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. – The Evansville Otters continue building the 2026 roster with the re-signings of infielder J.J. Cruz, right-handed pitchers Nolan Thebiay and Alex Valdez and catcher Chase Waddell.
J.J. Cruz, a native of Cerritos, CA, returns to Evansville for his third season in 2026. Cruz joined the Otters midseason in 2024 and produced quietly in his 22 games, putting up a .250 average with five RBI. Last year, he emerged as one of Evansville’s strongest bats.
In his 80 games, Cruz collected a .236 average but backed it up with 10 doubles (T-6th on team), 11 home runs & 50 RBI (4th on team in both). Cruz had two multi-homer games in 2025, collecting a trio of round-trippers in Schaumburg on July 4 and putting up two in Mississippi on August 13.
Cruz played his college ball at Cal State Fullerton from 2020 to 2022 before transferring to Hope International for his final two seasons of college ball.
Nolan Thebiay, the right-handed pitcher who hails from Wilsonville, OR, is back for a second season in Evansville in 2026. In his debut professional season, Thebiay became one of Max Peterson’s go-to relievers in the bullpen, putting up the second most innings pitched out of the bullpen. Across 34 games in 2025, he put up a 2.89 ERA across 43.2 innings of work, with 48 strikeouts (3rd best among Otters relievers) to just 19 walks.
Thebiay played collegiately at Montana State-Billings for a pair of seasons before transferring to Jessup University for his final two years of college ball in 2024 and 2025.
Alex Valdez, from Las Matas de Farfan, Dominican Republic, joins the four signees from last week for a total of five Dominicans on the 2026 roster. Valdez was acquired by Evansville in 2024 in a trade with the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Association. In his 12 games with Evansville in 2024, he posted a 1.26 ERA in 14.1 innings.
Valdez saw his workload increase dramatically in 2025, serving as one of the primary back-end bullpen pieces. He saw action in 39 games and pitched a 3.40 ERA in 45.0 innings. He collected 52 strikeouts (2nd best among Otters relievers) to just 16 walks and had a team-high six saves.
Chase Waddell is primed and ready for his first full season of professional baseball. After signing with the Otters on August 25, he only made appearances in four games but hit for a .267 batting average. Waddell played collegiately at Barton College in Wilson, NC, just a few minutes from his hometown of Lucama.
In four seasons of college ball, Waddell had a .322 batting average with 136 RBI in 172 games. He averaged over a hit per game in his college career, collecting almost 200 total hits. Waddell has solid plate vision, finishing his college career with 31 walks to just 20 strikeouts in his senior year.
The Otters will continue to reveal signings for the upcoming 2026 season over the next few weeks. Season tickets and group offerings are available now for the 2026 season. Single game tickets will go on sale in February.
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball hits the road for a pair of Ohio Valley Conference games this week, visiting Tennessee Tech Thursday and Tennessee State Saturday. Tipoff Thursday at TTU is slated for 7:30 p.m., while the start time Saturday is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Both games are scheduled to be streamed on ESPN+. All USI games are aired live on ESPN 97.7FM and The Spin 95.7FM. The Screaming Eagles (3-13, 0-6 OVC) hope to right the ship on the road after falling twice at Liberty Arena last week. USI, which has lost its last eight, was stopped by Southeast Missouri State, 84-76, and UT Martin, 73-56. Senior guard Ismail Habiband junior guard Amaree Brown led the way with 16 points per game each. For the season, Habib has been posting 16.5 points per game to lead USI in scoring. Senior guard Cardell Bailey is second on the team in scoring with 14.1 points per contest this season and is averaging 16.1 points per outing in the last nine games. Brown, who made his 2025-26 USI debut last week, had 15 points against SEMO and 17 versus UTM. TTU (7-10, 2-4 OVC) snapped a four-game losing streak with a 59-54 win at Western Illinois after starting the week with a 71-61 loss to Eastern Illinois. The Golden Eagles hold a 5-1 lead in the all-time series with USI after taking both meetings last year. TSU (10-6, 4-2 OVC), which hosts Morehead State Thursday before hosting USI, has won five of its last seven games after defeating Western Illinois, 90-68, and losing to Eastern Illinois, 74-70. USI leads the all-time series with TSU, 6-5, after splitting last year with each team winning on its home court. Following this week’s road games, the Eagles are back in Liberty Arena for a four-game homestand versus Eastern Illinois January 22; Western Illinois January 24; Lindenwood January 29; and SIUE January 31 (Homecoming).
