Operations are returning to normal at Bally’s after a strange incident this morning.
In the midst of the normal morning routine at Bally’s Casino, the sense of normal disappeared in one frightening moment when a car came crashing through the roof of the conference center. That car came from the top floor of the attached parking garage.
At the time of the crash, Koorsen Fire and Safety was hosting a conference for building inspectors and firefighters at the site. Koorsen is the fire protection company for Bally’s, and they aided in getting the building’s systems turned off. Firefighters and others attending the conference rendered aid at the scene.
The vehicle hit a concrete barrier, causing it to drop through the roof of the conference center, followed by the Ford SUV. The driver of the vehicle was the only injury.
A crane was brought in during the afternoon to lift the SUV and the concrete barrier out of the conference center.
The unanswered question is, “Why?” Police are putting together all of the information, looking at video footage, and planning to talk to the driver to determine what happened.
Bally’s was able to continue with normal casino operations through the day today and the parking garage will remain close until further notice.
Bally’s released the following statement: “We are currently investigating an incident involving a vehicle that drove off the seventh floor of our parking garage and will provide updates as necessary. Upon initial review, the incident appears to be the result of driver error. There are no signage or structural issues with the parking garage. The safety of our guests and staff remains our top priority.”
Mammoth North Solar sits on 4,500 acres in Starke County in Northwest Indiana. On this spot alone, 500 sheep graze beneath the panels.
Opposition against solar farms can be loud in the usually quiet, rural outskirts of Indiana.
White signs with variations of the words “Stop Solar” are often posted in front of soybean and corn fields, nailed to telephone poles and stationed in the front yards of the state’s many quaint farm houses.
But in Starke County in Northwest Indiana, Billy Bope has not put up a “Stop Solar” sign in his front yard. He is a farmer who has benefitted from a solar farm project.
Mammoth North Solar sits on more than 4,500 acres, including Bope’s. A 400-megawatt facility owned by Doral Renewables, based in Philadelphia, it produces enough electricity to supply around 75,000 homes across the Midwest.
Through its heavily invested use of agrivoltaics—the process of simultaneously using land both for energy production and agriculture—a symbiotic relationship with farmers has blossomed.
“It just makes sense,” said Christopher Kline, development manager for Doral Renewables.
The bright side
Bope’s family has always raised livestock. Farming has been passed down through the generations, from his 91-year-old father to Bope’s son. Mammoth North Solar has become a gateway for the practice to continue—the fields and pasture lands just look a little different.
Wildlife-friendly fencing is used around the solar panels on the Mammoth North Solar farm in Starke County.
Photo by Olivia O’Neal, TheStatehouseFile.com.
Today, his flock of sheep graze beneath solar panels while sheepdogs like the Great Pyrenees watch over them. One 130-acre plot of land holds an estimated 500 sheep, around half lambs. Recently, Bope tried something new: The sheep had their lambs inside the solar fields, and the results were pleasantly surprising. Overall, the lambs were healthier and the birth process had fewer complications.
Bope said the solar panels provide shade for the animals as they graze, which significantly decreases their stress. The result is healthier, happier animals.
In exchange, the sheep have kept vegetation low, preventing grasses from growing to a height that would otherwise shade the solar panels and diminish their productivity. It also means that in the pasture areas of Mammoth North Solar, the company doesn’t need to pay for mowing services or herbicides, reducing the negative environmental impacts that would otherwise result.
Bope and the many other farmers who now farm on land that they leased to Mammoth North Solar have highlighted the potential for dual use and maximizing land when it comes to solar farms.
Kunekune pigs, alpacas, donkeys and, at one point, runner ducks have also lived within some of the fences of Mammoth North Solar, and there are plans to try cattle herds in the future. Doral Renewables is considering having beehives as well—a practice that other solar farms have used.
Grazing on solar fields isn’t a new idea—it has been used in Southwest states like Texas. In Indiana, with more rain, solar panels are less likely to be affected by dust and more likely to be affected by tall grasses. Grazing is an alternative.
