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. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball will begin a three-game homestand Monday when the Screaming Eagles host the Phantoms of East-West University. Game time is slated for 7 p.m. The final two games of the homestand include the start of the Ohio Valley Conference schedule. USI opens the conference campaign by hosting Little Rock at 7:30 p.m. December 18 and Morehead State at 3:30 p.m. December 18. Fans attending the USI-Little Rock game have a chance to receive a schedule magnet and coupons to Penn Station. The Screaming Eagles are forecast to place ninth in the OVC this year, while Little Rock was picked to win the league and Morehead State was predicted to place fifth.
The Screaming Eagles (3-7) are hoping to rebound and get back on track after a tough 0-2 road trip last week. USI had a tough loss to Western Michigan, 88-74, and a setback at Indiana State, 77-55. Senior guard Cardell Baileyled the way for the Eagles on the road trip with 19.5 points per game. For the season, senior guard Ismail Habib has been posting 18.2 points per game and leads the Ohio Valley Conference in scoring. Habib has hit for 20 or more points in four of the last seven games. Bailey follows with 13.6 points per contest, while junior guard Kaden Brown is posting 12.1 points per outing. The East-West Phantoms, currently, are 2-7 overall this season. USI leads the all-time series, 2-0, after taking last year’s meeting at Liberty University, 104-46.
INDIANAPOLIS – Today, Governor Mike Braun announced three appointments to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC), the administrative agency that makes decisions in the public interest to ensure utilities provide safe and reliable service at just and reasonable rates. The new commissioners are aligned with Governor Braun’s commitment to making energy affordable for families and businesses.
The three new commissioners will be:
Andy Zay, Huntington County, Chair of IURC
Indiana State Senator, District #17
Andy Zay brings the policy background as a legislator and an entrepreneurial approach to serve the public and ensure utility access and affordability.
Anthony Swinger, Marion County
Executive Director, Technical Operations, Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC)
Anthony Swinger brings a long track record of consumer advocacy and strong experience with ratemaking and regulatory processes.
Bob Deig, Vanderburgh County
Former Indiana State Senator, District #49
Bob Deig brings a common-sense approach to protect ratepayers from increasing utility costs drawn from his experience on the Senate Utilities and Technology Committee.
“Hoosiers deserve reliable and affordable utilities and have been burdened by excessive and unnecessary utility rate increases for too long. I am appointing these three Hoosier leaders to serve on the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to ensure that Indiana has exceptional utilities without saddling families and businesses with excessive prices.” — Governor Mike Braun
The commissioners will begin work on January 12, 2026.
A few months ago, I held a town hall with Former U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly so we could hear directly from you. And you were clear in making it known that Hoosiers want meaningful change, not more of the same political games.
That’s why what’s happening right now at the Statehouse is so frustrating. When people say they feel ignored by their government, this is exactly what they mean. And instead of tackling these challenges, legislative leaders are pushing forward HB 1032 — a gerrymandered congressional map that takes us in the opposite direction of where Hoosiers want to go.
The Senate will have a final vote on HB 1032 tomorrow, Dec. 11.
Evansville, IN – The Vanderburgh County Republican Party is calling attention to the flawed and deliberately secretive redistricting process carried out by the Evansville City Council. While redistricting is required after the census, it was the process chosen by Democrat leadership, not the census itself that failed our city. The city spent $30,000 of taxpayer money on a consultant whose contract included hosting public hearings for residents to review and comment on proposed district maps. City council leadership refused to hold those hearings and never recouped the portion of taxpayer dollars wasted on the meetings
they chose not to conduct. Even more concerning, the maps were intentionally withheld from conservative members of the council, while some Democrat councilors were permitted to take the maps to their constituents. That selective access speaks for itself. A fair, no-cost map drawn by the Vanderburgh County Surveyor using the same census data and within accepted population-deviation standards was available but ignored. Instead, the council adopted a map that exceeded population limits and disproportionately benefited Democrat incumbents. Several of the councilors now speaking out against redistricting were the ones who gained the
most from the very map they pushed through in secret. Evansville now has a city council with nearly 90% Democrat representation, far out of step with the city’s voter demographics. This imbalance has contributed to policies that burden families already struggling with rising costs. The newly adopted wheel tax, $20 per passenger vehicle and S25 per commercial vehicle pulls in more money from taxpayers than the city lost due to changes in the Community Crossings Grant
formula, yet city officials continue implying the tax was necessary to offset that loss. The Vanderburgh County Republican Party remains committed to a redistricting process that is transparent, equitable, and reflective of the people of Evansville. Our city deserves honest representation,
not partisan maps drawn in the dark.
INDIANAPOLIS – State Rep. Alex Burton (D-Evansville) issued the following statement after the Indiana Senate voted against advancing HB 1032, halting the Republican redistricting proposal:
“Today proves that Hoosier voters and voices matter. Outside influence sought to force redistricting and it didn’t work – even in the face of loud voices, swatting and bomb threats.
“Now, the focus can shift to utilities, housing, child care, health care and other important policies needed to ensure a prosperous Indiana, for everyone. Households throughout the State desperately need the legislature to act on their behalf and I’m looking forward to championing legislation that relieves anxiety on payday.
“I’m looking forward to bold action, reasonable policy discussions and a legislative session that keeps Hoosiers first. Families, teachers, small business owners, public safety officers and local elected officials are depending on us.”
