FOOTNOTE: EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.
Men’s basketball travels to Belmont on Sunday
Men’s basketball travels to Belmont on Sunday
Aces and Bruins square off at 2 p.m. in Nashville
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Looking to win its third Missouri Valley Conference game in a row, the University of Evansville men’s basketball team travels to Belmont for a 2 p.m. game on Sunday at the Curb Event Center. ESPN+ and the Purple Aces Radio Network will have the broadcast.
Last Time Out
– Gabriel Pozzato and Tayshawn Comer recorded career scoring highs to lead the Purple Aces to a 78-74 home win over Murray State on Wednesday
– Pozzato finished with 29 points on a 10-of-14 shooting effort while Comer added 27 points and converted 13 of his 14 free throw tries
– UE shot 57.4% in the game after finishing at 58.0% in the win at Valpo; it marked the first time the Aces have shot 55% or higher in consecutive games since 2017 (66.7% at Bowling Green and 60.7% vs. Oakland City)
Ending Some Streaks
– Evansville’s win over Murray State was its first over the Racers since Dec. 21, 2019, ending a 5-game skid
– UE trailed by five at the break before rallying in the second half; it was the first win this season for UE when trailing at the half
– This was UE’s first win this season in a game decided by 10 points or less; the Aces entered the game 0-4
– The bench for UE did not score a single point against the Racers; this was the first instance that the Aces did not have a bench point since 1/5/19 at Illinois State
Career Game
– For the second time this season, Gabriel Pozzato was named the MVC Freshman of the Week on Jan. 27 after averaging 17 points and 6.5 boards against UIC and Valpo
– He scored 21 points at Valpo before setting a new career mark with 29 in the win over Murray State; these were his first 20-point games since the season opener
– After missing eight games in December and January, he returned on Jan. 18 against Belmont
– Pozzato has posted double figures in 12 of his 14 games this year
Top Tally
– Hitting 13 of his 14 free throw tries, Tayshawn Comer scored a career-best 27 points in the win over Murray State
– It bested his previous mark of 26, which came in the Jan. 1 win at SIU
– Averaging 17.8 PPG in MVC games, Comer is second in the league
– He has been on the floor for all 200 minutes of the last five contests
Scouting the Opponent
– Winners of six of their last eight games, Belmont enters Sunday’s contest with a 15-7 record and stand at 7-4 in MVC play
– On Wednesday, the Bruins dropped an 81-78 road game at Illinois State
– Belmont has one of the top offenses in the league and pace the MVC in scoring (81.68 PPG), assists (17.23/gm) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.50)
– Jonathan Pierre leads the team with 14.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game; he is second on the squad with 82 assists
– Carter Whitt is averaging 13.3 PPG and has a team-best 109 assists
-www.GoPurpleAces.com-
Agenda for Redevelopment Commission Meeting February 4, 2025
FEBRUARY 4, 2025
8:30 A.M.
AGENDA
| 1. | Call to Order |
| 2. | Approval of Minutes January 22, 2025 |
| 3. | Financial Statements – Accounts Payable Approval |
| 4. | Jacobsville Redevelopment Area – PUBLIC HEARING |
a. Resolution 25-ERC-02 Confirming The Declaratory Resolution Of Said Commission Establishing The Franklin Lofts Project Allocation Area Within The Jacobsville Redevelopment Area
b. Resolution 25-ERC-03 Pledging Certain Tax Increment Revenues From The Franklin Lofts Project Allocation Area
| 5. | Adjournment |
No. 2/6 Hoosiers Face Final Dual Meet Test at No. 11/10 Louisville
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – No. 2/6 Indiana swimming and diving will travel Friday (Jan. 30) to face No. 11/10 Louisville in its final dual meet of the 2024-25 season.
The meet will start at 2 p.m. ET, and fans can watch the meet on the Watch ESPN digital platform.
MEET INFO
Friday, January 31 • 2 p.m. ET
Counsilman-Billingsley Center • Bloomington, Ind.