Aside from livestock farming, around half of Mammoth North Solar’s land is located outside the solar fields. Regulations require solar fields to be set back 50-100 feet from roads and other properties. At Mammoth North Solar, farmers use these spaces to grow soybeans, corn, hay and wheat. Other setbacks that are not farmed are planted with native grasses and pollinator species.
Many of these methods could be more environmentally friendly than the lone corn and soybean fields that were originally there. Fencing is made to be wildlife friendly, and native grasses, even with sheep grazing on them, have fostered Indiana’s native ecosystems, said Kline. Bope has noticed an increase in native songbird species in the area. The grasses are also better at sequestering carbon compared to corn and soybeans.
Kline said Doral Renewables hires different consultants like ecologists to ensure that any harmful environmental impact of its projects are reduced.
“If we’re grazing sheep, maybe we’re shifting it from growing corn and beans to pastureland, where we’re grazing animals—we’re still farming,” Kline said.
He said that farmers have a history of evolving with the needs of the public, recalling something a Mammoth North Solar farmer once told him. When horses were the main method of transportation, they grew oats and hay to feed them. During the oil crisis of the 1970s and ‘80s, they grew corn for ethanol as a replacement. Now, as electric vehicles and data centers ramp up the energy needs of the country, farmers like Bope are beginning to support the electrical grid.
“Farmers change, change how they use the land,” Kline said.
When harvesting energy, solar farms produce no greenhouse gases, although materials required to make solar panels have manufacturing processes that do. At its most efficient, solar power is also the cheapest form of energy. Unless the sky is pitch black, solar panels are always harvesting energy and are designed to change position depending on weather in order to maximize energy production and keep the panels safe from damage.
The solar panels are also easily removed from the ground if needed, making it easy to convert the land back to farming fields once the project is decommissioned. Mammoth North Solar also pays economic development funds to the county, which puts money back into the community.
Locally, the solar panels have faded into the background, and it seems most concerns have as well.
The darker truths
Like any other solar project, Mammoth North Solar faced opposition. The project site is a rural farming community. The flat, treeless fields of northern and central Indiana are often sought after by solar farmers because they are easily built on and have miles of empty space. Having fewer people around also means fewer people are affected as compared to urban areas.
As a result, farming communities are usually the most directly affected by solar projects. In the lower 48 states, 40% of farmland is leased to farmers. If a property owner sells that land for a solar facility, the critical source of revenue can be lost. Those involved in the farming business through fertilizers, machinery and feed are affected too. In this way, solar farms can disrupt the cycle of agriculture.
Farmland has continued to decrease across the nation for years. From 2010 to 2022, 345,682 acres of farmland were lost in Indiana. It’s only a 1.89% decrease, but a decrease nonetheless. In the Hoosier state, agriculture alone provides over $35 billion to the state’s economy.
In comparison, solar farms require more surface area than coal or natural gas to produce the same amount of energy. Even then, although solar panels can still harvest energy when the sun is hidden, they do so less efficiently.
Citizens for Responsible Solar declined to interview with TheStatehouseFile.com, and Stop Solar Farms, Stop Solar USA did not respond to inquiries. Citizens for Responsible Solar does list its concerns on its website, however. They include solar power plants harming ecosystems and rural land and contributing to climate change, its driving force being big tech and federal subsidies, and its toxic waste production, unreliability and failure to be completed emissions free.
“Solar belongs on rooftops, near highways, commercial industrial zoned land, marginal or contaminated areas, not on rural-agricultural land,” the Citizens for Responsible Solar website states.
Some companies invest in rooftop and commercial solar power located in urban and commercial areas. However, solar companies are often more drawn to the hundreds of acres of farm fields that even warehouse rooftops cannot compare to in size. Additionally, roofs must be structurally sound and able to support solar panels. The added weight also makes repairs more difficult if damages occur..
