In a letter to the General Assembly this week, Attorney General Todd Rokita told lawmakers to reconsider Senate Bill 478, which would legalize high-potency THC products by reclassifying such products as, “legal hemp.” This will create a loosely regulated cannabis market that exists completely outside of Indiana’s marijuana laws.
In the letter, Rokita makes it very clear that this bill fails to address legal ambiguities and lacks public health safeguards. “This legislation threatens public safety and undermines our state’s laws by creating enough loopholes for high-potency, intoxicating THC products to be sold under the guise of craft hemp regulation,” Attorney General Rokita said. “This isn’t about taking away your grandma’s CBD oil – it’s about protecting Hoosiers from high-potency THC products that mirror and often exceed the intoxicating effects of marijuana.” In the letter, Rokita states that the legislation is a Trojan Horse that, if passed in its current form, would permit “craft hemp flower products,” including edibles with up to 100 milligrams of THC per serving (delta-9, delta-8, delta-10, or HHC) and 3,600 milligrams per package – incredibly high levels of very potent psychoactive chemicals. Such limits would far exceed those in states with legalized marijuana, where edibles are capped at 10 milligrams per serving and 100 milligrams per package. The 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp as cannabis with 0.3% or less delta-9 THC by dry weight but did not address other intoxicating isomers like delta-8 or delta-10. Attorney General Rokita said manufacturers could exploit this loophole, converting hemp-derived CBD into synthetic THC isomers marketed as legal hemp. “Hoosiers deserve clear, consistent laws that prioritize consumer safety and prevent the proliferation of minimally regulated substances,” Attorney General Rokita reiterated. Attorney General Rokita called on lawmakers to classify any product exceeding 0.3% total THC by dry weight, including synthetics, as marijuana to close the loophole and ensure clarity for law enforcement. Read the full letter from Attorney General Rokita here.
Closing ‘Delta’ legal loopholes: Attorney General Todd Rokita provides clarity to legislators over unregulated THC bill
Women’s Golf concludes season with seventh place finish at OVC Championshi
MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Golf concluded the 2024-25 season with a seventh place finish among nine teams at the 54-hole Ohio Valley Conference Championship in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.
The young Screaming Eagles squad improved their placement from the 2024 squad who finished in eighth. USI finished with a team score of 1,008 (330, 336, 342), ahead of Easten Illinois University and Tennessee State University.
The trio of freshman Zhana Navato (249), freshman Brianna Kirsch (250) and senior Baileigh Schneider (251), led the Eagles with similar tournaments finishing 25th, 26th, and 27th.
Morehead State University were crowned OVC champions with an impressive score of 900 (291, 297, 312). The following eight schools were University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Tennessee Tech University, Lindenwood University, Western Illinois University, Bryant University, USI, Eastern Illinois, and Tennessee State.
Round 1
The Eagles shot their best score in round one with a 330. Sophomore Alexis Wymer and Schneider were the lone Eagles who had competed in the high stakes event before. Schneider delivered a veteran performance in round one, scoring her lowest 18 of the spring with a 79 (+7). The score also marked her best round in her three years of competing at the OVC Championships.
Newly awarded All-OVC Newcomer, Kirsch, turned in a strong start to her championships career with an 82. Navato followed behind with an 83, while freshman Fernanda Vera rounded out the scoring with an 86. USI finished day one in eighth place, right behind EIU and Bryant.
Round 2
The Eagles jumped into seventh place after day two with a team score of 336. However, Kirsch was the lone Eagle who improved on the second day with an 81. The freshman jumped into 25th overall with a chance to slide into the top 20.
Navato continued to supply USI with consistency, posting an 83. The freshman avoided disastrous holes and executed six pars and one birdie. Schneider posted an 84, while freshman Jade Blakeley subbed into the tournament and scored an 88.
Round 3
USI concluded the tournament in seventh place as the entire field struggled on the final day. The Eagles scored a 342, seven strokes behind Bryant in sixth place and four ahead of Eastern Illinois.
Navato jumped two spots into 25th with another 83, earning the best USI score of 249. Kirsch and Schneider finished directly behind Navato in the rankings. Kirsch totaled a 250 (82, 81, 87), while Schneider finished her career with a 251 (79, 84, 88).
Vera battled on the final day as one of the few competitors in the field with her top score in the final round at 84. The four USI freshmen competing this week gained valuable experience contributing valiant performances and will return for years to come with added confidence and motivation.