Opponent: No. 11/10 Louisville
Live Results (Swimming): Meet Mobile App
Live Results (Diving): divemeets.com
Live Stream: Watch ESPN
OF NOTE…
HOOSIERS WIN IN WEST LAFAYETTE
Indiana swimming and diving cruised to victory Saturday (Jan. 25), sweeping Purdue inside the Morgan J. Burke Aquatic Center.
Twenty-one different Hoosiers won individual events, and the Indiana men swept the swimming events in a decisive result. Junior Mya DeWitt (50 free, 100 free) and senior Anna Peplowski (1,000 free, 100 fly) were the lone two individual event winners, while 16 different men captured victories Saturday. Indiana also swept the relays.
CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON IS COMING
An exciting championship season awaits Indiana over the next two months. The Hoosier men and women will defend their 2024 Big Ten Championship double at the conference meet in February.
March 10-12, Hoosier divers will claim bids for the national meet at NCAA Zone C Diving Championships. The teams will compete for historic finishes and individual national titles at the NCAA Championships starting March 19 in Federal Way, Washington.
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Legislation authored by O’Brien to recognize EMS as essential services moves through committee
Legislation authored by O’Brien to recognize EMS
as essential services moves through committee
STATEHOUSE (Jan. 30, 2025) – The House Veterans Affairs and Public Safety Committee unanimously passed a bill authored by State Rep. Tim O’Brien (R-Evansville) that would recognize emergency medical services, including ambulances, as essential.
House Bill 1454 would formally recognize EMS as an essential public service, similar to police and fire departments. O’Brien said this classification underscores the importance of EMS providers in public health and safety, helping to improve access and support for life-saving care across the state.
“Emergency medical services are one of the first to show up in a crisis, yet they don’t always receive the recognition or resources they need,” O’Brien said. “By establishing EMS as an essential service, we can strengthen support for these providers and ensure Hoosiers have reliable access to emergency care when they need it most.”
O’Brien authored a law last year to have the Indiana Department of Homeland Security conduct a comprehensive overview of EMS services across the state. The report found significant variation in EMS staffing levels across districts, notable gaps in basic and advanced life support services across counties including no coverage in some townships, and low wages and retirement benefits as primary challenges in recruiting and retaining EMS workers.
O’Brien said HB 1454 would address these issues and require county commissioners to identify underserved areas and establish county emergency ambulance services in those communities.
HB 1454 now moves to the House Ways and Means Committee for further consideration. To learn more about the bill and follow session, visit iga.in.gov.
Mayor Terry Announces Spring Block-by-Block Cleanup Events
Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry will host three Block-by-Block Neighborhood Cleanup programs this spring, beginning Friday, March 21 in the CHAIN neighborhood.
After launching the Block-by-Block program with two events in 2024, Mayor Terry plans to build on the program in 2025, hosting eight events between March and October of this year. Today’s announcement comprises the spring portion of the program, and includes the following events and locations:
- Friday, March 21, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., CHAIN Neighborhood
- Friday, April 25, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., Lamasco Neighborhood
- Saturday, May 31, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., Tepe Park Neighborhood
The Block-by-Block Neighborhood Cleanup program brings together city employees and community volunteers to pick up trash, mow lawns, trim trees, and other aspects of neighborhood cleanup. The CHAIN Neighborhood event also will include demolishing a blighted structure.
The program is part of Mayor Terry’s emphasis on Neighborhood Revitalization, which also includes programs like Fight Blight, and programs funded by the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
“We launched Block-by-Block last year with the goal of helping to beautify our neighborhoods, and to strengthen our connections in the community,” Mayor Terry said. “We’re identifying the neighborhoods with the greatest need, using data from departments like the Building Commission and the Evansville Police Department, and we’re working to make government and the services we can offer as a city accessible to them.”
Community members interested in volunteering in any of the Block-by-Block Neighborhood Cleanups, please visit fill out the volunteer form on the City website at www.evansvillegov.org/block.
Summer and Fall dates for Block-by-Block will be announced at a later date.
USI Softball projected 2nd in OVC
USI Softball projected 2nd in OVC
Newman named to 2025 OVC Softball Players to Watch List
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Softball is projected to place second in the Ohio Valley Conference in a vote submitted by the league’s head coaches and communication directors.