Farmland often seems to be the best option for solar companies, often at the cost of the agricultural industry.
If the consequences do not involve farmland, they sometimes involve forests. Some solar projects have caused significant deforestation.
The solar industry has also become known for producing vast amounts of toxic waste. In 2050, researchers expect solar panel waste to reach an estimated 78 million metric tonnes. The technology of solar power is rapidly advancing as well—as more efficient, cheaper solar panels are developed, the old ones are discarded. Toxic chemicals like lead, antimony, cadmium and plastics are found in solar panels. This makes them difficult to recycle and dispose of safely. Discarding solar panels in landfills can expose the soil to toxic materials.
Mining some of these toxic materials also contributes to a carbon footprint. Harvesting solar energy itself may produce no carbon emissions, but the materials that some solar panels are made of require processes that do. Silicon, silver, lithium and other materials used to manufacture solar panels are extracted using processes that release greenhouse gases and environmental contaminants. Manufacturing facilities for solar panels may also be powered by nonrenewable energy sources like oil or coal.
What’s on the horizon?
“When you talk about energy and when you talk about our national energy needs, there’s not just one solution,” Kline said. “It’s not just one source of energy is what we need. It’s definitely a mix. And solar has a key role in that mix and a growing role.”
In Pulaski County, Doral Renewables broke ground a few years ago for Mammoth Central and South. Combined with Mammoth North, the Mammoth Solar project is expected to produce 1.3 gigawatts—enough for 275,000 houses annually. In total, all three projects will sit on 13,000 acres. The construction, similar to Mammoth North, has provided jobs for carpenters, electricians, heavy equipment operators and other craftworkers within the community.
Mammoth South and Central are expected to go online in 2027, bringing even more renewable energy onto the energy grid through MISO and PJM—operators of the electric grid across the Midwest.
Counties across the state, such as Henry, Hendricks, Hamilton and Boone, continue to restrict and push back against solar projects, and different requirements depending on the area make solar farm implementation difficult.
Kline feels that misinformation concerning solar facilities is easily spread and could be a reason for pushback across Indiana.
But he also believes that the more energy a society uses, the more successful and healthy it is.
“There is a reason that the government promotes energy production, and solar is a part of that,” he said.
Today, just over 4% of Indiana energy is solar, and that number is expected to rise. Kline thinks the future is bright.
As solar facilities continue to grow, the question is, who will retain their white “Stop Solar” signs and who will put them away?
Olivia O’Neal is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news site powered by Franklin College journalism students.
Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning awards State School-Age Child Care Project Fund grants
The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning has awarded 20 grants to support school-age care through the State-funded School-Age Child Care Project Fund for State Fiscal Year 2026. The 20 grantees represent 41 school-age child care sites in 11 Indiana counties. The grants total is $771,792 for SFY 2026.
The School Age Child Care Project Fund was developed to support public school corporations and licensed or regulated 501(c)(3) tax exempt organizations that offer care to children who are at least 5 years of age but less than 15 years of age for the following periods of time:
Before and/or after the school day
When school is not in session (excluding summer)
When school is in session for students who are enrolled in a half-day kindergarten program.
The following applicants were awarded grant funds for SFY 2026:
OECOSL SACC Project Fund Grant Awards
Applicant
County
Total Funding Awarded
A+ Childcare Learning Center
Marion
$40,000
Al-Haqq Foundation Academy and Daycare
Marion
$40,000
Auntie Karen’s Kids Daycare
Marion
$30,000
Blue River Services, Inc.
Harrison
Washington
$80,000
Boys and Girls Club of Huntington County
Huntington
$40,000
City Life Center Inc.
Lake
$40,000
Duneland YMCA, Inc.
