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A 2022 file photo of the Indiana State Library in downtown Indianapolis. On June 10, 39 state education employees learned they were being laid off. Three were from the Commission for Higher Education, six from the Department of Education, 14 from the School for the Deaf and 16 from the Indiana State Library.
Additionally, 12 positions—eight from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), three from the Indiana Destination Development Corporation (IDDC) and one from the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet—were eliminated this week. This has contributed to the removal of a total of 49 positions within the Office of Commerce, mostly in the form of employee attrition beginning in January.
The reduction in force (RIF) was enacted to align with the state budget in response to a “$2 billion budget shortfall,” according to a statement from the Office of the Secretary of Education sent to TheStatehouseFile.com.
The recent layoffs were a final resort following other measures like refraining from filling vacant positions and utilizing alternative funding sources, it said.
“We have had to make difficult decisions regarding our agencies’ operations to adjust to the realities of a much tighter budget. This includes adjusting staffing levels,” the statement said. “This is not something that was taken lightly. We are grateful for the work of each of these colleagues to serve our agencies and Hoosiers.”
The state expects to save a combined $7.4 million, it said.
“These changes support Governor Braun’s key priorities: upskilling Indiana’s workforce, supporting existing businesses, launching the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship focused on Main Street Indiana, and advancing a regional economic development model,” The Governor’s Office said in a statement forwarded by the Office of Commerce.
Olivia O’Neal is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news site powered by Franklin College journalism students.
State library, Commission for Higher Ed and other agencies see layoffs this week
VHS Announces Rebranding of Pet Food Pantry
(Evansville, IN – June 11, 2025) – The Vanderburgh Humane Society is rebranding its pet food assistance program of more than 20 years to, “Margie’s Pet Food Pantry” in honor of a longtime volunteer who passed away in 2024.
Margie Cox was a critical volunteer at the VHS for more than 23 years, alongside her daughter Cheri. Vanderburgh Humane Society Director of Advancement Amanda Coburn says, “When we look back at our recent history, it’s very difficult to imagine without Margie. In fact, she and Cheri were there the day that we moved into our current facility in June of 2004, helping move the dogs & cats in.”
Margie volunteered in a variety of capacities over those years. She and Cheri fostered hundreds of litters of puppies & kittens (and their moms!) who wouldn’t have had a chance otherwise, in their personal home.
Margie helped at events, unloaded transports, and cleaned cages when times were tough. One staff member said after she passed, “Margie was the most giving, caring, and dedicated person – she spent so much of her time focusing on things to help others. I wish I knew the number of animals that Margie & Cheri have helped us save, because it would be astronomical.”
And lastly, she was an integral part of the VHS’ pet food bank. The food pantry keeps pets in the homes they already have and ensures they don’t go hungry. For more than 2 decades, on the third Monday of the month, Margie was there…. Passing out pet food to our most vulnerable community members.
When she passed away last February, the VHS leadership team had to evaluate the pet food bank program since it had lost its core volunteer. After reworking some protocols under the leadership of Events & Outreach Coordinator Mackenzee McKittrick, VHS says they’re proud that the expanded program has now serves families within 3 business days, rather than just once a month.
But the biggest change is the name and the official new logo:
VHS Marketing & Communications Specialist Megan Baggett designed the logo with a few very special features in mind:
2) The font used for her name was modeled after Margie’s handwriting on the label of her food bin that was still floating around the shelter months later.
3) The brown in the logo was chosen, obviously, because pet kibble is brown… but the blue is a denim-colored blue, in honor of the denim shirts Margie wore a lot.
Coburn says, “We look forward to remembering Margie in this way for years to come. And when people might look at that logo and say, ‘Hey, who’s Margie?’ We’ll say, ‘She was a wonderful volunteer who loved this program. She loved animals… particularly Dachshunds. And she loved helping people just like you, too.’”
The Vanderburgh Humane Society team also wishes to thank the many volunteers who are keeping Margie’s Pet Food Pantry running efficiently, and keeping pets’ bellies full in the community.
USI Women’s Golf adds Lopez de Haro Juste ahead of 2025-26
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Golf has added graduate transfer Valeria Lopez de Haro Juste to its roster ahead of 2025-26.
