FOOTNOTE: EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.
Volleyball battles Michigan State in front of sold out crowd
Aces fall in home opener
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Playing in front of a sellout crowd of 864 fans, the University of Evansville volleyball team gave Michigan State everything it could handle before falling by a 3-1 final inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse on Wednesday evening.
Three Purple Aces recorded a team-best six kills including Sabrina Ripple, Hinsley Everett, and Brooke Herdes. Kora Ruff finished with 24 assists while Ainoah Cruz added eight digs. Ripple had two solo and two block assists. Michigan State was led by Taylah Holdem who had 16 kills while Evie Doezema completed the night with 15.
Game 1 – MSU 26, UE 24
In an exciting first set, it was Michigan State pulling off the 26-24 win. The Spartans had the early momentum jumping out to a 10-5 lead. Following time out, the Aces regrouped to take a 14-13 lead. Kora Ruff served up two aces while Sabrina Ripple added a kill. MSU regained the lead as they went up 19-16, but UE bounced back once again to go up 20-19. Ainoah Cruz recorded a pair of aces during the stretch.
Evansville continued its run, going up 23-21 on a kill by Chloe Cline. The back-and-forth action continued as the Spartans countered with the next three tallies. Hinsley Everett notched a kill to tie it up at 24-24, but the final two points belonged to MSU as they took the early match lead.
Game 2 – MSU 25, UE 16
Looking to tie the match, the Aces jumped out to a 4-1 lead to open the second frame. Brooke Herdes and Ripple picked up kills in the early run. MSU countered with three in a row to tie things up before a 10-3 run established an 11-7 lead. They continued to add to the advantage, extending it to 22-11. Evansville chipped away in the final stages before falling by a final of 25-16.
Game 3 – UE 25, MSU 23
Another nice start saw the Aces take another 4-1 lead. McKenzie Laubach opened with a kill while Cruz added another ace. Evansville continued its strong play as Everett picked up a kill that made it an 8-4 game. The Spartans countered to tie the game at 9-9 before taking their first edge of the set at 14-13.
UE did not trail for long as Carlotta Pascual Centelles registered a kill that put her team in front at 15-14. The Aces would not trail for the remainder of the frame. Josdarilee Caraballo picked up a kill to help her team go up 21-17. Michigan State closed within a point at 23-22 before two more Caraballo kills sealed a 25-23 win.
Game 4 – MSU 25, UE 16
Both squads swapped the lead in the early moments of the fourth set. While MSU had the early 1-0 edge, the Aces fought back to take an 8-6 lead on a kill by Pascual Centelles. The Spartans took control midway through the set when a 4-0 spurt turned a 14-12 lead into an 18-12 advantage. Everett ended the stretch with a kill, but MSU finished strong, clinching the match with the 25-16 decision.
Next up for the Aces is a trip to Atlanta for the GSU Invitational. UE opens with matches against Florida A&M and Queens on Friday.
Food inspection Reports
Local farm families honored by state
by Wendy McNamara
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The Reibel Farm, in operation since 1919, and the Ritzert Farm, in operation since 1875, recently received Hoosier Homesteads awards. The Reibel Farm received the centennial award, and the Ritzert Farm received centennial and sesquicentennial awards. Hoosier Homestead awards honor farms owned and operated by the same family for 100, 150 and 200 years with centennial, sesquicentennial or bicentennial awards. These farm families were among 95 awardees recently honored during a ceremony at the Indiana State Fair. Hoosier Homestead ceremonies are conducted every spring and summer. Since establishing the program in 1976, Indiana has recognized more than 6,000 farms for their economic and cultural impact to the state. |
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Congratulations to all the families who received this recognition, and thank you for your tireless efforts in preserving Indiana’s farming traditions and making our state one of the top agricultural producers in the country.More information on the Hoosier Homestead Award Program and nomination forms are available at in.gov/isda. Nominations for the March 2026 ceremony are due by Nov. 1. Questions may be emailed to HoosierHomestead@ISDA.IN.gov.
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“We Can’t Take It Anymore” — Governor Braun Announces New Office of Utility Consumer Counselor Commissioner, Directs Evaluation of Utilities’ Profits & Cost-Saving Measures
“Hoosiers have been burdened with utility rate increase after increase. We can’t take it anymore.”
INDIANAPOLIS – Governor Mike Braun today announced the selection of Abby Gray as the new Office of the Utility Consumer Counselor commissioner, who serves as Hoosiers’ advocate.