Porter
$30,396.56
First Church of the Nazarene
Bartholomew
$33,800
Garrett Community Center, Inc dba Judy A Morrill Recreation Center
DeKalb
$40,000
God’s Grace Community Church
Marion
$40,000
Heben Alem Ghebremichael
Marion
$30,396.56
Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Indianapolis
Marion
$22,590
HOME Mentoring, Inc
Lake
$40,000
Little Thinkers Early Learning
Allen
$40,000
Mount Pleasant Child Development Center
Vanderburgh
$40,000
Spark Educational Services
Lake
$37,799
The Riley Center, Inc
Marion
$40,000
The Villages of Indiana, Inc.
Marion
$26,809.88
Tiny Tots Ministry, Inc.
Marion
$40,000
Young Men’s Christian Association of Lafayette, IN
Our approach is simple: We listen to our participants and their caregivers to truly understand their needs and desires. Join BoldAge PACE and Make a Difference!
Up to 4% matching 401(k). This position, as part of a customer-focused team, is responsible for providing written responses to OneMain customer concerns that…
D-Patrick is a family owned and operated dealership that strives on retaining customers and employees. We have been a staple in the community since 1934.
The EVSC works diligently to ensure employees maintain the position that they are hired for but in some cases, transfers may occur in order to effectively serve…
Photo by Andrew Neel: https://www.pexels.com/photo/macbook-pro-on-brown-wooden-table-2312369/
In response to the decision from the Indiana General Assembly to cut funding to the state college system, Ivy Tech Community College announced the end of its free summer classes for high-school students and made 202 layoffs across the state.
In Ivy Tech President Sue Ellspermann’s letter to employees sent on May 30, she said state higher education funding was cut by 5% in addition to the State Budget Agency possibly withholding 5% of the school’s allocated funds, resulting in a potential loss of $54 million over the next two years.
Emily Sandberg, assistant vice president of communications and public affairs at Ivy Tech, confirmed that the 202 layoffs consisted of roughly 3% of the college’s total workforce. This included 38 faculty, 162 staff and two administrative faculty members across six different campuses: Indianapolis, Bloomington, Columbus, Kokomo, Evansville and South Bend.
In addition to these changes, free summer college classes for Indiana high-school students are going away for at least 2025. Ivy Tech estimates it lost $12 million in tuition revenue through the program in the three years it was offered. The average student saved approximately $1,000 in tuition and fees.
Rep. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago, chair of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus, gave some comments on the potential impact of these new changes.
“Too many young Hoosiers struggle to achieve a higher education due to unreasonable costs. Free summer college classes help high school students—especially low-income students—acquire college credits that will help them save money when they work on their degree in the future,” Harris said in an email. “As a lawmaker, I’ve worked to make education more accessible for all Hoosiers, and this move will further limit the number of Hoosiers who are able to afford an education.”
This being the only free summer course program in the state, students are left with fewer opportunities to get a head start on college. Harris said these cuts alongside the 202 layoffs threaten the quality of education for future college students.
“Institutes of higher education play a fundamental role in strengthening our state, our workforce and our economy. These funding cuts will limit the quality of the services they are able to provide to students. It’s likely that those who have the option will further their education outside of Indiana, and those getting their degree in our state may be ill-prepared to thrive in the workforce,” Harris said.
More than 6,400 students participated in the free program last summer, and Ivy Tech expected demand to grow by more than 2,000 students this year.
“This is a challenging moment for our College, but I know Ivy Tech is strong. I remain confident in our resilience and in our commitment to our students and to one another,” Ellspermann said. “Together, we will navigate this period with compassion, integrity, and a continued focus on our educational mission.”
Luke Shepherd is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news site powered by Franklin College journalism students.
By Aditi Thube and Maya Burney, The Statehouse Reporting Projects
Photo by Anna Shvets: https://www.pexels.com/photo/patient-with-iv-line-3845126/
Dr. Cynthia Chatterjee had long opposed medical aid in dying—until she watched her father suffering from terminal cancer. His pain was unbearable. But in his final moments, there was peace.
