BREAKING NEWS: Bally’s Remains Open After Car Drives Off Bally’s Parking Garage

11/26/2024

Updated November 25, 2024 at 7:30 PM

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.”

Aces Begin Iowa Trip Friday at Drake

01/23/2026

0

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville women’s basketball team treks to Iowa this weekend for a pair of conference games, beginning on Friday at Drake. Tip-off from Des Moines is set for 6 PM.

Series History
– Friday marks the 57th meeting between Evansville and Drake
– Drake leads the series 42-14
– Evansville is looking for their first win in Des Moines since 2014

Runner Does it All
– On Sunday at Indiana State, Camryn Runner matched her career-high with 30 points
– The performance was Evansville’s 21st 30-point game in program history
– Against the Sycamores, Runner also became the second player in the country to tally 30 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, and two blocks in a game this season
– Entering the weekend, Runner is the only player mid-major player in the country and one of six players nationally to average 17 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game

Leveling Up
– At Indiana State, freshman Sydney Huber notched a new career-high with 18 points, sinking four three-pointers
– All 18 of Huber’s points came in the second half
– This season, the sharpshooter has connected on 31 three-pointers (7th in MVC) and scored 7.2 ppg
– In conference play, Huber has upped her scoring to 9.9 ppg

Eagles down Panthers for fifth win in a row

01/23/2026

0

USI takes streak into Friday’s new game date against Western Illinois

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball opened its season-long four-game homestand inside Liberty Arena on Thursday night with a 73-57 victory against Eastern Illinois University for the Screaming Eagles’ fifth consecutive overall win and eight straight win at home.

Following Thursday’s triumph and a loss by Western Illinois University earlier in the evening at Morehead State University, USI Women’s Basketball (14-4, 8-1 OVC) moved into sole possession of first place.

In Thursday’s win, junior forward Chloe Gannon dropped a game-high 21 points, one off her career-best 22 points from earlier this season. Gannon was 9-17 from the floor and added six rebounds. Senior guard Ali Saunders tallied 14 points with four boards and seven assists. Junior guard Sophia Loden recorded 12 points with five rebounds.

Collectively, USI shot for over 43 percent (30-69) overall with four triples and went 9-17 at the foul line. The Screaming Eagles had a season-low seven turnovers while forcing 21 EIU turnovers on the defensive end, including 12 takeaways by the USI defense. The Eagles outscored the Panthers 46-20 in the paint.

Eastern Illinois, which had two players finished in double figures, was just over 40 percent shooting from the floor (22-54), had five three-pointers, and went 8-10 at the charity stripe. The Panthers matched the Eagles with 37 rebounds.

Following a defensive start to the contest with nearly four scoreless minutes, Saunders got USI on the scoreboard first. Saunders scored twice more over the next couple of minutes to push USI to an 8-2 advantage just past the five-minute mark of the opening quarter. With 2:15 left in the first period, Saunders drained a three-pointer followed by a layup by junior guard Shannon Blacher to give the Screaming Eagles a 15-7 lead through the first 10 minutes.

Sophomore guard Lexi Sepulveda came off the bench and scored a pair of buckets for a spark in the early minutes of the second quarter. By the halfway point of the second, USI claimed a nine-point lead, 25-16. A minute later, the Eagles’ lead reached double figures, 27-16, on an inside look by Gannon. Gannon tacked on another bucket with two minutes left in the first half. USI ended up taking a 33-22 lead into halftime.

Gannon started the second half where she left off at the end of the first half, connecting on a jumper to reach double digits for the game. Eastern Illinois tried to bring the deficit back to within single digits, but Blacher answered twice to keep USI ahead by more than 10 points. Thanks to another made basket by Gannon, the Screaming Eagles led 44-32 at the midway point of the third quarter. While Eastern Illinois cut back to within seven, USI responded as Gannon kept rolling offensively and a late make by Loden gave USI a 53-41 lead through three quarters of play.

Loden picked up where she left off at the end of third, scoring eight straight points within the first 1:15 of the fourth period to increase USI’s lead to 20, 61-41, and joining Gannon in double figures. A few minutes later, Saunders went into takeover mode with a three-point play and then scoring another layup to also hit double digits for the contest. Gannon reached the 20-point threshold just past the five-minute mark of the fourth, as the Eagles led 68-51. The final exclamation point in Thursday’s win came when freshman forward Alli Robertson drained a straightaway three in the final minute.

