Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch Honored with Sentinel of the Vault Award
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Rep. O’Brien hosts legislators, local leaders to discuss I-69 Ohio River Crossing
Rep. O’Brien hosts legislators, local leaders to discuss I-69 Ohio River Crossing
STATEHOUSE (Jan. 6, 2025) – State Rep. Tim O’Brien (R-Evansville) recently hosted a meeting of legislators from Indiana and Kentucky and local leaders to discuss advancements in the community with the upcoming addition of the I-69 Ohio River Crossing.
The Indiana Department of Transportation and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet have committed to building the I-69 bridge connecting Evansville to Henderson, Ky. Construction began in Evansville to provide all-weather construction access to the Ohio River. Construction on the bridge is expected to begin in 2027 as a bi-state project.
“I appreciated the opportunity to convene legislators, leaders and stakeholders from southwest Indiana and western Kentucky to review where we stand, identify upcoming endeavors and ensure our goals are unified in the expansion of I-69,” O’Brien said. “The I-69 Ohio River Crossing is more than just a bridge. It’s a vital link between our communities, economies and futures. This transportation corridor will further connect our states to enhance commerce, foster regional economic growth and improve the daily lives of residents. I am excited to continue to strengthen our partnership and maintain a steadfast commitment to collaboration and innovation.”
O’Brien was joined by southwest Indiana legislators, western Kentucky legislators and local officials to receive an update on the progress made so far and further discuss the potential economic and tourism growth from the crossing.
O’Brien said he will use the discussion to work with leaders in the community to ensure the I-69 Ohio River Crossing construction continues on schedule. He encourages citizens of District 78 to contact his office at 317-232-9759 or in.gov/h78 with any comments regarding the I-69 Ohio River Crossing.
Indiana Joins Multistate Challenge of Regulations Impacting Home Buyers
CITY COUNTY OBSERVER STAFF
Indiana is partnering with 15 states and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) to challenge new energy standards that they say will make homeownership unattainable for many hardworking Hoosier families.
According to the NAHB, new standards from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) can add up to $31,000 to the price of a new home.
“As a conservative, I love efficiency and would note that one cannot be a true ‘conservative’ without being willing to ‘conserve’ God’s green earth. But over-regulation, that doesn’t yield meaningful results and comes with wild costs, is a bad deal that common sense Hoosiers should reject,” Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita said.
Attorney General Rokita thanked the Indiana Builders’ Association (IBA) for bringing this issue to his office. Rick Wajda, CEO of the IBA, said this policy will act as a deterrent to new construction at a time when Indiana and the nation desperately needs to boost its housing supply to lower shelter inflation costs. It is also in direct conflict with the current energy codes in the majority of jurisdictions around the country.
“At a time when Hoosiers are struggling to qualify for a mortgage or make a rent payment, this federal policy is the last thing our potential customers need,” Wajda said. “For every $1,000 increase in the cost of a house in Indiana, over 1,900 Hoosier households are priced out of the market. We need to reduce barriers to housing, not increase them. The Indiana Builders Association appreciates the efforts of Attorney General Rokita to stop these onerous costs being put on Hoosier homebuyers and renters.”
Here’s Why the Post Office Will Be Closed on Thursday
The mail will not go through this Thursday and here’s why.
President Joe Biden has declared the day a National Day of Mourning to honor the life and legacy of Jimmy Carter, who passed away on December 29, at the age of 100.
The day of Mourning on Thursday, January 9, coincides with President Carter’s funeral at Washington National Cathedral. To mark this solemn occasion, American flags at federal buildings, military bases, and U.S. embassies will fly at half-staff for 30 days.
All Post Offices will be closed, and mail delivery will be suspended for the day Thursday.
It’s not just the post office. President Biden’s executive order also closes all federal government departments and agencies, except those critical to national security, defense, or other essential needs. Here are some other closures to keep in mind:
National Parks: Open, but administrative offices will be closed.
Stock Market: The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will pause trading.
Federal Courts: Including the United States Supreme Court and the Library of Congress.