Three minutes after taking the medication he knew would end his life, her father fell asleep, she recalled. Within 15 minutes, he died.
“There was no struggling or gasping for breath, which had been his greatest fear,” she said. “I came away from my father’s death wishing that everyone could have the opportunity to have such a peaceful passing.”
In most of America, that option doesn’t exist. However, there is a growing conversation across the country. Lawmakers in 25 states have filed legislation related to the practice, though not all are considering legalization bills.
The practice, which allows doctors to prescribe life-ending medication to terminally ill patients, is currently legal in 10 states and Washington, D.C. Oregon became the first state to legalize it in 1997 under its Death With Dignity Act. The other states are California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Vermont and Washington.
A 2022 study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society said 5,329 people died using medical aid in the United States from 1998 to 2020. During that time, 8,451 people requested and received a prescription for the medication. About 22% of Americans—74 million people—live in jurisdictions where assisted dying is legal, the study found.
This year, 27 bills were proposed in legislatures to legalize assisted dying in 18 states. This has been common over the years, as similar bills have failed to make it through the legislative process.
In states where physician-assisted dying is legal, safeguards are in place. Generally, a patient must be an adult with a terminal diagnosis and have less than six months to live, confirmed by at least two physicians. The patients must make multiple verbal and written requests and undergo a waiting period, which varies by state. There are also safeguards to prevent coercion and ensure the patient is capable of making decisions independently.
In 2024, 71% of Americans believed doctors should legally be able to end the life of a patient who has an incurable disease if the patient or …
Strong political will exists in Illinois, Delaware and New York to move legislation legalizing assisted dying forward, according to Elizabeth Armijo, national director of legislative advocacy at Compassion & Choices.
In Illinois, a measuresponsored by Sen. Linda Holmes and several other senators proposes safeguards such as dual physician assessments and mandatory counselling sessions for the patient.
“Losing someone you love is tough. Watching someone you love suffer is worse,” Holmes said during a committee hearing as she talked about witnessing her parents struggle with cancer. The bill is awaiting a full hearing in the Senate. The deadline for a third reading is May 23.
In New York, Assemblywoman Amy Paulin and Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal have reintroduced a bill supported by 72% of New Yorkers, a poll by interest groups Death With Dignity and the Completed Life Initiative found, including majorities across political and demographic groups.
“Support has continued to grow among New Yorkers for this compassionate end-of-life option,” Paulin said in a statement, according to City and State New York.
Jonathan Thaler, whose mother died in New Jersey, has been a vocal supporter of the bill, which as of May 16 had passed the Assembly and awaited a vote in New York’s Senate.
“When speaking about her coming death, my mother said, ‘Make sure that we use the right terms. I am not committing suicide; I am using medical aid in dying,’” he said in January. “Mom died peacefully and gracefully, surrounded by her loved ones, after living a full life. Governor Hochul, you have the opportunity to provide a true blessing to the people of New York.”
Dr. Jeremy Boal, former chief clinical officer at Mount Sinai, supports the bill as both a physician and as someone who witnessed medical aid in dying firsthand. “If this law is passed, not one more person will die as a result of its passage. But many fewer will suffer. Of that I am confident. Medical aid in dying is a blessing for all of us,” he said in January.
In Delaware, the medical aid in dying bill passed the House in March and the Senate on April 17. The bill, which allows people who have fewer than six months to live, awaits action by Gov. Matt Meyer. A similar bill passed last year was vetoed by the former governor.
Lawmakers in Massachusetts are also taking another attempt at the legislation; a new rule sets a deadline of June 1 to take a call on the bill.
“Seventy-nine percent of residents support it,” said Melissa Stacy, New England campaign manager for Compassion & Choices. “We have 30 years of data from Washington and Oregon showing that the safeguards work.”
Massachusetts Sen. Jo Comerford, who introduced the bill, said it “offers a compassionate option to allow mentally capable patients with terminal diagnoses to choose a peaceful, humane death with dignity.”
