Daily News Recap (4-7-15)

Compiled by Holly Henrichsen
Assistant Web Content Manager

Five people were killed in a plane crash early this morning while returning from the NCAA basketball championship in Indianapolis. The Federal Aviation Administration says the Cessna 414 took off from Indianapolis and crashed just short of the Bloomington airport after midnight. Authorities have yet to say what caused the crash. Illinois State assistant basketball coach Torrey Ward was one of the passengers that died in the crash.
-Brittany Green

The presidential field just got a little bigger today. Kentucky Senator Rand Paul launched his 2016 presidential campaign in a formal announcement on his official website page. According to reports from The Washington Post, Paul is scheduled to kick off his campaign with a rally in Louisville, Kentucky, and then will take questions via Facebook. The Senator now joins Ted Cruz of Texas in a race that has attracted the interests of more than a dozen potential GOP candidates. While Paul is seeking the GOP presidential nomination, he is also keeping his options open in Kentucky. He announced in December that he will run for a second Senate term if his presidential bid falls through.
-Sarah Duran

Authorities think they have identified the attackers of the recent Mexican ambush that resulted in the death of 15 police officers. The attack took place Monday along the Mascota-Las-Palmas highway when officers were ambushed by what has now been identified as suspected gang members in Mexico’s Jalisco state, according to the state attorneys general office. According to CNN, the attack resulted in the killing of 15 police officers and five injured officers.
-Jacquelyn Carter

A Texas State University Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corp cadet was honored with the prestigious George C. Marshall Award during a leadership seminar on March 30th. Senior Walter Brinker is the first Texas State cadet to be awarded in this category. In the fall of each year, Texas State cadets are reviewed for commissioning, active duty and career specialty and are then ranked among ROTC programs nationwide. If cadets fall in the top 20 percent, they are then eligible for an award nomination and conference attendance. Texas State military science chair Colonel James Adams nominated Brinker and was honored as one of the top 15 cadets nationally.
-Sarah Duran

Texas State University has accidentally sent out 450 acceptance letters to incoming students. The letters containing orientation and residence hall information were sent out last month to many students who had incomplete admissions applications. Texas State says this is a mistake that has never happened but they are reviewing the process to understand why this mistake was made. Texas State will also be mailing out letters to the recipients today to inform them of this error.
-Jacquelyn Carter