FOOTNOTE: EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.
USI hosts Indiana State Monday
USI hosts Indiana State Monday
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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball continues its three-game homestand Monday when the Screaming Eagles host the Sycamores of Indiana State University at Liberty Arena. Tipoff time for the game sponsored by HFI is set for 7 p.m.
The game also is the annual Hawaiian Night with fans encouraged to wear tropical attire for the game.
Following the USI-ISU matchup, the homestand concludes December 2 when the Screaming Eagles host East/West University. Game time December 2 is 7 p.m.
All of the action from USI’s upcoming homestand 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.
The USI Screaming Eagles opened the three-game homestand with a 92-83 victory over the University of South Dakota. Junior guard Jayland Randall led four Eagles in double-digits with a season-high 24 points. Junior guard Jared Washington and sophomore forward Stephen Olowoniyi followed with 16 and 14 points, respectively, while graduate forward Jack Mielke rounded out the double-digit scorers with 12 points.
Junior guard Jack Campion dished a career-high nine assists in the win over South Dakota.
Randall leads USI through the first six games, overall, with 16.8 points per outing, while Harrison is close behind with 14.2 points per contest. Washington follows the top two with 13.7 points per appearance, while Olowoniyi is averaging 13.3 points and is grabbing a team-high 6.8 rebounds.
The Sycamores are 3-2 to start the 2024-25 season after posting a 97-61 victory over Chicago State University. ISU posted wins over Eureka University, 93-48, and Ball State University, 94-84, to start the year before losing to Florida Atlantic University, 97-64, and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 77-72.
The series is tied, 1-1, after USI lost to ISU, 98-54, last season in Terre Haute. Jeremiah Hernandez led USI with 16 points, while A.J. Smith added 12 points in the loss.
Trailblazer Bowling rejoins NJCAA
VINCENNES, Ind. – The 20-time NJCAA National Champion Vincennes University Bowling program is set to rejoin the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) starting in the 2025-2026 academic year.
The Trailblazer bowling program will continue competing in the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) and will be able to compete for both NJCAA and USBC National Championships.
Vincennes University Bowling rejoins the National Junior College Athletic Association after leaving the NJCAA after the 2013-2014 season.
“Our athletes are excited about joining the NJCAA,” VU Head Bowling Coach Paul Lemond said. “We can compete for a National Title at this level. VU has 20 NJCAA National Titles and we are excited about the opportunity to add to those.”
“We can now compete at the same level as all sports at Vincennes University,” Lemond added. “It is another tool we can use to help recruiting and we will still be bowling against the best athletes and colleges in the sport, which keeps it exciting.”
“We are excited to once again have our bowling program as members of the NJCAA,” VU Director of Athletics John Meeks said. “The NJCAA is the premiere two-year destination for all collegiate athletics. This opportunity perfectly aligns our department for the future, while placing our bowling program in position to compete nationally within two separate organizations, resulting in more championship possibilities and awards and recognitions for our student-athletes.”
“The future is bright for VU bowling under the leadership of Coach Lemond and I know his program will continue to achieve at a high level both in and outside the sport,” Meeks added.
The 2024-25 Trailblazer Bowling season rolls on as the Trailblazers will head to St. Clair, Ill. Saturday, Nov. 23 and Sunday, Nov. 24 to take part in the National Collegiate Team Match.
THUNDERBOLTS SCORE EIGHT GOALS IN 8-3 ROUT OF QUAD CITY
THUNDERBOLTS SCORE EIGHT GOALS IN 8-3 ROUT OF QUAD CITY
Evansville, In.: The red goal light was fittingly ever-present for Saturday night’s First Responders’ Night at Ford Center, as Evansville scored eight times in an 8-3 victory over the Quad City Storm to improve to a winning record of 6-5-2. The Thunderbolts’ next home game will be on Saturday, December 7th against the Huntsville Havoc at 7:05pm CT.
Scoring first for Evansville was Derek Contessa, finishing off a Brendan Harrogate chance at the side of the net, awarded after review at 9:31 with a secondary assist to Tyson Gilmour. The Thunderbolts then picked up their first shorthanded goal of the season, as Matthew Hobbs fed Scott Kirton on a breakaway, where he scored at 13:12 to extend Evansville’s lead to 2-0. 2:35 into the second period, Harrogate tapped in a loose puck on the goal line, assisted by Contessa and Grayson Valente to make it 3-0. Just over a minute later at 4:07, Hobbs scored on a rebound from Kirton and Logan vande Meerakker to make it a 4-0 game. At 8:33, Harrogate scored once again on a power play chance, assisted by Jordan Simoneau and Vande Meerakker to make it a 5-0 game and end the evening for Storm goaltender Brent Moran.