The ornaments on the tree are hand-painted by county Imagination Library partners, with each one uniquely reflecting the identity of each participating county and its Dolly Parton Imagination Library program.
INDIANAPOLIS – Visitors to the Indiana Statehouse this December will see something new in this year’s decorations—a display honoring early childhood literacy across the state.
First Lady Maureen Braun unveiled a first-of-its-kind Christmas display at the Statehouse featuring hand-painted ornaments that are designed to showcase participating Indiana counties and their local Dolly Parton Imagination Library programs.
The idea for the display originated earlier this year, when First Lady Braun sought a way to celebrate the thousands of Hoosier families, volunteers, and community partners who make the Imagination Library possible. Literacy is an important initiative for the First Lady.
“Every ornament on these trees represents a community that believes in the power of reading and the potential of every child. The Dolly Parton Imagination Library is sparking wonder in young Hoosiers and uniting counties across Indiana. This display is an invitation for more Hoosiers to join us in helping give every child the gift of reading.” – First Lady Maureen Braun
With support from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Indiana, the First Lady contacted county partners in all 92 counties and sent each an unbreakable ornament with a request to decorate it in a way that reflects their county and their community’s Imagination Library. The ornaments were then shipped back at no cost to taxpayers or county partners thanks to a partnership with UPS and the Indiana Motor Truck Association (IMTA).
The resulting ornaments now adorn one of three Christmas trees located in the Statehouse atrium. The book ornaments on the tree were handmade by friends of First Lady Braun, who also helped decorate the trees.
The First Lady also sewed the tree skirt using fabric from her home to symbolize The Coat of Many Colors, honoring the story behind Dolly Parton’s childhood coat. Beneath the trees, Imagination Library books wrapped with ribbon resemble presents waiting to be opened.
County partners are invited to visit the Statehouse on December 17 at 11:00 a.m. to view the display and see their ornaments showcased in this one-of-a-kind celebration of literacy, community, and the holiday spirit.
Committee members voted 6-2 along party lines to advance the bill to the full Senate
A key state senator and Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita are facing off again over what steps the state should take in cracking down on illegal immigration.
Her current proposal includes language allowing state agencies and Rokita’s office to investigate the “employment of an unauthorized alien” and report possible violations to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Indiana Department of Labor.
Rokita, however, is backing a differing proposal in Senate Bill 122, which would give the attorney general’s office authority to seek court orders suspending an “employer’s operating authorizations” over such suspected violations.
Rokita, a Republican, blasted Brown on social media over her bill, saying she had “introduced a watered-down, bizarro world version … that takes all the enforcement teeth out of the bill. That makes her bill meaningless.”
Brown countered that she has worked with entities from the Trump administration to county sheriffs in order to find effective ways to help enforce federal immigration laws.
“The biggest thing is making sure that we didn’t grow government and that the power isn’t centered in one agency or individual,” Brown told reporters.
Hiring practices in question
Erin Tuttle, the attorney general office’s legislative director, criticized Brown’s bill during a Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday as an “inadequate response” to prevent businesses from hiring people who are in the country illegally.
“The Supreme Court has confirmed that states may sanction the license of employers who knowingly hire unauthorized workers,” Tuttle said. “If Indiana refuses to adopt the one enforcement mechanism available under federal law, it cannot credibly claim to be a leader in combating illegal immigration.”
Carolina Castoreno, co-founder of the Indianapolis-based Alliance for Latino Migrant Advocacy, speaks during a state Senate committee hearing on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (Photo by Tom Davies/Indiana Capital Chronicle)
Immigrant advocates, however, raised concerns about the impact of the legislation.
Carolina Castoreno, co-founder of the Indianapolis-based Alliance for Latino Migrant Advocacy, told committee members that the proposal encourages racial profiling by businesses.
“It pushes them toward discriminatory hiring practices, meaning someone who fits a certain look or has a certain name or has an accent may be discriminated against, just out of precaution,” Castoreno said. “We know who is harmed, people with brown skin, people with accents, people with names that sound unfamiliar to an HR manager.”
Committee members voted 6-2 along party lines to advance the bill to the full Senate, which could take up the proposal in early January.
Rokita-Brown conflict continues
The dispute between Rokita and Brown over the legislation grows out of their conflict over an immigration-enforcement bill from the legislative session earlier this year.
House members approved House Bill 1531 in February, but Brown did not hold a Senate committee hearing on the bill and it died when the legislative session ended in April.
Rokita then claimed Brown had blocked the legislation because she had a “family member who’s an illegal alien.”
Brown called that claim “blatantly false.” She also filed an attorney misconduct grievance over Rokita’s comments with the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission that she said Tuesday was still pending.
Rokita and U.S. Sen. Jim Banks have repeatedly criticized Brown on social media over last session’s bill.
They also are backing Darren Vogt, who works on Banks’ Senate staff and is a Northwest Allen County Schools board member, in a Republican primary challenge to Brown’s 2026 reelection bid.
Following the committee vote, Rokita posted to X that the bill “would actively shield sanctuary jurisdictions and directly undermines our ongoing lawsuits to end sanctuary policies in Monroe and St. Joseph counties. We need to stop illegal immigration—not protect the counties and officials who defy state law and put Hoosier families last.”
