 1,000 battery-related fires nationwide in 2025 at locations including collection trucks, transfer stations, recycling facilities and landfills.

The effort comes as Indiana emerges as one of the fastest-growing manufacturing states for electric vehicle batteries.

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Michael E. Hoffman, president of the National Waste & Recycling Foundation and CEO of the National Waste & Recycling Association, said many households now contain numerous lithium-ion batteries but residents often lack information about how to safely discard them.

“There were over a thousand fires in 2025,” Hoffman said. “There’s basically one every single day in every state in just the waste and recycling infrastructure, whether it’s collection, transfer, the recycling facility, or at the landfill, or a waste energy plant. We have a fire every day.”

The campaign warns that lithium-ion batteries operate through chemical reactions rather than simple electrical storage. When damaged or improperly handled, they can undergo thermal runaway — a rapid reaction that can cause temperatures to rise to several thousand degrees Fahrenheit within milliseconds. These fires cannot be extinguished with water, creating significant hazards in homes and waste facilities.

The foundation partnered with the U.S. Forest Service to feature the agency’s mascot, Woodsy Owl, in the campaign — one of the character’s most prominent public appearances in about two decades.

Hoffman said the Forest Service joined the initiative because of concerns about campers discarding batteries into campfires in national forests.

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“We went to the U.S. Forest Service knowing that Woodsy had been around for almost 54 years at that point,” Hoffman said. “The Forest Service has concerns about fires in the national forest. So they were thrilled with the idea that Woodsy could get behind something like this.”

In addition to fire safety, the campaign highlights the importance of recycling batteries to recover valuable materials. Lithium-ion batteries contain rare earth metals that can be difficult to obtain. Hoffman said about 60% to 70% of these materials can be recovered and reused to manufacture new batteries.

“These are rare earth precious metals, particularly in the lithium-ion batteries,” Hoffman said. “And these are hard to find rare earth metals.”

The campaign’s website, Batterysafetynow.org, includes a ZIP code locator to help residents find nearby drop-off locations. About 20,000 retail sites nationwide participate in the program, including Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart, Best Buy, Target, Tractor Supply Company and Staples.

“You put your zip code in and there are 20,000 retail locations around the country, one pretty much within 10 miles of most zip codes, not all, but most,” Hoffman said.

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The program promotes a three-step disposal process: Prepare, Locate and Deliver. Residents are advised to tape the ends of batteries to prevent contact, place them in a resealable bag or box and bring them to a participating retailer.

Once collected, the Battery Network coordinates transportation to processing depots, where batteries are sorted by chemical composition and prepared for recycling.

Hoffman said the foundation hopes to expand the program by partnering with grocery stores.

“Our next big objective is, can we get the grocery industry to agree to let us do this in grocery stores as well?” Hoffman said. “And then we’re pretty much wrapped around the consumer almost everywhere you might go.”

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BSU co-hosts celebrity look-alike contest with other Indianapolis universities – The Butler Collegian

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BSU co-hosts celebrity look-alike contest with other Indianapolis universities – The Butler Collegian


College students from all across Indianapolis came together to sing, dance and have a good time. Photo by Mason Buysse.

On March 27, the Black Student Union (BSU) co-hosted a celebrity look-alike contest alongside Indiana University Indianapolis (IU Indy), Marian University and University of Indianapolis (UIndy). The event consisted of seven choreographed lip-sync routines and several impromptu performances from audience members. Celebrity impersonations included Rod Wave, GloRilla, Megan Thee Stallion and more. 

Jayla Myers, a sophomore biology and Spanish double major, serves as the vice president of programming for BSU and helped host the event. Last year, she was the first-year chair for the logistics committee. Myers credited IU Indy for coming up with the idea for the event and inviting the Black student organizations at other universities across Indianapolis.

“We’re in really hard times right now, especially as a community,” Myers said. “We wanted to come together and have an event citywide, across all the BSUs, and [provide] a place for people to express themselves through the music that they listen to day-to-day.”  

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Zimmya, a first-year nursing major at UIndy, participated in the event as a performer. She is a member of Let’s Link, an organization serving Black and Brown students at UIndy. After seeing similar events online, she was inspired to replicate them in real life. She also enjoyed working with the other schools. 

“Everyone [was] very welcoming,” Zimmya said. “[They have] a good spirit, good vibe. It was really easy to collaborate and put it all together.”

As far as her performance went, Zimmya’s chosen celebrity look-alike was Rod Wave. She said it was an easy choice to perform her favorite song by her favorite artist. She rated the overall experience a 10 out of 10. 

“This is one of my first events, planning something with other schools,” Zimmya said. “It’s been pretty cool. It seemed hectic at first, but once everybody got their roles of what to do, it became pretty simple.”

Amiia Burnett, a sophomore speech, language and hearing sciences major, will serve as BSU’s communications liaison for the 2026-27 school year. She also participated as a contestant in the celebrity lookalike contest alongside first-year sports media major Amaya Nichols, where they performed as Megan Thee Stallion and GloRilla. 

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“I’m glad that we were able to do it,” Burnett said. “It was fun to get our energy out and have these fun, upbeat dances.”

