|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
HOT JOBS
Lawmaker POV: The best and worst bills from the 2025 legislative session
Part of a series—look for more analysis and opinion on Indiana’s 2025 legislative session in TheStatehouseFile.com.
Less than a week ago, the Indiana General Assembly declared “sine die,” effectively ending the 2025 legislative session. Out of the hundreds of bills that made it to Gov. Mike Braun’s desk, here are the favorite and least favorite in the eyes of Indiana lawmakers from both sides of the aisle.
Rep. Ed Delaney
Rep. Ed DeLaney, D-Indianapolis.
Rep. Ed DeLaney, D-Indianapolis, who once authored a bill about legislative oversight, said the best bill that passed during the 2025 legislative session was Senate Bill 5—a bill that would keep government officials from entering into secretive no-bid contracts.
This type of contract is a noncompetitive agreement between a government entity and a merchant, meaning there were no other candidates that the government was looking at to provide them a service, including ones that may have cost less money.
SB 5 will bar state agencies from entering into nonpublic contracts and require them to publish any contracts they adopt at least 30 days before money is awarded.
DeLaney said this will be an important statute because it will prevent no-bid contracts, like the millions of dollars’ worth that The Indiana Capital Chronicle reported Secretary of State Diego Morales has been entering into since 2023.
“I think it’s a good step. It’s not all the way there, but it’s a pretty big step for us,” DeLaney said. “And I think it will help deal with the Diego Morales situation and similar events in the future. I think we’ll see less of that, should we call it ‘overreach,’ that some people engage in.”
The session’s worst bill, in DeLaney’s opinion, was House Bill 1001—the newest state budget. DeLaney, who has historically co-authored bills related to higher education and is a member of the House Education Committee, said he was most frustrated with the bill’s impact on students and professors at Indiana University (IU).
Last Wednesday night, just over 24 hours before lawmakers would make their final vote on the state budget, the Republican supermajority Indiana General Assembly inserted language into the budget that will allow Gov. Mike Braun to appoint every person on IU’s board of trustees.
“It was a complete violation of the normal legislative process,” DeLaney said.
He added that there was not a hearing about the addition in the Education Committee or the chance for input from the public.
DeLaney’s concern is that the university will have trouble recruiting good professors and that the ones who are currently there will have unfair evaluations, which could negatively impact post-tenure reviews and promotions.
Mark Bode, IU’s executive director of media relations, told the IU Daily Student, “Indiana University is currently reviewing the potential impacts of the proposed state budget.”
“A third grader could have figured it out in half an hour,” DeLaney said in response to Bode’s statement. “So they weren’t studying it. They were caving into it.”
DeLaney also said that if IU openly supported the bill, its students and staff may have fought back.
“They were afraid,” he said, “that the students and professors would wake up and realize that they’re under attack.”
Sen. Andy Zay
Sen. Andy Zay, R-Huntington.
Photo provided: 
Sen. Andy Zay, R-Huntington, one of Senate Bill 140’s authors, said it was the best bill of the 2025 legislative session—even though he did not think it reached its full potential.
Historically, Zay has worked on legislation relating to pharmaceuticals and health-care plans, with SB 140 now joining that list.
The bill primarily targets pharmacy benefit managers (PBM)—a third-party negotiator for health insurance plans, employers and government entities to arrange the cost of prescription drugs. Zay said PBMs take trillions of dollars from the health-care system by keeping the spread—the difference between the original and negotiated price of a drug.
SB 140 will require increased transparency from PBMs through mandated data reporting to the commissioner of the Indiana Department of Insurance.
During the 2023 session, lawmakers unanimously supported House Bill 1445, which allowed for an audit of Indiana’s pharmacy benefit services. The audit revealed that PBMs were profiting over $300 million from Hoosier prescription drugs.
“The health space is very difficult,” Zay said. “We saw many challenges in other parts of health-care systems, health services, and this is one area where I think we did make a breakthrough that could show vast savings to employers, employees and taxpayers through the state.”
Zay’s bill also encourages independent employee health plans to separate their health insurance from their drug plans. State employees will also be permitted to shop drug plans instead of using the one linked to their health insurance.
Zay said this may save employers and employees hundreds of millions of dollars.
Although he did not mention any “negative or bad bills,” Zay indicated that there were several unique topics discussed this session like car drifting, lab-grown meat and car color changes.
He added that it was a “different kind of session,” referencing the $2 billionbudget shortage and Gov. Mike Bruan’s newly inaugurated administration.
