Attorney General Todd Rokita remains vigilant against ‘sanctuary cities’ by warning local officials not to ignore state laws

10/18/2024

Attorney General Todd Rokita cautioned local officials in Lake and St. Joseph counties that he will pursue legal action against them after November 8 if they refuse to follow state laws that prohibit local entities from restricting immigration enforcement activities and communications with federal immigration authorities.

“Illegal aliens coming across our unprotected Southern border for the last four years have caused a jump in crime, fentanyl overdoses, human trafficking, and an increased financial burden on state and local programs,” Attorney General Rokita said. “Hardworking Hoosiers are sick and tired ofpaying the price for this left-wing nonsense, and our office will not back down from enforcing state law.”

A “sanctuary city” is a local unit of government that has implemented a policy that deliberately and intentionally restricts and obstructs the enforcement of federal immigration laws.

The Indiana General Assembly passed a law this year authorizing the attorney general to file lawsuits against any Indiana colleges, universities, or units of local government that do not comply with the Indiana ban on sanctuary cities.

Attorney General Rokita has heard from constituents about the problems caused by mass migration into areas like Lake and St. Joseph counties. His efforts to combat sanctuary cities are an important way to address these problems.

“Everyone should have the freedom and opportunity to succeed and attain a better life,” Attorney General Rokita said. “We welcome migrants to the United States who show they are thankful to be here by entering our country legally and following our laws. Simply put, if you do not follow our laws, you should not be allowed to stay.”

Attorney General Rokita has sent letters to officials in Lake and St. Joseph counties warning them of impending legal action if they do not come into compliance with Indiana law.

Attorney General Rokita also sent letters to officials in the cities of East Chicago, West Lafayetteand Monroe County. East Chicago and West Lafayette changed their policy to comply with state law. Our office is pursuing legal action in court against Monroe County.

We continue to evaluate other local governments and will take action as warranted to ensure compliance with state law.

CCO “Comments of the Week”

10/18/2024

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Dear reader, are a part of the City-County Observer when you comment on the stories. Here are a few of the best comments from the past week:

In our story about the mayor reacting to a letter about conditions at the animal control facility, Lynn Wilcox wrote, “Animal. Control has always been horrendous since I was a child. I now reside in Colorado, and their shelters are nothing like in Evansville. Evansville, you should be ashamed of the conditions the animals are kept in. YOU can do better.”

This week’s story about the parks board hearing from the public on the $24 million bond, Donald Lee Nichols said, “I spoke at this meeting- here’s the video link to the entire meeting: https://evansville.granicus.com/player/clip/6894?view_id=12&redirect=true
Post-meeting it was explained to me the bond is an up or down, all-or-nothing proposal and Board vote. The $10 million for the giraffe barn cannot be “carved out” and put in a “lock box” or earmarked for the barn at a later date as I suggested in the video above. At two previous Board meetings, we heard there will be proposals for an extensive giraffe barn at Mesker Zoo, which will be introduced in 2025. So, the $10 million earmarked for the barn becomes a windfall for the remaining projects. I must ask, why would a bond amount be set in stone while the projects using the bond dollars haven’t yet been approved? Makes no sense to me, unless it was the plan all along, a bait and switch. In other words, the giraffe barn and its allotted dollars were a throwaway to gain funds for the remaining projects. Here’s a simple example. Under the current system, a $24 million bond is et, and the “amount” cannot be changed later for two city parks, One honoring Mayor Smith and one for Mayor Jones. However, while surveyors plot the acreage, they find Mayor Jones Park is planned on an ancient or protected site and cannot be built upon. If it’s like the current $24 million bond rules, the entire $24 million bond could be awarded to Mayor Smith Park. I was told that it would not be improper. I think it is. Let me say I support the listed projects as they address critical needs. Please, if someone can explain to me/us whats missing from my view, I’ll stand corrected.”

And Louis Murphy commented on the story about Alexis Berggren resigning from Explore Evansville, “Steve Schaefer or his wife’s next stop. Mark it down.”

Evansville Day School Hosts Gnome Run 5K & Kids Dash

10/18/2024

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Get ready to lace up those sneakers because the Evansville Day School Gnome Run 5K
and Kids Dash is back! Join us on November 23rd at 9:00 AM at Deaconess Sports
Park for an exciting day of fun, fitness, and community spirit.
This event is open to runners of all ages and abilities, from seasoned athletes to
first-timers. Start the day with our Kids Dash at 8:30 AM, perfect for children 10 and
under! (All participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.)
New this year, participants will score a free limited-edition Gnome Run campfire mug!
Plus, enjoy the onsite food and beverage trucks Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck and Cotton
Shed Donuts.
Secure your spot now for a day packed with fitness, fun, and treats you won’t want to
miss!
For more information and to register please visit: https://bit.ly/gnomerun
Facebook Event page: https://www.facebook.com/share/6iPGV4He6EYBDqhi/

Evansville Vanderburgh County Convention & Visitors Commission Executive Session Meeting Notice

10/18/2024

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Evansville Vanderburgh County
Convention & Visitors Commission

Executive Session Meeting Notice

Evansville, IN –October 16, 2024 – Meetings of the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Convention & Visitors Commission and Evansville Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. (collectively “Commission”) will hold an Executive Session meeting pursuant to I.C. 5-14-1.5 regarding a review of agreements involving potential confidential information on Friday, October 18, 2024 at 9:00 am. The Executive Session meeting will be held in the Evansville Meeting Room at Bally’s Evansville, 421 NW Riverside Dr., Evansville, IN.

