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.”
EVANSVILLE, IND. (06/26/2025) The University of Evansville (UE) Board of Trustees has announced a leadership transition effective July 1, 2025. Robert G. “Bob” Jones will transition from his role of Chair of the Board of Trustees following four years of exceptional service in this leadership capacity. His four years of service follows the term outlined in the University By-Laws for Board officers. Dr. William L. “Bill” Johnson, a UE alumnus and a distinguished leader in both higher education and the financial services industry, has been elected as the next Chair of the UE Board of Trustees.
Jones, the retired Chairman and CEO of Old National Bancorp, guided the Board through a period of significant progress and transformation. This included the University’s emergence from the COVID-19 pandemic, enhancing Board governance, the launch of new academic programs, championing philanthropic advancements, embracing UE and Evansville community partnerships and guiding investments in campus facilities. His leadership was also pivotal in establishing the UE Mental Health and Wellness Clinic and Emily M. Young Assessment Center in 2023. In recognition of their service and support, both Bob and Lisa Jones were awarded honorary degrees during the University’s 167th Commencement Exercises in May.
Dr. Johnson will assume the role of Chair following years of service as a member of the Board. A 1982 graduate of the University of Evansville, Dr. Johnson is currently a professor of leadership and practice in the College of Leadership and Public Service at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee. He brings to the position nearly four decades of leadership experience spanning higher education, financial services, and public service.
Before transitioning to academia, Dr. Johnson served as president and CEO of Farm Credit Mid-America, a $35 billion financial cooperative serving over 100,000 members across four states. His background includes significant expertise in lending, business operations, risk management, and organizational development.
“Bob Jones has been a remarkable leader for the University of Evansville, steering us through some of the most defining moments in our University’s history,” said UE President Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz. “His steady hand and strategic vision have been invaluable, and we are profoundly grateful for the legacy he and Lisa have built in our University community and in our Evansville community. I am so proud of the work we did together, but nothing makes me more proud than following Bob and Lisa’s passion in addressing mental health for our community by establishing the UE Mental Health Wellness Clinic and the Emily M. Young Assessment Center. Their fingerprints are all over Evansville and this Clinic stands at the pinnacle in my list of incredible accomplishments. As we look to the future, I look forward to continuing our momentum with Dr. Bill Johnson, an accomplished leader, dedicated alumnus, and steadfast advocate for UE. With his leadership extensive experience in higher education and the financial sector, Bill is uniquely positioned to guide our Board and our University, advance our mission, expand our impact, and continue shaping the Changemakers of tomorrow.”
The University of Evansville celebrates Bob Jones’ legacy of leadership and warmly welcomes Dr. Bill Johnson as Chair of the Board of Trustees.
Learn more about the Board of Trustees by clicking here.
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Evansville Otters (19-23) walked off the Florence Y’alls (17-25) 6-5 on Friday night for the series opening win.
The Y’alls got out in front early in the first frame. They were able to score two on a single, but a quick double play to the next batter stopped the bleeding.
The first for Evansville was phenomenal. Dennis Pierce set the tone with a leadoff single. Graham Brown followed that up with an RBI double to immediately answer Florence. An interference call put runners on first and second for JT Benson. On the first pitch of the at bat, Benson sent a ball over the left field wall to jump the Otters in front, 4-2. Later on in the inning, Keenan Taylor continued his scorching hot season with an RBI hit to make it 5-2.
The starter for Evansville, Pavin Parks, settled in after that first inning and worked around a couple of baserunners in the second and third and flashed zeroes on the board.
Florence did score two in the fourth to come within one. With the score at 5-4, the bullpen was able to work well through the next couple of frames.
In the seventh, the Y’alls struck again, scoring on a double to tie the game at 5-5. Despite the score being tied, Evansville pitched well in the back half of the game.
Casey Delgado was called upon in the ninth with the score still tied. He gave up a one-out single but pitched around it, getting the next two batters to fly out.
Alex Valdez then entered in the 10th after Evansville couldn’t score in the ninth. Even with the commissioner’s runners on second, Valdez was locked in. He struck out two batters, including the final out of the inning, to send it to the bottom of the tenth still at 5-5.