Lopez de Haro Juste, from Madrid, Spain, spent the previous four years at Emmanuel University while working toward her undergraduate degree. Lopez de Haro Juste was an all-conference golfer and helped Emmanuel to multiple team podium finishes in four seasons at Emmanuel.
Lopez de Haro Juste is coming off a solid 2025 campaign on Emmanuel’s conference championship runner-up team. Lopez de Haro Juste placed inside the top 15 on the player leaderboard at the conference championship. Earlier in the season, Lopez de Haro Juste earned a top-10 finish at the 2025 Emmanuel Spring Invitational and helped the team win the 2025 Agnes McAmis Memorial after tying for second place on the player leaderboard.
“We are thrilled to add Valeria to our team this season,” USI Women’s Golf Head Coach Ann Sullivan said. “She is a great golfer who will bring a lot of experience to our team. She had a great college career at Emmanuel University, and we are excited to have her finish up her college golf career here at USI.”
Lopez de Haro Juste joins the squad alongside incoming freshman McKenna Lowe. The Screaming Eagles are coming off an improved finish at the Ohio Valley Conference Championship this season with a young, talented roster that featured the program’s first OVC postseason selection in Brianna Kirsch, who earned OVC All-Newcomer Team honors at the end of 2024-25.
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USI signs Bynum for 2025-26
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball announced the signing of guard Ahamad Bynum for the 2025-26 season.
“Ahamad brings that Chicago toughness and grit to our ball club,” said USI Head Coach Stan Gouard. “He has played for some great coaches, and programs such as Mac Irving Fire, Chicago Simeon Academy, DePaul, and recently at UTEP.
“Ahamad shot the ball last season at a high clip and brings instant offense to our team,” continues Gouard. “He has deep range with good athleticism and skill, providing us with another guy that can make shots from the perimeter.”
Bynum is transferring to USI after spending last season at the University of Texas El Paso. He appeared in 25 games for the Miners last season, averaging 10.4 points, 1.7 rebounds per contest, and 0.9 assists per game.
The 6-3 guard posted a season-high 24 points versus Kennesaw State University. He also grabbed a season-best five rebounds against Middle Tennessee State University and dished four assists at Florida International University.
Prior to playing last year for UTEP, Bynum earned NJCAA second-team All-America honors at Trinity Valley Community College in 2023-24 after averaging 18.3 points per game. He also played for DePaul University as a freshman, seeing action in 11 games in 2022-23.
Bynum lettered in basketball at Simeon High School (Chicago, Illinois) before starting his collegiate career. He put up 20.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg, and 3.2 apg to help lead Simeon to its 10th Chicago Public League title in 2020-21.
The USI Screaming Eagles are a member of the Ohio Valley Conference and will be NCAA Tournament eligible in 2025-26 following the completion of the accelerated transition from Division II. USI has reached the OVC Championship in two of the first three seasons of Division I action.
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.
Otters can’t find enough offense in middle game defeat
Evansville’s offense started off hot. Catcher’s interference put a runner on first base for LJ Jones who would drive him in with a sharp double. Two batters later, Logan Brown drove in Jones to make the lead 2-0.
The Otters would hold this lead until the bottom of the second when Lake Erie would score two to tie the game. In the third frame, Lake Erie stuck again – scoring three to lead 5-2.
The Otters still had fight left in them. Keenan Taylor tripled to lead off the fourth and scored on a L. Brown ground out to get one back. An inning later in the fifth, the Otters scored again. This time, Pavin Parks hit a hard grounder through the right side of the infield for a two-out RBI single.
After the Otters brought the game to 5-4, Lake Erie quickly responded with two of their own in the fifth.
The score would stay at 7-4 to the eighth where the Otters scratched one across again. This time on another Taylor RBI hit, a double to drive in Graham Brown.
The Otters would eventually fall to the Crushers after they scored in their half of the eighth by a score of 9-5.
The Otters are back in action tomorrow for a rubber game against Lake Erie at 6:05 p.m. CT. After that, they return to Bosse Field this weekend for their first series against Windy City in 2025.