Sam Klemet

WFYI News Producer

I was born in New York City and raised outside of Detroit.  I graduated from Michigan State University in 2007 with an Honor's Degree in Broadcast Journalism and then took a reporting job in southern Illinois.   I worked there for about five months before taking over as the News and Sports Director at two stations in central Minnesota.  After two-and-a-half years in the frigid cold, I accepted the position at WBAA in June of 2010.  I have really enjoyed my time working in the West Lafayette area.    I love being out in the community covering a wide range of events from school board and city council meetings to elections and football and basketball games.


When I am not working,  I am usually watching some kind of sports game, most likely the Pistons, Lions, or Tigers.    I also work as a volunteer for the Big Brothers Big Sisters program in Lafayette which has been an outstanding experience. 


I look forward to many more years to come at WBAA and in the West Lafayette community.

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Business
4:20 pm
Mon June 10, 2013

Car sharing coming to Indianapolis

Next spring, those traveling around Indianapolis will have a new transportation option. French company Bollore is starting an electric car share program in the city.

Users will pay a monthly fee and a per trip service rate, which have not been determined yet. In Paris, monthly membership is $16 and it costs about $4.50 for a 20 minute trip.

Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard believes the program will help create a more vibrant downtown and attract new people to the area. He says it could mean residents put off buying a car or second car.

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Around the Nation
5:39 am
Sun May 26, 2013

Indianapolis Speedway Needs Boost, But With Taxpayer Funds?

Credit Jamie Squire / Getty Images
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence has approved $100 million in bonds to repair the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Originally published on Sun May 26, 2013 1:24 pm

Sunday is the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500, which draws hundreds of thousands of fans to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. While it's an economic boon for the area, the 104-year-old track needs renovations — and just how it's getting the money is rubbing some Hoosiers the wrong way.

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General News
8:30 am
Mon April 8, 2013

Diversity Roundtable of Greater Lafayette summit

How to make Greater Lafayette more diverse and accepting is the topic of a forum this week. The Diversity Roundtable is hosting the event focused on improving the area for all people.

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Government
3:04 pm
Thu January 24, 2013

Frankfort creating economic development plan

A $40,000 grant is helping Frankfort map its future. The money from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs will finance the city’s Economic Development Plan.

Mayor Chris McBarnes says input from residents is needed to create the document and set the foundation for a healthy financial outlook.

"That will enhance our city's competitiveness in strengthening existing industries, attracting new product-lines to our city, and creating not only jobs for our citizens, but careers."

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General News
9:17 am
Mon January 21, 2013

Hoosiers at the presidential inauguration

Hoosiers are in the Nation’s Capital for Monday's Presidential Inauguration.

Crown Pointe-native and Purdue student Tuba Mirza made the trip. She says it’s an honor to be a part of the historic day.

"I'm so excited, I can't explain to you," she says with a laugh. "It's MLK Day too. I just want to be at the steps where he gave his speech. I just want to be there. I feel like it's going to be a great feeling."

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General News
3:56 pm
Wed January 16, 2013

Officers "exemplary" in handling Lafayette shooting

The Lafayette police officers involved in a shooting last week are expected to return to duty in the next few days.

The Department’s Shooting Review Board ruled they were justified in firing shots at a homeless man who killed his employer and eventually took his own life.

Chief Deputy Payne says the way the officers handled the high-pressure situation points to the training and prep work done for these types of incidents.

"If you think about this situation, the short timeline, the unexpectedness of what happened, I was pretty impressed," he said.

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Government
4:02 pm
Tue January 15, 2013

Tippecanoe APC to vote on New Chauncey Plan

The Tippecanoe Area Plan Commission is scheduled to present a proposal for the long term goals of West Lafayette’s New Chauncey Neighborhood.

Officials collaborated with residents during a series of meetings late last year to exchange ideas.

The plan lays out where there is potential to grow, but officials say about three-fourths of the neighborhood will be maintained as low-density residential.

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Education
8:53 am
Thu January 10, 2013

TSC adds new board members

Tippecanoe School Corporation is welcoming two new members to its board. Brian Defrese and Jane Smith were sworn in Wednesday night.

Defrese replaces former board president Kathy Dale in District Six. Smith fills in for Alan Kemper who did not seek re-election.  No one filed to fill the District Five seat, and the board chose Smith from a group of nine candidates who applied for the position.

The board elected Jim Slaven as its president.  He previously served as Vice President. Randy Bond becomes the new vice president of the TSC board.

General News
5:43 pm
Wed January 9, 2013

Study examines Montgomery Co. history

The history of Montgomery County is highlighted in the Indiana Archeology journal.

A group from Ball State received a nearly 50-thousand-dollar grant from the Historic Preservation Fund to examine 915-acres of agricultural land northeast of Crawfordsville.

Archeologist Christine Keller says the information offers details on how early inhabitants of the area lived.

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Business
2:56 pm
Tue January 8, 2013

Biofuels in aviation discussed at Purdue

Purdue is hosting an annual event, with the focus this year on how to enhance the aviation industry.

The Indiana Biomass Energy Working Group is meeting to discuss the future of biofuels in planes.

Chad Martin is the Renewable Energy Specialist at Purdue.

He says it’s the first time in the event’s five year history looking at biofuels in aviation.

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