The Screaming Eagles are back in action inside Liberty Arena on Friday at 5 p.m. when USI hosts Western Illinois University. The game was pushed up from Saturday to Friday due to inclement winter weather in the forecast on Saturday. Friday’s game, featuring a battle of the top two teams in the Ohio Valley Conference standings, can exclusively be seen with a subscription to ESPN+ and heard on The Spin 95.7 FM and WREF 97.7 FM.

USI loses overtime battle with EIU, 59-51

01/23/2026

0

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball lost an overtime battle with Eastern Illinois University, 59-51, Thursday evening at Liberty Arena. The Screaming Eagles go to 4-14 overall and 1-7 in the OVC, while the Panthers are 8-11, 4-4 OVC.

USI senior guard Ismail Habib hit a three-pointer and junior forward Tolu Samuels posted a layup to get the Screaming Eagles a 5-0 lead to start the game. The Eagles would extend the lead to seven, 11-4, with 12:26 left in the half.

After hitting an offensive drought for five minutes, USI junior guard Amaree Brown added four free throws on back-to-back trips to push the lead to eight, 15-7. The Eagles would go on to extend the margin to 10 points, 24-14, on a driving layup by senior forward Ola Ajiboye.

The Panther, however, would chip away at the USI lead and close to within three at the intermission, 27-24.

EIU would start the second half by knotting the score 29-29 in the first three minutes of the second half. USI would re-extend the margin to five points twice before the Panthers muscled their way back into a tie, 39-39, with 10:20 left.

After USI regained the advantage, 41-39, on a driving layup by Habib, EIU scored five unanswered to take its first lead of the game, 44-41. Senior guard Steven Clay put the Eagles back into a tie, 44-44, on a three-pointer, while Samuels gave the Eagles back the lead, 46-44, on a dunk with 4:11 to play.

The Panthers would outscore the Eagles in the final four minutes, 6-4, and force overtime. USI had the ball with 13 seconds to play but was not able to convert before the final buzzer in regulation.

In overtime, USI got the initial lead, 51-50, on a free throw by Brown before EIU took command to win the overtime 9-1 and the game, 59-51.

Brown and Habib led the Eagles in scoring with 17 points and 12 points, respectively. Samuels recorded his seventh double-digit game on the boards with a game-high 11 rebounds.

THUNDERBOLTS ANNOUNCE TIME CHANGE FOR THIS SATURDAY’S GAME

01/23/2026

0

Evansville, In.: Due to the heightened risk of inclement winter weather, the opening face-off for this Saturday’s game at Ford Center between the Evansville Thunderbolts and Quad City Storm has been moved up from 7:00pm to 3:00pm CT. Opening face-off for this Friday’s home game against the Birmingham Bulls remains unchanged at a 7:00pm CT opening face-off.

The Ford Center Box Office will now open at Noon on Saturday. The jersey auction for this Saturday’s game-worn Star Wars jerseys will be moved online via DASH, instead of in-person. The auction will run from Friday, January 23rd at 8:00 am CT to Monday, January 26th at 6:00 pm CT, through the following link: https://bit.ly/4bN8yWv .

Opportunity to Acquire a Legacy Online News Publication: City-County Observer

01/23/2026

0

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.

A Recognized Name with Community Credibility

The City-County Observer is not a startup—it is a known entity. The name carries weight in the community, particularly among readers who value local government coverage, public accountability, and independent commentary. In an era when local journalism is disappearing, this publication represents something increasingly rare: brand recognition tied to civic trust.

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.

If interested, please contact citycountyobserver@live.com, or 8127748012

Evansville Rescue Mission Prepares for Severe Winter Weather

01/23/2026

0

Evansville, IN — [1/22/2026] — As a significant winter storm is expected to impact the region this weekend, the Evansville Rescue Mission (ERM) is taking proactive steps to ensure the safety and well-being of our most vulnerable friends and neighbors. ERM will activate its White Flag status that will operate as a warming center; providing a safe, warm place for individuals seeking shelter from extreme cold conditions. The ERM’s atrium will be open, and ERM will continue to offer three meals each day throughout the duration of the storm. Overnight shelter at this facility will remain available for men only.

