INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Governor Mike Braun today signed an executive order temporarily waiving hours-of-service regulations for motor carriers and drivers transporting propane gas in Indiana, ensuring Hoosiers have access to critical heating fuel during a period of severe winter weather.
Extraordinarily cold temperatures and heavy snowfall across Indiana and the Midwest have significantly increased demand for propane gas, while supply challenges such as terminal shutdowns, limited product availability, and long wait times have strained delivery systems. The executive order allows propane haulers to exceed standard driving hour limits, enabling faster and more efficient distribution of propane to homes, businesses, schools, and public buildings across the state.
“Thousands of Hoosiers rely on propane to heat their homes and keep essential services running,” said Governor Braun. “This waiver helps remove unnecessary barriers so propane can reach the people who need it most.”
The executive order waives only the hours-of-service requirements under federal and state motor carrier regulations. All other motor carrier safety rules remain fully enforceable. The waiver is effective immediately and will remain in effect through December 20, 2025, unless it is extended or terminated earlier by the Governor.
The question of just how much the monthslong debate bruised those relationships will be a question when lawmakers return to the Statehouse in three weeks for resumption of their legislative session.
Several legislators interviewed following Thursday’s Senate vote rejecting the House-approved redistricting plan said they anticipated cooperation come January. Some put most of the blame for any animosity on national groups that tried to pressure legislators into supporting the new maps.
“I don’t think anybody wants to have a lasting impact,” said Sen. Sue Glick of LaGrange, who voted against redistricting. “There will be some hard feelings. But I thought that we kept it under control. There didn’t seem to be the acrimony on the floor that you might have anticipated. Most of that was coming from outside.”
Republican ties frayed by debate
But some were clearly offended by Braun’s threats to support election challengers against Republican senators who didn’t support the redrawn maps — including the chamber’s GOP leader, Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray.
Sen. Jean Leising of Oldenburg, who has been a senator for 25 years and voted against redistricting, said she believed Braun owed Bray an apology.
Sen. Jean Leising, R-Oldenburg, speaks during a March 2024 Senate debate. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle)
“I don’t know if he will,” Leising said. “If he were asking me, ‘What should I do next?’ I’d say, ‘You need to apologize to Senator Bray, our pro tem.’ Because he actually said that he wanted to work against him.”
The governor’s office did not reply to a request for comment about Leising’s remarks.
In a statement following the Senate vote, Braun said he “will be working with the President to challenge these people who do not represent the best interests of Hoosiers.”
Bray acknowledged the redistricting debate as a “hard one” but downplayed the possibility of an ongoing split between the Senate, the House and the governor.
“There’s been a difference here, but we’ve got lots of important things to do over this next legislative session and over the next few years,” Bray told reporters after Thursday’s vote. “I have zero doubt that we’ll get that done together.”
Republican House Speaker Todd Huston said he was “disappointed” with the Senate vote while expressing optimism for the legislative session that’s set to resume Jan. 5.
“I’m confident we will have a productive session that will address the issues that most impact Hoosiers,” Huston said in a statement.
Will grudges remain?
Bray repeatedly said mid-decade redistricting had insufficient Senate support for it to pass, even with a pressure campaign that included two trips by Vice President JD Vance to Indianapolis and phone calls by Trump to individual senators.
Some senators, however, denounced what they regarded as bullying to win support for the proposed maps crafted to produce a 9-0 Republican delegation. It aimed to do so by carving up the two districts currently held by Democratic Reps. André Carson in Indianapolis and Frank Mrvan in the area along Lake Michigan near Chicago.
Several senators opposing the redistricting plan cited their support for Trump and hopes to see Republicans retain their U.S. House majority after the 2026 midterm elections.
But some redistricting advocates framed the debate in stark terms, such as when Senate Majority Floor Leader Chris Garten called on senators to be “active agents of American greatness” by supporting the 9-0 map plan.
Democratic Rep. Ed DeLaney of Indianapolis, who was first elected to the Legislature in 2008, said he was frustrated with the time he believed was “wasted” on the redistricting debate but that Braun was “duty bound” to patch up his relationship with lawmakers.