Schneider concludes her career at USI with her lowest total score at the championships with a 251. The senior excelled as a leader for an extremely young 2024-25 squad. The USI community congratulates Baileigh on a fantastic career.
USI Volleyball officially announces recruiting class of 2025
EVANSVILLE, Ind.- University of Southern Indiana Volleyball announced the signing of seven new recruits to be added to the 2025 fall roster. The class consists of five freshman, one sophomore already enrolled in spring classes, and a junior from the JUCO ranks for the upcoming season.
“We’re thrilled to welcome the newest members of the USI Volleyball family,” says head coach Jeffrey Aucoin. “These outstanding student-athletes believe in the vision of our program and are ready to contribute to its bright future. This class represents a pivotal moment in our journey, joining a group that has already laid a strong foundation for success. Each new addition brings something unique to the table and will leave a lasting impact on our program. More importantly, they’ll be exceptional ambassadors for USI Volleyball, our athletic department, and our university as a whole. We can’t wait to have them on campus this August!”
McKenzie Murphy | 6’0 | Middle Blocker/Hitter | Fort Scott, Kansas
The native of Fort Scott transferred to USI after two years at Hutchinson Community College. As a freshman and sophomore, Murphy totaled 349 kills (177 in 2024, 172 in 2023) and 297 blocks. The middle blocker brings experience and a proven track record as the Eagles lost two important middles to graduation. She also earned a spot on the presidential honor roll in the summer of 2023 and the vice president’s honor roll in the fall of 2023. At Fort Scott Murphy was named to the 2022 Southeast Kansas League First Team unanimously after a SEK League Second Team placement in 2021.
Grace Bach | 6’1 | Middle Blocker/Hitter | South Elgin, Illinois
Bach joins USI after a three-year varsity career at South Elgin High School in South Elgin, Illinois. During her high school career, Bach made the Upstate 8 All-Conference squad in her senior year along with being named team MVP. She led her team in kills (114) and blocks (51) in her final year. The upstate Illinois native was named to the top 20 players to watch in the Fox Valley Area. She played with Club Fusion Volleyball and Pipeline Volleyball Club. Bach chose USI for the team aspect, campus, facilities, and coaches.
Mackenzie Nettles | 5’10 | Pin | Wheaton, Illinois
Nettles heads to Southern Indiana after a four-year varsity career at Wheaton North High School in Wheaton, Illinois. Nettles was named to the Dukane Conference All-Academic team and All-Conference Athletic Team during her playing career. Nettles was quotes saying, “I chose USI because of the culture I felt as soon as I walked on campus. I felt a sense of ease and happiness on campus and knew I would be able to succeed here as an athlete and as a student.” Nettles also played for Club Fusion Volleyball.
Ava Carpenter | 6’0 | Outside Hitter | Sycamore, Illinois
Carpenter will join USI next fall as a freshman after earning multiple high school accolades in her senior season. At Sycamore High School, Carpenter was named conference MVP in 2024, Daily Chronicle Player of the Year, and First Team All-Conference. The outside hitters dominate presence will be on full display this fall at Liberty Arena. Carpenter also played for Club Fusion.
Carly Wright | 6’0 | Outside Hitter | North Richland Hills, Texas
Wright travels the farthest among the 2025 class, joining the Eagles from North Richland Hilla High School just outside of Dallas and Fort Worth. The incoming freshman and the rest of the class looks to fill an outside hitting void following the departure of graduate senior Jasmine Green. Wright posted an impressive high school career, earning First Team All-District in 2022, 2023, and 2024. She also earned All-State in 2022, along with being named team MVP in 2023 and 2024. Wright excelled in the classroom as an Academic All-District member in 2021-25.
Audrey Small | 5’5 | Libero | O’Fallon, Missouri
Small has already joined the Eagles enrolled in spring classes after a stellar freshman season transferring in from University of North Alabama. Small will enter her sophomore season next year as a defensive specialist or libero. The O’Fallon native earned an Atlantic Sun Conference All-Freshman Team selection, racking up 506 digs (4.36 DPS). The transfer also totaled 114 assists and 20 service aces. Small posted two 30 dig performances and looks to continue denying attackers this fall.