“No one should have to face dangerous winter weather alone, ” said Tracy Gorman |President/CEO. “Our goal during times like this is simple: remove as many barriers as possible and make sure people know they have a warm, welcoming place to go.”

Anyone who is hungry, cold, or in need of a safe place to stay warm is encouraged to come to the Evansville Rescue Mission. These measures are being taken to ensure that individuals experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity have access to essential resources during extreme weather.

Those who wish to support these efforts can make a secure online donation on our website or mail a check to the Evansville Rescue Mission at 1400 Professional Blvd. Community support plays a vital role in helping ERM meet increased needs during severe weather events.

The Evansville Rescue Mission urges community members to check on neighbors, especially those who may be elderly or vulnerable, and to share this information with anyone who may need it.

For more information about ERM’s services or how to help, please visit evansvillerescuemission.org or contact [812] 421 – 3800.

CenterPoint Energy launches TimeWise pilot to help southwestern Indiana customers manage energy costs

01/23/2026

0

New voluntary program gives residential electric customers tools to save by shifting energy use to lower-cost hours

500 customers to be selected for two-year pilot

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Jan. 22, 2026 – CenterPoint Energy today announced the launch of TimeWise, a new voluntary pilot program that offers residential electric customers in southwestern Indiana a pricing option designed to help them save money by using energy during lower-cost hours. The program, approved by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission as the Critical Peak Pilot, will begin enrolling customers starting this month as part of CenterPoint’s ongoing effort to provide customers with additional tools and programs to help manage their energy costs.

“We know affordability is top of mind for our customers, and TimeWise is another new tool that provides participating households with a new way to manage their energy costs by making informed decisions about when they use electricity,” said Mike Roeder, President of CenterPoint Energy Indiana. “This pilot reflects the feedback we’ve heard from customers and stakeholders. We look forward to identifying how programs like this can further support affordability and reliability across southwestern Indiana and hope to expand the option to all residential customers should the pilot prove to be successful.”

How TimeWise works

With TimeWise, energy costs decrease when demand is lower. During the summer months of June through September, participants will pay lower rates during off peak hours:

· Weekday mornings before 1 p.m.

· Weekday evenings after 7 p.m.

· Any time on weekends

Rates are higher on summer weekday afternoons between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. when demand for electricity is greatest. By shifting daily household activities, such as washing dishes or clothes, to lower cost time periods, customers will have the opportunity to save money while actively supporting grid reliability.

TimeWise participants will also be called to reduce usage throughout the year during times of critical need. TimeWise participants will receive advance notice through their preferred method of communication before a “critical peak” event. At least one day before a critical peak event, customers will receive an email, text alert or both so they can plan ahead. Rates are significantly higher during these separate four-hour events, giving customers an added reason to shift their usage any time throughout the year to free capacity on the grid for reliability.

Pilot program details

Up to 500 residential electric customers will be randomly selected from those who apply for the TimeWise pilot. Key details include:

· $75 account credit: Participants will receive a one-time credit after participating in at least one critical peak event, with the potential to save more by shifting energy use to lower-cost hours.

· Program launch: TimeWise officially launches in spring 2026.

· Duration: The pilot is expected to run for up to two years, during which CenterPoint will evaluate customer experiences to inform potential future offerings.

TimeWise builds on CenterPoint’s Community Affordability Actions, a series of initiatives announced in late 2025 focused on supporting customers by keeping base rates at or below the rate of inflation through 2027 and providing tools and resources to manage energy costs.

For more information about TimeWise, including eligibility requirements, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/TimeWise.

National Radon Action Month

01/23/2026

0

January is National Radon Action Month, and the Vanderburgh County Health Department is partnering with Popham Construction to help keep our community informed and safe.

Radon is an invisible, odorless and radioactive gas that can build up in homes and businesses. This gas is naturally occurring and can enter buildings from the soil around a home or business. Radon is a leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, and the EPA estimates radon causes 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the United States each year. The best and only way to know if a home or business has high levels of radon is to test.

The Health Department is sponsoring four events to allow Vanderburgh County and Evansville residents an opportunity to receive a free radon test kit to use in their homes or businesses. Dates, times and locations are listed below. Any Vanderburgh County resident is eligible to receive a FREE radon testing kit. Additional information and instructions will be provided during these events.

What’s included with each free kit: