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.”
Mother Charged For Purchasing Firearm Used in Accidental Shooting
Rachel A. Banks (36) has been charged with Dangerous Control of a Firearm, Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, Dealing Marijuana and Reckless Homicide in response to evidence discovered in case number 25-16420. The evidence showed Banks purchase
MARTIN, Tenn. –The University of Evansville women’s soccer team earned their third consecutive shutout on Thursday night, running their unbeaten streak to four with a 0-0 draw at UT Martin.
Purple Aces keeper Allie Lammers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) continued to impress, matching her career-high with four saves to become the first Evansville goalkeeper to record three shutouts in a row since Chaviel Harrison in 2011. Since entering in the second half against Purdue, Lammers has not allowed a goal over 315 minutes of action.
Evansville threatened in the first ten minutes of play, with Taylor Johnson (Evansville, Ind./Reitz) and Ashlyn Koutsos (Cumming, Ga./West Forsyth) putting shots on goal. Brielle LaBerge (Cumming, Ga./Forsyth Central) also contributed a shot on goal in the first half, but the match remained scoreless heading into the halftime intermission.
Following a save by Lammers in the 55th minute, the Aces saw perhaps their best scoring chance of the night in the 59th minute off a corner, but Taylor Wehrer’s (Las Vegas, Nev./Desert Oasis) shot from just in front of the goal was saved by UT Martin keeper Mac Titus.
Brooklyn Robinson (West Haven, Utah/Fremont) added a shot on goal in the 75th minute, followed quickly by a shot on goal by Olivia Mills (London, Ontario/Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School), but Titus held the Aces at bay with a pair of saves.
Lammers kept her clean sheet intact in the final five minutes of the night with a save in the 86th minute to help the Aces leave with a result.
“I thought that this would be a difficult game,” said Head Coach Chris Pfau. “The second half against Austin Peay, I think we hit a wall. We’re good enough and mature enough to get through it now.”
“To get a result when you’re not at your best, to keep a shutout with Allie, who has not been scored on, little things like that are good to take away.”
“It shows the maturity and leadership of this team to not be at your best, be on the road, and grind out a result.”
Both Evansville and UT Martin tallied 13 shots, while the Aces held the advantage in shots on goal at 7-4. 20 different players saw action for the Aces.
With the tie, Evansville moves to 4-1-1 on the season. The Aces will be back in action on Sunday to celebrate Senior Night, hosting Middle Tennessee at Arad McCutchan Stadium. Kick-off is set for 4 PM.
No. 6 Fever to host No. 3 Dream in Game 2 on Sept. 16 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 12, 2025) — Tickets for the Indiana Fever’s lone home game of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs opening round will go on sale at 2 p.m. ET today, Friday, Sept. 12. Fans can purchase tickets for Game 2 of the First Round match-up against the No. 6 Atlanta Dream by visiting FeverBasketball.com.
The Fever will host the Dream at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Tuesday, Sept. 16, the second game of the best-of-three series. Both Game 1 and Game 3 will be hosted by Atlanta at Gateway Center Arena.
The 2025 season was a record-setting one for the Fever, setting new franchise records for wins in a season (24) and road victories (10), paced by a career campaign from veteran Kelsey Mitchell. Mitchell, in her eighth season in Indiana, totaled 890 points on the season – a new franchise single-season high – while averaging 20.2 points per game, the first Fever player to average over 20 points in a season.
Tuesday’s game will mark the Fever’s first home playoff game since 2016.
The winner of the First Round will next face the winner of No. 2 Las Vegas Aces vs. No. 7 Seattle Storm in a best-of-five semifinal series.
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Five Purple Aces recorded kills as the University of Evansville volleyball team outlasted Western Illinois to earn a 3-2 victory on Friday evening inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse. UE dropped its opening contest of the day to UAB in five sets.
Match 2 – UE 3, WIU 2
Brooke Herdes recorded 15 kills while Sabrina Rippled had 13 and Ryan Scheu posted 12 to pace UE to a win over Western Illinois. Chloe Cline and Hinsley Everett registered 11 kills apiece. Lexi Owen led the way with 38 assists while Ainoah Cruz chipped in 27 digs. Ripple added a solo block and six block assists.
Game 1 – WIU 27, UE 25
Western Illinois opened the night with a 3-1 advantage before Evansville took the lead with a 4-0 run. Sabrina Ripple, Brooke Herdes, and Chloe Cline each posted a kill during the stretch. The Leathernecks fought back as they retook the lead on a run that saw them go up 11-8.
Cline and McKenzie Laubach combined on a block that saw the Aces rally to tie the score at 15-15 before WIU regained the lead, going up 19-16. Ainoah Cruz registered an ace to cut into the deficit before a Ryan Scheu kill put UE on top at 21-20. Another kill from Ripple gave UE a 23-22 edge before the Leathernecks responded with a pair to jump back in front. Laubach’s third kill of the match returned the lead to Evansville before a late spurt saw WIU pick up the win.
