This Week at US

12/23/2025

Tuesday, December 23

Winter Recess begins

The University will be closed Tuesday, December 23 through Sunday, January 4 for Winter Recess. It will reopen on Monday, January 5.

SAVE THE DATE

January 12

Spring Semester begins

The Spring Semester kicks off on Monday, January 12.

January 19

USI to host annual MLK, Jr. Celebration Luncheon, featuring keynote by educator Dr. Sheila Huff

The University will host a presentation by Dr. Sheila Huff, former Director of Strategic Engagements for the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation (EVSC), honoring the memory and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as part of its annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Celebration Luncheon. The event will take place at 11 a.m. Monday, January 19 in Carter Hall, located in University Center West. Doors will open at 10:15 a.m. The presentation is open to the public, but tickets are required to attend.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Released Tuesday, December 16

USI receives $2.5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to support efforts at Historic New Harmony

The University has received a $2.5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help the Historic New Harmony program establish the Historic New Harmony Religious Liberty Initiative, a comprehensive project aimed at exploring and celebrating the role of freedom of belief, both religious and secular, in shaping visionary communities and inspiring new ways of living.

Released Friday, December 19

USI names over 2,150 undergraduate students to Fall Semester Dean’s List

In recognition of outstanding academic achievement, the USI Dean’s List has been released for the 2025 Fall Semester. Dr. Shelly Blunt, USI Provost, announced 2,159 undergraduate students were named to the Dean’s List.

Mroz Selected by Minnesota United FC in MLS SuperDraf

12/23/2025

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Evansville goalkeeper Michal Mroz (Elk Grove/Elk Grove, Ill.) became the first player in program history to be selected in the MLS SuperDraft on Thursday afternoon, being taken in the third round with the 83rd overall pick by Minnesota United FC. Mroz joins Corey Elenio (2008) and Robby Lynch (2011) as MLS draftees, with the latter two being supplemental selections.

Mroz enjoyed a historic sophomore season for Evansville in 2025, earning the program’s first-ever MVC Goalkeeper of the Year award and helping the Aces clinch a share of the MVC regular season title for the first time in program history.

After earning a spot on the MVC All-Freshman team in 2024, Mroz established himself as one of the top keepers in the country this season. Mroz’s .950 goals against average ranked 46th nationally, while his save percentage of .750 was good for 60h. In MVC play, Mroz was especially stout, leading the league in goals against average (.714), save percentage (.839), and shutouts (4) in regular season play.

As a freshman in 2024, Mroz was an integral part of Evansville’s run to the MVC Tournament championship, starting all 21 matches in goal. Mroz posted an 11-7-3 record with a 1.55 goals against average and posted five clean sheets, the second-most in the Valley. Mroz also ranked second in the MVC with 4.10 saves per game, holding a season save percentage of .723.

Mroz rose to the occasion during the Aces’ 2024 MVC championship run, most notably shutting out top-seeded and nationally-ranked Missouri State in the MVC Tournament semifinal. In the first round of the NCAA Tournament against Massachusetts, Mroz made a season-high nine saves.

A Message from Comptroller Nieshalla: Year-End Reflections

12/23/2025

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Greetings this Christmas and holiday season! We are grateful for the opportunity to serve you through the diligent accounting and reporting of your tax dollars.

The Comptroller’s Office is at your service, from earning national recognition for excellence in financial reporting, to leading a movement from the states to address America’s $38 trillion debt crisis. We are committed to diligently executing and promoting fiscal responsibility and transparency. In addition, come early 2026, our office will share Indiana’s Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), the official audited record of the state’s revenues, expenditures, reserves and debts. Alongside the ACFR, we will publish the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA), which details how federal dollars are spent across Indiana agencies. These annual reports are cornerstones of transparency and accountability and provide Hoosiers with a clear view of how their government manages public funds.

We also look forward to introducing a new feature on the Indiana Transparency Portal that brings the federal funds information from the SEFA to a user-friendly dashboard format on the portal.

