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Screaming Eagles Madness set for October 23

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles Madness with USI Men’s and Women’s Basketball is scheduled for Thursday, October 23, inside Liberty Arena, home of the Screaming Eagles, to tip off the 2025-26 USI Basketball season.

Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. with the event starting at 7 p.m. Screaming Eagles Madness is open to the public free of charge.

Screaming Eagles Madness, in collaboration with Archie’s Army, will feature several fun activities and events throughout the evening, including USI Women’s and Men’s Basketball team introductions, fan-favorite competitions like the three-point and slam dunk contests, and performances from the USI Cheer and Dance teams.

Plus, the first 500 USI students will receive a complimentary meal of cheeseburgers and chips. In addition to other student prizes and giveaways during the evening, one USI student will have the opportunity to attempt a half-court shot for $5,000, presented by N.M. Bunge.

Festivities in the arena are not only open to students but also to faculty, staff, and the general public.

Fans can also purchase season tickets or single-game tickets at Screaming Eagles Madness through the USI ticket office.

USI Men’s Basketball enters its sixth season under the leadership of USI Men’s Basketball Head Coach Stan Gouard. The team will open its season at Butler University on November 5. This will be the 27th season for USI Women’s Basketball Head Coach Rick Stein. USI Women’s Basketball will open its season against Franklin College on November 3 at Liberty Arena.

 

UE golf teams defeat USI in Battle of the Expressway

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  1. VERNON, Ind. – Thursday’s Battle of the Expressway saw the University of Evansville golf teams edge USI by a 9-8 final in match play at Western Hills Country Club.

Evansville’s victories on the day included:

  • Denzel Rai 4&3 over Ingtawan Wangrunruchasri
  • Omar Khalid 4&3 over Chandler Ornelas
  • Mason Taylor 2UP over Alex Peck
  • Elizabeth Mercer 5&4 over Tora Timinsky
  • Luke Price 3&2 over Wade Worthington
  • Adeline Wittmer 3&2 over Camryn Luthy
  • Jamison Ousley 1UP over Carter Goebel

There were also four matches that were halved:

  • Julian Kiessling vs. Jairen Stroud
  • Kate Petrova vs. Alexis Wymer
  • Chris O’Donnell vs. Weston Hardy
  • Andrew Rottschalk vs. Ben Christian

UE took the victory by a close 9-8 final to complete the day.

Democracy advocates sue to stop pooling of Americans’ personal data

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  • By Marilyn Odendahl, The Indiana Citizen

  • A class action lawsuit filed Sept. 30 in federal court provides a glimpse into what the Trump administration is doing with the voter data Indiana and other states have entered into the SAVE system and turned over to the U.S. Department of Justice.

    The lawsuit asserts the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies have been pooling Americans’ sensitive personal data into comprehensive databases in violation of the Privacy Act of 1974 and the U.S. Constitution’s separation of powers doctrine. The defendants, the lawsuit says, are ignoring the guardrails erected by Congress and are building a “potentially dangerous tool” to surveil and investigate Americans.

    Homeland Security, with help from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has “embarked on a months-long campaign to access, collect, and consolidate vast troves of personal data about millions of U.S. citizens and residents stored at multiple federal agencies,” the lawsuit says. “Defendants seek to unify data across the government to advance Trump administration priorities, including making it harder to vote, and ensuring that every contact between immigrants (regardless of their legal status) and government databases can be leveraged to support the administration’s agenda.”

    Filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the class action is asking that the defendants be required to dismantle the “interagency national data bank” and be prohibited from pooling the data in one centralized system. Also, the lawsuit wants the defendants to publish notices in the Federal Register disclosing what data was put into the system and for what purpose.

    Plaintiffs in the case are the League of Women Voters and its state chapters in Virginia and Louisiana, the Electronic Privacy Information Center and five unidentified individuals. In addition to Homeland Security, the other defendants are the Social Security Administration and the U.S. Department of Justice along with all of their respective directors.

    The lawsuit alleges the Trump administration has unlawfully merged personal data from across the federal government into at least two “Interagency Data Systems.”

    One pool of data was created when Homeland Security transformed its Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system by inputting records from the Social Security Administration.

    Another pool was fashioned when U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services built a “data lake” by combining records from the Internal Revenue Service, Social Security Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Labor and several states’ voter registration databases. As a result, the lawsuit alleges, the USCIS data lake includes “extraordinarily sensitive” personal information.