Game 2 – UE 25, WIU 21
After WIU scored the first point, Evansville stormed back with six in a row. Scheu posted two kills to open the stretch. She added two more kills to her tally to extend the lead to 13-7. Cline recorded a kill to put Evansville up by seven at 18-11 when WIU made its run. Five in a row by the Leathernecks cut the UE lead to just a pair at 18-16. Cline got her squad back on track with a kill before the 11th of the night by Scheu knotted the match at 1-1.
Game 3 – UE 25, WIU 17
Brooke Herdes had consecutive kills to help UE open the third game on a 5-2 run. The Aces continued to hold the lead through the middle portion of the frame when an ace by Kora Ruff pushed the advantage to 14-10. Evansville continued to hold strong, extending the lead to 19-12 on a kill from Cline. The advantage grew to 10 points before the Aces closed out the 25-17 victory.
Game 4 – WIU 25, UE 19
The Leathernecks started the fourth by taking a 4-2 lead before stretching it out to an 11-6 advantage. Helped by a Laubach kill, the Aces scored the next two, however, WIU rebounded to go back up 15-9. Two blocks by Ripple got the charge rolling with Evansville reeling off six in a row to tie the game at 15-15. Lexi Owen posted an ace while Hinsley Everett tied the score with a kill. Just as fast as UE made its run, WIU retook control with five in a row before forcing a fifth set with the 25-19 win.
Game 5 – UE 15, WIU 10
Out of the gate it was the Leathernecks taking the early 4-1 lead. Cline helped her squad grab the lead when back-to-back kills made it a 7-6 game before Everett registered a kill to put UE on top at 10-8. UE held strong from there with a Herdes kill clinching the victory.
Match 1 – UAB 3, UE 2
Trailing 2-0 in the match, Evansville won the third and fourth sets before UAB took the match in five sets. Chloe Cline and Sabrina Ripple tallied nine and eight kills, respectively. Cline notched a pair of solo blocks. Ainoah Cruz finished with a match-high 17 digs while Lexi Owen had 25 assists. With her efforts, Cruz has eclipsed 1,000 digs in her UE career. UAB was led by Jorda Crook’s 21 kills.
Game 1 – UAB 25, UE 11
A strong start to the opening frame saw the Blazers take an 8-4 lead. An ace by Sabrina Ripple cut the deficit in half to make a 10-8 game but UAB countered with four aces in a row to take their largest lead at 15-8. They continued to add to the advantage and would cruise to a 25-11 win to open the match.
Game 2 – UAB 25, UE 17
Another quick start by UAB turn a 3-3 tie into an 11-6 advantage. Evansville battled back as an ace by Ripple was followed by a Hinsley Everett kill that cut the Blazer lead to 16-13. The Aces continued to remain within striking distance, utilizing an error to make it a 20-17 game. A late spurt by UAB saw them score the final five points to take a 2-0 match lead.
Game 3 – UE 25, UAB 23
With the game tied at 4-4, Evansville scored six of the next seven points to open a 10-5 lead. Chloe Cline’s solo block got things going while Everett added an ace. UE continued its strong showing as the Aces pushed the lead to 17-10. Ryan Scheu had two kills and a block during the rally.
The Blazers did not go down without a fight, battling back to tie the game at 20-20 before going up 22-20 during a 6-0 run. Sabrina Ripple took control recording three kills over the next four points to set her team up with a 24-22 edge. Following a point by UAB, Brooke Herdes’ kill sent the match to a fourth set.
Game 4 – UE 25, UAB 22
UAB opened the set on a 5-2 run before UE tied it up at 8-8 before taking a 10-9 lead on an ace by Ainoah Cruz. Carlotta Pascual Centelles added a kill that put her team in front by a 12-9 margin. After the Blazers posted the next three points to tie things up, the Aces immediately answered. Ripple, Herdes, and Everett notched kills that put UE back in front by three.
Once again, UAB did not go down without a fight. Another rally knotted the score at 21-21. Ripple put the Aces back in front with a kill and UE would take the 25-22 win to force a fifth set.
Game 5 – UAB 15, UE 11
An early battled led to a 5-5 tie before UAB took control with four in a row to go up 9-5. Their edge grew to six points at 13-7 when Evansville made one final rally. An ace by Herdes made it a 13-10 game, but the Blazers overcame the stretch to finish with the victory.
UE wraps up the tournament on Saturday with a 3 p.m. match versus Morehead State.
What makes life worth living? The ability to choose. If humans cannot choose what they do, then we are as livestock. When Americans travel to some foreign countries we are often perplexed by the reluctance of many of their citizens to voice their true opinions or openly protest the actions of their governments. One of the greatest values of foreign travel is the appreciation Americans discover of our freedom in America to say what we truly believe without fear.