We can be proud of how Indiana continues to lead as a model of financial responsibility, and in 2026, I look forward to seeing you across our great state!
– Elise

Office Report on Recent Highlights:
Indiana’s Fiscal Discipline Spotlighted in Governing Magazine

In her latest op-ed, “Federal Financial Reform and Lessons From Indiana,” Comptroller Nieshalla highlights Indiana’s journey from a severe cash‑flow crisis to becoming one of the nation’s most fiscally disciplined states, with a AAA credit rating and one of the lowest debt‑per‑capita standings. Published in Governing Magazine this month, the piece underscores how Indiana’s fiscal turnaround offers lessons for national reform.

Drawing on Indiana’s example of determined discipline in budgeting, debt repayment and spending cuts, Nieshalla calls on Washington policymakers to confront America’s $38 trillion debt crisis with the same resolve. She also emphasizes Indiana’s leadership in advancing bipartisan IN Senate Resolution 51 , now serving as a model for legislatures nationwide, and shares about her role in forming the National Debt Crisis Task Force to press for federal balanced budgets and debt reduction.

Hoosier START Earns National Leadership Award
As the administrator for Hoosier START, Indiana’s deferred compensation retirement plan, Comptroller Nieshalla announced that the program received the Leadership Award from the National Association of Government Defined Contribution Administrators (NAGDCA) for the second consecutive year. Recognized for innovative outreach to more than 68,000 state employees and retirees, Hoosier START was honored for empowering managers with tools to clearly communicate retirement savings benefits and for strengthening employee engagement. This award underscores Indiana’s commitment to building a financially secure workforce and highlights the Comptroller’s leadership in advancing retirement education.

The Comptroller’s Accounting and Reporting team photographed in front of the wall of plaques and
awards, including the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from GFOA

90 State Officials Join Comptroller Nieshalla in Call for Federal Action on Debt Crisis
As chair of the National Debt Crisis Task Force of state financial officers, Comptroller Nieshalla is growing a national coalition that includes 90 governors, state legislators and state financial officers who sent a letter of support to President Trump and Congress backing immediate action to address America’s $38 trillion debt crisis. The letter underscores the urgency of restoring fiscal solvency and highlights the role of state leaders in building a movement to prioritize federal financial sustainability. By uniting voices from across the country, this effort demonstrates Indiana’s leadership in elevating the issues of the national debt crisis as the states call for a lower debt-to-GDP ratio and a balanced budget.

We look forward to sharing more highlights in the New Year, and it is our pleasure to serve you. From all of us in the Comptroller’s Office – may you and yours have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

First Ivy Tech Students in US Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship Building America Program Graduate

12/23/2025

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TELL CITY, IN – On Dec. 16, the first three students in the newly formed U.S. Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship Program with Commonwealth Rolled Products in Lewisport, KY, graduated with an interdisciplinary technical certificate from Ivy Tech Community College. The program included a mix of courses, selected by the employer, to give the students the skills the employer wanted them to have.

Graduates include: Brian McBride, Chris Meadows, and Mike Owens, all employees at Commonwealth Rolled Products.

Commonwealth Rolled Products and Ivy Tech were able to develop this program through grant funding provided by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship Building America program.

Ivy Tech Community College is providing the related training required by the U.S. Department of Labor for registered apprenticeship programs. Each program is supported with an interdisciplinary industrial workforce technical certificate which is customized to the specific needs of a company. Commonwealth’s training was developed through a collaboration with the Ivy+ Career Link team, the School of Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering and Applied Science, and Katie King, site director of Ivy Tech’s Tell City location.

Evansville campus Chancellor Daniela Vidal urges any company interested in partnering to develop an apprenticeship program to reach out. “Giving employers the ability to skill up their workforce, and provide meaningful training and skills to their employees, is one of the things Ivy Tech does best.” Employers may partner with Ivy Tech by contacting Ivy+ Career Link at 812-492-0269.

The Apprenticeship Building America grant program is designed to expand and modernize registered apprenticeship by increasing the number of programs and apprentices, diversifying the industries that use registered apprenticeships and improving the access to and performance of registered apprenticeship programs for underrepresented and underserved communities.

Vanderburgh County Recent Booking Records

12/23/2025

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Booked Last 24 Hours-Public

EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

12/23/2025

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EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

FOOTNOTE: EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.