    “It includes millions of Americans’ (Social Security numbers), biometric data, tax information, wage and employment records, medical and disability records, detailed case files involving child abuse and more,” the lawsuit says.

    Plaintiffs assert the defendants have violated the Privacy Act by failing to notify the public and Congress that the Interagency Data Systems were being crafted, and by not establishing any safeguards to protect the data or keeping accurate records of the information that has been gathered.

    “Defendants are running roughshod over these privacy protections, hoping the speed, audacity, and opacity of their work will render all legal constraints meaningless,” the lawsuit says. “Defendants’ actions not only run contrary to these explicit prohibitions designed to protect the privacy of the American public, but also far exceed any limited lawful authority Defendants have.”

    The case is League of Women Voters, et al. v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, et al., 1:25-cv-03501.

    Concerns about the new SAVE system

    Indiana gained access to the “overhauled SAVE system” when Secretary of State Diego Morales entered into a memorandum of agreement with USCIS in July. At a news conference in September, Morales said his office had uploaded the state’s voter rolls using the last four digits of the registered voters’ Social Security numbers into the SAVE database and was hoping to confirm the citizenship status of about 14% of the registrants.

    However, the lawsuit says the Social Security Administration citizenship data in the overhauled SAVE system is unreliable and incomplete. A key limitation is that the only citizenship data the administration possesses is a “snapshot of the individual’s citizenship status at the time of their interaction with the SSA.” The administration does not have any automated process for updating citizenship data, but rather relies on the individuals with Social Security numbers to inform the SSA of any change in their status.

    The lawsuit points to a 2006 audit by SSA’s Office of Inspector General, which estimated the agency’s citizenship data misidentified about 3.3 million U.S. citizens as noncitizens. The error was attributed to people who became U.S. citizens after obtaining their Social Security numbers but did not update their records with the Social Security Administration. Also, the lawsuit says, the SSA “lacks complete citizenship data” for U.S.-born citizens born before 1981, which is the year the agency began consistently maintaining” citizenship information.

    “If states rely on inaccurate SSA citizenship data to purge voters from rolls, millions of eligible voters could be wrongly disenfranchised, or face unwarranted burdens in exercising their right to vote,” the lawsuit warns, citing to media reports that “more than 33 million voters” have been run through the overhauled SAVE system.

    Moreover, the lawsuit asserts that the memorandums of agreement that Indiana and other states signed make the overhauled SAVE system’s data-sharing “a two-way street.” While state agencies can now access the federal data through searchable online tools, Homeland Security and USCIS can use the information provided by the states “for any purpose permitted by law,” including prosecuting violations of federal administrative and criminal law.

    In addition to using the new SAVE system, Morales also disclosed at the September news conference that his office had forwarded the state’s unrestricted voter rolls to the Department of Justice. Morales said his office had consulted with Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita’s office before turning over the voter registration information to the federal government.

    According to the lawsuit, the Justice Department has requested voter registration lists from at least 30 states. Indiana was one of at least 10 that complied with the request. Federal officials confirmed that the Department of Justice is sharing state voter roll information with Department of Homeland Security to search for non-citizens.

    The plaintiffs believe the state data is being mixed into the centralized data pools. “Defendants are incorporating, inputting, ingesting, or otherwise utilizing this state voter roll data in connection with the overhauled SAVE system and/or other (Homeland Security) Interagency Data Systems,” the lawsuit says.

    Trading motions in court

    On Oct. 7, the plaintiffs filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to block the overhaul and use of the SAVE system. The League of Women Voters and the other plaintiffs argue, “continued use of SAVE imminently imperils the right to vote of naturalized citizens and other Americans for whom (the Social Security Administration) maintains inaccurate citizenship data.”

    The next day, the defendants filed a motion to stay all proceedings in the case because of the government shutdown. Noting that funding was cut off at the end of the day on Sept. 30, the Department of Justice told the federal court that its attorneys and most of the employees in the other defendant agencies are prohibited from working during the shutdown, even on a volunteer basis. Also, the defendants pointed out the federal courts had issued a standing order that delayed all deadlines in ongoing cases until five days after funding is restored.

    However, the plaintiffs countered the standing order does not apply to motions for preliminary injunctions. Also, guidelines from the Office of Management and Budget and the Justice Department’s own contingency plan provide numerous circumstances in which defendants can continue working during a lapse in appropriations.

    The federal court denied the defendants’ motion and gave them until Oct. 22 to respond to the motion for a preliminary injunction.

    The plaintiffs are being represented by the Democracy Forward Foundation, Fair Elections Center, Electronic Privacy Information Center, and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.