Governor Braun directed the office to evaluate utilities’ profits and find cost-saving measures to ease the financial burden on Hoosiers — including utilities’ investors bearing more of the costs of doing business rather than ratepayers.
Governor Braun issued the following statement:
“Hoosiers have been burdened with utility rate increase after increase. We can’t take it anymore. I am directing the Utility Consumer Counselor, who is Indiana’s ratepayer advocate, to evaluate utilities’ profits along with other cost savings measures to ease the burden on ratepayers. I would also like to see the utilities’ investors bear more of the cost of doing business.” – Governor Mike Braun
Abby Gray, who will serve as the Office of the Utility Consumer Counselor commissioner, issued this statement:
“I have dedicated my career to public service and it’s the honor of a lifetime to continue to serve Indiana ratepayers in this new role. I am deeply humbled and appreciative of Governor Braun’s confidence in me and look forward to advocating for Indiana utility consumers.” – Abby Gray, Commissioner of the Office of the Utility Consumer Counselor
USI Multicultural Center to host 15th annual Essence of Excellence Summit
The 15th annual University of Southern Indiana Multicultural Center (MCC) Essence of Excellence Summit will take place at 3 p.m. Friday, September 26 in Carter Hall, located in University Center West. This year’s theme, “Developing Your Blueprint,” aims to provide all college students knowledge, tools and skills to achieve better versions of themselves.
Topics of discussion this year include social and emotional health; organization, time management, planning, and goal setting; software and technology skills; and professional development.
The schedule of events for the Summit is as follows:
Network Session – 3-3:45 p.m.
The goal of this session is to educate attendees on “The Art of Networking.” This is a desired and useful skill for future professional endeavors. The room will be arranged with bistro tables for general conversation and mingling and will also include the capturing of complimentary professional headshots.
Keynote Speaker/Dinner – 4-4:45 p.m.
Attendees will enjoy a short program including a keynote presentation by Dr. César Berríos, USI Assistant Dean of Students and Athletic Diversity and Inclusion Designee.
In his current role, Berríos helps students navigate higher education. With a student-centered mindset, he builds meaningful connections within the USI community, offering guidance, support and advocacy for all.
Berríos is a three-time USI alum, earning bachelor’s degrees in history and Spanish in 2013; a master’s degree in second language acquisition, language policy, and culture studies in 2018; and a doctorate in educational leadership in 2023.
Workshop Sessions – 5-7 p.m.
Workshop sessions offer another avenue to direct and enlighten attendees on a variety of topics geared toward growth and learning. Workshops are meant to be highly interactive. Though lecture is traditionally a part of the process, application and practice are the engaging opportunities that leave a lasting participant experience.
Order in the Court (Moderated Chat) – 7:15-7:45 p.m.
This will be the culmination of the Summit and will be focused on reflection and imparting final words of wisdom to attendees for the personal and professional journey ahead.
Attorney General Todd Rokita leads 22-state effort to support Trump administration’s elimination of DEI from federal contracting
Attorney General Todd Rokita is leading a 22-state effort in support of the U.S. Department of Labor’s proposed rule to rescind long-standing regulations that require discriminatory affirmative action plans for federal contractors.
In a letter sent this week, Attorney General Rokita argues that DOL’s current affirmative action requirements are clearly unconstitutional under the Fifth Amendment’s equal protection guarantee and in light of the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard.
“The federal government has no right to mandate affirmative action plans that prioritize ideology over merit,” said Attorney General Rokita. “These regulations promote unlawful discrimination, undermine true equal opportunity, and needlessly burden employers. Federal contractors should hire based on skill and experience, not political agendas.”
DOL’s proposed rule advances the objectives of President Trump’s executive order — titled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” — in which he ordered the federal government to end discriminatory DEI practices, like affirmative action programs and arbitrary workforce balancing based on race and sex for federal contractors.
In addition to noting that these DEI practices being harmful to society and bad policy, the comment letter argues that the executive branch did not have the statutory authority under federal law to mandate affirmative action requirements on federal contractors in the first place.
“The Department of Labor’s move to eliminate these burdensome affirmative action mandates is a step toward fairness,” Attorney General Rokita added. “Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, we’re once again restoring common sense and ensuring federal contractors can focus on merit-based hiring, free from discriminatory practices based on race or sex.”