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Leif Moeller and Bryce Quinet set their career scoring highs on Tuesday as the University of Evansville men’s basketball team fell to Bradley in a thrilling overtime game by a final score of 94-90 inside the Ford Center.
Moeller finished the night with a career-best 26 points. He was 8-of-17 from the field while hitting three triples and seven free throws. The freshman added six assists and two steals. His point tally was the highest for a UE player this season. Quinet added 20 points, eclipsing his previous high of 15, which was set against Oregon State. AJ Casey scored 13 points while Alex Hemenway had 11 and Josh Hughes recorded 10.
“I will never question the heart and fight of our team. We did a good job of punching Bradley in the mouth in the first half but knew they would fight back like any good team would,” UE head coach David Ragland said. “It was a game of runs in the second half and both teams battled. There are a few things we need to clean up but we kept responding and never gave up.”
Bradley recorded the opening four points of the evening while Leif Moeller got the Purple Aces on the board in the ensuing possession. Following another BU basket, Moeller connected from downtown to make it a 6-5 game. With Bradley holding an 8-5 lead, UE made its first run of the game. Converting five consecutive field goals, Evansville took its first lead of the night and pushed the advantage to 15-8.
Moeller got things rolling with a dunk before Bryce Quinet hit a pair of jumpers. Following another basket by Moeller, Trent Hundley’s long jumper capped the run with exactly 14 minutes on the clock. While UE made its run, the Braves missed six field goals in a row. Two minutes later, after the Braves closed to 17-13, the Aces had another strong stretch.
Scoring eight in a row, UE took its first double figure lead at 25-13 nearing the midway point of the period. Trent Hundley was fouled on a 3-point try and connected on all three attempts. He struck again on the next trip down the floor with his first triple of the game before Quinet finished the run with a jumper. With 8:01 remaining in the half, UE took its largest lead of 13 points and held the same advantage with at the 4:13 mark.
That is when Bradley shot its way back into the game. Trailing 33-20, the Braves reeled off nine in a row to cut the deficit to just four entering the final two minutes. Their defense held Evansville to four consecutive misses along with forcing three turnovers to chop into the deficit. Alex Hemenway knocked down a 3-pointer in the final minutes to send the Aces into the break with a 36-29 advantage. Quinet and Moeller had 10 points apiece in the period.
Picking up right where he left off to complete the first half, Hemenway hit his second triple to push the lead back to ten points. Bradley answered with seven in a row to get back within one possession for the first time since the early moments of the first half. After a layup from AJ Casey gave the Aces a 43-38 lead, Bradley stormed back once again with seven in a row to jump in front at 45-34 with 14:11 remaining.
Triples by Josh Hughes and Moeller put Evansville back in front at 51-48 and the squads would battle to a 56-56 score with 10:30 left in the game. Connecting on three field goals in a row, the Braves took their largest advantage at 62-56 until a Quinet free throw ended the run inside the 9-minute mark.
Evansville made its way back as a triple by Quinet and free throw from Casey made it a 62-61 game two minutes later. Bradley continued to hold the lead until 3:33 remaining when a 3-point play by Josh Hughes knotted the score at 70-70. After the Braves retook the lead on a layup, Casey drained a triple that put the Aces in front. The teams swapped the four times in the final moments until a pair of Casey free throws tied the game at 79-79. Bradley had a final chance in the final seconds but a shotclock violation gave UE the ball with 0.9 remaining. A final attempt fell short to send the game to overtime.
Bradley scored the opening six points of the extra period before Moeller brought his team back. After making a free throw, Moeller hit a triple to cut the deficit to a pair. Following a pair of missed free throws by BU, Moeller hit a layup to tie the game at 85-85 with 2:44 remaining in the extra session.
Seconds later, AJ Casey’s dunk put UE in front at 87-85 while the Braves quickly tied the score before taking a 4-point lead with 19 ticks remaining. Alex Hemenway knocked down another 3-pointer to get the Aces within one and the Braves would be fouled on their next trip down the floor. After making the first, they missed the second, however, Jaquan Johnson grabbed the offensive board and was fouled. He made both free throw tries to finalize the 94-90 victory.
