There are dogs that need a warm home and some love. Contact Evansville Animal Care and Control about these or other pets to foster or adopt.
Indiana Black Legislative Caucas unveils 2025 Legislative Agenda
HARRIS, IBLC UNVEIL 2025 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA: ‘HEALTHY BODIES, HEALTHY MINDS’INDIANAPOLIS – State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago), chair of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC), announced that mental and physical health will be the focus of the caucus’ 2025 legislative agenda.The “Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds” agenda aims to increase access to health care, improve health outcomes for Hoosiers, bring more physicians to the state of Indiana and enhance funding for mental health care.The collection of bills, which includes a “Momnibus” package in honor of the late Sen. Jean Breaux, also includes access to safe housing, maternal health resources for incarcerated women and legislation requiring mental health professionals to assist law enforcement with calls pertaining to a mental health or substance use disorder crises.“When speaking about public health, we need to be thinking about the many facets of life that have an impact on our overall health and wellbeing,” Harris said during a press conference today. “From making schools safer to increasing access to affordable housing, we in the IBLC are hard at work to make Indiana a safer, healthier and more equitable place to live, study, work and raise a family.“We’re not naïve; we know we won’t fix all of Indiana’s health problems in one legislative session,” Harris said. “But this year, we’re committed to doing everything we can to help Hoosiers get access to preventative care, lower health care costs, bring more doctors to the state and to improve mental and physical health outcomes for citizens across the board.”
USI to host Crappie University 2025, Crappie Fishing’s newest insights
USI to host Crappie University 2025, Crappie Fishing’s newest insights
University of Southern Indiana Outreach and Engagement is hosting Crappie University 2025; Crappie Fishing’s Newest Insights, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, February 4, 11 and 18 in the Wright Administration Building, Room WA2. This three-night event, taught by crappie fishing experts and guides, will provide important details about local waters and effective techniques for catching crappie in the Indiana region.
All sessions will include multimedia presentations with hands-on demonstrations. Topics covered will include best crappie rigs, techniques for the region, making the most of forward-facing technology and in-depth training on dock shooting and other fish-targeting tactics.
“We’re excited for Crappie U’s return to USI, and our instructor lineup for the course is top notch,” said Gary Dollahon, Crappie University President. “Tom Hankins and Doug Sikora are two of Indiana’s most avid and knowledgeable crappie anglers. Jim Dant, from the St. Louis area, adds more expertise from throughout the region. Experienced crappie anglers and beginners alike stand to benefit from the combo’s decades of fishing for the species and about today’s best techniques and gear used for crappie-catching success”.
Sessions will include a question-and-answer period at the conclusion of each class, and registration fees include a lure sample pack for attendees.
MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Better Man” is a heartfelt, familiar take on fame
‘Better Man” is a heartfelt, familiar take on fame
We’ve seen the pitfalls of fame. Freddie Mercury, Johnny Cash, Amy Winehouse—drugs, alcohol, sex—the literal highs and lows of being rich and famous.
“Better Man” is that same familiar tale—one regularly highlighted in cinema in recent years. However, this is the first biopic to display the featured artist as a CGI chimp.
Yep, British pop star Robbie Williams is portrayed as a chimp.
Williams himself said he sometimes felt like a monkey being dragged up on stage to entertain. Filmmakers say it’s so audiences don’t get caught up on the actor’s (Jonno Davies) likeness to the real Robbie Williams, asking that we instead focus on the essence, energy and feeling of who he is.
While I understand all of that, instead we get caught up on the fact that HE. IS. A. CHIMP!
It feels a bit gimmicky, merely an attempt to stand apart from countless other movies showing artists struggling with their fame.
Regardless, director Michael Gracey manages to throw a whole lot of heart into the project, his first since his 2017 musical hit “The Greatest Showman.” Though it’s a tale you’ve heard before, you will feel something.
Since he was young, Williams just wanted to be loved, by any means necessary. In one scene he goes so far as to tell his friend, “It doesn’t matter if you love what you do, it matters that people love you for doing it.”
He didn’t get the love he needed from the dad who abandoned him, so he sought it in the spotlight praise from others. He performed in the ’90s with boy band Take That, first in gay clubs, then expanding to larger audiences. But his self-destructive behavior and substance abuse led to the group moving forward without him.
One might think Williams takes the appearance of a chimp in the movie as a reminder that he’s different from us—except he’s not.
“I dent easy,” he says, nervously sharing his personal lyrics for the first time when going solo. And despite all of his celebrity to that point, we can relate to him. Along with his addictions, he battles self-doubt, depression and, like all of us, he needs community and love to get through. To be a better man.
Williams became huge in the U.K. by the turn of the century, his 2003 concert crowds at Knebworth the biggest event in U.K. music history. U.S. audiences should recognize some of the hits from the film.
“I was taught that fame would solve everything,” Williams says.
Spoiler: It doesn’t.
“Better Man” may not reinvent the biopic, but its heart makes it an enjoyable concert about what it is to be human—CGI chimp and all.
3.5/5
Scott McDaniel is a department chair and assistant professor of journalism at Franklin College. He lives in Bargersville with his wife and three kids.
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.
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UE faces Belmont on Saturday at the Ford Center
UE faces Belmont on Saturday at the Ford Center
Tip set for 1 p.m.
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Three of the next four games will take place at home beginning on Saturday when the University of Evansville men’s basketball team welcomes Belmont to the Ford Center at 1 p.m. ESPN+ and the Purple Aces Radio Network will have the broadcast.
