According to an online post from Evansville 411, SKECHERS has plans to open on Evansville’s east side in the Evansville Pavilion Shopping Center.
FOOTNOTE: EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.
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One of the bills introduced in this legislative session will crack down on nonprofit hospitals that exploit their tax-exempt status while charging some of the highest prices in the country.
HB 1004 would strip nonprofit status from hospitals that charge more than 200% above what Medicare pays for services.
Devin Anderson, a board member of Hoosiers for Affordable Healthcare, applauded the bill, calling it a bold move to address Indiana’s ninth-highest hospital prices in the nation.
“HB 1004 puts real teeth into the effort to hold nonprofit hospitals accountable for the 9th highest prices while having billions in cash reserves,” said Anderson. “This bill sends a clear message from the Indiana House of Representatives Leadership: Lowering prices is not optional—a demand on behalf of the Hoosiers they represent who can’t afford skyrocketing prices from hospitals who masquerade as nonprofits.”
The bill, authored by Representative Martin Carbaugh (R-Fort Wayne) and co-authored by Representatives Ben Smaltz (R-Auburn) and Julie McGuire (R-Indianapolis), would force major price adjustments in healthcare. In the Evansville area, Ascension St. Vincent would need to reduce prices by 40.5%, and Deaconess Health System would have to reduce prices by 23%.
“Nonprofit hospitals have enjoyed tax exemptions for years, yet many are charging more than triple what Medicare pays for the same services,” said Anderson. “HB 1004 forces these hospitals to decide—either behave as a nonprofit hospital by lowering your prices or lose the benefits of nonprofit status.”
Nonprofit Status at Risk: Hospitals charging over 200% of Medicare rates will lose their nonprofit status.
Stricter Community Benefit Standards: Limits what hospitals can claim as community benefits to justify their tax exemptions.
Mandatory Transparency: Hospitals must disclose pricing data compared to Medicare rates and make unredacted Form 990 Schedule H publicly available.
Annual Audits: Nonprofit hospitals will face yearly audits by the Secretary of State to verify compliance.
“This bill is a wake-up call for Indiana hospitals: stop exploiting Hoosiers, or lose your nonprofit status. It’s that simple,” said Anderson.
The University of Southern Indiana Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education is hosting its third annual Be a Teacher Day on Wednesday, February 12 on the USI campus. The event will highlight the importance of the profession of education, allow prospective students to meet current teaching professionals and teacher education students, as well as ask questions about the profession.
Be a Teacher Day will include a panel discussion with a superintendent, a principal, an elementary teacher, a first-year teacher, ESL teacher, and current teacher education students; a keynote presentation; a major matching event; a classroom experience; and a campus tour.
The first Be a Teacher Day, hosted in 2023, was a huge success, drawing more than 350 high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors from the Tri-state area. USI’s Teacher Education Department was thrilled with the outpouring of interest and is looking to provide prospective students with a unique, engaging experience. The event has inspired many similar events hosted throughout the state since.
“Be A Teacher Day is a vital event underscoring the commitment of the Teacher Education Department at USI to shaping the future of education,” says Dr. Tori Colson, Assistant Dean of the Pott College. “We take great pride in fostering a growing interest in the teaching profession across the Tri-state area.”
The keynote presentation this year will be given by Kim Strobel ’99 and a former teacher turned internationally known motivational speaker who inspires others to step into their power and live happier, less stressed lives. Drawing on positive psychology research, she teaches practical, science-backed strategies that help you achieve transformative results.
Strobel will also be presenting another keynote in the evening, The Science of Happiness, directed at current teacher education students and educators in the Tri-state area. The event will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the USI Performance Center and is free and open to the public.
USI’s Teacher Education program offers a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science through the following majors:
The teacher education minor in secondary/P-12 education may accompany any of the following majors to prepare discipline-specific teachers:
Be a Teacher Day is made possible through generous support from the USI Foundation.
For more information and to register, visit the USI Teacher Education website. For questions, contact Elise Murray, Instructor in Education, at ecweatherh@usi.edu.
Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry today announced the release of a forward-thinking Strategic Plan for city government, developed in collaboration with Crowe LLP and informed by input from city officials, employees, and nearly 800 residents.
The plan, described as a “guiding framework” for how city officials will continue to serve and support the Evansville community moving forward, aims to improve efficiency of government operations. Mayor Terry also noted that the plan will ensure transparency and accountability as city officials allocate resources, establish programs, and undertake new projects in alignment with the priorities outlined in the Strategic Plan.
“This Strategic Plan serves as both a roadmap and a management tool, helping to align our leaders, resources, and operations with our shared mission and vision,” Mayor Terry said. “At its core, the plan emphasizes efficient government operations, the strengthening of public services, and the commitment to making those services more accessible and responsive to all residents.”
Click here to download the entire plan.
Among the highlights of the plan are defined Mission and Vision statements for the city, as well as four core focus areas for city government, each of which includes multiple goals:
In the coming weeks, city officials – again working alongside Crowe LLP – will begin creating an implementation plan, which will include establishing performance metrics, establishing working groups, and developing implementation timelines.