In the bottom of the 10th, Ellis Schwartz pinch ran for Pierce to begin the inning at second base as the commissioner’s runner. After a quick groundout, Florence elected to intentionally walk both David Mendham and Benson to load the bases. This brought up LJ Jones, who was celebrating his 26th birthday, in the big moment. He lined a fastball deep to center field and over the head of the center fielder to walk it off.
The Otters bullpen combined for six strikeouts over the final four innings. Meanwhile, the offense got their third walk off win of the season.
The Otters are back in action Saturday night for Jurassic Ballpark Night for the second game of this series at 6:35 p.m.
The Indiana Office of Energy Development is launching the Indiana Energy Saver Program. The program is aimed at providing Hoosiers with utility bill savings while increasing home comfort and energy savings in Indiana.
Hoosiers can apply now through the program’s online portal to begin the eligibility review process. Those eligible will receive a no-cost home energy audit to identify potential improvements. Homeowners, tenants and landlords are encouraged to apply. Audits are expected to begin this summer.
Improvements could include air sealing, insulation and equipment replacements such as space heating and cooling systems and water heaters. The program also includes discounts on eligible products that are installed by qualified contractors. These measures aim to reduce energy consumption and lower costs for Hoosiers.
The Fourth of July has slowly gained prominence in my pantheon of special commemorations. Once all seasons paled next to Christmas with the memories of the autumnal aromas of oyster dressing and pumpkin pie fading away to electric trains and baseball mitts. Easter was okay because school would soon be out and girls in pink dresses with blue satin sashes would dash about exposing their laughter and crinoline. But the Fourth of July brought ice cold pop, firecrackers and roman candle battles. However, as a commemoration it seemed to mean a great deal to my elders, but for me it just presaged a return to a regimen of school that broke into my summer freedom.
I am not sure when the trappings of the Fourth began the metamorphosis into my imperceptible awareness that America and I had already struggled through numerous radical stages and, alarmingly and expectantly, might face many more as a man and a country. I think the true reasons the Fourth deserves its place at the head of commemorations began to seep into my consciousness the first time my large and gentle father took me with him to collect a Metropolitan Life Insurance Company policy monthly premium from a Colored family who lived across Bird Creek in a two-room clapboard house with a front porch held up by blackjack oak saplings.
We drove across the Bird Creek bridge in our family’s 1954 Ford sedan. On the way we stopped at Henry’s Bar-B-Q to buy what Dad called heaven’s own ribs. Dad was called “Mister Metropolitan” by Henry and Dad made sure I called the old Colored man “Mister” too. The two sections of two ribs and two Grapette pops cost about a dollar. Dad had bad heart trouble and Mom would not let him eat those beloved fatback pork ribs unless he sneaked over to Henry’s. They were worth any old heart attack as far as Dad was concerned.
After we savored that hickory smoked ambrosia, we drove about another quarter mile up the dirt road of Colored town to Dad’s customer’s house. He told me to stay in the car but I was already out and on the porch before he got the words out. A skinny Colored woman wearing a yellow flour-bag gingham dress and a denim wash rag as an apron opened the screen door and said, “Lord’a mercy, Mr. Metropolitan, is it premium time again already?” Her eyes were downcast.
Dad said, “Son, run back to the car and get my debit book. I must have made a mistake”. I hustled to the front seat to get Dad’s account book and returned just in time to see him taking his hand from his hip pocket.
Then he gently said, “Alright, boy, we better get back before your mother figures out where we went”. We left and I realized somehow the premium had been paid. I think that was my earliest understanding of what possibilities America afforded. Our family was about like all white families in our little town yet Mom and Dad knew from their own Great Depression Days that in America there is always hope if we all help one another. I like to think that that Black family paid forward some of the money that came from that life insurance policy to help someone else.
It took several more years of living with a slowly changing society of segregated schools, restaurants and churches, but I finally learned what the Fourth of July truly meant in 1964 when I returned from where I was stationed in the United States Air Force to attend Dad’s funeral. Our church had a large sanctuary surrounded on three sides with a balcony. When I walked into the church with Mom and looked up, the balcony was filled with Black people who stood in respect for Mom and Mr. Metropolitan.
Black people had never been allowed in our church, but the woman I saw that day years before with Dad was there with her family as were numerous other Black people from across Bird Creek. Later my sister told me that Black lady had come by our house and asked Mom if Colored folks could attend Mr. Metropolitan’s funeral. Mom had to get Church Board permission which was granted only after Mom threatened to leave the church. Coloreds would be allowed that one time if they sat in the balcony, but that was a sea change many years in the making.