“I get along with him, I see him more than any governor I’ve ever seen,” DeLaney said. “I think he’s got the right personality to say, ‘Let’s just do the job, move forward under the facts as they are.’ I think he does. Now, whether he gets pushed from Washington to be a cheerleader in a raid on Indiana.”
Republican Sen. Eric Bassler of Washington said he believed Bray and Huston were “rationalists about running things” and would not hold grudges over the redistricting dispute.
“There’s going to be some wounds between the governor and our chamber,” Bassler said. “But my hope is that the governor and his staff and team will be adult about this and work well with us, just like I hope that the Senate will be adults about it and work well with the governor.”
Senate leadership shakeup?
The split among Republican senators — 21 voting joining 10 Democrats against redistricting and 19 in favor — prompted speculation over whether Bray was secure in the president pro tem position he’s held 2018.
Sen. Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne, speaks during the Senate redistricting debate on Dec. 11, 2025.(Photo by Casey Smith/Indiana Capital Chronicle)
That possibility was dismissed by senators following Thursday’s 31-19 outcome.
“Absolutely not,” Leising said. “No, and his vote was even a little stronger than I predicted. I was, in my mind, saying 27 to 30 (against redistricting), and it was 31 so that made me really happy for him.”
Glick said she doesn’t expect any threats to Bray’s leadership, noting that “I can’t reveal what we discussed in caucus, but I can tell you that while all of this, the yeas and the nays have both complimented him on its fairness, on his willingness to address their issues.”
One fallout from the debate was the decision by Sen. Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne, to step down from her position as Senate assistant majority floor leader in charge of communications while remaining a senator.
Brown said in a statement that she and other redistricting supporters “recognize the consequences of what it will mean to have socialists control Congress” and that the Senate had “failed our conservative voters.”
“Our caucus will have rebuilding to do to repair communication and trust with voters, and I will focus on that effort outside of Senate leadership,” Brown said.
Republican Sen. Linda Rogers of Granger was among the 10 senators who had kept quiet about their redistricting stance until Thursday’s vote, when she pushed the red “no” button on her desk.
When asked whether there would be lingering hard feelings over the maps decision, Rogers said: “I hope not, I don’t think so.”
“Some of my very closest friends here and I voted differently,” she said, “and we are still very close friends.”
Vanderburgh County Council Meeting
DECEMBER 17, 2025
3:00 P.M.
AGENDA
1.
OPENING OF MEETING
2.
ATTENDANCE ROLL CALL
3.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
4.
INVOCATION
5.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
A.
County Council Meeting – November 5, 2025
6.
PERSONNEL REQUESTS:
A.
Sheriff
1.
Request to amend the 2026 hourly pay rate for the following part-time positions:
a.
PT Property Management Clerk – 10001050-105157
b.
(2) PT Clerks-10001050-105170 and 105174
c.
(8) PT Paper Servers-10001050-199000 (Extra Help)
d.
PT Special Deputy-10001050-199100
B.
LIT Sheriff
1.
Request to amend the 2026 hourly pay rate for a PT Special Deputy 11701050-199100
C.
Misdemeanor Offender
1.
Request to amend the 2026 hourly pay rate for (3) PT Jail Clerks 11750000-199000 (Extra Help)
D.
VCSO-School Safety Agreement Grant
1.
Request to amend the 2026 hourly pay rate for PT Special Deputy 49970000-199100
E.
Sheriff-FEMA PSGU Grant
1.
Request to amend the 2026 hourly pay rate for PT Special Deputy 81090000-199100
F.
Prosecutor
1.
Request to fill vacancies for (2) Deputy Prosecutors 10001080-108103 and 108115
G.
Area Plan Commission
1.
Request to create Office Manager Stipend 10001240-124125 to be paid to Bookkeeper/Office Manager 10001240-124117
H.
Burdette Park
1.
Request to create Business/Finance Administrator Stipend 10001450-145131 to be paid to Business/Finance Administrator 10001450-125128
I.
CCPI – Treatment Court
1.
Request to add a fifth PT Home Verification Officer 11222503-199000 (Extra Help) and fill vacancy
J.
Health Department
1.
Request to fill vacancy for Public Health Nurse II 11590000-115927
2.