The 10-team OVC will feature a schedule with each team playing each other in one three-game series for a 27-game conference schedule from March 8 through May 4. The conference’s season concludes with the OVC Softball Championship Tournament in Peoria, Illinois May 7-10.
Reigning OVC tournament champion Southeast Missouri State University was predicted first in the OVC preseason poll with 152 points and nine first-place votes. Southern Indiana, coming off a 25-win season and fourth-place finish in the OVC last year, came in second with 140 points and six first-place votes. Reigning OVC regular-season champion Eastern Illinois University was selected third with 139 points and five first-place votes.
Tennessee State University was picked fourth with 107 points. Tennessee Tech University was slotted fifth with 82 ahead of Lindenwood University in sixth with 80 points. The University of Tennessee at Martin earned 74 points for a projected seventh-place finish ahead of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in eighth with 73 points. Morehead State University (30) and Western Illinois University (23) rounded out the preseason poll.
As part of the Ohio Valley Conference’s preseason announcement, senior pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) represented USI on the 2025 OVC Softball Preseason Players to Watch List. Newman heads into her senior campaign as the reigning OVC Pitcher of the Year and as a back-to-back All-OVC First Team selection.
Last season, Newman led the USI pitching staff with a 22-10 record and a 1.77 ERA in 2024. The right-hander set new career marks with 22 wins, 230 innings pitched, 230 strikeouts, and 30 complete games. The 230 innings of work were five innings shy of USI’s single-season record. Newman started 32 games in 33 appearances, tossed five shutouts, and held the opposition to a .194 batting average.
Across the OVC, Newman ranked first in wins, innings, and strikeouts as well as ranking top three in ERA. Newman struck out 10 or more batters in 11 games. The Indianapolis, Indiana native was a two-time OVC Pitcher of the Week.
Newman was also strong at the plate in 2024, hitting .344 with a home runs and 11 RBIs. Newman scored seven runs and totaled 31 hits. Throughout the season, Newman had nine multi-hit games and two multi-RBI outings.
Southern Indiana opens the 2025 season February 6-8 at the University of Hawaii Paradise Classic. USI will play three round-robin games against Saint Louis University, Santa Clara University, and the University of Hawaii before playing two seeded bracket games. Southern Indiana will begin conference play at home March 8-9 against Western Illinois from USI Softball Field.
2025 OVC Softball Predicted Order of Finish
1. Southeast Missouri (9) – 152
2. Southern Indiana (6) – 140
3. Eastern Illinois (5) – 139
4. Tennessee State – 107
5. Tennessee Tech -82
6. Lindenwood – 80
7. UT Martin – 74
8. SIUE – 73
9. Morehead State – 30
10. Western Illinois – 23
2025 OVC Softball Players to Watch
Briana Gonzalez, Eastern Illinois
Irelynn West, Lindenwood
Darlene Montoya, Morehead State
Aubrie Shore, Southeast Missouri
Josie Newman, Southern Indiana
Lauryn Yslava, SIUE
Anayah Baker-Rowell, Tennessee State
Sydney Kirby, Tennessee Tech
Kennedy Brown, UT Martin
Rylee Boone, Western Illinois
USI to host series of events to honor Black History Month
USI to host series of events to honor Black History Month
The University of Southern Indiana is hosting a variety of events and activities in February to honor Black History Month. Events include:
Family Reunion Karaoke
Wednesday, February 5, University Center East – Fireside Lounge
As part of Homecoming festivities, the Multicultural Center invites the campus community to an unforgettable evening of music, laughter and fun at Family Reunion Karaoke Night. Whether a seasoned performer or a first-time singer, this is the perfect chance to shine on stage and belt out tunes.
USI Basketball vs. Little Rock – Black History Month Celebration
Thursday, February 6, Liberty Arena, Home of the Screaming Eagles
USI Athletics will be hosting a Black History Month Celebration at the USI Women’s and Men’s Basketball games at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., respectively, on Thursday, February 6 in Liberty Arena. USI Athletics will be acknowledging NPHC organizations, the USI Multicultural Center, as well as Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry during the game.