The meeting will be conducted in a closed-door and virtual Executive Session pursuant to I.C. 5-14-1.5 regarding a review of issues on personnel matters and agreements involving potential confidential information. There will be no votable actions taken at this meeting.

Retail Food Establishment Inspection Report

10/18/2024

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LINK OF INSPECTION REPORT

Retail Food Establishment Inspection Report

Vincennes University Jasper hosts nearly 600 high school freshmen for Tour of Opportunity

10/18/2024

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JASPER, Ind. October 16, 2024 – Vincennes University Jasper welcomed 560 freshmen from all Dubois County high schools to its campus to promote career exploration among youth.

Students from Northeast Dubois Jr./Sr. High School, Jasper High School, Southridge High School, and Forest Park Jr./Sr. High School had the unique opportunity to explore career pathways through hands-on learning and interaction with industry partners during VUJ’s Tour of Opportunity on Oct. 9.

According to Jacob Berg, Director of VU Jasper’s Center for Technology, Innovation, and Manufacturing, “Our goal is to connect students with local industry and local opportunities in many different career pathways.”

The event featured 14 diverse career pathways, including Agriculture; Arts/Audio Visual/Communications; Automotive Technology/Trucking and Transportation; Business Finance; Business Information Technology and Computer Repair; Business Management/Marketing/Advertising/Human Resources; Construction/Architecture; Early Childhood Education; Engineering/Automation/Robotics/Manufacturing; Healthcare; Hospitality/Service Industry/Culinary Arts; Human and Social Services; Public Safety; and Welding/Precision Machining.

After a short introduction at the VUJ campus, students boarded buses to visit local businesses related to their chosen career pathways. This morning session allowed them to interact directly with professionals in their fields of interest, providing insight into various career options available in the county where they live and attend school.

In the afternoon, students returned to campus for lunch, followed by presentations and demonstrations in the CTIM from local businesses and VU and VUJ faculty.

Companies showcased what their industries offer, providing students with firsthand guidance as they consider their future careers.

This year’s new participating companies included Oink, Inc., owned by VU Culinary Arts graduate Tim Flick, Brescher Filming and Photography, Sultan’s Run, and Little Wildcats, a daycare located at Jasper High School for the children of students and faculty.

These organizations joined a strong lineup of companies, including OFS, Kimball Electronics, Jasper Engines and Transmission, Indiana Furniture, Kimball International, WBDC Studios, Bob Luegers Motors, Uebelhor and Sons Toyota and Chevrolet, German American Bank, Springs Valley Bank and Trust, Memorial Hospital and Healthcare Center, Thyen Clark Cultural Center, Visit Dubois County, and Southwestern Indiana Child Advocacy Center Coalition.

Berg said, “The partnerships between Vincennes University Jasper, local businesses, and high schools ensure that students are better prepared to make informed decisions about their career paths.”

HOT JOBS

10/18/2024

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Community Outreach Coordinator

Ascension

3.6

Brown Deer, WI • Hybrid remote

Note: Required professional licensure/certification can be used in lieu of education or experience, if applicable. Hospital: Brown Deer Shared Service Office.

4 days ago

Front Office Assistant – Cardiology

Ascension

3.6

Bartlesville, OK

Note: Required professional licensure/certification can be used in lieu of education or experience, if applicable. Long-term & short-term disability.

1 day ago

Patient Access Representative

Ascension

3.6

Allegan, MI

Accurately answer, page, beep, transfer calls and assist with voice mail processing. Accurately identify the hospital when answering the switchboard.

Just posted

Surgical Scheduler – GI Gastroenterology Clinic

Ascension

3.6

Franklin, WI

Note: Required professional licensure/certification can be used in lieu of education or experience, if applicable. Schedule: Full Time Days – 40 hours per week.

UE to announce major community collaboration, funding partnership

10/18/2024

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UE President Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz, Evansville Police Department Chief Philip Smith, Executive Director of Albion Fellows Bacon Center Gina Gist, and Matthew 25 Outreach & Development Coordinator Rachel Trout.

The University of Evansville is set to announce a significant community collaboration, involving multiple partners including a funding partnership.

10:00 a.m. CST on Wednesday, November 6, 2024.

Vectren Boardroom located on the second floor of the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration. Room 270.

All media are strongly encouraged to RSVP to Noah Alatza at na122@evansville.edu by 7 a.m. CST, on Wednesday, November 6.

EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

10/18/2024

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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.

USI Women’s Basketball picked first in OVC

10/17/2024

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Shafford, Raley and Webb named to OVC Players to Watch List

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball is projected to place first in the Ohio Valley Conference in a vote submitted by the league’s head coaches and communication directors.