Request to amend 2026 hourly pay rate for PT Child Fatality Reviewer & Action Team Coordinator 11590000-199000 (Extra Help)
K.
Local Public Health Services
1.
Request to fill vacancy for Public Health Nurse I 11610000-116105
2.
Request to amend 2026 hourly pay rates for the following part-time positions 11610000-199000 (Extra Help):
a.
(2) PT Public Health Nurses
b.
PT Coordinator
L.
Health Department – WIC
1.
Request to amend 2026 hourly pay rates for the following part-time positions 84030000-199000:
a.
PT Breastfeeding Coordinator/DBE
b.
(2) PT Health Educators
c.
PT PRN Clerk
M.
Health Department – Lactation Grant
1.
Request to amend 2026 hourly pay rates for (3) PT Breastfeeding Peer Counselors 84060000-199000 (Extra Help)
N.
Health Department – TANF Grant
1.
Request to amend 2026 hourly pay rates for (2) PT Community Health Workers 84420000-199000 (Extra Help)
O.
Health Department – Fetal Infant Mortality Review Grant
1.
Request to amend 2026 hourly pay rate for PT Child Fatality Reviewer & Action Team Coordinator 94050000-199000 (Extra Help)
P.
Recorder – Perpetuation Fund
1.
Request to create PT Intern position 11891040-199000 (Extra Help), establish pay rate and fill vacancy
Q.
Prosecutor – Infraction
1.
Request to create the following lines in Prosecutor-Infractions to pay a one-time step bonus to selected positions in Prosecutor 10001080, Prosecutor IV-D Child Support 10001400 and Prosecutor-Victim Witness Assistance Federal Grant 82050000
a.
49290000-492901 Deputy Prosecutor Bonus for 108114
b.
49290000-492902 Deputy Prosecutor Bonus for 108140
c.
49290000-492903 Deputy Prosecutor Bonus for 108102
d.
49290000-492904 Deputy Prosecutor Bonus for 108106
e.
49290000-492905 Chief Trial Deputy Bonus for 108109
f.
49290000-492906 Deputy Prosecutor Bonus for 108101
g.
49290000-492907 Deputy Prosecutor Bonus for 108105
h.
49290000-492908 Deputy Prosecutor Bonus for 108110
i.
49290000-492909 Director Bonus for 820511
j.
49290000-492910 Secretary Bonus for 820514
k.
49290000-492911 Secretary Bonus for 820515
l.
49290000-492912 Secretary Bonus for 820516
m.
49290000-492913 Victim Advocate Bonus for 820517
n.
49290000-492914 Victim Advocate Bonus for 820519
o.
49290000-492915 Victim Advocate Bonus for 820520
p.
49290000-492916 Director of Pre-Trial Diversion Bonus for 108129
q.
49290000-492917 Electronic Media Specialist Bonus for 108147
r.
49290000-492918 Felony Filing Investigator Bonus for 108127
s.
49290000-492919 Chief Charging Investigator Bonus for 108124
t.
49290000-492920 Receptionist Bonus for 140034
u.
49290000-492921 Investigator Bonus for 108153
v.
49290000-492922 Investigator Bonus for 108152
7.
APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE:
A.
County Council
B.
CCPI-Electronic Home Detention
C.
Health Department
D.
Highway-Engineer
E.
Elected Officials Training/Clerk
8.
REPEALS – None
9.
TRANSFERS:
A.
Sheriff
B.
Coroner
C.
Cooperative Extension
D.
Area Plan
E.
Weights & Measures
F.
Commissioners
G.
Superior Court
H.
Drug & Alcohol Deferral Services
I.
Burdette Park
J.
Legal Aid
K.
Convention & Visitors Bureau
L.
Cumulative Bridge
M.
LIT Public Safety-Jail
N.
Recorder Perpetuation Fund
O.
Reassessment-Assessor
P.
Reassessment-PTABOA
10.
OLD BUSINESS – None
11.
NEW BUSINESS:
A.
Confirming Resolution CO.R-12-25-011 Property Tax Phase-In 8301 North Kentucky Avenue (Prokuma Properties)-Pat Hickey, Economic Development Director
12.
AMENDMENTS TO SALARY ORDINANCE
13.