Zay said he hopes to improve Senate Bill 1—the property tax relief bill—over the next few years.
“We’ve got to determine how much government we want and how we’re going to pay for that government, and obviously, in a state like Indiana, … with a strong conservative base all the way through, you know, moderation and our liberal friends, … we’ve got to find that sweet spot of how we can fund government and provide safety, security and the necessaries that the government provides at all levels,” he said.
Sen. Liz Brown
Sen. Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne.
Photo provided:
Sen. Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne, said there were a lot of good bills from the 2025 legislative session, but the ones she worked on that stood out to her covered topics including eviction, eyewitness identification at crime scenes and cybersecurity.
Brown, who created an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Task Force during the 2024 session, emphasized her work on cybersecurity in 2025.
She said Senate Bill 472 will establish and assess the best practices for cybersecurity in political subdivisions, state agencies, schools and state universities.
“There are no guarantees, but they’ll be, you know, protecting your data and also protecting the infrastructure that you were relying on,” Brown said.
The disappointments Brown encountered this session primarily related to the budget.
She said Turnstone, a therapy and activity center in Fort Wayne for disabled Hoosiers, received funding in the 2023 budget but not in 2025.
“They’re going to have to work really hard,” Brown said. “That was not just extra money. That was money they used for services.”
Navarette named Evansville’s State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Award Spring winner
The Purple Aces sophomore was recognized for his work away from the track
ST. LOUIS — In an effort to honor the achievements of exceptional student-athletes, the Missouri Valley Conference has created the State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Award. Twelve student-athletes have been named by Commissioner Jeff Jackson as the honorees for the 2025 Spring season.
This year’s Spring honorees include Brenna Blume, Belmont, Softball; Timmy O’Brien, Bradley, Baseball; Ana Kirillov, Drake, Women’s Cross Country and Track; Alejandro Navarette, Evansville, Men’s Track & Field; Luke Malone, UIC, Men’s Track; Delainey Bryant, Illinois State, Softball; Yang Tai, Indiana State, Women’s Golf; Amy Henning, Missouri State, Tennis; Preston Chaudoin, Murray State, Baseball; MaKenna Kuper, Northern Iowa, Softball; Joshua Delgado, Southern Illinois, Men’s Track & Field; Kade Reinertson, Valparaiso, Baseball.
In order to be eligible for the award, the student-athlete must be in good academic standing, must demonstrate good citizenship through good sportsmanship and significant community service, and must participate in a sport during the season of recognition. The Valley will recognize 12 student-athletes three times annually (Fall, Winter, Spring), for a total of 36 honorees. Institutions select their State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Award honorees.
Navarette was the Purple Aces’ recipient of the award as a sophomore computer science major with a 4.00 GPA. Navarette has been named to the Dean’s List all three semesters he has been at UE and will likely make the Dean’s List for the Spring 2025 semester.
Navarette is also heavily involved in community service projects around the Evansville area and his hometown of Mogadore, Ohio. This year the sophomore helped Dynamics Community Theatre in Tallmadge, Ohio with their production of “Fiddler on the Roof”. Navarette helped build sets for the production while also assisting on the special effects for the musical number “Tevye’s Dream”.
Mayor Stephanie Terry Joins National Challenge to Promote Mental Health Through Movement and Connection
Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry announced today that the City of Evansville will participate in the Move with the Mayor® Spring Mental Health and Physical Activity Challenge, a national initiative aimed at highlighting the power of movement and social connection in supporting mental and physical health.
The initiative – held in partnership with the National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention – will launch in Evansville on Wednesday, May 1, and run throughout Mental Health Awareness Month.
As part of the challenge, Mayor Terry encourages residents of all ages to participate in group and individual activities such as walking, biking, meditation, yoga, and more. The month-long effort seeks to strengthen mental well-being, reduce isolation, and foster a greater sense of community connection across the city.
“When we move together, we grow together—not just physically, but emotionally and as a community,” said Mayor Stephanie Terry. “I know how heavy life can feel sometimes, and I also know how much better things can get when we show up for ourselves and for one another. That’s what Move with the Mayor is all about—taking simple steps to feel better, connect more, and build a healthier, more supportive Evansville for everyone.”
Residents are invited to share their progress and inspire others by using the hashtag #MoveWithTheMayor on social media throughout the month.