In Tennessee, attempts to legalize medical aid in dying have failed repeatedly. This year, House Democrat Rep. Bob Freeman introduced the Dignity in Death bill, which died in the committee. In Arizona, two Death with Dignity bills were introduced by Democrats but failed to advance to committee hearings. It was the 11th time a similar bill had been introduced since 2003 without any movement.
States are looking to amend existing laws
Washington state Rep. Strom Peterson, a Democrat from Edmonds, introduced legislation to expand access to the state’s Death With Dignity Act by reducing mandatory waiting periods for patients in severe decline.
State law currently allows terminally ill patients to request life-ending medication but stipulates patients must make two verbal requests to die during interviews with physicians, separated by a seven-day waiting period and followed by a written request.
This year’s bill sought to shorten the waiting period in certain cases, providing streamlined access to patients in extreme pain and at risk of soon losing cognitive or physical ability. The bill failed to make it out of committee this year, but Peterson said he plans to introduce it again next year.
His motivation for sponsoring the bill is personal. After witnessing his mother’s smooth experience with New Mexico’s more flexible aid-in-dying laws, Peterson saw the need for changes to Washington’s law.
New Jersey is making similar attempts to remove waiting periods. Advocates argue that existing waiting periods can unnecessarily prolong suffering. Oregon and Vermont are also considering legislation to allow certified physician assistants and nurse practitioners to participate in the assisted-dying process. Supporters say this would enhance accessibility and address physician shortages.
Opposition to the issue
Jessica Rodgers, coalition director at Patients Rights Action Fund, is firmly against medical aid in dying measures. Her personal experience of caring for her terminally ill mother profoundly shaped her advocacy against physician-assisted dying. Chief among her concerns is fear that legalizing assisted death creates a lower standard of care for the terminally ill.
“Instead of coming around them and providing support, states where this is legal have a policy saying, ‘This is a valid reason for you to kill yourself,'” Rodgers said.
The Illinois bill has also faced significant criticism.
“I have a problem with the vulnerable people that we’re putting at risk by allowing active participation in death by allowing doctors and the government essentially to allow who decides who dies and when. I think that’s unacceptable,” Dr. Kevin Garner, a physician from Granite City, said during an Illinois Senate committee hearing.
In Massachusetts, the bill has not passed despite being discussed in the Legislature for 13 years, largely due to lobbying efforts from opposition groups.
“The majority of people choose this option not because of pain but because they feel like a burden on society,” said John Kelly, director of Second Thoughts Massachusetts.
One of the biggest concerns, according to opponents, is that errors could happen while treating terminally ill patients. Anita Cameron, director of minority outreach for a disability rights group that opposes medical aid in dying, narrated the story of misjudgment by the doctor in her mother’s case.
“The doctor told my mom she was going to die very soon, and she was convinced she was dying soon and hence wanted to opt for physician-assisted suicide. However, luckily, she didn’t and lived for 12 years,” Cameron said. “A lot of times such misjudgments happen, and it is very concerning.”
Health care groups weigh in
The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine maintains a neutral stance on the issue but raises concerns about potential impacts on medical integrity. In contrast, organizations such as the American College of Legal Medicine and the American Public Health Association support medical aid in dying, emphasizing the importance of strict safeguards.
Supporters faced a potential setback in Montana, where Senate Bill 136, introduced by Sen. Carl Glimm would have invalidated patient consent as a defense in physician-assisted death cases.
“Physicians should not be helping people commit suicide,” said Sen. Carl Glimm, whose bill would have criminalized the practice. “It endangers the weak and vulnerable. It corrupts the practice of medicine. It compromises the family and betrays human dignity.”
Supporters of the bill said it could help reduce the suicide rate in Montana, which ranked first in the nation in 2022, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control. But opponents fear it will drive suffering patients into silence—or worse, despair.
A lot of opposition is deeply rooted in the belief that improving health care is the solution and not choosing to die.
