by Wendy McNamara,
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Happy Independence Day by State Senator Vaneta Becker
When members of the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia nearly 250 years ago, they likely had no idea they were creating what would become the most powerful nation in the world. Yet, their marks on history endure to this day as we celebrate Independence Day.
In his time, President Theodore Roosevelt took every chance he could to remind Americans that we must participate in our democracy in order to maintain the freedoms we cherish. In his Independence Day speech in 1903, President Roosevelt emphasized the importance of Americans uniting behind our common ideals while also respecting our differences and working to find solutions to our nation’s problems.
President Roosevelt’s words remain just as relevant today as they were 122 years ago.
Today, and every day, we must remember to show respect to our neighbors, even if we disagree with one another.
As you celebrate Independence Day with your family and friends, please remember this holiday is more than just barbecues, parades and fireworks. It’s also a time to thank the men and women of the armed forces who have protected our freedoms every day since our founding.
From my family to yours, I wish you a very happy Independence Day!
Celebrating Independence Day
Fellow Hoosiers,
As we gather to celebrate the birth of our great nation, let’s take a moment to reflect on the freedoms we enjoy and the brave men and women who have defended them.
From backyard barbecues and parades to fireworks lighting up the sky, the Fourth of July is a reminder to appreciate and celebrate what makes our country great and the freedoms we cherish.
Let’s also remember that freedom is never free. We owe a deep debt of gratitude to those in uniform who protect our country at home and abroad.
I wish you and your family a joyful, safe and fun Independence Day!
Pierce collects four hits in series finale defeat
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Evansville Otters (21-26) dropped the homestand finale in heartbreaking fashion to the Mississippi Mud Monsters (23-25), falling just short, 7-6.
Pavin Parks made his third start of the season for Evansville. He pitched into the third inning, allowing five runs. But the Otters had fight as the middle innings approached.
The Otters got on the board in the fourth inning with a sacrifice fly from Logan Brown to score JT Benson. They added another run in the fifth with a Dennis Pierce solo home run to center.
Ryan Wiltse followed Parks in the third and pitched through five excellent innings. He allowed just two hits and struck out eight through his first five innings.
JT Benson struck for his eighth home run in the seventh, cutting the Mississippi lead to 5-3.
Wiltse worked into the eighth inning, but the Mud Monsters finally started to figure him out. He allowed two runs to score to extend Mississippi’s lead to 7-3 before Nolan Thebiay finished off the eighth with a strikeout.
The Otters didn’t lie down quietly though. They sent nine to the plate and scored three in the eighth. L. Brown reached with his third hit of the game followed by a Parks Bouck walk. JJ Cruz singled to score Brown to open the inning’s scoring. After Pierce singled for his fourth hit of the night and loaded the bases, Graham Brown hit a sacrifice fly to score Bouck and advance both runners forward. David Mendham walked and Benson walked in a runner to cut the score to 7-6.
After Thebiay got an out but allowed two baserunners, Alex Valdez came in and induced an inning ending double play to send the game to the home half of the ninth.
The Otters couldn’t manage a run in the ninth however and fell 7-6.
Evansville travels to Schaumburg to take on the Boomers on Independence Day to kick off the weekend set. After an off-day Monday, they travel to Washington to take on the division leading Wild Things.
“Pro-Life means Pro-Family:” Governor Braun prioritizes pro-life laws
INDIANAPOLIS – Governor Mike Braun released the report he commissioned in Executive Order 25-20 regarding the proper implementation of Indiana’s pro-life laws.
“Indiana is a state that supports Life, and the people’s representatives have enshrined those protections for the unborn into state law. We are taking the necessary steps to make sure those laws are properly implemented.” – Governor Mike Braun
Aligned with his constitutional mandate to faithfully execute Indiana’s laws, Governor Mike Braun signed Executive Order 25-20, which in part commissioned an evaluation of how Indiana’s pro-life policies are being implemented.
The report outlines how the Indiana Department of Health is implementing Indiana’s laws, and also identifies areas for policy change to ensure full compliance.
The report also outlines public transparency measures related to Terminated Pregnancy Reports, or TPRs, which offer insight into abortion trends and compliance by providers while protecting patient confidentiality. Indiana’s laws requires that health care providers must submit a TPR to the Indiana Department of Health each time an abortion is performed, intended both to compile important data about maternal health which can be used to improve women’s health policies, and also to ensure compliance with Indiana law.
To read the full report click HERE.
JULY 4, 2025 Downtown Fireworks on the Mighty Ohio
Fireworks on the Ohio is the Evansville Region’s biggest Fourth of July 4 2025 celebration, and it’s packed with everything you need for an unforgettable night. Food trucks, riverfront views, kids’ activities, and sky-high sparkle… all you have to do is show up.
