EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.—University of Southern Indiana Men’s Track & Field used a strong effort in the 3,000 meters to earn a seventh-place finish at the Cougar Classic Saturday.
Sophomore Landen Swiney set an outdoor school record in the 3,000 meters, crossing the finish line in second place with a time of eight minutes, 40.96 seconds.
The Screaming Eagles had six of the top eight finishes in the 3,000 meters to account for 27 of their 28 points.
Freshmen James Haggerty and Kyle Kern respectively placed third and fourth in the event. The duo also surpassed the former outdoor record of 8:47.32, which was set by Will Hogston at the 2012 WKU Hilltopper Relays. Haggerty’s time of 8:41.95 is a new USI outdoor freshman record in the 3,000 meters.
Junior Mukal Verma finished fifth, while sophomore Joe Schwartz and freshman Blake Smith rounded out the scoring for the Eagles in the 3,000 meters with respective finishes of sixth and eighth.
Freshman Alan Marshall also scored for USI with an eighth-place finish in the 1,500 meters.
USI returns to action Wednesday, Thursday and Friday when it competes at the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, California.
USI Track Recap: Record performances for USI men
Trailblazer Michael Cooper to play for Wagner College
VINCENNES, Ind. – Vincennes University Men’s Basketball sophomore and 2025 NJCAA Division I All-Region 24 honoree Michael Cooper (Minneapolis, Minn.) announced his commitment to play next season at NCAA Division I Wagner College in Staten Island, N.Y. Friday afternoon.
“I chose Wagner because the coaches expressed a need for me, not just a want, which fits perfectly into what I’m looking for next year,” Cooper said. “To go in and build with the program and just win. The coach also relates to me and how I felt that I’ve been overlooked and underrated throughout most of my career and that’s put a chip on my shoulder. Those are the types of players he loves and looks for. He wants to just bring the best out of me and help me embrace my potential.”
Cooper joined the Trailblazers this past season after playing his freshman season at North Platte Community College in Nebraska.
Cooper averaged 12.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game this past season for the Trailblazers.
Cooper scored in double figures 20 times this past season at VU, while recording a team-high five double-doubles.
Cooper’s best stretch of games with the Trailblazers came when he scored in double figures over six straight games, including recording three double-doubles in those games, including scoring 26 points and grabbing 10 rebounds against Wabash Valley College.
Cooper closed out his Trailblazer career by scoring 14 points in the first round of the 2025 NJCAA Division I National Tournament in Hutchinson, Kan. and followed that with 11 points against Indian Hills Community College to send the Blazers to the National Quarterfinals.
Cooper helped Vincennes to a 28-5 record this past season, including a perfect 16-0 regular season record in Region 24 play and securing VU’s 12th National tournament appearance in the last 13 seasons.
“My favorite part from this past season was beating Kaskaskia at home to go undefeated 16-0 in the Region,” Cooper added. “Also making the All-Region team with Bryan and Lebron was pretty special.”
Cooper will be joining a Wagner College program coming off of a 14-16 season, including a 6-10 record in Northeast Conference (NEC) play.
Cooper is the second Trailblazer to announce their plans for the upcoming season as Cooper will be joining VU teammate Bryan Akanmu (Paris, France) who also announced his commitment to Wagner College last week.
Trailblazer Track and Field back in action with strong showing at Little State Championships
MARION, Ind. – The Vincennes University Men’s and Women’s Track and Field teams were back in action after most of last weekend’s meet was canceled due to weather.
The Trailblazers looked impressive over the weekend at the 120th annual Indiana Little State Championships hosted by Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, coming away with three event victories on the weekend.
The VU Men’s results were led off by freshman Anis Abdaoui (Kairouan, Tunisia) who came away with the top spot in the 800 meters with a time of 1:52.78.
Abdaoui was joined in this event by teammates freshman Kelvin Kipsang (Kapsabet, Kenya) and freshman Dakoda Greci (Danville, Ind.), with Kipsang placing 31st overall at 1:59.54 and Greci taking 64th overall at 2:09.89.
The second VU Men’s event winner on the weekend was freshman Tremayne Brown (Anderson, Ind.) who came away with the top spot in the high jump, clearing a height of 2.10 meters.
The Trailblazer sprinters were led by a second place finish in the 400 meter dash by sophomore Malik Ferdinand (Kingstown, S. Vincent and the Grenadines) with a time of 48.59 seconds.
Ferdinand was joined by freshmen teammates Isaiah Ervin (French Lick, Ind.) and ArTezz Butler-Sanders (Indianapolis, Ind.) with Ervin taking 12th at 50.46 seconds and Butler-Sanders posting a time of 51.59 seconds to take 24th overall.