“Instead of legalizing physician-assisted suicide, the state should work on improving palliative care for terminally ill people,” said John Kelly, New England regional director for the advocacy group Not Dead Yet.
Supporters believe that patients deserve control over their lives. “It’s something that always has to be driven by the patient. The patient initiates that conversation and that discussion,” said Geoff Sugerman, a national policy advisor for Death With Dignity.
Armijo also underscored the deeply personal nature of these decisions: “It’s about having the autonomy to make personal decisions for yourself at the end of life. You’ve made decisions about everything else in your life, and this shouldn’t be any different.”
TheStatehouseFile.com is publishing this article as part of the Statehouse Reporting Project, a collaborative effort by collegiate journalism programs operating in statehouses across the country.
Emma Schwichtenberg from the University of Washington, Natanya Friedheim from the University of Missouri and Erin Bruce from Franklin College contributed to this story.
FOOTNOTE: EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Evansville Otters (20-23) outlasted the Florence Y’alls (17-25) 5-4 in game two of the weekend series at Bosse Field.They are now 6-1 in series at home with two splits against Washington.
Evansville sent out Braden Scott for his ninth start and he didn’t disappoint. He started off strong by striking out the side in the first inning.
Offensively, the Otters exploded in the first at-bat, with a Dennis Pierce leadoff home run that gave Evansville an early lead. That is the second leadoff homer for Pierce this season. Keenan Taylor led off the second with a double, and eventually came around to score after back-to-back sacrifice fly outs, putting Evansville up 2-0.
Scott continued to impress, pitching through the first five innings hitless and facing the minimum. Florence finally managed a hit in the sixth, and parlayed some soft contact into holes to put up three runs in the sixth, giving them a 3-2 lead.
The Otters didn’t wait to respond, as JT Benson unloaded a long home run to lead off the sixth. Facing a new pitcher, LJ Jones earned a walk, and Taylor doubled for the second time in the game. With runners on second and third, Pavin Parks hit a long sacrifice fly and Logan Brown singled to score Taylor to give Evansville a 5-3 lead.
Scott came back out to pitch the seventh and worked a clean inning to finish his outing. He worked his fifth straight quality start pitching seven innings, allowing just three runs and striking out eight.
Nick McAuliffe was called on to pitch the eighth and faced the minimum, setting up Alex Valdez for the ninth. Valdez worked around some traffic but converted his fourth save after an incredible play off the bounce from Parks Bouck en route to a 5-4 Evansville victory.
Benson finished his night perfect from the plate, going 3-3 with a home run, double and a walk.
The Otters are back in action tomorrow night looking for a sweep of Florence with a 5:05 p.m. CT scheduled first pitch, with gates opening at 4:00 p.m.
We often hear the word role model being used. We seem to always think of a favorite athlete or those making lots of money or those highly successful at doing
something. There are lessons throughout the bible of those who have been very good role models and some who would not qualify as such. It is good to have
someone to look up to because of their successes in life, and then there are others, although they may be highly successful, it does not mean they are to be
considered as a role model, especially if what they acquired came at the expense of ungodly or immoral behavior. I have some good news and some bad news
to share. The bad news first and it is this. As long as a person is willing to trust in anyone more that having trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior, be advised your role
model will at some point let you down. There is a difference between having trust in a role model and having trust in “The Role Model.” Mankind’s role model has
many imperfections unlike The Role Model in the person of Jesus Christ, who was God in the flesh while on earth, who has no imperfections. It matters greatly the
people we listen to and follow in life. For those who know Jesus as Lord and Savior we are to model our behavior based on the knowledge of the gospel.