This effort builds on Indiana’s leadership. Last month, Attorney General Rokita, in coordination with Governor Mike Braun, announced that all state contracts now must include revised language that makes clear that contractors must not pursue DEI initiatives that treat people differently on the basis of race or sex.
Read the letter here.
THUNDERBOLTS SIGN DEFENSEMAN MAX THIESSEN
Evansville, In.: The Evansville Thunderbolts and Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations Jeff Bes are pleased to announce the signing of defenseman Max Thiessen for the 2025-26 season. The Thunderbolts begin the 2025-26 season and raise their President’s Cup Championship banner at Ford Center on Saturday, October 25th against the Quad City Storm.
Thiessen joins the Thunderbolts following four seasons of college hockey at Amherst College, where he scored 4 goals and 19 points, along with a +8 rating and a remarkably low 16 total penalty minutes in 91 regular season games between 2021-2025. Born and raised in Washington, DC, Thiessen spent many years in the Washington Little Caps youth program, and in the final three seasons with the Little Caps, Thiessen also played high school hockey at Gonzaga College High School, one of the top high school hockey programs in the Mid-Atlantic region. In three seasons at Gonzaga College High, Thiessen scored 14 goals and 29 points in 35 regular season games.
“I play a strong two-way game. I pride myself on being tough to play against on both sides of the puck. I have good vision of the ice, which allows me to both set up plays and shut down opposing chances, and I love to join the rush and sometimes even lead it,” replied Thiessen when asked about his playing style. On joining Evansville, Thiessen commented: “I’ve heard only positive things about the organization, and I am excited about the opportunity to play for a team with a record of success, with the winning culture that Coach Bes has built, and I look forward to contributing to that culture and being a part of the community. I’m excited to battle on the ice for the great fanbase, I’m looking forward to being a part of this team, and I’m going to give my all to help bring another championship to Evansville!”
On the signing of Thiessen, Head Coach Jeff Bes commented: “Max is a big, strong, smooth skating defenseman who defends well with long stick and angles, or his physicality. He has good vision on the ice and makes a good first pass which translates to clean breakouts and counterattacks. He has the ability to jump into the play and attack offensively, either as a second or third layer, or can lead the play.”
Aces Continue Homestand with Lindenwood
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The second game of a three-game homestand for the University of Evansville men’s soccer team is in store on Thursday as the Purple Aces play host to Lindenwood at Arad McCutchan Stadium. Kick-off is set for 6 PM.
Last Time Out
Evansville earned their third tie of the season on Sunday, playing Memphis to a hard-fought 1-1 final.
Evansville out-shot the Tigers 24-7 on the night, but were unable to find the game-winning goal as the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
Both sides saw scoring opportunities early, as Álvaro Timón (Toledo, Spain/Valencia International University) put a shot on goal in the third minute of play and Michal Mroz (Elk Grove, Ill./Elk Grove) sniffed out a Memphis attack with a strong save in the eighth minute. Evansville earned a penalty kick in the 17th minute when Timón was fouled in the box by the Memphis keeper. Tancredi Fadda (Monza, Italy/University of Milan) took the penalty, but put the shot off the crossbar for a near miss. UE got another penalty chance less than three minutes later, as Fadda earned a penalty on a foul in the box. This time, Martin Wurschmidt (Stavern, Norway/Thor Heyerdahl VGS) took the shot for the Aces and converted, putting the shot into the bottom right corner to get Evansville on the board.
The lead would not last for long, however, as the Tigers were able to equalize in the 33rd minute on a goal from Lucho Galizzi. Chase Ricker (Albuquerque, N.M./La Cueva) nearly netted his first career goal in the 40th minute to break the tie, but the shot ricocheted off the post and the score remained at 1-1 going into the half.
In the second half of the play, the Aces put together a flurry of attacks, putting up 13 shots. However, the Memphis defense held strong to escape with a result. Perhaps the best scoring chance for UE came in the 86th minute on a cross into the box from Nacho Diaz-Caneja (Coruña, Spain/Oregon State), but a header from Wurschmidt snuck just outside the far post and out of play.
Series History
Thursday marks the 4th all-time meeting between Evansville and Lindenwood. The two sides played last season in St. Charles, where Lindenwood took a 3-2 win. The series record is tied at an even 1-1-1.
Scouting Lindenwood
Lindenwood brings an unblemished record into the River City, sitting at 3-0 on the year. The last time out for the Lions came on Sunday, a 3-0 win over Wright State.