    This article was published by TheStatehouseFile.com through a partnership with The Indiana Citizen, a nonpartisan, nonprofit platform dedicated to increasing the number of informed, engaged Hoosier citizens.

    Marilyn Odendahl has spent her journalism career writing for newspapers and magazines in Indiana and Kentucky. She has focused her reporting on business, the law and poverty issues.

USI Golf falls to UE in match play on final hole

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MT. VERNON, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s and Women’s Golf went down to the final hole of 17 matches before falling to the University of Evansville, 9-8, in match play at Western Hills Country Club in Mt. Vernon, Indiana.

The final score came down to the final pairing as USI senior Carter Goebel battled Evansville’s Jamison Ousley through 18 holes. Goebel was up one through the first nine holes before falling behind by two between holes 10 and 16. He made a long putt on 17 to pull to within one and force the 18th hole, but could not get all square as Goebel and Ousley both parred the final hole.

Of the 17 match-ups between USI and Evansville, the USI Screaming Eagles had the lead in the women’s match, 4.5-2.5 (three wins, two losses, and one tie, and trailed in the men’s matches, 6.5-3.5 (two wins, three losses, and three ties).

Women’s Golf wins match play battle with UE with an average of plus-two advantage. Freshman McKenna Lowe led the way, winning her match with a three-hole lead before the match was called with two holes to play, while sophomore Brianna Kirsch and graduate Valaria Lopez de Haro Juste posted two-hole leads before the matches were called with one hole left. Sophomore Fernanda Vera finished out all 18 holes with a plus-two win.

Junior Alexis Wymer earned USI a tie after battling UE’s Kate Petrova, the Missouri Valley Conference champion last spring, to an all-square. Wymer trailed by as many as three holes before pulling ahead by one on 16 and settling for the tie after the 18th.

On USI Men’s Golf, graduate Sam Gargis and junior Hunter Reynolds posted wins in their matchups. Reynolds won his match in a back-and-forth affair before winning the last two holes for the point. Gargis posted a three-hole win after pulling ahead by three with three holes to play and getting an all-square on 16.

USI sophomores Jairen Stroud and Chandler Ornelas and freshman Ben Christian kept the Eagles in contention with all-squares in each of their matches.

What’s Next
USI Women’s Golf stays in the area competing in the Braun Intercollegiate, hosted by the Purple Aces at Oak Meadow Country Club, Monday and Tuesday of next week to complete fall action.

USI Men’s Golf also finishes fall play next week by playing in the Xavier Invitational in Cincinnati, Ohio. The tournament will be played Monday and Tuesday at the Maketewah Country Club.

University of Evansville Experiences Record Enrollment Growth Across All Areas

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EVANSVILLE, IND. (10/15/2025) – At a time when universities nationwide are experiencing enrollment declines and facing increasing skepticism about the value of higher education, the University of Evansville (UE) has defied those trends with remarkable growth across nearly every category. According to official fall census data, UE has achieved double-digit increases in enrollment, reflecting the University’s strong momentum and continued commitment to excellence and affordability.

The incoming freshman class grew by an astounding 19 percent this fall. Total enrollment increased by 10 percent, fueled by a 7 percent increase in the overall undergraduate population and a 6 percent gain in graduate students. At Harlaxton College-UE’s beloved study abroad campus in Grantham, England-enrollment more than doubled, reflecting a renewed passion among students for transformative global experiences.

“This is an exciting moment for the University of Evansville,” said UE President Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz. “We are bucking the national and regional trends in higher education thanks to our significant investments in new facilities, innovative programs, and our commitment to making a UE education affordable and accessible to students from all backgrounds.”

Hailing from 31 states and 12 different countries, the incoming class of students includes valedictorians, National Merit Scholars, Eagle Scouts, championship athletes, accomplished artist and performers, Lilly Scholars, and many others who have already demonstrated excellence in their fields.

Regional growth has been especially strong, with a 28 percent increase in students from the local area. Over 40 percent of incoming freshmen are Pell Grant-eligible, underscoring UE’s dedication to expanding access for students from lower-income households. Additionally, one in four students qualified for the Aces Opportunity Grant or the Hoosier Aces Scholarship, which allow eligible Indiana residents to attend UE without paying any tuition out of pocket–and, in some cases, receive additional support for room and board.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to see students recognize that UE is a place where they are genuinely cared for,” said Dr. Jill Griffin, Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing. “That spirit of care is at the heart of how we change lives and change the world.”