Philippians 2 vss. 5 thru 8 Paul said to the brethren. “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery
to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance
as a man He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” In order to model our behavior for the cause of Jesus
Christ there must be a willingness to follow Him. Jesus says in John 10 vs. 27; “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them and they follow Me.” It cannot be lost in
the messaging relative to the magnitude of the meaning of what Jesus said about His sheep. Vs. 28 Jesus says; “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never
perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”
Indiana’s higher ed reforms must recognize mission differences
MARY JANE MICHALAK
JUNE 29, 2025
As Indiana transforms its higher education landscape and continues to trim budgets, Ivy Tech officials emphasize their unique mission. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle)
Indiana is in the midst of redesigning its public higher education ecosystem. In recent years, state leaders have pursued reforms aimed at making institutions more accountable, efficient, and closely aligned with workforce needs. These efforts respond to a growing and legitimate public concern: is higher education delivering what Indiana and its taxpayers need?
What’s often missing from the conversation, however, is the recognition that not all higher education institutions are built the same — or should be treated the same. Indiana’s two- and four-year institutions serve different missions and student populations. Policy that ignores these differences risks unintended consequences for institutions, the students they serve, and the state’s postsecondary attainment goals.
Consider Ivy Tech Community College, the state’s unified community college system. It fulfills two essential missions: preparing Hoosiers for high-wage, high-demand jobs in current and emerging industries, and offering an affordable, seamless pathway to four-year degrees. Nearly 70 percent of Ivy Tech’s 200,000 students attend part time. About 25 percent care for a dependent, and 40 percent are the first in their families to attend college. More than 90 percent live in Indiana and attend their local campus, and most stay in Indiana after graduation.
As the state’s open-access institution, Ivy Tech is built to meet learners where they are while helping employers address talent shortages. Its mission and student body require a different operating model than other public colleges and universities.
For example, Ivy Tech does not have a tenure system. Most faculty are part-time, on short-term contracts, and often still work in the fields they teach — keeping instruction highly relevant to industry needs. Ivy Tech is also non-residential, with facilities focused on classrooms, labs, and essential student services.
This model limits revenue streams that other institutions rely on. Ivy Tech doesn’t generate income from student housing, dining, or parking. It doesn’t have lucrative athletics programs or collect research royalties that support many public universities.
Keeping to the mission
And, in the face of statewide funding reductions, Ivy Tech has continued to prioritize affordability. In 2023, it introduced a simplified tuition model that eliminated mandatory fees—saving students money but reducing institutional revenue by $5.6 million annually.
When it became clear that textbook costs were a barrier to learning, Ivy Tech used its statewide scale to negotiate better prices. Now, students pay a flat, per-credit-hour fee for required textbooks — helping them plan financially and saving them more than $65 million since the program began. This shift cost Ivy Tech $4 million in annual commission revenue, but it put student success first.
These reforms are producing real results. Nearly half of all credentials awarded by Indiana’s public colleges last year came from Ivy Tech. Since 2016, completions have more than doubled. Over 80% of graduates leave without student loan debt, and more than half earn above the state median wage within three years. These outcomes are not only boosting individual prosperity — they are strengthening Indiana’s workforce and tax base.
Need to get in touch?
Enrollment growth and expanding partnerships further underscore Ivy Tech’s value. Companies like Stellantis and Entek cite the College’s workforce pipeline as a factor in their investment decisions. Looking ahead, Ivy Tech is positioned to help Indiana grow talent in industries like semiconductors, biotechnology, biopharmaceuticals, and clean energy.
As national organizations like the Lumina Foundation call for 70% of Americans to earn a degree or credential beyond high school, institutions like Ivy Tech will be critical to reaching that goal. Especially in a state where many learners are working adults or place-bound, Ivy Tech’s reach and design make it indispensable.
Indiana’s higher education system must evolve, but that evolution must be informed by mission. As state leaders push for results, they must also account for how institutions are structured to deliver them. Treating all colleges the same risks undermining the very progress reforms aim to achieve. Ivy Tech’s model — student-centered, cost-conscious, and workforce-aligned — is not an exception to the system. It is where higher education should be going if we’re to win the future.
(0) COMMENTS