USI heads into its third season in the Ohio Valley Conference after capturing its first-ever OVC regular-season and tournament championships in 2023-24. The Screaming Eagles went 25-7 overall and 17-1 in the OVC last season, leading to a first-ever berth and second-round appearance in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT).

The 11-team OVC will feature a schedule with each team playing each other twice in a home-and-home split for a 20-game schedule. The conference schedule will occur from December 19, 2024, through March 1, 2025. The conference’s season concludes with the OVC Basketball Championship Tournament at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana March 5-8, 2025.

Southern Indiana topped the OVC preseason poll with 200 points and 20 first-place votes. The University of Tennessee at Martin was picked second with 180 points and two first-place votes. Eastern Illinois received a third-place projection with 145 points.

Tennessee Tech University was picked fourth with 140 points, and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock was selected fifth with 135 points. Western Illinois University was sixth with 119 points in front of Lindenwood University with 81 points. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Morehead State University tied for eighth with 61 points. Tennessee State University and Southeast Missouri State University rounded out the poll with 59 and 29 points, respectively.

As part of the OVC’s preseason announcement, Southern Indiana was represented by three players on the 2024-25 OVC Players to Watch List. Fifth-year senior forwards Meredith Raley and Madi Webb and senior guard Vanessa Shafford were named following all-conference selections last season.

Shafford was named All-OVC First Team last season after leading USI in several categories, including points (13.6), rebounds (7.7), and minutes (30.0) per game while starting all 32 games. Shafford had a team-best 46 steals and shot 45.6 percent (161-353) overall, 81 percent (47-58) at the free-throw line, and 38.3 percent (67-175) from three. The guard ranked first in the OVC in three-point percentage (40.2) in conference play and ranked top 10 in the OVC in overall scoring and rebounding. Shafford also collected seven doubles-doubles a year ago.

Raley was also an All-OVC first-team selection in 2023-24 after posting a team second-best 12.2 points and 5.7 rebounds per contest. Raley averaged 24.3 minutes per game and started all 31 games she appeared in. The forward was third on the squad in field goal percentage at 47.7 percent (125-262) and three-point percentage at 36.8 percent (32-87). Raley ranked top 10 in the OVC in rebounding and free-throw percentage. Raley also had four double-doubles during the season. Raley finished the 2023-24 campaign being selected to the OVC All-Tournament Team and named Tournament MVP after totaling 30 points on 11-20 shooting and 15 rebounds in two games played during USI’s run to the OVC Tournament championship title.

Webb earned All-OVC second-team honors in her first season with USI. Webb started all 31 games she appeared in, averaging a career-best 24.8 minutes, 10.8 points, and 4.8 rebounds. Webb was third on the squad in scoring and rebounding and second in field goal percentage at 49.7 percent (148-298). Webb picked up two doubles-doubles last season. Webb was selected to the OVC All-Tournament Team after totaling 26 points on 46 percent shooting with three rebounds and five assists in two games played during USI’s run to the OVC Tournament championship.

The 2024-25 USI Women’s Basketball squad features 10 returning players, including four majority starters, and two newcomers. USI Head Coach Rick Stein begins his 26^th season at the helm with a 448-261 record. Stein was named OVC Coach of the Year following USI’s championship run.

USI gets the 2024-25 season rolling on November 4 at 6 p.m. against Brescia University (Ky.) from Screaming Eagles Arena. Southern Indiana will have three major conference opponents during the non-conference slate, including road games against the University of Louisville (November 8), Indiana University (December 4), and the University of Illinois (December 15). USI will also renew an old rivalry by hosting Northern Kentucky University on November 23. The Screaming Eagles will open conference play December 19 against Tennessee State State at Screaming Eagles Arena.

2024-25 OVC Women’s Basketball Predicted Order of Finish
(as voted on by the league’s head coaches and communication directors)
1. Southern Indiana (20 first-place votes) – 200 points
2. UT Martin (2 first-place votes) – 180
3. Eastern Illinois – 145
4. Tennessee Tech – 140
5. Little Rock – 135
6. Western Illinois – 119
7. Lindenwood – 81
8. SIUE – 61
Morehead State – 61
10. Tennessee State – 59
11. Southeast Missouri – 29

2024-25 OVC Preseason Players to Watch List
Macy McGlone, Eastern Illinois
Lalani Ellis, Eastern Illinois
Ellie Brueggemann, Lindenwood
Brooke Coffey, Lindenwood
Jayla Brooks, Little Rock
Faith Lee, Little Rock
Kate Novik, Morehead State
Aileen Marquez, Morehead State
KK Rodriguez, SIUE
Macy Silvey, SIUE
Indiya Bowen, Southeast Missouri
Zoe Best, Southeast Missouri
Meredith Raley, Southern Indiana
Vanessa Shafford, Southern Indiana
Madi Webb, Southern Indiana
Sanaa’ St. Andre, Tennessee State
XaiOnna Whitfield, Tennessee State
Reghan Grimes, Tennessee Tech
Peyton Carter, Tennessee Tech
Anaya Brown, UT Martin
Kenley McCarn, UT Martin
Raegan McCowan, Western Illinois
Addi Brownfield, Western Illinois