Last Time Out
– Holding the Purple Aces to 18 points in the first half, Northern Iowa pulled away for a 73-56 win on Tuesday in Cedar Falls
– Tayshawn Comer scored 18 points while Cam Haffner finished with 13
– Comer added 7 boards and 4 steals while Haffner led UE with 8 caroms
Top Defense
– Evansville has established itself as the top defense against MVC competition
– In league games, the Aces lead the league in field goal percentage defense at 36.5% while its 58.43 points allowed is second
Raising His Game
– In his first season in the MVC, Tayshawn Comer has performed at his best against league competition
– Comer is averaging 16.9 PPG in Valley games, putting him 6th
– On January 6, he was named the MVC Player of the Week after averaging 25 points against Southern Illinois and Indiana State
– He reset his career scoring high with 26 against the Salukis, passing his previous high of 23 when he was at Eastern Kentucky
– Over the last five games, Comer is averaging 19.6 PPG
Showing Consistency
– Over the last seven games, Tanner Cuff has recorded 9.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per game
– He continues to pace UE with his average of 6.3 boards per game; that mark ranks 9th in the MVC
– On the offensive side, Cuff has scored 7 or more in seven of the last nine games and is averaging 8.8 PPG on the season
– He had the top game of his career against Chattanooga, scoring 18 while adding 5 boards, 4 assists, 2 blocks and a steal
Scouting the Opponent
– Belmont has won four MVC games in a row to improve to 13-5 on the season and 5-2 in league play
– Three of those wins for the Bruins have come at home including a 71-64 victory over Valparaiso on Tuesday; on Jan. 11, Belmont picked up an 84-79 road victory at Indiana State
– Four Bruins average double figures in scoring with Jonathan Pierre leading the way with 13.7 PPG; Pierre is also the top rebounder for BU, averaging 6.9 caroms per game
– Carter Whitt holds a 13.1 PPG average while Isaiah Walker and Tyler Lundblade chip in 11.6 and 11.4 PPG, respectively
-www.GoPurpleAces.com-
UE swimming and diving faces USI on Saturday
UE swimming and diving faces USI on Saturday
Meet to take place on USI campus
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Back in action for the first time since mid-November, the University of Evansville swimming and diving teams will be across town at USI on Saturday.
Action begins at 10 a.m. with the diving portion of the competition before swimming opens at 1 p.m. at the USI Aquatic Center. Admission is free.
UE was last in action at the A3 Invite in Carbondale, Ill. with both teams earning top five finishes at the event. The Purple Aces men came home in fourth place with the ladies taking fifth.
The multi-day contest saw Evansville finish strong. Joseph Capo had the top finish for the men on the final day. Registering a time of 16:09.18 in the 1650-Freestyle, he took third place. Another third-place finish came in the 400-Free Relay as Michael Pruett, Ben Hasanovic, Logan Tenison, and Daniel Santos Lopez finished in 3:03.32. In the A Final of the 200-Backstroke, Patrik Vilbergsson earned a 4th-place finish, registering a time of 1:49.66.
Santos Lopez led UE with a finish of fourth in the A Final of the 100-Free race. He completed the event in 45.34. Michael Pruett was third in the B Final, recording a 45.98. In the 200-Breaststroke, Joao Pereira picked up a top five in the A Final. Tallying a 2:05.01, he came in fifth.
Sveva Brugnoli provided the highlight of the final day for the women. Her time of 2:04.47 in the A Final of the 200-Fly gave her the victory. Evelyn Chin grabbed a top five in the B Final, finishing 4th with her effort of 2:13.54.
Mari Mueller came in fourth in the A Final of the 200-Breaststroke. She registered a 2:21.42. Rafaela Markarewicz came in 6th in the B Final with a 2:27.02. Ane Madina had a strong performance in the B Final of the 200-Backstroke. Finishing in 2:07.84, she came in fourth. Hannah Krings picked up a top ten in the 1650-Free. She took 10th place with a time of 18:11.37.
In the 400-Free Relay, Madina, Brugnoli, Rebecca Lago, and Mia Pesavento earned a 5th-place finish. The group finished the race in 3:34.74.
-www.GoPurpleAces.com-
BREAKING NEWS: WEVV Parent Company Lays Off All Local Meteorologists
Allen Media Group is laying off over 100 meteorologists at 20 TV stations across the country. This includes WEVV in Evansville.
Instead of local meteorologists forecasting and tracking severe weather, the weather segments will be recorded at The Weather Channel in Atlanta and sent to local stations for airing. Allen Media Group also owns The Weather Channel.
Other stations affected include:
WJRT Flint, MI
WTVA Tupelo, MS
KIMT Rochester, MN/Mason City, IA
KEZI Eugene, OR
KDRV/KDKF Medford, OR
KHSL/KNVN Chico / Redding, CA
WTHI Terre Haute, IN
WLFI West Lafayette, IN
WFFT Fort Wayne, IN
WAAY Huntsville, AL
KADN Lafayette, LA
KITV/KIKU Honolulu, HI
WAOW Wausau, WI
WQOW Eau Claire, WI
WKOW Madison, WI
WXOW La Crosse, WI
WSIL Carterville, IL
KVOA Tucson, AZ
WREX Rockford, IL
KWWL Waterloo, IA
WCOV Montgomery, AL