PUBLIC COMMENT
14.
REMINDER OF UPCOMING MEETING DATES/TIMES:
A.
No P&F Meeting in December 2025
B.
County Council Meeting – January 7, 2026 @3:00 PM
15.
ADJOURNMENT
MEMBERS OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY COUNCIL:
Tom Shetler, Jr., President – 2nd District / Term: January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2026
John Montrastelle, Vice-President – 4th District / Term: January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2026
James Raben, Finance Chair – 1st District / Term: January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2026
Jill A. Hahn, Personnel Chair – At Large / Term: January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2028
Nick Iaccarino, Member – 3rd District / Term: January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2026
Joe M. Kiefer II, Member – At Large / Term: January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2028
Ed Bassemier, Member – At Large / Term: January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2028
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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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball returned home to Liberty Arena on Sunday afternoon with a solid performance on both ends of the court, opening a three-game homestand with a 76-59 victory over Middle Tennessee State University. USI (6-2) controlled the contest behind a balanced offense and a pesky defense against Middle Tennessee (4-6). In the Screaming Eagles’ final tune-up game before the start of Ohio Valley Conference play later this week, USI shot for over 42 percent (25-59) from the floor, including four made threes, and a season-best 91.7 percent (22-24). Defensively, USI converted 22 turnovers by the Blue Raiders into 23 points. The Eagles also had 22 fast-break points. Senior guard Ali Saunders led the Screaming Eagles in scoring with a game-high 21 points, which was two shy of her USI career best that she set earlier this season against Murray State University. Junior guard Sophia Loden recorded a fourth consecutive double-double performance on Sunday, pouring in 19 points and hauling in 11 rebounds. Loden’s four straight double-doubles are the most consecutive by a USI player since Morgan Dahlstrom had four in a row in the 2017-18 season. Sunday’s triumph was also highlighted by the debut of freshman forward Channah Gannon, who had been working back from injury. Gannon tallied 16 points in only 11 minutes. Gannon’s 16 points were the most scored in a true freshman debut for USI since Jessica Stuckman’s 21 points against Indiana Tech in the 2000-01 season. The last time a USI true freshman scored double digits in a debut was during the 2011-12 season, when Brooke Valentine registered 13 points against Saginaw Valley State University. Following a slow start to Sunday’s game and a 7-6 lead for Middle Tennessee State, five and a half minutes into the game, USI got rolling late in the opening quarter. Gannon checked into the game and provided an immediate spark off the bench for the Screaming Eagles, draining a spot-up three from the top of the arc to put the Eagles in front. Gannon and the Screaming Eagles continued to be aggressive and get to the foul line to extend their lead. A layup in the final seconds of the first quarter by sophomore guard Lexi Sepulveda capped off a 13-0 USI run to end the period and give USI a 19-7 advantage going to the second quarter. Sepulveda scored another easy one to start the second for the Eagles. Following a few minutes of exchanging buckets, Middle Tennessee was able to find some rhythm to trim USI’s lead down to 10, 30-20, by the midway point of the second quarter. Back-to-back layups by Loden got the Screaming Eagles back on track. Inside the last two minutes of the first half, Saunders cashed in a three-pointer and converted a three-point play to send USI into halftime up by 15, 40-25. As the Blue Raiders looked to cut into USI’s lead to start the second half, Saunders quickly halted their momentum with five points in 15 seconds. Later, back-to-back layups by Loden pushed the Screaming Eagles ahead by 18, 51-33, at the seven-minute mark of the third quarter. Gannon continued her strong debut with a three-point play off a USI defensive steal later in the period. USI’s lead grew to over 20, as junior forward Maddy Fay scored a last-second layup to end the third and give the Eagles a 63-42 cushion going to the fourth quarter. A layup by Loden and a triple from Saunders got USI off to a quick start in the final frame. However, Middle Tennessee continued to fight, trimming the difference down to 16, 71-55, with four and a half minutes to go. From that point on, it was all USI, as Saunders answered with another three-point play. The Screaming Eagles’ defense locked down the rest of the game, as the game went scoreless in the final two minutes of action. The Screaming Eagles continue the homestand from Liberty Arena with their Ohio Valley Conference opener on Thursday at 5 p.m. against the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The game can be seen with a subscription to ESPN+ and heard on The Spin 95.7 FM and WREF 97.7 FM. Thursday’s OVC-opening doubleheader at Liberty Arena features a Penn Station sandwich coupon giveaway to the first 1,500 fans and a magnet schedule giveaway.