Sophomore Olamipo Ladipo (Sao Paulo, Brazil) led the Blazers in the 200 meters with a time of 21.44 seconds, with Ferdinand placing 13th at 22.06 seconds, freshman Marshawn Bradley (Dyer, Ind.) taking 82nd overall at 24.54 and freshman Aaden Mapp (Indianapolis, Ind.) placing 85th overall with a time of 24.55 seconds.
The VU men’s sprinter results were rounded out in the 100 meter sprint with freshman Devin Wilson (Indianapolis, Ind.) taking 37th overall with a time of 11.39 seconds.
Freshman Karmiel Williams (Jasper, Ind.) placed 44th overall at 11.57 seconds, Marshawn Bradley placed 55th at 11.84 seconds, Mapp placed 58th at 11.88 seconds and freshman Bryce Peak (Brownstown, Ind.) placed 60th with a time of 12.07 seconds.
The Trailblazer men’s distance results continued over the weekend with sophomore Tanner Spence (Carmi, Ill.) placing 17th in the 1500 meters with a time of 4:06.91, with Dakoda Greci placing 40th at 4:30.79.
Freshman Jeremy Mendez (Velpen, Ind.) took home 27th place overall in the 5000 meters with a time of 16:26.46 and sophomore Nathan Whitehead (Vincennes, Ind.) taking 31st overall with a time of 16:38.24.
The Vincennes distance results were rounded out by an impressive showing Friday in the 10,000 meters with sophomore Cody Noel (Hebron, Ind.) leading the charge to take sixth overall with a time of 32:40.62.
Jeremy Mendez would place 14th in the 10,000 meters as well with a time of 33:35.19 and Freshman Lane Connaway (Carmi, Ill.) placed 21st with a time of 34:21.63.
Sophomore Caden Hostetler (LaGrange, Ind.) would place seventh in the 3000 meter steeplechase by posting a time of 10:00.96.
Freshman Anthony Keene (Harrisburg, Ill.) placed 10th in the 110 hurdles with a time of 15.93 seconds and sophomore Zion Pruitt (Avon, Ind.) placed 14th in the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 57.57 seconds.
The VU Track results were rounded out with the Men’s relay results, with the Trailblazers taking seventh in the 4×100 relay at 42.86 seconds, fourth in the 4×400 relay at 3:23.28 and sixth in the 4×800 relay at 8:03.77.
Anthony Keene kept his busy weekend going in the field events by taking third in the triple jump with a distance of 13.64 meters, while freshman Chase Guthrie (Indianapolis, Ind.) placed 17th at 11.70 meters.
Guthrie would go on to take fifth in the long jump with a best jump of 6.64 meters.
Sophomore Maliek Bush (Jeffersonville, Ind.) placed 11th in the javelin with a best throw of 42.51 meters.
The VU Men’s results were rounded out by a busy throwing weekend by freshman Cayden Gasser (Delphi, Ind.).
Gasser would compete in four events over the weekend, taking 15th in the javelin with a throw of 40.34 meters, 33rd in the discus at 35.54 meters, 38th in the shot put at 10.62 meters and 48th in the hammer throw with a best throw of 25.95 meters.
The VU Men’s Team overall came away with 58 points on the weekend, good for sixth place as a team out of 18 scoring teams.
THUNDERBOLTS COMPLETE SERIES COMEBACK WITH 4-3 WIN IN GAME THREE OVER HAVOC
His Word Is Beautiful
His Word Is Beautiful 
The beauty of God’s word is in knowing He loves us! We know there are problems in this world. But the beauty of God’s word reminds us of the solutions over and over again. There are many examples, of what will lead to success as well as the causes of failure. The biggest blessing bestowed upon mankind was when God sent Jesus into the world to be the sacrificial Lamb for the sins of all mankind. In Romans chapter 11 vs. 36 the brethren were reminded of the power which comes from knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior. The Bible says; “For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever.” The Apostle Paul said in chapter 12 vss. 1 and 2; “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable to God which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” To be a conformist to the ways of this world is a recipe for disaster. There must be a willingness to study God’s word and pray for understanding. There is great wisdom in having a desire to do the right thing. The Lord loves obedience. For those unwilling to behave in such a manner, that individual has a heart problem, that can only be repaired by coming to the salvation of Jesus Christ. When there is obedience to the gospel, a change will come in how an individual will think and act. The gospel is the greatest behavior modifier of all time. Vs. 3 Paul says; “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” How we treat others is just as important, for those who know Jesus as Lord and Savior. We cannot spew hateful words, because we must show others some love!