USI Men’s XC/T&F announces incoming class
EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana Men’s Cross Country/Track & Field Head Coach Mike Hillyard announced the addition of eight new student-athletes for the upcoming 2025-26 seasons.
That list includes graduate transfer Dominick Biene and junior transfer Jaryn Weinel as well as incoming freshmen Carson Brown, Noah Burgh, Ty Conner, Sawyer Mossberger, Noah Nifong and Kraedyn Young.
“This class is a nice blend of veteran experience with the additions of Dominick and Jaryn, and young talent with our seven freshman newcomers,” Hillyard said. “In total, this is likely the strongest recruiting class that we have ever put together here at USI.
“Our vision with recruiting is always long term, however we fully expect that most, if not all, will make an impact at the conference level right away,” Hillyard concluded.
Dominick Biene (Union, Missouri) transfers to USI from the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth, Kansas, where he was a three-time NAIA All-American and combined six-time national qualifier. He was 19th at the 2023 NAIA Cross Country Championships before finishing sixth in the 10,000 meters at the 2024 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Biene, who won the 2024 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference individual title, helped Saint Mary to a second-place finish at the 2023 NAIA Cross Country Championships. He won KCAC titles in the outdoor 5,000 meters in 2024 and 2025, the 10,000 meters in 2023, and the indoor 5,000 meters in 2025.
A graduate of Union High School, Beine earned All-State honors after helping UHS to an eighth-place finish in the 4×800-meter relay at the 2021 MSHSAA Class 4A Track & Field Championships.
Jaryn Weinel (Jasper, Indiana) transfers to USI after spending his first two collegiate seasons at Purdue University. Weinel finished 114th at the 2023 Big Ten Cross Country Championships before finishing 144th at the 2024 league meet. He competed in a combined six meets during the 2025 indoor and outdoor track & field seasons after sitting out during the 2024 track & field campaign.
A graduate of Jasper High School, Weinel earned IHSAA All-State honors in the 800 meters as a senior in 2023. He also was the regional and sectional champion in the 800 meters during his senior year after earning All-State honors with a 22nd-place finish at the 2022 IHSAA Cross Country Championships.
Carson Brown (French Lick, Indiana) comes to USI from Springs Valley High School, where he was the 2025 Indiana Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches (IATCCC) Class 1A Runner of the Year following an 11th-place finish at the 2024 IHSAA Cross Country Championships. He also earned All-State honors in the 3,200 meters following a fifth-place finish at the 2025 IHSAA Track & Field Championships.
Noah Burgh (Piqua, Ohio) is a graduate Piqua High School, where he was a two-time All-Ohio honoree after finishing seventh at the 2024 OHSAA Division I Cross Country Championships and 24th in 2023. He finished first at the 2024 USA Track & Field National Junior Olympic Championships in 2024 and won the Open Race #1 at the NXR Midwest Regional Championships in 2023.
On the track, Burgh was an outdoor state qualifier in the 3,200 meters as a senior in 2025 after finishing sixth in the 3,200 meters at the 2025 OATCCC D2 State Indoor Championships.
Ty Conner (Westfield, Indiana) comes to USI after graduating from Westfield High School, where he earned All-State honors on the track after helping the Shamrocks to a fourth-place finish in the 4×800-meter relay at the 2025 IHSAA Track & Field Championships. He was a state qualifier on the grass during his senior season, finishing 87th at the 2024 IHSAA Cross Country Championships.
Sawyer Mossberger (Evansville, Indiana) is a graduate of Reitz High School, where he was a three-time state qualifier on the cross country course. Mossberger finished 75th at the 2023 IHSAA Cross Country Championships after finishing 142nd in 2022. He finished his career with a 199th-place finish at the 2024 IHSAA Cross Country Championships.
Noah Nifong (Floyds Knobs, Indiana) is a graduate of Floyd Central High School, where he earned IATCCC Class 4A Honorable Mention All-State honors in 2023 and 2024 after earning first-team honors in 2022. Nifong finished 25th at the 2022 IHSAA Cross Country Championships, 37th in 2023 and 30th in 2024.
On the track, Nifong was a two-time state qualifier, finishing 17th in the 3,200 meters at the 2025 IHSAA Championships and 19th in the 1,600 meters at the 2024 state meet.
Kraeden Young (North Vernon, Indiana) comes to USI after graduating from Jennings County High School in North Vernon, Indiana, where he earned All-State honors in the 1,600 meters following an eighth-place finish at the IHSAA Track & Field Championships.
On the grass, Young was an IATCCC Class 3A first-team All-State honoree following a 194th-place finish at the IHSAA Cross Country Championships. He earned IATCCC Class 4A honorable mention All-State honors after finishing 44th at the 2023 IHSAA Championships.
This group joins a Screaming Eagles team that is coming off a first-place finish at the 2024 OVC Cross Country Championships.
Vanderburgh County Recent Booking Records
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