Men’s basketball opens New Year at Illinois State

01/01/2026

Aces and Redbirds set for 2 p.m. match-up

NORMAL, Ill. – The University of Evansville men’s basketball team rings in the New Year on Thursday afternoon with a 2 p.m. game at Illinois State. ESPN+ and Purple Aces Radio Network will have the broadcast.

Last Time Out

– After opening Monday’s game at Bradley on a 13-0 run, the Purple Aces battled to the finish before dropping a 76-68 decision

– AJ Casey had a career night, converting 8 of his 11 attempts on his way to 21 points

– Josh Hughes drained four 3-pointers and tallied 14 points and 7 caroms while Bryce Quinet finished the night with 11 points

12 and Over

– Through his first three MVC games, AJ Casey is averaging 15 points per game

– After scoring 12 in the opening two league games, Casey registered a career-high 21 points at Bradley on 8-of-11 shooting

– Casey now has seven double digit games on the season and is averaging 9.4 PPG

– Casey picked up three steals in the first two MVC games and is 8th in the league with his season average of 1.43/game

– He is UE’s second-leading rebounder with 5.4 per game including 11 versus Ball State

– Casey is 14th in the MVC with 5.43 boards/game and is 5th in offensive rbs (2.50/gm)

Making his Mark

– Alex Hemenway hit three more triples in the road game at Bradley on the way to a 9-point game

– Over his last seven games, Hemenway is averaging 8.3 PPG while going 14-of-33 from downtown

– He is shooting 36.1% from long range on the season tying him for 13th in the Valley

Triple Play

– Looking to regain the edge he had in the opening games of the season, Josh Hughes has started to find his shot from long range

– Over the last four games, Hughes has converted 9 of his 19 3-point tries

– He opened the season averaging 13.2 PPG through the first six games while scoring at least 12 points in each contest

– In the last eight games, Hughes has reached double figures just twice and is averaging 6.6 PPG

– His top games over that stretch were 14 points at Notre Dame and Bradley

Governor Mike Braun and Attorney General Todd Rokita Ask Federal Court to Lift 20-Year Ban on Historical Monument at Indiana Statehouse

01/01/2026

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Attorney General Todd Rokita and Governor Mike Braun announced this week that Indiana has filed a motion in federal court asking to remove a more than 20-year-old injunction that blocks the placement of a donated historical monument on the Indiana Statehouse grounds.

The motion, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana in Indianapolis, seeks relief under a federal rule that allows courts to lift old orders when the law has significantly changed.

The monument—a gift from the Indiana Limestone Institute—displays the Ten Commandments on one large side, the Bill of Rights on the opposite side, and the Preamble to the Indiana Constitution on the smaller sides. A similar monument stood peacefully on the Statehouse lawn for over 30 years until it was vandalized in 1991.

“The Statehouse grounds feature many monuments and markers celebrating Indiana’s and America’s heritage,” Attorney General Todd Rokita said. “This monument belongs among them as a reminder of core principles that have guided our nation. After all these years, it’s time to place this historical recognition where Hoosiers and visitors can appreciate its significance in our common story.”

The original injunction was based on a Supreme Court test from 1971 that has since been abrogated. Recent high-court decisions, including one upholding a Ten Commandments display at the Texas Capitol, now evaluate such monuments based on America’s long-standing history and traditions rather than the old standard.

“This monument reflects foundational texts that have shaped our Nation’s laws, liberties, and civic life for generations,” Governor Mike Braun said. “Given the clear shift in constitutional law and the long history of similar displays across the country, we ask the court to lift this outdated injunction. Restoring this historical monument is about honoring our heritage and who we are as Hoosiers.

The monument remains in Bedford, Indiana, and would be placed near its original intended location if the court grants the motion.

Vanderburgh County Recent Booking Records

01/01/2026

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Booked Last 24 Hours-Public

EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

01/01/2026

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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.

Lyft taxi and Logans Promise offering discount Fares for tonight

12/31/2025

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Beginning at 10 p.m. on Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve revelers in Evansville and neighboring counties can call a Lyft taxi either for free or at a steep discount by using a Logan’s Promise promo code, “SAFERIDE2026,” slashing $25 from the total fare price. Rides with fares of $25 or less are thus free.

Governor Braun Leverages Indiana Workforce Development Board to Grow Jobs and Wages for Hoosier Workers

12/31/2025

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INDIANAPOLIS – Governor Mike Braun has signed an executive order reinstating Indiana’s State Workforce Development Board to strengthen Indiana’s statewide workforce development strategy, grow jobs and higher wage opportunities for Hoosiers, and ensure full alignment with the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The executive order positions the Board as a central coordinating body to align employers, education and training providers, and state agencies around measurable workforce outcomes.