Johnson led all players with 35 points for the Braves. His total tied him for the most points scored by a visiting player in Ford Center history. Robbie Avila and Cooper Neese, both of Indiana State, also accomplished the feat.
UE shot 50% from the field for the third game in a row finishing at 50.9% while the Braves shot an even 50.0%. Both squads finished with 35 rebounds. The Aces are back on the road at UIC on January 20.
For over two decades, the City-County Observer has been a recognizable and trusted name in local digital journalism. Built during a time when community-focused reporting mattered most, the Observer established itself as a platform for government transparency, civic dialogue, and independent reporting. Today, it presents a rare opportunity: the chance to acquire a legacy online newspaper with an established brand, existing readership, and significant growth potential.
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For the right buyer, the City-County Observer is more than a website—it is a foundation. One that can be revitalized, expanded, and positioned for long-term success in the future of local media.
Gov. Mike Braun’s Jan. 14 State of the State Address
INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Governor Mike Braun will deliver his 2026 State of the State address on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, to a joint session of the Indiana General Assembly in the Indiana House of Representatives chamber. The address will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET and is expected to fit in a 30-minute window.
Information for television stations to access the pool coverage:Galaxy 16 Ku Digital
Orbital Slot: 99 Degrees WL
Transponder 21 – Slot A
Uplink Freq: 14406.5 (V) (Only needed for the uplink engineer)
Downlink Freq: 12106.5 (H)
Polarity: H
Bandwidth: 9 Mhz
Time: Test 19:00-19:30
Broadcast 19:30-20:00 with a 15 min approx.
Modulation: 8PSK DVBS2
Ratio: 4.2.0 MPEG 4
FEC 2/3
Data Rate: 13.864454
Symbol Rate: 7
Bandwidth: 9 Mhz
Please note: There will be a 60-sec open at 7:30pm. This will not be visible on the satellite feed, BUT IT WILL BE AUDIBLE. Please plan accordingly.
Network Indiana radio affiliates can access coverage via their XDS Receiver, and it is now available for scheduling. Non-Network Indiana affiliates or Network Indiana radio affiliates without an XDS receiver that want to broadcast the address can receive audio of the radio pool feed via internet stream HERE. The feed will go up at 7:30 p.m. For questions, contact Network Indiana Support at nisupport@radio-one.com.
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The House Public Policy Committee endorsed a bill on Tuesday allowing online lottery sales, a move sought for years by state lottery officials as a way to boost revenues.
Another proposal under discussion by the committee would prohibit so-called online “sweepstakes” games where players can win money from simulated casino games.
Hoosier Lottery’s online push
Illinois, Kentucky and Michigan are among 18 states currently with online lottery sales, said Jared Bond, the Hoosier Lottery’s external affairs director.
“When the Hoosier Lottery was created in 1989 … there was really only one way to buy a lottery ticket,” Bond said. “You walked into a retailer with cash, but today Hoosiers utilize their mobile devices for all kinds of different things, like banking and to shop.”
Online lottery sales likely wouldn’t start until the summer of 2027 as lottery officials hire the needed vendors and set up measures to confirm app users are at least 18 years and are within the state lines when making purchases.
Committee members voted 9-3 to advance House Bill 1078 to the full House for consideration, as some members objected to the bill not including provisions allowing the state’s casinos to offer online games.
Screenshot of Kentucky Lottery eInstant games.
The committee last year endorsed a bill for both online lottery and casino games, but it didn’t reach the full House for a vote amid concerns that internet gambling would draw business away from physical casinos and risk greater gambling addiction.
“I strongly feel that i-gaming and i-lottery should be hand in hand, and we’re picking winners and losers,” said Rep. Cory Criswell, R-Middletown. “I don’t think that’s the way it should work.”
An analysis prepared by the Legislative Services Agency projects that online sales would boost the Hoosier Lottery’s revenues by between $314 million and $629 million in the third year. That would increase the lottery’s annual profits — $340 million for fiscal year 2025 — by between $31 million and $94 million in the third year.
The lottery’s sales have been flat at around $1.7 billion for the past five years.