Burnett enjoyed getting to know the students from other universities. 

“I felt very welcome,” Burnett said. “It was a big group of people that got along nicely.” 

Myers is also involved with Butler’s chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People as the organization’s treasurer and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

“I love being able to cultivate a community on Butler’s campus,” Myers said. 

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With Butler being a predominantly white institution, Myers stated that her favorite part of BSU is trying to make sure the Black student population stays united and builds a comfortable, welcoming community. 

While this is the first celebrity look-alike contest hosted by BSU, there are other events put on annually, such as Kwanzaa and a variety of events during Black History Month. Myers urges Butler students to attend BSU events. 

“People love to say that Butler doesn’t have a Black community or isn’t trying to foster Black community, but you can’t show up to a neighborhood and ask to be a neighbor when you’re not a good neighbor,” Myers said. “You have to show up to events in order to cultivate a community.”

Burnett also agreed that having a Black community on campus is important to her. 

“Being able to be in [Black] spaces, you’re around people that relate to you and understand what it feels like,” Burnett said.

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Indianapolis Colts GM Suggests Team Could Make Surprising Anthony Richardson Decision

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Indianapolis Colts GM Suggests Team Could Make Surprising Anthony Richardson Decision


When the Indianapolis Colts signed quarterback Daniel Jones to a multi-year extension, it was viewed as a foregone conclusion that former first-round pick Anthony Richardson would be traded this offseason. It now appears another option is on the table.

Speaking to repoters this week at the NFL annual league meeting, Colts general manager Chris Ballard said there’s a “scenario” where the team keeps Richardson into the 2026 season.

Indianapolis Colts Urged To Trade for Pro Bowl Edge Rusher

“There’s definitely a scenario there. He’s a good dude and he’s talented. I mean, I still want good for Anthony, man. I still think he’s got a lot in him. He’s had some freaking bad luck, but I still think Anthony has got a lot of ability and he’s maturing and growing.”

Indianapolis Colts GM Chris Ballard on if the team may keep Anthony Richardson

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Richardson, the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, appeared in just two games this past season with 14 combined offensive snaps. In October, he suffered an orbital bone fracture during pregame warmups when a resistance band he was using snapped and struck him in the face.

At the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, the Colts granted Richardson’s agent permission to seek a trade. Various reports have connected the Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, and Green Bay Packers to the dual-threat quarterback.

However, Kansas City has since acquired quarterback Justin Fields from the New York Jets. Meanwhile, the Packers are among the teams interested in signing free-agent quarterback Kirk Cousins to serve as a backup next season.

There may not be as strong of a trade market for Richardson as his representation hoped for, or Indianapolis might not be satisfied with the draft-pick compensation clubs are offering for him. With Jones recovering from a torn Achilles, it’s clearly possible that the Colts keep Richardson through training camp and see if he could be a starting option until Jones is ready.

Matt Johnson is Senior Editor of NFL and College Football for Sportsnaut. His work, including weekly NFL and college … More about Matt Johnson
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Greenfield native carries UConn to Final Four with game-winning three-pointer

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Greenfield native carries UConn to Final Four with game-winning three-pointer


INDIANAPOLIS — UConn Huskies Basketball player Braylon Mullins is making his hometown of Greenfield, Indiana, proud.

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Greenfield native carries UConn to Final Four with game-winning three-pointer

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Mullins’ three-point shot gave UConn the upset over Duke during Sunday night’s Elite Eight matchup in Washington, D.C., landing UConn a spot in the Final Four.

Mullins graduated from Greenfield Central High School in 2025 and became the school’s first-ever and only Indiana Mr. Basketball.

“It’s big play Bray. Like you knew that once he got the ball in that moment, he wasn’t going to shy away. He wasn’t going to be afraid from that moment,” Luke Meredith said.

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Meredith coached Mullins for six years. He says Braylon taking UConn to the final four is no surprise. He averaged 32 points per game in high school and was a hometown legend before Sunday.

“He’s Greenfield’s own. I mean, that’s what makes him so special is we talk a lot about just a kid from Greenfield, a normal, regular kid that went to a public school and didn’t go the prep route and stayed here and committed here, so there’s a real sense of pride here at Greenfield,” Meredith said.

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Greenfield Central High School

Meredith says Braylon has made the shot a million times in his driveway at home. He is so proud that the world got to watch this time.

“It’s just a sense of pride. I met him here every single day for four years at 7:15 in the morning, so an hour before school, and that’s the foundation of success occurs when no one else is watching, so no one saw him putting that time,” said Meredith.

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Braylon’s brother Cole is a senior at Greenfield Central. He says his brother has undoubtedly made his family proud.

“I think it’s crazy just to see. Like, it’s his first year as a freshman, so being able to go to the Final Four in your first year is special,” Cole said.

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Meredith says that regardless of what happens next, this wave of pride through his hometown will be remembered for years to come.

“It’s pretty incredible, life-changing for him, and you know, to put Greenfield Central on the map,” said Meredith.

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UConn plays Illinois in the Final Four on Saturday, April 4, at 6:09 p.m. in Indianapolis.
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