True Black History Museum
Tuesday, February 11, University Center East 2217-2218
The True Black History Museum is a traveling museum that teaches Black history using rare and authentic artifacts. It is committed to preserving the history of African Americans and teaching individuals about the many great contributions that African Americans have made throughout history.
The exhibit takes visitors on a journey through the African American experience. Artifacts in the collection range from the many great African civilizations, the slave trade, slavery, the Civil War, Reconstruction, Jim Crow, the Civil Rights/Black Power movement and the modern day. The collection celebrates and highlights the contributions of African Americans in the arts, sciences, sports, entertainment, education and politics.
The public is able to view the True Black History Museum at no charge.
Black History Roundtable
Thursday, February 13, Traditions Lounge, University Center East
Join the Multicultural Center for an enlightening and empowering Black History Roundtable Discussion as it celebrates the rich heritage, culture and contributions of the Black community. This event aims to foster meaningful conversations, share diverse perspectives and inspire collective action. Participants will be able to gain a deeper understanding of Black history and its ongoing impact.
Taste of Film
Monday, February 17, University Center West – Carter Hall
The Black Student Union and the Activities Programming Board will host their annual “Taste of Film” event where students can immerse themselves in a cultural experience that tantalizes both the eyes and taste buds. Participants will have the opportunity to enjoy a film while indulging in dishes inspired by the culture depicted on the screen.
Black Student Union Gala
Friday, February 28, Location TBA
The Black Student Union (BSU) will host its annual Gala open to the campus community. The theme for this year’s event is Harlem Nights. This elegant evening will transport participants to the vibrant 1920s and 1930s, celebrating the rich cultural heritage and artistic achievements of the era.
The USI Multicultural Center will also highlight Black History Month on its social media channels, shining the spotlight on significant Black figures, as well as trivia questions. Posts will be on the Multicultural Center’s Facebook and Instagra
For questions regarding Black History Month events, contact Deonte Turnley, Program Advisor for the USI Multicultural Center, at doturnley@usi.edu or 812-465-7188. A full list of events and details can be found on the USI Multicultural Center’s webpage.
Vincennes University Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree ranks among Indiana’s top programs
VINCENNES, Ind., January 30, 2025 – The Vincennes University RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree has received acclaim for its excellence, with Nurse.org ranking it among the top three nursing programs in Indiana.
VU College of Health Sciences and Human Performance Dean Michelle Cummins said, “The VU RN to BSN program is recognized as one of the very best in the state due to the hard work, passion, and commitment shown daily by VU students, faculty, and staff.”
Ranked No. 3 in Indiana, VU’s RN-to-BSN online program helps registered nurses gain the skills and knowledge needed for leadership and management roles. VU continues to establish itself as a leader in nursing education by offering registered nurses the ability to earn a bachelor’s degree 100 percent online, making it a perfect choice for students who need flexible schedules.
RNs studying at VU can continue working while striving to achieve a bachelor’s degree. They have the option of completing the RN-to-BSN degree online in as little as 16 months or extend their length of study for up to five years.
There is an increasing demand for nurses with a bachelor’s degree. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of registered nurses holding a BSN is expected to grow by 6 percent from 2023 to 2033, faster than the average growth for all occupations. The median salary for a nurse in Indiana is $92,565.
VU’s RN-to-BSN program continues to stand out as one of the best in the nation. The program earned a pair of prestigious rankings from Forbes Advisor last year.
Forbes Advisor ranked VU among the Best RN-to-BSN Online Programs in 2024 and one of the Best Affordable RN-to-BSN Online Programs of 2024.
“We are committed to ensuring that VU Nursing graduates are fully prepared for their careers, and these recognitions highlight the University’s commitment to providing high-quality, affordable education and support for nursing students,” Cummins said.
VU also offers a degree that helps licensed practical nurses elevate their careers. The LPN to BSN Completion is a hybrid bachelor’s degree program that allows students to live and work where job opportunities are due to the flexibility of the hybrid learning schedule.