A Note from Alexander Burton District 77 State Representative
Dear Neighbors,
I hope that you and your family are staying as warm as possible. If you have found yourself without power, and have the means, here are some tips to stay warm inside your residence: cover the windows (think garbage bags, bubble wrap, plastic), keep the blinds and curtains closed, block drafts (you can use towels to put against the base of your exterior doors or windows), stay in one small room, close the other doors in the residence to keep heat concentrated to certain areas.
A huge shoutout must go to every police officer, sheriff’s deputy, firefighter, dispatcher, first responder, CenterPoint Energy employee and linemen who have been working nonstop.
Session begins on Jan. 8, and we will be at the Statehouse through April. I hope you’ll be a part of the process by completing my survey. Please contact my office at h77@iga.in.gov if you have any questions, thoughts or concerns.
Property taxes, utility costs and funding for our public schools are just some issues that will be addressed this session. In my first year of service as a state representative, I will be focused on my committee assignments, which include: Family, Children, & Human Affairs; Judiciary; Natural Resources; and Utilities, Energy, & Telecommunications.
My survey is available online at IN.gov/H77 by clicking the button at the top of the page. Please do not complete the online survey if you have returned the survey by mail or if you do not reside in House District 77. To find your state legislator, you can visit https://iga.in.gov/information/find-legislators. Please know that a question on my survey does not indicate my support for or opposition to an issue.
In service,
State Rep. Alex Burton
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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USI visits SEMO, Little Rock this week
USI visits SEMO, Little Rock this week
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball finishes its three-game road swing this week with visits to Southeast Missouri State University and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Tipoff Thursday at SEMO in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, is 7:30 p.m., while the start time versus Saturday at Little Rock is 3 p.m.
The USI Screaming Eagles (6-8, 1-3 OVC) are coming off a tough week, losing a pair of league games last week by a combined six points. USI lost at home to Morehead State, 70-68, and on the road to Tennessee Tech University, 68-64.
USI junior guard Damoni Harrison led USI last week in the OVC with 22.0 points per game. Sophomore forward Stephen Olowoniyi posted 16.0 points per outing while grabbing a team-high 9.0 rebounds per contest.
The Eagles has three players in double-digits for the season, led by junior guard Jayland Randall‘s 15.5 points per contest. Olowoniyi follows with 15.1 points per game, while Harrison rounds out the double-digit scorers with 13.5 points per outing.
In the four OVC games, Harrison is posting a team-best 16.5 points per game. Olowoniyi also is second in conference games with 14.0 points per appearance, while Randall is posting 12.0 points in the league game.
The Redhawks of SEMO (8-7, 3-1 OVC) enter this week’s action tied for the lead in the OVC with a 3-1 mark in league play. SEMO split last week on the road, defeating Tennessee State University, 67-65, and falling at the University of Tennessee at Martin, 66-63. The loss to UTM snapped SEMO’s five-game winning streak.
SEMO leads the all-time series with USI, 6-3, after taking both meetings last season. The Redhawks won the first match-up in a thrilling 93-91 overtime game that saw the Screaming Eagles’ Jeremiah Hernandez score 35 points in Cape Girardeau. SEMO also took the second game at Liberty Arena.
The Trojans of Little Rock (8-6, 2-1 OVC), who host Morehead State before USI comes to town this week, posted a split on the road last week. Little Rock opened 2025 with a 57-56 win at the University of Tennessee at Martin and a 95-86 loss at Tennessee State University last week. The Trojans have won five of their last seven games.
Series Note: The series is tied 2-2 after Little Rock took both games in the series last season. The Trojans took the opening game of the home-and-home series, 77-75, at Liberty Arena and 80-62 in Little Rock.
All of the USI Basketball action can be seen live on ESPN+. The game can also be heard on ESPN 97.7FM (http://listentotheref.com) and 95.7FM The Spin (http://957thespin.com). Tickets for the homestand and all USI home dates are on sale now at USIScreamingEagles.com.