Around The Region

Student leaders threaten to cut newspaper funding\nVINCENNES, Ind. -- The student government at Vincennes University is threatening to cut funding for the school's weekly newspaper after members objected to the content of an April Fool's edition.\nEditors say 1,700 copies of The Trailblazer were stolen from distribution racks April 1 because many in the student senate were offended.\nNow student leaders want to cut the budget for the newspaper, which is funded using student activity fees.\nThey objected to stories in the April Fool's edition, including one that poked fun at the Miss Vincennes University Pageant and another that described a campus Christian group hosting a beer party.\nFaculty members have defended the newspaper, which has been published since 1923.\n"There is no reason, to my knowledge, why the constitutional guarantees of press freedom don't apply to The Trailblazer," said Fred Walker Jr., professor emeritus of journalism. "The fact that the university board of trustees technically owns the paper doesn't nullify freedom of the press once it's established."\nUniversity officials are investigating the stolen newspapers as a theft rather than a censorship issue.\nIndiana native returns home after suffering war wounds\nINDIANAPOLIS -- An Indiana Marine whose leg was shattered by a mortar round in Iraq returned home to a cheering, flag-waving crowd of friends, family and airport patrons.\nSgt. Jacob Hopkins, 22, a native of Columbus, arrived at Indianapolis International Airport Friday aboard a commercial flight.\n"It tickles me to death to see people clapping," Hopkins said. "I'm proud to be an American, never prouder."\nHopkins was injured by friendly fire about 75 miles outside Baghdad in late March. Shrapnel from a mortar round landed about 10 feet from him, shattering the tibia and fibula bones in his leg.\nHe was awarded the Purple Heart and promoted from corporal to sergeant, then sent home.\nOther airport patrons joined Hopkins' family members in the welcome, which included tight hugs and a few tears.\n"I'm glad it's over and relieved he's finally coming home," said Ken Brown, 43, Hopkins' father-in-law. "Even though he's wounded, he made it back alive, unlike some of the other troops over there."\nHopkins was last in Columbus at Christmas. He was deployed to the Mideast in January.\nCarbon monoxide suspected in deaths of three people\nBORDEN, Ind. -- Three people found dead last week at a southern Indiana home probably died of carbon monoxide poisoning, authorities said.\nClark County Coroner Edwin Coots said investigators will not know the cause of death for certain until toxicology tests are complete next week.\nDead were 64-year-old Larry Blackman, 21-year-old Claire Dufton and a man believed to be in his early 20s. Police did not release his identity Sunday pending contact with the man's relatives.\nThe bodies were found Thursday in Blackman's home in Borden, a town of 800 about 20 miles north of Louisville, when his sister-in-law checked on him. Police said the bodies showed no signs of trauma.\nThe bodies of two pet dogs were also found in the house.\nDetectives believe the deaths occurred at night, but they were not sure when.