Quad City broke the shutout of Ty Taylor immediately after their goaltending change at 9:07, the goal scored by Leif Mattson on a power play chance to make it a 5-1 game. At 14:33, Vande Meerakker scored on a 2-on-1 rush, assisted by Scott Kirton to make it 6-1 Evansville. The assist for Kirton was his third point of the game and his 115th as an Evansville Thunderbolt, breaking the all-time franchise record previously held by Austin Plevy (114 points). The Storm answered back at 15:03, as Nicola Levesque took advantage of Taylor being knocked down to the ice, scoring to make it a 6-2 game. Evansville regained the 5-goal lead at 19:41, as a Hobbs shot was saved but batted in by a Storm player, assisted by vande Meerakker and Kirton to give Evansville a 7-2 lead after two periods. In the third period, Nick Pennucci got the Storm their third and final goal of the night at 6:01, before Vesalainen finished the scoring with a breakaway goal at 13:29 from Nolan McElhaney and Benjamin Lindberg, the assist for McElhaney being his first professional point. With the victory, the Thunderbolts have won five of their last seven games, improving to 6-5-2 as they hit the road for their next five contests.
Leading the offense, Hobbs and Harrogate each finished with two goals and an assist, while Kirton and Vande Meerakker each picked up a goal and three assists. Contessa and Vesalainen ended the evening with a goal and assist each, and in goal, Ty Taylor finished with 31 saves on 34 shots for his second win of the season. The eight goals scored were the most the Thunderbolts have scored in a single game since January 28th, 2023, in an 8-2 win over the Macon Mayhem at Ford Center. The Thunderbolts and Storm meet once again on Wednesday, November 27th at Vibrant Arena.
Individual game tickets, group packages, and season tickets are on sale for the 2024-25 season. Call 812-422-BOLT or visit our all-new website (www.evansvillethunderbolts.
About Evansville Thunderbolts: The Evansville Thunderbolts is the area’s only professional hockey team. The Thunderbolts are a proud member of the SPHL. The team is owned and operated by VW Sports, L.L.C, a subsidiary of VenuWorks, Inc. www.evansvillethunderbolts.com
What if Elon Musk Bought MSNBC?
Joe Wallace shared this article that examines what would happen if ELON MUSK BOUGHT MSNBC.
Elon Musk’s X-News: The Transformation of MSNBC
In an unexpected twist that sent shockwaves through the media landscape, Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur behind Tesla, SpaceX, and Twitter’s transformation into “X,” emerged as the leading bidder for MSNBC and CNBC. Comcast’s decision to “spin off” its cable news properties came amid declining viewership and shifting market dynamics, creating an opportunity for Musk to step into the media industry. With the Trump Administration poised to take office, Musk’s move was widely viewed as a power play to reshape the U.S. media narrative.
A Bold Acquisition and Immediate Layoffs
True to his reputation as a disruptor, Musk wasted no time making changes. Shortly after the deal closed, Musk announced sweeping layoffs, targeting high-profile MSNBC hosts who had become synonymous with the network’s left-leaning partisanship. Hosts like Rachel Maddow and Joy Reid were among the first to exit, prompting a public outcry from progressives and celebrations from conservatives. Musk cited the need to “reboot the network” as a “neutral platform for real dialogue,” though critics accused him of silencing dissent.
In typical Musk fashion, the firings were handled with tweets, some of which were laced with memes. “Time for fresh voices. Old models are stale. Let’s innovate,” Musk tweeted, signaling a shift in MSNBC’s direction.
Rebranding to X-News
Within weeks, MSNBC was rebranded as “X-News,” aligning with Musk’s broader vision of creating a unified media and technology ecosystem under the X brand. CNBC, meanwhile, was merged into X-News as a business-focused vertical called “X-Biz.” The move was accompanied by the rollout of cutting-edge streaming technology, allowing viewers to interact in real-time with broadcasts, vote on discussion topics, and access AI-generated summaries of complex stories.
Musk’s stated mission for X-News was to “combine free speech with smart curation,” creating a news outlet that embraced diverse perspectives while using technology to root out misinformation. This approach drew both praise and skepticism, with critics warning of the risks of algorithmic bias and editorial manipulation.
Programming Overhaul
X-News introduced a completely revamped programming lineup. Anchors and commentators from across the political spectrum were hired, including several younger, internet-savvy personalities who had built massive followings on social media platforms. Musk tapped into his network of influencers, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders to host shows that emphasized debates, innovation, and solutions rather than traditional partisan bickering.