The University’s momentum is fueled by the hallmarks of a UE education– Active Academics, a Caring Culture, and Extraordinary Experiences-which shape students into confident, compassionate leaders and changemakers. Through innovative programs, personalized support, and immersive learning opportunities, the University empowers students to achieve professional success and lead lives of purpose. This strong foundation ensures a bright future for the University of Evansville and the students and communities it serves.

 

Trump’s border czar visits Indiana, backs stymied immigration bill

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Food Inspection Reports

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media report Sept. 21-27, 2025 viol.

 

CenterPoint Energy launches cold weather communications campaign to help customers address Energy Information Administration Forecast of increases in winter gas costs

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Natural gas utilities across Indiana encourage customers to save and take steps to prepare this winter.

 CenterPoint to promote a series of payment assistance and energy savings programs available to eligible southwestern Indiana customers.

 EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Oct. 15, 2025 – Today, as part of its commitment to supporting its customers in its Indiana South natural gas service territory, CenterPoint Energy is launching a customer communication campaign encouraging eligible customers to take advantage of a series of support programs, including energy efficiency and bill assistance resources ahead of this winter heating season.

CenterPoint, as well as other Indiana natural gas utilities, is taking action in response to nationwide industry forecasts, including the U.S Energy Information Administration (EIA) annual Winter Heating Outlook, that indicate that gas customers across the Midwest will see higher residential bills compared to last year, as a result of rising fuel costs. The campaign, which will include social media and direct outreach to customers, is aimed at helping customers plan and prepare for the potential impact of rising fuel costs nationwide.

While the agency anticipates stable year-over-year pricing nationally, the EIA projects higher gas prices in the Midwest due to higher expenditures.

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“Given seasonal forecasts, including EIA’s, of an increase to the cost of natural gas we are concerned about the potential for rising fuel prices to impact our customers’ bills this winter. While CenterPoint doesn’t control the price of natural gas or determine how fuel costs impact customer bills, we are committed to supporting our customers, especially those who may need help paying their energy bill. We encourage all those who may have difficulty paying their bill to plan ahead and take advantage of our customer support programs and energy-saving resources during the winter heating season,” said Mike Roeder, CenterPoint’s Senior Vice President, External Affairs.

Financial Assistance and Customer Support Programs

CenterPoint encourages customers to take advantage of payment assistance options and energy-saving programs to help manage their winter bills, including:

  • Customer Assistance Fund (CAF): Direct bill support is available to eligible southwestern Indiana customers who may be facing financial challenges. Administered in partnership with The Salvation Army Indiana Division and supported by CenterPoint, the CAF features an easy and accessible application process. More information is available at CenterPointEnergy.com/CAF.
  • Energy Assistance Program (EAP): Income-eligible customers can apply through their local community action agency or online ateap.ihcda.in.gov or call 1-800-872-0371 to find their nearest agency.
  • Universal Service Program (USP): Customers who apply and qualify for EAP are automatically enrolled for additional bill reductions.
  • CenterPoint Payment Assistance Program: Customers who may need special payment plans to temporarily keep their service connected and better manage energy costs can explore available resources at CenterPointEnergy.com/PaymentAssistance.
  • Budget Bill: Learn about reducing seasonal bill impacts by spreading costs across the year at CenterPointEnergy.com/BudgetBilling.
  • Energy Efficiency Resources: Rebates, tips and tools for lowering natural gas bills can be found at CenterPointEnergy.com/SmartSavings.

 

Additional details about these customer support programs can be found at CenterPointEnergy.com/ResourceHub or call us at 812-227-1376.

 

Summary of Key Facts

  • Utilities are not permitted to mark up the cost of natural gas. Natural gas is a commodity traded in a national, deregulated market, where prices fluctuate daily with supply and demand.
  • CenterPoint does not control or profit from the cost of natural gas. CenterPoint purchases natural gas on behalf of its customers and then passes those costs on to customers through the gas cost adjustment, which is listed on the bill as “Gas Cost Charge.” Only gas costs actually incurred and approved by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission are recovered from customers. Natural gas costs are calculated separately from electric bills.
  • Industry forecasts, including the Energy Information Administration (EIA) annual Winter Heating Outlook point to higher residential bills this year compared to last.
  • Due to the forecasted increase in natural gas commodity prices, CenterPoint estimates the average residential household could expect to pay an average of approximately $141 per month over the five-month heating season (November-March), compared to approximately $127 per month last year – an increase of approximately 10% due to the price of natural gas. Actual bills vary with home size and age, number of gas appliances, thermostat settings, insulation and weather.
  • Natural gas continues to be one of the most affordable heating sources for most customers in Indiana. In fact, CenterPoint gas customers in the utility’s Indiana South territory who heated their homes with natural gas last year saved up to $704, compared to those who heated their homes with propane.

 

CenterPoint Energy’s Indiana South territory delivers natural gas to approximately 115,000 customers in Daviess, Gibson, Knox, Martin, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh and Warrick counties.

Luebbers Palmer, Norkus, Runner Land on MVC Players to Watch List

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LOUIS – The Missouri Valley Conference announced its women’s basketball “Players to Watch” list for the upcoming season this morning, including three University of Evansville student-athletes – Logan Luebbers Palmer (Union, Ky./Randall K. Cooper), Kylee Norkus (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley), and Camryn Runner (Cicero, Ind./Hamilton Heights). All three Aces selected are sophomores, serving as key pieces of Evansville’s exciting young core.

Luebbers Palmer lands on the list after a stellar freshman campaign that saw her play in 24 games with 11 starts. Luebbers Palmer scored 6.5 points per game in her first season of collegiate basketball and was at her best in MVC play, scoring in double figures six times against conference opponents. She notched her first double digit scoring effort against Missouri State (1/17/25), scoring 15 points, before earning MVC Freshman of the Week honors by scoring 14 points against Bradley (2/13) and a season-high 17 points in 34 minutes against Illinois State (2/15).

Norkus receives preseason recognition after impressing in four games as a freshman last season before suffering a season-ending injury. Norkus started the first four games of the season, scoring an average of 10 points per game while grabbing 5.5 rebounds per game. Before going down against Lindenwood, Norkus played 33, 39 and 37 minutes in the Aces’ first three games and helped Evansville pick up wins over Wright State (11/10/24) and SEMO (11/14).

The reigning MVC Freshman of the Year, Runner lands on the list after one of the most impressive freshman campaigns in UE program history. One of two Aces to start all 32 games last season, Runner led the team with 1,072 minutes played and led MVC freshmen and ranked eighth in the MVC with 15.5 points per game. Runner was among the most prolific free throw shooters in the country, leading the MVC and finishing fifth in the country in free throws made (206) and free throw attempts (250). Runner also averaged 2.8 assists per game, while her 89 assists were the most by an Evansville freshman since Dakota Weatherford in 2013-14. A dynamic scorer, Runner scored in double figures in 30 games and had eight performances of 20-plus points, including putting up a season-high 30 against Lindenwood (11/18/24). In MVC play, Runner upped her scoring to 17.8 points per game.

The 2025-26 season begins on October 28th with an exhibition against Roosevelt at Meeks Family Fieldhouse before opening the regular season at SEMO on November 6. The first regular season contest at Meeks Family Fieldhouse comes on November 20, when the Aces play host to IU Indy.

Season tickets for the 2025-26 season are on sale now.  We offer great seats that fit with every family budget. For questions or more information on how we can help you and your family create long lasting memories with us at Meeks Family Fieldhouse this season, please call Logan Belz at the UE Ticket office 812-488-2623.

 

Khalid leads UE men in final round

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Aces finish in a tie for 5th

 

KILLEN, Ala. – Omar Khalid had the low score of the day to pace the University of Evansville men’s golf team in Tuesday’s final round of the Turtle Point Invite at Turtle Point Yacht & Country Club.

Finishing with an even 72, Khalid completed his three rounds with a score of 220. His 4-over effort on the weekend saw him finish in 28th. The Purple Aces’ highest finisher was Daniil Romashkin. A 75 on Tuesday gave him a 3-round tally of 218. He came home in a tie for 24thplace.

Tying for third on the team and 4th in the final standings were Andrew Rottschalk and Julian Kiessling. Both wrapped up the tournament at 8-over. Rottschalk shot a 76 in the last round while Kiessling finished the day with a 77. Jamison Ousley carded a 76 on Tuesday to finish in 54th with a score of 227. Individual Miguel Sobrado finished in the 37th position. A 2-over 74 in the final 18 holes gave him a 222 for the weekend.

As a team, the Aces tied New Orleans for 5th place at 17-over. North Alabama took top honors finishing the event at 22-under. They defeated SE Louisiana by 20 strokes. Brycen Jones was the medalist. Playing as an individual for Alabama, Jones defeated Logan Reilly of Auburn by one. Jones wrapped up his three rounds at 16-under.

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