Evansville, In.: The Evansville Thunderbolts and Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations Jeff Bes are pleased to announce the signing of forward Evan Miller for this 2025-26 season. The Thunderbolts next home game at Ford Center will be on Saturday, December 20th against the Peoria Rivermen.
Miller joins the Thunderbolts in the midst of his first professional season, having started the year with the Ratinger Ice Aliens of the Germany4 pro circuit, registering 2 goals and 12 points in only 8 games. Prior to this season, Miller played four seasons of NCAA Division 1 hockey with RIT (Rochester Institute of Tech.), scoring 2 goals and 11 points in 65 regular season games. The native of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario played several seasons of junior hockey in his home province prior to college, first in the GOJHL with St. Catharines, Fort Erie, and Thorold between 2017-2019, and the Wellington Dukes of the OJHL in 2019-20, where he scored 8 goals and 21 points in 22 games.
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville women’s basketball team dropped their first home game of the season on Sunday, falling to visiting Austin Peay by a score of 63-57. After facing a five-point deficit at the half, the Aces battled back to tie the game at 43 heading into the fourth quarter, but the Govs outscored the Aces 20-14 in the final period to take the win.
Camryn Runner (Cicero, Ind./Hamilton Heights) led the Aces in scoring for the seventh time this season, scoring 14 points. Runner was a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line and has made 19 consecutive free throws dating back to November 30. Logan Luebbers Palmer (Union, Ky./Randall K. Cooper) added 12 points for the Aces for her eighth double-digit scoring effort of the season. Jelena Savic (Melbourne, Australia/Kurunjang Secondary College) scored nine points and grabbed a season-high six rebounds in 20 solid minutes off the bench.
Mireia Mustaros (Barcelona, Spain/Ins Argentona) got the Aces going early, converting two free throws and a layup to give her team a 4-0 lead. However, the Govs responded with an 8-0 run to grab the lead with 4:48 remaining in the opening quarter. Despite briefly grabbing the lead back on a three-pointer from Luebbers Palmer with just under two minutes remaining in the quarter, Austin Peay took a four-point lead heading into the second quarter on a three on the quarter’s final possession.
The Govs continued to control things in the second quarter, taking a 25-16 lead with 5:38 to go in the period. A pair of perfect trips to the line by Sydney Huber (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Mount Vernon) and Luebbers Palmer brought the Aces back within five, while an and-one layup by Georgia Ferguson made the score 26-22 with 3:07 to go in the half. Austin Peay responded with a five-point burst to bring their lead back up to nine, but the Aces finished the half strong with a triple from Savic on the final possession of the quarter, making it 31-26 at the break.
Evansville quickly evened the score, using a three from Huber and a fast break layup by Runner on the Aces’ first two possessions coming out of the locker room. The Govs and Aces traded baskets over the next several minutes, with Luebbers Palmer knocking down a three and Ferguson converting a layup, but the Govs used a triple to regain a 40-36 advantage with 5:13 to play in the third. Evansville dug in defensively over the next five minutes of play, limiting Austin Peay to three points for the rest of the quarter, while Savic and Runner sunk four free throws and Luebbers Palmer drilled another shot from distance to make it a 43-43 ballgame heading into the fourth quarter.
Austin Peay regained their offensive footing in the fourth quarter, scoring five points on their first four possessions of the quarter to retake the lead. BreAunna Ward (St. Louis, Mo./John Burroughs School) knocked down a jumper and added a free throw to bring the Aces back within two, while Huber answered a Govs three with a three of her own to keep it a one-possession game with 5:29 remaining. However, Austin Peay responded with a 9-3 run over the next five minutes game action to open up a nine-point lead and would hang on from there, securing a 63-57 win.
The Aces open up MVC play on Wednesday, heading to Nashville for a clash with Belmont. Tip-off is set for 6:30 PM.