One flagship program, “The X Factor,” featured debates between high-profile figures from opposing political ideologies, moderated by AI to ensure balanced speaking time. Another show, “Future Frontiers,” focused on technology, science, and global challenges, blending Musk’s personal interests with a broader appeal.
Business Model Shift
Musk introduced a new subscription model for X-News, similar to Twitter’s premium service. Viewers could watch basic content for free but pay for premium features like personalized news feeds, exclusive interviews, and interactive Q&A sessions with guests. Advertising shifted to a performance-based model, with brands only charged when viewers engaged with their ads. The move was hailed as revolutionary in the media space, though traditional advertisers were wary of the change.
Political and Cultural Fallout
The transformation of MSNBC into X-News sent shockwaves through the political establishment. Progressive activists accused Musk of turning the network into a “mouthpiece for authoritarianism,” citing his perceived alignment with Trump. Meanwhile, conservatives celebrated the downfall of what they saw as a bastion of liberal propaganda, though some questioned Musk’s commitment to their cause.
Trump, for his part, hailed the new X-News as “the greatest thing to ever happen to television” during a rally, prompting speculation that Musk would grant the former president significant airtime. However, Musk maintained that X-News would remain independent, pointing out that Trump’s criticisms of his handling of Twitter/X demonstrated their lack of coordination.
The Bottom Line
Within a year, X-News began to show signs of success. Ratings improved as viewers tuned in to see what Musk would do next, and the network became a hub for younger, tech-savvy audiences. However, the long-term viability of Musk’s vision remained uncertain. Would X-News truly bridge political divides, or would it become another polarizing force in an already fractured media landscape?
Only time would tell, but one thing was clear: Elon Musk had once again turned an industry on its head.
Becker, Leising, Glick File Bill Removing Excessive Requirements For Educator Literacy
State Senators Becker, Leising, Glick file bill removing excessive requirements for educator literacy endorsement
STATEHOUSE (Nov. 22, 2024) — State Sen. Jean Leising (R-Oldenburg) filed a bill this week to remove excessive requirements for state educators to obtain a literacy endorsement, which is required to maintain a teaching license. She is joined on the bill by State Sens. Vaneta Becker (R-Evansville) and Sue Glick (R-LaGrange).
While teachers who provide literacy instruction for students in pre-K through fifth grade are, as of last year, required to complete 80 hours of evidence-based professional development in science of reading and a written examination to renew their license, the new bill would lower that requirement to 40 hours and remove the written examination requirements for teachers who renew their license beginning July 1, 2027.
“I have several teachers in my district with decades of experience in their field who have pointed out that these new requirements are an excessive burden with little actual benefit to their ability to do their jobs effectively,” Leising said. “The requirements listed in the bill are much more reasonable and still make sure teachers are kept up to date with the latest evidence-based practices in their profession.”
The literacy endorsement is intended to train teachers in the Science of Reading, which takes into account the developmental psychology of how children learn to read. It emphasizes the best methods for reading instruction include phonics and vocabulary.
“Our nation is dealing with a teacher shortage, and having even more red tape in place for teachers to keep their license is counterproductive,” Becker said. “Teachers don’t always have the time or ability to continue to take exams and complete hours of extra training, and this bill will make the literacy endorsement requirements much more reasonable to achieve.”
“Our teachers already dedicate so much of their time and effort to ensure Hoosier students get the most out of their educational experience,” Glick said. “On top of that, our state is still struggling with a teacher shortage and part of that issue could be due to the extreme burden caused by these new requirements. This bill will help relieve some of the stress teachers are faced with by doing away with the overwhelming literacy endorsement requirements, while also ensuring our students will still be set up for success in the classroom.”
To follow this bill along with others being filed for the 2025 legislative session, visit iga.in.gov.
This Week in Indiana History
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November 24 – November 30This Week in Indiana History
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Indiana Quick Quiz1. What is the county seat of Marshall county? 2. How many streams in Indiana are named “Indian Creek?” 3. Where can you find “Cornstalk Creek?” 4. Where can you find the village of “Lamb?” Answers Below
For more activitiesin IN
Answers1. Plymouth (named for Plymouth, Massachusetts) 2. At least 9 and several others being called Little Indian Creek. 3. Montgomery County 4. Switzerland County
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.” -Abraham Lincoln
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Indiana Capitol Tour Office |
We hope you saved some Indiana sweet corn for your holiday dinners.
