1. On January 5, 1855, the Indiana State Senate voted to pass an act that established the Indiana State Normal School, which became Indiana State University. The school was originally designed to provide teacher training, and it has since grown into a comprehensive university with a wide range of academic programs.

2. In 1884, on January 5, the Indiana General Assembly passed a law that required all railroad companies operating in the state to equip their locomotives with a bell or whistle to warn pedestrians and other vehicles of their approach. This law helped to reduce accidents at railroad crossings and became a model for similar laws in other states.

3. On January 5, 1911, the first transcontinental telephone call was made from New York City to San Francisco, with one of the intermediate stops being in Indiana. The call was made possible by the completion of a new telephone line that spanned the United States, and it marked a major milestone in the development of communication technology.

4. On January 5, 1926, the first demonstration of television in Indiana was held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis. The demonstration featured a live broadcast of a band concert, and it was viewed by a small audience of invited guests. The demonstration helped to raise public awareness of television technology and paved the way for the development of commercial broadcasting in Indiana.

5. On January 5, 1974, the Indiana Pacers defeated the Utah Stars 121-111 in an ABA basketball game played at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis. The game featured a standout performance by Pacers guard Billy Keller, who scored 32 points and made several key plays down the stretch to secure the victory. The win extended the Pacers' winning streak to 13 games and helped set the stage for the team's championship run later that season.