Philippians 2 vss. 3 and 4, Paul says; “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interest of others.” Jesus says in Mark 12 vs. 31; “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
City Council Meeting APRIL 14, 2025
APRIL 14, 2025
AGENDA
| I. | INTRODUCTION |
04-14-2025 Agenda Attachment:
| II. | APPROVAL OF MEETING MEMORANDUM |
3-31-2025 Memo Attachment:
| III. | REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS |
| IV. | SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY |
| V. | CONSENT AGENDA: FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS |
A. ORDINANCE G-2025-10 An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana Approving a Payment in Lieu of Taxes Agreement for Affordable Housing Project Sponsor(s): Trockman, Heronemus Discussion Led By: ASD Chair Carothers Discussion Date: 4/28/2025 Notify: Nick Cirignano, ZSWS G-2025-10 Attachment:
B. ORDINANCE F-2025-06 An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Evansville Authorizing Transfers of Appropriations, Additional Appropriations and Repeal and Re-Appropriation of Funds for Various City Funds Sponsor(s): Allen Discussion Led By: Finance Chair Allen Discussion Date: 4/28/2025 Notify: Robert Gunter, Controller F-2025-06 Attachment:
C. ORDINANCE F-2025-07 An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Evansville Authorizing Repeals and Re-Appropriations of Funds within the Department of Metropolitan Development Sponsor(s): Allen Discussion Led By: Finance Chair Allen Discussion Date: 4/28/2025 Notify: Kolbi Jackson, DMD F-2025-07 Attachment:
| VI. | COMMITTEE REPORTS |
| VII. | REGULAR AGENDA: SECOND READING OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS |
A. ORDINANCE G-2025-09 An Ordinance to Vacate Certain Public Ways or Public Places Within the City of Evansville, Indiana, Commonly Known as Part of a 10 foot Alley in Foster’s Subdivision of Lot 200 in the Donation Enlargement Sponsor(s): Carothers Discussion Led By: Public Works Chair Koehler Lindsey Discussion Date: 4/14/2025 Notify: Scott Buedel, Cash Waggner & Associates G-2025-09 Attachment:
B. ORDINANCE F-2025-04 An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Evansville Authorizing Transfers of Appropriations, Additional Appropriations and Repeal and Re-Appropriation of Funds for Various City Funds Sponsor(s): Allen Discussion Led By: Finance Chair Allen Discussion Date: 4/14/2025 Notify: Robert Gunter, Controller F-2025-04 Attachment:
C. ORDINANCE F-2025-05 An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Evansville Authorizing Repeals and Re-Appropriations of Funds within the Department of Metropolitan Development Sponsor(s): Allen Discussion Led By: Finance Chair Allen Discussion Date: 4/14/2025 Notify: Kolbi Jackson, DMD F-2025-05 Attachment:
| VIII. | RESOLUTION DOCKET |
A. RESOLUTION C-2025-14 A Confirmatory Resolution of the Common Council of the City of Evansville Declaring an Economic Revitalization Area for Property Tax Phase-In for The Rehabilitation of Real Property and Installation of New Equipment 1601 Buchanan Road, Evansville, Indiana (Journey Two Enterprises, LLC / Separation By Design, Inc.) Sponsor(s): Brinkmeyer, Trockman, Koehler Lindsey Discussion Led By: President Trockman Discussion Date: 4/14/2025 Notify: Patrick Hickey, E-REP C-2025-14 Attachment:
B. RESOLUTION C-2025-15 A Confirmatory Resolution of the Common Council of the City of Evansville Declaring an Economic Revitalization Area for Property Tax Phase-In for The Installation of New Equipment 2138 N. Sixth Ave., Evansville, Indiana (IRD Group, Inc.) Sponsor(s): Brinkmeyer, Heronemus, Trockman Discussion Led By: President Trockman Discussion Date: 4/14/2025 Notify: Patrick Hickey, E-REP C-2025-15 Attachment:
C. RESOLUTION C-2025-16 A Resolution Approving an Interlocal Agreement Between the City of Evansville and Vanderburgh County Regarding the Distribution of Funds Received from the 2024 Local Byrne Justice Grant Program Award Sponsor(s): Trockman, Mosby, Heronemus Discussion Led By: President Trockman Discussion Date: 4/14/2025 Notify: Marco DeLucio, ZSWS C-2025-16 Attachment:
| IX. | MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS |
A. THE NEXT MEETING of the Common Council will be Monday, April 28, 2025 at 5:30 p.m.
B. ADDITIONAL MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
| X. | COMMITTEE REPORTS |
| XI. | ADJOURNMENT |
Human trafficking bill receives “a very welcome change” to watered down language
An amendment that strengthened a recently watered-down human trafficking awareness bill prevailed on the Senate floor Thursday afternoon. Authored by Sen. Rodney Pol, D-Chesterton, the amendment makes it so that House Bill 1416 requires gas stations with interior public spaces to display human trafficking awareness posters in restrooms or another visible location on its property.
