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.”
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NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 19: An IEP phone conference is held in a classroom for a student whose parents need English translation at Yung Wing School P.S. 124 in the Manhattan borough of New York City. Public schools in New York City have been shut down until at least until April 20th amid the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
The chamber additionally approved a measure Tuesday to ban ranked choice voting in Indiana.
A divided Indiana Senate approved a bill Tuesday to tighten school cellphone restrictions, advancing the proposal to the House despite concerns about safety, cost and enforcement.
Senate Bill 78, authored by Sen. Jeff Raatz, R-Richmond, passed the chamber 28-19 after a 40-minute floor debate.
Eight Democrats and 11 Republicans voted against the measure. GOP votes in opposition were cast by Sens. Ron Alting of Lafayette, Eric Bassler of Washington, Vaneta Becker of Evansville, Justin Busch of Fort Wayne, Dan Dernulc of Highland, Aaron Freeman of Indianapolis, Jean Leising of Oldenburg, Ryan Mishler of Mishawaka, Jim Tomes of Wadesville, Kyle Walker of Lawrence and Greg Walker of Columbus.
Sen. Jeff Raatz, R-Richmond, presides over Indiana’s Senate Education Committee on Jan. 7, 2026. (Photo by Casey Smith/Indiana Capital Chronicle)
The legislation would require all public schools to adopt a ban that prohibits students from using or possessing a wireless communication device during the school day and requires that any teacher-directed use of a device “for educational purposes” occur only on school-supplied devices.
It also mandates that each district choose between two enforcement models: a “no device policy,” in which students may not bring phones to school at all; or a “secure storage policy,” in which students may bring phones but must store them so they are “inaccessible throughout the school day.”
The bill expands the definition of “wireless communication device” to include smartwatches connected to a phone, cell tower or the Internet.
Under current state law, students are prohibited from using phones during instructional time, but they can use them during lunch and passing periods.
‘Adults need to be in charge’
Raatz said the bill is driven by mounting evidence in favor of phone-free schools.
“It’s proven statistically that kids need a distraction-free day in school,” he said. “Adults need to be in charge. Students need to listen.”
Raatz further told senators his bill intentionally leaves some policy decisions to local schools, but he acknowledged that four key issues will still need to be resolved in the opposing chamber.
He cited elementary school storage options; exceptions for student access to phones for work-based learning opportunities and athletics; hashing out specifics for smart watch connectivity; and dealing with policy implications on school-sponsored devices.
Democrats and some Republicans who spoke against the bill on Tuesday argued that while limiting distractions in the classroom can improve student learning, the bill creates practical and safety concerns as well as costs for schools.
Sen. Fady Qaddoura, D-Indianapolis, said research supports reducing distractions but was opposed to advancing a bill with unresolved problems.
“Rather than fixing these issues on the House side, I always prefer that we get the job done here,” Qaddoura said, adding that storage costs and enforcement would be burdensome for large Hoosier schools. “Teachers are supportive of the idea of limiting the cellphones in the classroom … but the implementation is the problem.”
Sen. La Keisha Jackson, D-Indianapolis, also opposed the bill, pointing to school shootings and emergencies.
“If you have not been in that situation,” she said, “you do not know what it feels like to be helpless without a cellphone or some type of contact to contact somebody.”
Division within the Senate GOP supermajority
Leising, among the objecting GOP senators, questioned why lawmakers were expanding restrictions instead of enforcing existing law.
The Indiana Senate also voted 38-9 to ban ranked choice voting even though it isn’t used in Indiana. Sen. Blake Doriot, R-Syracuse, called it confusing and cited problems in other states that use the option.
Most elections use a single choice model. In a ranked choice version, voters rank the candidates in order of preference. If no candidate wins a majority of ballots on which they are listed as the top choice, the other rankings are used to determine a winner.
The vote was party-line with Republicans supporting the ban and Democrats against.
“I wish that rather than having this bill, we would be addressing how we can fix what we already have in place,” Leising said.
Additionally, Sen. Shelli Yoder, D-Bloomington, pressed Raatz on enforcement and flexibility, calling the bill “government overreach and an unfunded mandate.” She argued, too, that the policy “has no teeth.”
“If schools are having issues with the current policy we passed … let’s help them,” Yoder said, warning that expanding the mandate without clear enforcement or funding would not solve those problems.
Raatz countered that schools already enforce behavioral rules daily and should not be micromanaged by lawmakers.
“We should not legislate all the way down,” he said. “The bottom line is, the school does it every day and kids — yes, they learn their behavior.”
“They learn because of the restrictions that are set in place,” Raatz continued. “You can’t have (the device) — and if you have it, you’re going to get in trouble.”
Byrne, a Republican who supported the bill, reiterated that the policy would improve student outcomes at no cost to the state.
“The locals,” he added, “will be able to figure it out.”
The Senate vote came the same day a national coalition of child well-being groups released a report grading Indiana a “C” for its current phone-free school policy, citing the state’s limitation of restrictions to instructional time rather than the entire school day.
The report found that states with “bell-to-bell” phone bans — requiring students to store devices in secure, inaccessible locations for the full school day — are more likely to see improvements in academic performance, student mental health and teacher satisfaction.