So, when violence is perpetrated against Americans in America for speaking their minds, it jars our collective psyches. We may not agree with a speaker’s politics, religion, philosophy or choice of sports teams, but our First Amendment gives others the right to their expressions as well as our right to air our opposition. Our 249 years of free speech is why we will likely make it to our 250th birthday.
Our nation has often had to struggle to cling to this most important of democracy’s fundamental rights. We have survived a Civil War, McCarthyism, civil rights battles over gender, age, voting, foreign entanglements and countless other tears in the fabric of our rights to choose and freely express our true opinions.
It may seem the current atmosphere of attempts to silence unwanted different positions is unique. That is not correct. Our fledgling country survived a deadly duel between Alexander Hamilton, the Secretary of the Treasury, and sitting Vice-President, Aaron Burr, on July 11, 1804.
America has a long and varied history of violence against people for their political views. We have struggled through presidents Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, William McKinley and John Kennedy being assassinated. Presidential candidate Robert Kennedy was killed while campaigning and several other presidents and candidates have had assassination attempts made against their lives: George Wallace, Theodore Roosevelt and Donald Trump to name but three.
There have been numerous assassination attempts made against other sitting presidents: Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, and both George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. It is apparent that public service can be dangerous. Also, numerous plots against other American politicians have been both foiled and carried out. Being a public figure in America, especially one with strong views on emotional subjects, seems to bring out the worst in some people who wish to silence free expression.
Of course, in our contemporary society, our national media and others do not hesitate to assert that the most recent violence against someone else’s right to choose is the death knell of our democracy. These pronouncements are often coupled with diatribes against whatever political position is represented as in opposition to the attacked speaker’s political philosophy.
We do and should mourn and regret any violence against a public figure, such as Charlie Kirk, who may have been attacked simply because of his or her strong views, whatever they are. However, to predict our country’s demise based on attempts to quell freedom of expression is not supported by our long history of political violence. Draconian responses to horrific incidents of violence may be themselves quite damaging to our right to choose and, per force, to our democracy.
Families across Evansville continue to feel the squeeze of rising utility bills. This is why I am hosting a town hall to hear your concerns, answer questions and work together toward affordable, reliable utilities for our community.
Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025
6:30 – 7:30 p.m. CST
Potter’s Wheel (333 Jefferson Ave., Evansville, IN 47713)
Your voice matters, so be sure to bring your questions, ideas and experiences to the table. Together, we can find solutions that ease the burden on Evansville families.
Fewer Hoosier students are missing large chunks of school, but chronic absenteeism rates still remain well above pre-pandemic levels, according to new data presented Wednesday to the State Board of Education.
Indiana’s chronic absenteeism rate dropped to 16.7% in the most recent 2024-25 school year — marking the third straight year of improvement.
Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner speaks at a Commission for Higher Education meeting on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, in Indianapolis. (Casey Smith/Indiana Capital Chronicle)
The rate, which measures students missing at least 10% of school days in a single academic year, is down 1.1 percentage points from last year and more than four points since 2022, when it topped 21%.
“The data is clear. Regular student attendance is vital to ensuring more students master foundational literacy and numeracy skills and graduate high school prepared for their next step,” Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner said Wednesday. “Statewide chronic absenteeism rates continue to move in the right direction … but we know there is still more to be done.”
The Indiana Code specifically defines chronic absenteeism as missing at least 10% of instructional days in a school year for any reason, regardless of whether it is excused. That’s equal to about 18 absences per school year. Separately, “habitual truancy” is used to define students who miss 10 or more days without any excuse.
Jenner told board members that many chronically absent students are typically absent for more than a month, however.
“It’s not just that they hit the 18 days — it’s much beyond that,” she said.
John Keller, with the Indiana Department of Education, called the attendance numbers “a good sign” but additionally emphasized that “we have more work to do.”
Broad attendance improvements
Student absences have been on the rise since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Indiana and across the nation. Chronic absenteeism surged during the pandemic, nearly doubling to peak at 21.1% in 2022, according to IDOE.
Rates have declined in recent years, though: 21.1% in 2022; 19.2% in 2023; and 17.8% in 2024.
The latest numbers show that during the 2024-25 academic year, chronic absenteeism fell across all grade levels. Nearly 800 schools reported rates under 10% in 2025 — up from fewer than 700 the year before, according to the new data.
But 78 schools still had more than half their students chronically absent, and rates remained highest among high schoolers.
Nearly one in three Indiana seniors — 31.6% — were chronically absent, compared with 23.1% of juniors and 20.6% of sophomores.
Attendance improved across demographics as well. Absenteeism among Black students dropped by 1.6 percentage points, and by 1.2 points among Hispanic students.
The chronic absenteeism rate for students receiving free or reduced-price meals similarly dropped by 1.7 percentage points. The share of English learners considered chronically absent also fell for the third consecutive year, this time down to 17.8%.
“We’re seeing the improvements … crossing all demographics, all types of students,” Keller said.
But officials said the academic consequences of ongoing chronic absenteeism remain. Keller warned that for some students, the problem compounds.
“There are some students whose absences can actually be measured in months and years, not just in a single school year, and that becomes a big challenge,” Keller continued.
IDOE’s data showed chronically absent third-graders had a 74% IREAD pass rate in 2025, compared to 89% of their peers who attended more regularly. In English and math proficiency, the gaps were more than 20 points.
“When you miss a month of school, that’s going to show up somewhere else, and where it’s showing up is in student outcomes,” Keller said. “Outcomes matter and are impacted, at least correlated to attendance.”
Indiana’s attendance laws
A new law, Senate Enrolled Act 482, took effect July 1 to level set attendance definitions in statute and standardize statewide reporting.
Even so, school districts still largely determine where absences fall within three official categories:
Excused absences include illness with a note, funerals, religious observances, college visits, court appearances, and other reasons permitted by district policy. Schools set their own specific policies but must document these absences with appropriate verification, per IDOE guidelines.
Unexcused absences include skipping school, family vacations not approved in advance, or failing to provide documentation for otherwise excusable reasons. These absences count toward truancy thresholds and may trigger attendance interventions.
Exempt absences are those required or protected by state or federal law and do not count against a student’s attendance record. These include jury duty, election service, military obligations, foster care court proceedings, or serving as a legislative page. House Enrolled Act 1660, passed during the 2025 session, further excuses student absences for participation in educational events organized by Future Farmers of America or 4-H.
If a student is expected to miss at least 20 instructional days in a school year due to a medical condition or injury, Indiana law additionally requires the school to provide instruction — but only if a parent submits documentation from a licensed healthcare provider. Schools use that information to develop an educational plan for the student.
If a student has a documented disability, the team responsible for Individualized Education Programs – IEPs — determines how services should be provided during absences.
State statute requires superintendents or attendance officers to report a student who is habitually absent from school to the local prosecuting attorney. Prosecuting attorneys must then notify parents if an affidavit of habitual truancy is filed with their office.
The new law allows local prosecuting attorneys to hold “intervention meetings” with parents to help improve a student’s attendance before any legal action is taken, but they’re not required to do so.
A parent meeting also isn’t required for students with excused absences, and county prosecutors are not notified about a student’s absence if they are excused.
Until July 1, 2026, K-8 students also can’t be expelled “solely because the student is chronically absent or habitually truant.” After that date, however, students could be removed from school once again if they miss too many days of class.
Join the Southwestern Indiana Historical Society for an engaging lecture with Eilidh MacLeod on Tuesday, September 16 at 6:30 PM in the Browning Gallery at Willard Library.
The Ohio River has long been central to Evansville’s story, but during the New Deal era, sweeping changes reshaped the river and the lives of those who depended on it. In this talk, MacLeod will explore how new policies, projects, and visions for progress transformed the “Elephant River” into something entirely new.
No RSVP required—just come ready to dive into history!
For more info, contact SWIHS at swihs1920@gmail.com
Willard Public Library encourages patrons and visitors to donate graciously to ensure the continuation of events like this for years to come. The WPL’s Foundation is a non-profit organization registered as a 501(c)(3). >> https://www.willardlib.org/donate
Indiana Governor Mike Braun has appointed Dr. Glen Kissel of Evansville to the University of Southern Indiana Board of Trustees for a term beginning September 7, 2025, through June 30, 2026. Kissel fills the remainder of a four-year term previously held by W. Harold Calloway, who retired from the Board earlier this year.
Kissel served for two decades as a faculty member in the Engineering Department at USI. During his tenure, he was responsible for developing the program plan and overseeing the initial accreditation visit for the University’s first named engineering degree, the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He also created USI’s first engineering optics course and laboratory, and as faculty advisor, guided the UNITE [Undergraduate Nano Ionospheric Temperature Explorer] CubeSat project, which launched the first spacecraft in orbit by a public institution in Indiana.
Prior to joining USI, Kissel spent eight years as a technical staff member at Caltech’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where he served as an attitude control engineer for the Galileo spacecraft—the first satellite to orbit Jupiter—as well as on an early concept mission to Pluto.
Kissel earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering (aerospace) from Oklahoma State University and both a master’s degree and doctorate in aeronautics and astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 1990-91, he was a NATO Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Cambridge in England. He also holds a Master of Divinity degree from Fuller Theological Seminary.
The USI Board of Trustees has nine trustees and must include one alumnus of the University, one current student and one resident of Vanderburgh County. Trustee terms are generally four years with exceptions for the filling of vacancies or for the student term, which is two years.