During a Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee meeting in late March, Sen. Aaron Freeman, R-Indianapolis, removed that requirement for those businesses out of the bill. He said his amendment was the result of pushback from the gas station and convenience store industry.
As amended, the bill now requires gas stations, rest stops and welcome centers to display human trafficking posters with awareness information and contact details for the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Rest stops and welcome centers are asked to include more specifics about trafficking as well as a law enforcement phone number. Gas stations may choose to display the additional information.
Pol, who is on the Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee with Freeman, told TheStatehouseFile.com that after HB 1416 was watered down, he became determined to improve it. He wanted to find a way to compromise with the gas station industry so that human trafficking awareness signs would be required on their premises.
Pol said industry members told lawmakers that some of their establishments were already posting information on their property that aims to prevent human trafficking, so they thought the bill was unnecessary.
To Pol, this was not enough because not every gas station in Indiana was participating.
When he spoke with the industry about other concerns, he learned that certain gas stations, like ones outside of grocery stores that do not have restrooms or indoor shopping areas, were not sure how they would be able to implement the awareness signs.
Concerns from businesses like those, in Pol’s opinion, are what derailed the purpose of the bill and caused some Republican lawmakers to think requiring these types of businesses to have the awareness signs was impossible.
“You can’t be so rigid in your idea that you miss the intent and whether or not that (the bill) can be accomplished,” Pol said.
Pol’s amendment requires gas stations “with interior space open to the public” to display the awareness signs, which addresses the industry’s concern about businesses that do not have indoor convenience stores or public restrooms.
Working with the industry to address their worries is what won Republican senators over on the requirement for gas stations.
“Once the industry was able to, you know, confirm that they were good with it and they were able to explain that, you know, to the Republicans, we were good,” he said.
Beth White, CEO of the Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault, said her organization was not in favor of Freeman’s amendment to remove gas stations from the bill but is thankful Pol was able to re-amend the bill Thursday.
“This is a very welcome change to make sure that we are doing absolutely everything possible to help victims of this terrible crime access help,” White said. “I truly believe this will save lives.”
She said that in most cases of trafficking, the victim often does not label themself as a victim. They may think that since their trafficker provides them with food and shelter, they should do what they ask in return.
To White, signs in gas stations and other types of rest stops are a positive way for human trafficking victims to be confronted with quality information that may help them leave a dangerous situation.
“I feel like it’s a very small thing that can be done to make a really big impact on people who are victims of human trafficking and are often controlled completely by their trafficker. … The only time they are able to be alone is in the bathroom,” White said. “It is not a burdensome requirement, and if it could save the life of a human trafficking survivor, why wouldn’t we want to do this?”
Anna Cecil is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news site powered by Franklin College journalism students.
48TH ANNUAL EASTERSEALS TELETHON ON ABC 25/CW 7 RAISES $907,797 WHILE SHARING LOCAL STORIES AND EASTERSEALS MISSION.
The 48th annual Easterseals Telethon ended at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 11, with a grand total of $907,797 raised for the Easterseals Rehabilitation Center. All proceeds will stay local to provide inclusive early education and essential therapy services for Tri-State children and adults with disabilities. Easterseals shared mission stories, recognized community partners, and celebrated the organization’s local impact during the broadcast.
The show aired live on ABC 25/CW 7 from the Easterseals Rehabilitation Center at 3701 Bellemeade Ave. in Evansville. The station donated production and airtime costs to make the Telethon broadcast possible.
Numerous individuals, businesses, and groups presented checks on the air. “Pacesetter” volunteers contributed donations collected in advance of the show. Local community members donated by phone, in person, and online. In the afternoon, the E’ville Iron Street Rod Club displayed several pre-1949 vehicles outside the Easterseals Rehabilitation Center.
Among many individuals featured on the show were local Easterseals Youth Ambassador Ethan Hills of Newburgh IN and Adult Ambassador Greg Butler of Evansville.
Mayor Stephanie Terry appeared on the broadcast to declare April 11 as “Easterseals Day” in the City of Evansville. Several individuals, businesses, and organizations featured on the show received Easterseals Mayor’s Awards for their generous support.
The Easterseals Rehabilitation Center serves more than 5,900 individuals with disabilities from a 31-county area spanning Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois. Core services are offered on a sliding fee scale, regardless of ability to pay. All donations remain local to help provide inclusive early education and life-changing therapy services for Tri-State children and adults with disabilities.
Community support remains essential to provide services for local individuals with disabilities, regardless of their financial means.