According to Alimyon Allen, roughly 6,530 Hoosiers will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2026, and over 800 will die.
Rep. Cherrish Pryor, D-Indianapolis.
Allen, state policy and advocacy manager for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, arrived at the Statehouse Tuesday to testify in the House Insurance Committee in support of House Bill 1114. The proposed legislation, authored by Rep. Cherrish Pryor, D-Indianapolis, would prevent insurance companies from denying life-saving or life-improving metastatic cancer and associated condition treatment medications—also known as “step therapy.”
In this context, step therapy is a process insurance companies use that requires cancer patients to use a lower-cost drug to treat their symptoms. If the low-cost drug is found to be ineffective, an insurance company will have the patient “step up” to a higher cost—and oftentimes—more effective medicine.
“Only after the [insurance] plan’s preferred drug is shown to be ineffective for the patient can they access the prescribed treatment,” said Allen. “Unfortunately, most step therapy protocols rely on generalized information regarding patients and their treatments and don’t consider unique experiences, previous responses to treatment or any comorbidities.”
Heather Pirowski is an inflammatory breast cancer survivor; after her diagnosis in 2020, she founded Hoosier Breast Cancer Advocates.
Pirowski testified in support of HB 1114 to highlight the need for associated condition coverage for “thrivers” living with metastatic breast cancer. Pirowski stressed the importance of converting medications that soothe the accompanying side effects of metastatic cancers.
“Associated conditions look different for every patient. For one thriver, it may be severe pain and neuropathy, but for another it may be blood clots or heart complications,” said Pirowski. “These are not optional or secondary issues.”
Currently, 18 states have similar legislation requiring associated condition coverage for cancer medications.
HB 1114 passed unanimously. Now the bill heads to the House chamber to await a second vote.
Chloe White is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news site powered by Franklin College journalism stude
INDIANAPOLIS the House Utilities and Telecommunications Committee voted unanimously to advance House Bill 1002 to the House floor.
State Rep. Alex Burton (D-Evansville) released the following statement on the bill’s passage out of committee:
“Last week, my remarks regarding ‘budget billing’ were heard and resulted in a legislative change that updates the term to ‘levelized billing,’ providing consumers with a more stable energy rate based on their historical energy usage.
“I remain optimistic that we can continue working toward stronger protections for consumers’ energy costs, including improved transparency and notification systems that keep Hoosiers informed
The University of Southern Indiana Kinney College of Nursing and Health Professions is hosting a Health Professions Day for high school juniors and seniors exploring careers in healthcare on Friday, February 27. The day will incorporate hands-on experiences within various health professions programs, as well as interaction with USI faculty and current students.
The event, from 8 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. in the USI Health Professions Center, will include lunch and an optional campus tour. Representatives from the following programs will lead breakout sessions: Dental Assisting and Dental Hygiene; Diagnostic Medical Sonography; Food and Nutrition; Health Administration and Community Health; Health Informatics; Nursing; Occupational Therapy and Occupational Therapy Assistant; Radiologic and Imaging Sciences; and Respiratory Therapy.
“The health field offers a wide variety of career paths,” says Sean Weir, Chair of the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program. “Health Professions Day gives high school students the chance to see that the opportunities are limitless when they pursue one of our healthcare majors.”
Vincennes University, in partnership with the Prosser Career Education Center and the Clark County Regional Airport, will host a media announcement to launch the Southern Indiana Aviation Initiative, a new effort to expand aviation flight and aviation maintenance education opportunities in the region.
The initiative will increase access to training and career pathways in the aviation industry and is supported by funding from the State of Indiana and local partners. University and community leaders will share project details and discuss the initiative’s impact on students, workforce development, and the regional economy.
This position will provide general office support and assistance for case workers and clients applying for public assistance. Answer and direct incoming calls.
This position will provide general office support and assistance for case workers and clients applying for public assistance. Answer and direct incoming calls.
Specifically, we are looking for someone to work the evening shift, 3p-11p.*. Assists guests in the check in and check out procedure, as well as, throughout the…
Additional benefits include a 401k retirement savings with employer match, paid parental leave, paid time off, holiday pay and an Employee Assistance Program.
A private household in Manhattan is seeking a dependable, emotionally intelligent Part-Time Personal Assistant to support a calm, low-key home environment.
Obtain and scan all insurance cards, Government issued Photo ID accurately matching legal name and perform Quality Check on each scanned image for legibility.
Maintain office hours from 8:00am – 4:30pm and oversee *opening and closing procedures* during business hours. Check and respond to messages on *Texting Biz*.
This is a remote position, flexible hours (though some overlap with Eastern Time is needed) we are anticipating up to 40 hours per week, with hours varying…
Minimum High School Diploma or Equivalent. Experience in an educational setting (preferred). Under the direct supervision of Principal to provide a wide variety…
Occasional irregular or extended hours may be required. Department:* Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). Assist clinicians with follow-up as needed.
401(k) retirement plan with company match. Assist with job costing by entering, tracking, and reconciling project costs, purchase orders, and labor hours.
Ability to follow written and verbal instructions carefully. Look up, calculate, and enter wholesale pricing accurately. Enter sales data into tracking system.
This is an excellent job for an Administrative Operations Professional with extensive paperwork processing experience in the Wealth Management Industry.*.
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