Lisa Hutcheson, the vice president for prevention and policy at Mental Health America of Indiana, warned committee members about rising gambling addiction among young men with the proliferation of sports wagering.
Hutcheson said online gambling such as i-lottery “removes many of the physical safeguards that exist in brick-and-mortar facilities.”
“Online gambling heightens those risks through constant access, targeted advertising, secrecy and the perception of quick financial gain,” she said.
If given approval for online sales, the Hoosier Lottery could sell tickets for instant games and jackpot drawings such as Powerball and MegaMillions via the internet and host online instant games on its website.
“Sweepstakes” ban considered
A separate proposal under discussion would prohibit any online “sweepstakes” game that “simulates casino-style gaming, including slot machines, video poker, table games, lottery games, bingo, and sports wagering.”
Such games are not specifically covered by Indiana law, so the state Gaming Commission doesn’t have authority to set rules or monitor them, said Natalie Huffman, the commission’s general counsel.
Other than sports wagering, Indiana’s 13 state-regulated casinos are not allowed to offer online gambling.
The sweepstakes games, however, have gained an estimated 200,000 players in Indiana, said Sean Ostrow of the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance, an industry lobbying group.
Rep. Ethan Manning, R-Logansport, speaks during a 2025 House session. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle)
Rep. Ethan Manning, chair of the Public Policy Committee, said he supported legalizing i-gaming by the casinos but is sponsoring House Bill 1052 that includes the ban on sweepstakes games.
“People are going to sweeps because that’s what’s available right now, even though it’s a black or gray market, depending on your perspective,” said Manning, R-Logansport. “But if i-gaming were legal here … there wouldn’t be much market for the sweeps casinos.”
Huffman said eight states had banned such games and that Indiana was among nine states currently considering doing so.
Representatives of companies providing sweepstakes games told the committee that no states were regulating the games so far.
They said they were open to discussions about state oversight and taxation, arguing that a ban would push out responsible companies that try to ensure only those older than 21 play the games and work to prevent fraud and money laundering activities.
“If this bill passes and legitimate companies like us are forced to exit, consumer demand will still remain and our players will simply drift to those offshore sites that have no compunction about operating illegally, allowing minors to participate and not paying out legitimate prizes,” said Dan Marks, chief financial office of Miami-based ARB Interactive.
The committee did not vote on the bill Tuesday, with Manning saying he expected to bring it back for further action in the next couple of weeks.
FRENCH LICK, Indiana — Another historic building at French Lick Resort is coming back to life in a modern-day revival.
The Billiard and Bowling Pavilion — located just a short walk from West Baden Springs Hotel in the hotel gardens — is opening its doors to guests for the first time in more than 90 years. With six bowling lanes along with pool tables and a new pizzeria, French Lick Resort’s newest attraction opens Tuesday, January 13. A grand reopening ceremony will be held at a later date.
This is the only building on French Lick Resort grounds that had not undergone a modern
renovation — until now. The original Billiard and Bowling Pavilion opened Christmas Day of 1917, and guests came here for fun and games until the nearby West Baden Springs Hotel closed its doors to guests in the early 1930s following the Great Depression. This refurbished recreation hall is now open to guests of all French Lick Resort hotels, as well as the public.
“To bring back another building that had not been in service for almost a century is a real treat we’re excited to offer our guests,” said Chuck Franz, CEO of French Lick Resort. “And, we’re bringing it back pretty close to what it was like 100 years ago with six lanes for bowling and the billiard tables in the front section of the building. Just like the restoration of the West Baden Springs Hotel dome, we relied on historical pictures to bring it back to the life that it had more than a century ago. We wanted to keep it as historically accurate as possible.”
Lighting fixtures that hang from the ceiling above the lanes closely mimic those of the original pavilion. Another original feature is the pair of limestone Tuscan columns, which separate the bowling portion of the building from the billiard area. All the windows on the sides of the building were kept to fill the interior with natural light.
Renovating this structure has been years in the making.
Before any work was done inside, a flood control system was added with pumps to steer away excessive water and gates to protect the building. The interior had been neglected for possibly more than 50 years since the days when Northwood Institute, a private college, inhabited the property prior to the renovation of West Baden Springs Hotel in the mid-2000s.
The east wing of the pavilion had been torn down at some point in history, but that section of the building has been rebuilt and now houses the new Sprudel’s Pizzeria, which will serve up a variety of artisan pizzas, sandwiches and salads plus Prohibition-era specialty cocktails. With bowling and billiards open until 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and midnight on Friday and Saturday, Franz foresees this as the resort’s newest late-night hangout.
“When our nighttime events close over at West Baden Springs Hotel, guests can venture over to the Billiard and Bowling Pavilion and continue their evening later into the night,” he said.
Additionally, the Billiard and Bowling Pavilion can be booked for group functions for those wanting indoor recreation plus outdoor use with terrific views.
“We’ve tailored the exterior of the Billiard and Bowling Pavilion for group activities, so that on beautiful fall, spring or summer days, guests can move outdoors and enjoy great views of the hotel and gardens,” Franz said.
New Home Repair & Care program will help eligible customers sustainably reduce heating and cooling use
New effort backed by CenterPoint Energy Foundation’s $5 million Community Energy Improvement Fund
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Jan. 13, 2026 –The CenterPoint Energy Foundation today announced its collaboration with Community One, a local nonprofit, and the launch of the Home Repair & Care program. Backed by the Foundation’s previously announced $5 million Community Energy Improvement Fund, the program will help eligible homeowners in southwestern Indiana make home repairs and energy efficiency improvements that help reduce energy waste and save money over time.
Home Repair & Care focuses on addressing underlying home repair issues that can drive higher heating and cooling energy use and make efficiency upgrades difficult or ineffective.
“This program continues our focus on affordability initiatives. Through our new Home Repair & Care program, we will help families and homeowners take important steps to reduce energy waste and save money on future bills through reduced consumption,” said Mike Roeder, President of CenterPoint Indiana.
“Community One has a long history of working alongside neighbors to restore homes and revitalize neighborhoods. Through the CenterPoint Energy Foundation’s Home Repair & Care, we’re glad to expand that work so more homeowners can tackle major repair needs and keep their homes safer, more stable and more energy efficient,” said Jessica Welcher, Executive Director of Community One.
Home Repair & Care program details
The new program will help eligible homeowners make critical repairs to help reduce energy waste and improve efficiency, including:
· Repairing or replacing roofs, windows, exterior doors and siding;
· Repairing or replacing heating and cooling units and water heaters; and
· Providing insulation and other building “envelope” improvements.
By addressing major repair needs that contribute to heating and cooling loss, the program helps homes use energy more efficiently during periods of extreme heat and cold, when energy use and bills are often highest.
Reaching households that often fall between existing programs
Home Repair & Care is designed to support homeowners who often fall between existing energy efficiency and assistance programs. Customers who meet income guidelines can already receive no-cost efficiency upgrades and weatherization services through existing programs. Home Repair & Care is intended for homeowners whose incomes are above those limits but who still face large, one-time repair costs that remain a barrier to safer, more efficient homes and lower energy use. For example, a family of four earning between $64,301 and $128,600 may qualify for Home Care & Repair.
Working with Community One, the initiative will focus on homeowners who own their home as a primary residence within CenterPoint’s southwestern Indiana service area. The program is not an emergency repair service and will prioritize projects that deliver long-term improvements in safety, comfort and energy performance. After repairs are completed, participating homeowners can be referred into CenterPoint’s existing energy efficiency offerings, such as Home Energy Assessments and rebates for high-efficiency equipment, to support additional energy savings and comfort over the long term.
How to learn more and apply
Program details, including eligibility information and how to apply, are available at homerepairandcare.org.
Home Repair & Care is the first initiative to launch under the Community Energy Improvement Fund. The CenterPoint Energy Foundation will continue to identify opportunities to support customers and southwestern Indiana communities and share more information as future phases of the Fund move forward.
Commitment to the community: series of affordability actions
The launch of the new Home Repair & Care program is another milestone in CenterPoint’s recent Community Affordability Actions, and follows feedback gathered from initial round of Community Connect events in Evansville, Mount Vernon, Newburgh and Rockport. As part of its affordability actions, CenterPoint has also submitted an enhanced 2025 Integrated Resource Plan to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission that limits near-term rate impacts, uses existing and previously approved generation resources to reduce bill impacts, defers certain higher-cost projects, while also taking steps to support future economic growth as well as prioritizing customer affordability.