Aysa Thomas | 5’9 | Setter | Brownsburg, Indiana
Thomas joins the Eagles as an incoming freshman from Brownsburg High School where she helped her team win four sectional championships, along with an elite eight appearance in 2022. Individually, Thomas was an IHSVCA All District selection in 2024. She also earned First Team All-Conference in 2023 and 2024. She also excels in the classroom achieving 2024 Academic All State and Brownsburg Honor Roll. She finished high school with a monstrous 3,763 career assists and 1,276 career digs. Thomas explained “I choose USI because of the coaching staff, players, amazing facilities, and support system.”
Late rally leads Trailblazers to win over Olney Central College
VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University baseball team opened another busy week at Jerry Blemker Field Monday afternoon by hosting the Blue Knights from Olney Central College.
The Trailblazers fell behind early but were able to get the offense going late to pull away and pick up the 9-4 victory over Olney Central.
Vincennes got off to a slow start Monday afternoon, with Olney Central breaking onto the scoreboard with a run in the first and another run in the second to take a quick 2-0 lead.
VU would get a run back in the third after a leadoff single by sophomore Brody Fessel (DePauw, Ind.), who came around to score on an RBI single by freshman Evan Doran (Indianapolis, Ind.), cutting the deficit in half at 2-1.
Olney Central would get another run on the board in the fifth to increase their lead to 3-1 before the Blazers came firing back in the sixth inning.
Vincennes opened an action packed sixth inning with a double by Evan Doran, which was immediately answered by an RBI single by sophomore Nate Montgomery (Lexington, Ind.) and an RBI double by freshman Carter Gricius (Scottsburg, Ind.) to even the score at 3-3.
VU would get their first lead of the day on an RBI single later in the inning by sophomore Yancey Edlin (Pekin, Ind.) to put the Blazers on top 4-3.
Vincennes would get another run in the seventh after a leadoff walk by Brody Fessel, who advanced on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Bryce Gross (Bridgeport, Ill.) and continued around the bases on a pair of wild pitches to put the VU lead at 5-3.
Olney Central would answer back with a run in the eighth before the Blazers broke the game open with four big runs in the bottom of the eighth.
Vincennes opened the eighth inning with the first five batters reaching base safely.
Nate Montgomery got things started with a single, followed by an RBI double by Carter Gricius, his second of the day.
Sophomore Corbin Napier (Indianapolis, Ind.) reached on a hit by pitch, Edlin reached on a fielder’s choice and a single by freshman Jevan Andrews (Hobart, Ind.) loaded the bases for the Blazers.
Bryce Gross came up and cleared the bases with a two-RBI single, with Andrews scoring on the play on a fielding error to give the Blazers a 9-4 lead going into the ninth.
Olney Central looked to rally late in the ninth and were able to get the bases loaded with one out before Vincennes was able to get the Blue Knights to ground into a double play to end the game and give the Blazers the 9-4 victory.
Freshman Jacob Allen (Vincennes, Ind.) got the start on the mound for the Trailblazers and threw four and two-thirds solid innings, allowing three runs, two earned runs on five hits and four strikeouts.
Sophomore Colton Okes (Evansville, Ind.) was the first out of the pen for the Trailblazers, throwing three innings, allowing one run on one hit and striking out two.
Freshman Ty Stultz (Terre Haute, Ind.) came in to pick up the four-out save for the Blazers, throwing the final one and one-third innings, allowing two hits and striking out one.
“We got it done because our pitchers did a great job with Jacob Allen starting, Colton Okes and Ty Stultz coming in at the end keeping the damage minimal and holding them to a run here and there and kept us within striking distance,” VU Head Baseball Coach Chris Barney said. “They didn’t give up a big inning and the good thing that happened for us was that we were able to take advantage of their mistakes and stepped up in some key situations to put some crooked numbers on the board.”
“Nate Montgomery comes through at the plate with a big RBI,” Barney added. “Then Gricius, who has been doing it all year, has two doubles for two RBIs. Yancey Edlin got an RBI and then obviously Bryce Gross getting two RBIs in the eighth. We got production throughout the order. The middle of the lineup did a good job. Guys did a good job of getting on base. Evan Doran had an RBI and was two for four with a double and barreled up his last at bat with a line drive to center field. So the guys were swinging it well today.”
The busy week continues for the Trailblazers as Vincennes will look to pick up another mid-week win over an NJCAA Division I opponent Wednesday, April 23 when VU hosts Volunteer State Community College from Gallatin, Tenn. First pitch Wednesday is set for 2 p.m. eastern.