Aces’ Hard-Fought Effort Falls Short in Non-Con Finale at Dayton

12/22/2025

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DAYTON, Ohio – The University of Evansville women’s basketball team wrapped up the non-conference portion of their schedule with a hard-fought effort at Dayton on Sunday afternoon, but fell short with a 75-66 defeat to the Flyers.

Camryn Runner (Cicero, Ind./Hamilton Heights) posted her third 20-plus point performance of the season with 22 to lead the Aces. Runner shot 12-for-13 from the charity stripe and added a team-high six rebounds and six assists. Elle Snyder (Latrobe, Penn./Greater Latrobe) added a season-high 10 points, seven of which came in the first quarter, while Logan Luebbers Palmer (Union, Ky./Randall K. Cooper) scored 10 points and played all 40 minutes.

Evansville came out of the gates hot, with a three-pointer by Snyder and layups by Mustaros and Snyder gave the Aces a 7-1 lead. Dayton would battle back to tie the score at 11 at the 2:41 mark in the quarter before taking the lead, but a pair of and-ones from Runner and Georgia Ferguson (Waterloo, Ontario/Cairine Wilson Secondary School) helped the Aces regain the lead at 20-18. However, the Flyers beat the first quarter buzzer with a three-pointer to take a 21-20 lead into the second period.

Dayton began the second quarter on a run, outscoring the Aces 9-2 in the first four minutes. Evansville would battle back, though, as layups from Lubbers Palmer and Runner made it 30-26 in favor of the Flyers. The Aces’ duo continued to help the team battled back, knocking down a pair of jumpers to tie the score at 32, before Lubbers Palmer gave the Aces the lead at 34-32 with 2:21 to play in the half. However, Dayton would go on another run to end the quarter, scoring eight unanswered points to take a 40-34 at halftime.

Dayton began to pull away midway through the third quarter, taking a 53-38 advantage with 5:30 to go. The Flyers would extend the lead to 18, but the Aces chipped away in the final two minutes of the quarter, with Runner outscoring the Flyers 8-2 to make it 60-48 heading into the fourth.

Evansville continued to chip away in the fourth quarter, with BreAunna Ward (St. Louis, Mo./John Burroughs School) knocking down a jumper at the 8:48 mark to cut the deficit to single digits. Sydney Huber (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Mount Vernon) got hot from three-point range as the Aces fought back, knocking down a transition three off a block from Mireia Mustaros (Barcelona, Spain/Odessa College) before drilling another three off a steal, making the Dayton lead four at 67-63 with 1:41 to play. However, that was as close as it would get, as Dayton hung on for a 75-66 win.

The Aces return home on December 29 to host Murray State for an MVC clash at Meeks Family Fieldhouse. Tip-off is set for 6 PM.

Rally falls short as Aces fall to Bulldogs

12/22/2025

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Drake takes 66-65 victory

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Trailing by as many was 14 points in the second half, the University of Evansville men’s basketball team staged a furious rally in the final minutes before coming up just one point short in a 66-65 setback to Drake on Sunday inside the Ford Center.

Connor Turnbull led all players with 20 points and a career-high 15 boards. He added three blocks in just over 28 minutes of action. AJ Casey had a solid 12-point, 4-rebounds effort while recording three steals. Alex Hemenway completed the day with 11 points. Jaeshon Thomas led the Bulldogs with 18 points.

“I just told our guys that it is hard to be in these games but it is even harder to finish them,” UE head coach David Ragland said. “We had opportunities to win both of our MVC games but came up just short. We have given ourselves a chance to win each game and need to learn from our mistakes and get better.”

Turnbull scored UE’s first six points of the day as the Aces took a 6-5 edge four minutes into the game. After the Bulldogs retook a 7-6 lead, Evansville bounced back with seven in a row to go up 13-7 at the 13:07 mark. AJ Casey scored four points while Leif Moeller finished the stretch with a triple.

Drake cut the deficit in half at 15-12 before the Aces hit consecutive triples to take their largest lead of the half at 21-12. Alex Hemenway hit a 3-pointer with nine minutes on the clock while Kaia Berridge connected from downtown 46 second later to give UE a commanding lead and force a time out by the Bulldogs.

Following the stoppage, Drake hit a triple that opened a 17-4 run over the next six minutes. They improved on both ends of the floor as they grabbed a 29-25 edge with just over a minute remaining in the period. Their defense heled UE to one mark in its next seven attempts while their offense seven of its 14 attempts. Turnbull drained two late free throws to grab a 29-27 lead at halftime.