That day was when I knew America had the capacity to atone for past sins, and that was when the Fourth of July became my favorite holiday.
Efficiency Machine: AG legal team saves $12M in first half of 2025 alone
During Attorney General Todd Rokita’s tenure, his office’s Litigation Division has achieved more than $125 million estimated taxpayer savings through successful advocacy on behalf of the state.
“By heading off frivolous, unending legal battles and taking charge of complex settlements – these are just a few ways our office uses efficiency to save hard-earned Hoosier dollars,” Attorney General Rokita said. “We believe in serving with servants’ hearts. That includes taking very seriously our fiduciary responsibility to taxpayers. Keep in mind this is just one division of our office.”
The Litigation Division represents the state and its agencies, officials and employees in state and federal courts. The division, led by Chief Counsel Patricia Orloff Erdmann, has four sections — each with its own practice area.
Here are the types of cases our team fights tirelessly inside the courtroom:
The state’s victory in Gerlach v. Todd Rokita, et al., in which plaintiffs alleged that the state defendants wrongfully withheld interest earnings on unclaimed property in state custody — allegedly violating plaintiffs’ right to just compensation under the Fifth Amendment’s Takings Clause. The court dismissed all claims for damages, attorneys’ fees and just compensation — a decision upheld on appeal. Financial savings for taxpayers exceeded $5 million.
In another case — Williams v. Boley et al. — plaintiffs sued on behalf of an individual who died in an officer-involved shooting. The plaintiff alleged that an Indiana State Trooper wrongfully shot the decedent in an unprovoked attack, but Attorney General Rokita’s team presented evidence showing that the shooting was in self-defense after the decedent pointed a gun at the trooper. Financial savings to taxpayers was approximately $300,000.
The University of Southern Indiana’s Outreach and Engagement’s Corporate Partnerships and Customized Training, along with the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education and the SwISTEM Resource Center, proudly organized and participated in the annual Grow Southwest Indiana Teacher Manufacturing Bootcamp on June 9. This immersive two-week experience connected educators and counselors with local manufacturers and campuses, offering firsthand insight into high-demand career paths and earning potential in modern manufacturing.
“Each year, Outreach and Engagement hosts the Grow Southwest Indiana Teacher Manufacturing Bootcamp participants to showcase our engineering programs and labs, our STEM equipment and resources that teachers can borrow for their schools, and we finish the day with a tour of our state-of-the art Applied Engineering Center and its capabilities,” said Paula Nurrenbern, Director of Corporate Partnerships and Customized Training. “At the end of their two-week bootcamp, teachers share their ‘aha’ moments and how they will incorporate STEM learnings into their respective curriculum to benefit their students. The two-week experience is a great event to expose local educators to the many resources USI has to offer to future students and the type of careers our local manufacturers can offer as well.”
Participants explored the Romain College of Business and the Applied Engineering Center, touring labs and classrooms and attended an informative presentation. The SwISTEM Resource Center also showcased hands-on tools, kits and other resources available for classroom use. This experience helped educators better understand STEM applications in manufacturing, empowering them to guide students toward rewarding post-secondary pathways. Learn more at USI.edu/bootcamp.
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.
VINCENNES, Ind., June 26, 2025 – The Vincennes UniversityPharmacy Technology program continues to earn the confidence of the profession’s most respected accrediting bodies.
The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) have confirmed that VU’s Pharmacy Technology program will continue to be accredited, recognizing it as a model of quality and academic excellence.
This achievement ensures that VU students studying pharmacy technology will enter the field with the assurance that their education meets the highest national standards.
College of Health Sciences and Human Performance Dean Michelle Cummins said, “Our continued accreditation is more than a stamp of approval. It reflects the program’s impact and the real-world readiness of VU Pharmacy Technology graduates. It also speaks volumes about the Pharmacy Technology faculty’s dedication and professionalism and the strength of our curriculum.”
The decision follows a thorough review of a robust progress report submitted by VU. The Pharmacy Technician Accreditation Commission evaluated the program, extending the VU’s Pharmacy Technology accreditation through 2028.
With this unwaning endorsement from two of the pharmacy field’s most respected organizations, VU solidifies its role as a leader in healthcare education.