The Blazers will then return to Jerry Blemker Field this weekend as VU hosts Spoon River College for a Mid-West Athletic Conference (MWAC) series Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27. First pitch both days is set for 12 p.m. eastern.
EVV Board Meeting.
NOTICE OF EXECUTIVE SESSION
Notice is hereby given that the Evansville-Vanderburgh Airport Authority District Board’s Executive Session will be:
DATE: Monday, April 28, 2025
TIME: 3:00 pm, Local Time
PLACE: Evansville Regional Airport 7801 Bussing Drive
Evansville, IN 47725
Purpose: To discuss personnel matters as permitted under IC 5-
14-1.5-6.1 (b)(9).
NOTICE OF REGULAR BOARD MEETING
Notice is hereby given that the Evansville-Vanderburgh Airport Authority District Board’s Regular Board Meeting will be:
DATE: Monday, April 28, 2025
TIME: 4:00 pm, Local Time
PLACE: Evansville Regional Airport
7801 Bussing Drive
Evansville, IN 47725
Rev. Adrian Brooks, President
Evansville–Vanderburgh Airport Authority District
7801 Bussing Drive Evansville, IN 47725 • Phone: 812.421.4401 Fax: 812.421.4412 • www.flyevv.com
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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A Fond Farewell from the City-County Observer
A Fond Farewell from the City-County Observer
APRIL 2, 2025
After more than two decades of relentless dedication, community engagement, and passionate pursuit of truth, it is with both sadness and gratitude that we, Ron and Marilyn Cosby, announce the closing of the Tri-State’s True Watchdog, the City-County Observer. For 23 years, we have worked side-by-side with our contributors and loyal readers to publish independent news and opinion with a mission to inform, challenge, and empower.
This decision does not come easily. Ron suffered a traumatic brain injury from a serious fall last year and has been under expert care at Local Hospitals, Vanderbilt, and in rehabilitation centers ever since. While his recovery is progressing slowly and we remain hopeful, his health and well-being must now be our top priority.
We want to say thank you—to our readers, our contributors, and to those who believed in the importance of independent local journalism. The CCO has been more than just a publication; it has been a community of watchdogs, thinkers, doers, and truth-seekers. Together, we made a difference.
Looking back, some of our proudest moments came from digging into stories others were too timid to touch. With the support of brave contributors and whistleblowers, we exposed public waste, challenged backroom deals, and held public officials accountable. We take pride in the impact we made, and none of it would have been possible without you.
Who could forget when we pulled back the curtain on the extravagant spending habits of the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau—highlighting their taxpayer-funded indulgence in Opus One wine and luxury dining, which we dubbed “The Bacchanalian Fest”? That series sparked resignations and reform. Or the time we uncovered the truth behind the so-called Earthcare Energy project—an alleged economic win that turned out to be little more than vaporware. Our reporting revealed a lack of basic due diligence, saving the city from even greater embarrassment and financial loss.
We stood up to utilities like Vectren, spotlighting their attempt to charge ratepayers for unauthorized projects—like dense pack technology—before they got regulatory approval. And we never let up on pointing out the disconnect between the city’s obsession with tourism and the crumbling infrastructure, drug-laced public parks, and raw sewage problems that desperately needed attention.
We were loud. We were funny. We were relentless. And in our own way, we were effective. We estimate that the work of the City-County Observer saved taxpayers tens of millions of dollars—maybe even more. Whether it was shining a light on secret meetings that threatened the Homestead Tax Credit or calling for sensible policies in an often nonsensical political environment, we did it with passion and purpose.
Ron loved this work. He believed deeply in the power of journalism to protect the public interest and was never afraid to ruffle feathers if it meant doing the right thing. His “Is It True?” column—sharp, witty, and fearless—became a must-read across the region. And through it all, he never stopped advocating for good government and honest leadership.
To those who supported us, thank you for the privilege of being part of your daily lives. You made the CCO a success story rooted in conviction and community. To our contributors, thank you for lending your voices to a cause that mattered. And to Ron—my husband, my partner, my best friend—thank you for leading with courage and vision.
As we close this chapter, we are not saying goodbye to the values that built the CCO. We are simply turning the page. Our hearts are full, and our gratitude is immeasurable.
With love and appreciation, Peace Out
Sincerely,
Ron and Marilyn