Out of the break, the Bulldogs scored the first six points to take a 35-27 lead. Up 40-33, Drake scored seven in a row to open their largest lead of the afternoon at 47-33 with 13:04 left in the game. Trailing by a 54-42 margin just past the midway point of the latter half, the Aces made their run. A Trent Hundley triple was followed up two Casey baskets before Leif Moeller added a pair of free throws that chopped the DU lead to just three at 54-51 inside of eight minutes remaining.

The Bulldogs scored the next five to go back up by eight before another Hemenway triple made it a 5-point game entering the final four minutes. Drake answered with yet another 3-pointer to retake a 62-54 edge, but UE answered once again scoring five in a row to get back within three. Hemenway converted a free throw before missing the second. Turnbull grabbed the board and turned it into a layup. Following a miss by Drake on the other end, Casey was fouled and knocked down both free throws to make it a 62-59 game with 2:45 left.

On their next possession, Drake hit a basket while Hemenway’s third triple made it a 2-point game at 64-62. Heading into the final minute of play, Drake held a 66-64 advantage. After missing two free throw tries, Hemenway hit one of his two free throw tries to get his squad all the way back within a tally – 66-65. Unfortunately, the comeback fell short as the Aces missed their final three free throw tries while a triple inside the final 10 seconds fell short giving the Bulldogs the win.

Evansville shot 39.6% in the game while the Bulldogs hit 45.6% of their attempts. The Aces completed the game with a 35-34 effort on the boards.

Following the break for Christmas, the Aces will be back on the floor on Monday, Dec. 29 at Bradley.

Vanderburgh County Arrest Warrants

12/22/2025

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Vanderburgh County Arrest Warrants

Gov. Braun Honors Life of Forrest Lucas with Sachem Award

12/22/2025

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INDIANAPOLIS – Governor Mike Braun on Thursday honored Lucas Oil founder Forrest Lucas with the 2025 Sachem Award, Indiana’s highest honor.

The Sachem is reserved for individuals who have profoundly shaped Indiana through character, leadership, and service. Only one award is presented per year, chosen by Indiana’s Governor.

The posthumous award was received by Lucas’s wife Charlotte, son and current Lucas Oil CEO, Morgan Lucas, and his wife Katie Lucas, president of Lucas Oil.

“Forrest Lucas exemplified what it means to be a Hoosier. As a self-made entrepreneur, Lucas applied the work ethic he learned on the family farm to build an iconic American company, and left an indelible mark on the state of Indiana through his passion for sports and racing, philanthropy, and moral character. Today, we celebrate his legacy with Indiana’s highest award.” — Governor Mike Braun

About 2025 Sachem, Forrest Lucas

Raised on a small family farm in Elkinsville in 1942, Forrest Lucas pursued the American dream right here in Indiana.

He started his career as a truck driver, buying his first semi-truck at age 21. As an owner-operator, he began to build a fleet of trucks, ultimately becoming the first American to obtain full 48-state operating authority to haul anything anywhere in the country.

In 1989, Forrest and his wife Charlotte founded Lucas Oil, inspired by necessity and an entrepreneurial spirit to create a better oil for his trucks. Lucas Oil now sells more than 100 lubricants and has grown into an iconic international company.

Forrest Lucas also made his mark in Indiana racing, helping to cement Indiana as the Racing Capital of the World. Forrest Lucas was a major contributor to the development of the Indianapolis Colts’ stadium, which today bears his company’s name. As a philanthropist, Forrest Lucas distinguished himself as a major force for positive change in Indiana.

Lucas was a major supporter of local charities. Today, Lucas Oil carries on his legacy, supporting charities and initiatives such as Project Harvest, Wheeler Mission Drumstick Dash, the Central Indiana Police Foundation, the Colts’ Horseshoe Helpings events, Grit & Grace to encourage young female leaders, as well as hosting the Eric Medlen Memorial Golf Tournament, raising over $1.4 million for Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital.

As a job creator, innovator, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and community leader, Forrest Lucas exemplified the traits that all Hoosiers can aspire to emulate.