“My most important responsibility is making life better for Hoosier families on the kitchen table issues that really matter, and that means new job opportunities, higher wages, and a clear path to a high-paying skilled career. We will use the Indiana Workforce Development Board to bring together an elite team of job creators and workforce development experts to help create new opportunities and bigger paychecks for Hoosier workers.” — Governor Mike Braun

The Workforce Development Board will include entrepreneurs and representatives from businesses of all sizes. Members will represent urban, rural, and suburban Hoosier communities.

The Workforce Development Board will advise the Governor and the Secretary of Commerce on workforce development strategy, including a review of statewide policies and programs with recommendations on actions the state should take to strengthen Indiana’s workforce. The Board will develop comprehensive state performance accountability measures to track results and ensure success for Hoosier workers.

Reinstating the Board reinforces Indiana’s commitment to an employer-led, outcomes-driven workforce system that supports talent pipelines, regional economic growth, and long-term wage advancement.

Congressman Baird Announces Significant Health Care Funding for Indiana Through Rural Health Transformation Program

12/31/2025

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Washington, D.C. – Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04) announced that the State of Indiana will receive nearly $207 million in funding for Fiscal Year 2026 through the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program.

“Hoosiers in rural communities deserve access to timely, high-quality care,” said Congressman Baird. “I was proud to support the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which authorized the Rural Health Transformation Program to deliver vital funding that will help address provider shortages, barriers to accessing care, and workforce shortages, while allowing our rural health care providers to continue to provide quality care. I am pleased to see these taxpayer funds returned to Hoosiers so Indiana can increase access to care and improve patient outcomes. I thank President Trump for signing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law and CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz for his leadership in delivering this critical funding for Hoosiers and Rural America.”

The RHT Program was created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which was signed into law by President Trump on July 4, 2025. The RHT Program empowers states to strengthen rural communities by improving health care access, quality, and outcomes by transforming the health care delivery ecosystem. RHT Program funding consists of $50 billion allocated to approved states over five fiscal years, with $10 billion available each fiscal year, beginning in Fiscal Year 2026 and ending in Fiscal Year 2030. Fifty percent of this funding is distributed equally to all approved states, and the remaining 50% will be allocated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) based on a variety of factors including rural population, the proportion of rural health facilities in the state, the situation of certain hospitals in the state, and other factors to be specified by CMS.

More information on the Rural Health Transformation Program can be found here.

Important Changes to SNAP Benefits Starting January 1

12/31/2025

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Indiana is launching Smart SNAP, a new initiative to promote healthier food choices. Beginning January 1, 2026, sugary drinks and candy will no longer be eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits. This change is part of Governor Braun’s Make Indiana Healthy Again initiative. Learn more about what this means for you by visiting the Smart SNAP webpage.

Food Inspection Reports

12/31/2025

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Healthy food. Healthy eating background. Fruit, vegetable, berry. Vegetarian eating. Superfood

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media report Dec.7-13, 2025 viol

Screaming Eagles visit SIUE, Lindenwood

12/31/2025

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball opens 2026 and the Ohio Valley Conference schedule on New Year’s Day with a visit to SIU Edwardsville in Edwardsville, Illinois. The opening weekend of 2026 concludes January 3 when USI visits Lindenwood in St. Charles, Missouri.

The Screaming Eagles (3-9, 0-2 OVC) are hoping the quick road trip can get the team on track after a rough 0-2 start to OVC play. USI could not hold off Little Rock in the conference opener, losing 77-62, and suffered a heartbreaking loss to Morehead State, 64-60, in overtime at Liberty Arena.

Senior guard Cardell Bailey led the way for the Screaming Eagles on the homestand with 17.5 points per game, while senior guard Ismail Habib and junior guard Kaden Brown posted 16.5 points and 10.0 points per game, respectively.

For the season, Habib has been posting 17.9 points per game to lead the Ohio Valley Conference and USI in scoring. Bailey is second on the team in scoring with 14.3 points per contest this season and is averaging 18.0 points per outing in thelast five games.

SIUE (8-5, 1-1 OVC) lost its 2025-26 OVC opener at Eastern Illinois, 76-72, in overtime, but bounced back to defeat Western Illinois, 66-61, on the road. The Cougars are 3-2 in the last five games and 5-5 in the last 10.

USI leads the all-time versus SIUE, 46-25, since the series began in the 1970s. USI also holds a 24-8 lead in conference games, both OVC and the old Great Lakes Valley Conference, since 1995.

SIUE won the first game last year in Edwardsville, 82-76, while USI took the second game at Liberty, 82-68.

Lindenwood (8-5, 2-0 OVC), which is tied for first in the OVC after the first two games, is 2-0 in the OVC after posting a win over Eastern Illinois, 82-74, on the road, and Western Illinois, 92-76, at home. The Lions, which lost to Missouri State, 70-65, in its final non-conference game before the holidays, have won six of its last seven.

USI leads the all-time series, 8-2, after splitting the conference games last season. USI won at Liberty Arena, 80-73, and fell at Lindenwood, 81-78, in overtime.