Mayor Terry also will be walking in different areas of the city every Monday at 10:30 a.m.; those events will be announced closer to the dates. And she will be encouraging movement through activities like line dancing, stretching, and breathing exercises during several of her initiatives throughout the month, including:
- Traveling City Hall (Wednesday, May 14, 5:30 p.m., Sunrise Pump Station)
- Pool Party! Mayor’s Free Day at City Pools (Date TBD)
- Block by Block Neighborhood Cleanup (Saturday, May 31, Tepe Park Neighborhood)
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mental health is a key component of overall wellness—and poor mental health can significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases like heart disease and stroke. By encouraging movement and connection, the City hopes to take proactive steps toward healthier outcomes for all residents.
Research shows being physically active and socially connected can reduce these risks while improving cognitive function, mood, and quality of life. “We’re thrilled to have Mayor Terry on board with the National Forum’s campaign to spotlight the importance of social connections for physical and mental well-being,” says John M. Clymer, executive director of the National Forum. “The research is clear. Social isolation and loneliness pose serious health risks, but building strong connections with others while moving more can make a real difference.”
IBLC ANNOUNCES 2025 TOWN HALL SERIES
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC) will host seven town halls throughout the state this summer to discuss the 2025 session of the Indiana General Assembly and answer questions from constituents. The schedule for the town hall series is as follows:
- Saturday, June 7: Kountry Kitchen, 1831 N. College Ave., Indianapolis IN 46202, noon-2 p.m. ET
- Saturday, June 28: Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library Central Branch’s Browning Room, 200 SE MLK Jr. Blvd., Evansville, Indiana, 47713, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. CT
- Saturday, July 12: Michigan City Council Chambers, City Hall, 100 E. Michigan Blvd., Michigan City, IN 46360, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. CT
- Saturday, Aug. 9: Allen County Public Library Main Branch Theater, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN 46802, noon-2 p.m. ET
- Saturday, Aug. 23: Terre Haute City Hall Courtroom, 17 Harding Ave., Terre Haute, IN 47807, noon-2 p.m. ET
- Saturday, Sept. 13: UAW Local 5, 1426 S. Main St., South Bend, IN 46613, noon-2 p.m. ET
- Saturday, Sept. 20: East Chicago City Hall Council Chambers, 4525 Indianapolis Blvd., East Chicago, IN 46312, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. CT
“These town halls give us the opportunity to hear directly from our constituents throughout the state about their concerns for Indiana, questions about the legislative process and what we can do to connect them with needed resources,” State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago), chair of the IBLC, said. “Community engagement is an integral part of the work we do in the Statehouse. In the IBLC, we strive to be accessible and transparent, and to help our constituents understand not only what we’re working on, but how they can play a role in shaping policy. When we listen, learn and work together, we build stronger, safer and more just communities across Indiana.”
All town halls are free and open to the public.
‘Sinners’ sings a tale of blues and blood
The devil went down to … Mississippi and did a—jig?
That’s right—and it was awesome.
“Sinners” reminds me of 1996’s “From Dusk till Dawn,” where George Clooney and Quentin Tarantino play brothers stuck in a Mexican saloon with deadly vampires—except this battle takes place in a 1930s juke joint in the American South, and both brothers are played by Michael B. Jordan.
It seems “Sinners” director Ryan Coogler can’t get enough of Jordan. Each of the five films he’s directed since 2013 star Jordan, including “Creed” and “Black Panther.” With “Sinners,” Coogler gets a double dose of his muse, casting Jordan as twin brothers Smoke and Stack, who move back home to the Mississippi Delta with a surprising amount of cash and a plan to immediately open an establishment for good music, food and drink in the Black community.
The story starts slow, with the brothers gradually tracking down the rest of the talented cast to assemble on the stage and dance floor. Jordan gives his usual steady performance as the identical siblings. Hailee Steinfeld plays a former love interest named Mary, though I wish there was more of her in the story, especially when things get scary. Wunmi Mosaku is terrific as the other brother’s love interest, portraying the strong, voodoo-loving Annie, who provides the necessary explanations about the evil that shows up.
But it’s the music performed on the joint’s stage that sets the tone for this unique addition to the genre. The opening of the film lays out the folklore around the rare musician whose talent has the power to connect the world of the living with that of the dead and worlds yet to be.
That’s the case for the twins’ mystical musician cousin Sammie (Miles Caton). When Sammie finally steps on the stage with his guitar and raises his voice to the heavens, Hell spits out its demons.
The bloodsucking Remmick (Jack O’Connell) shows up looking for Sammie, and the film’s pace doesn’t let up from there. O’Connell is amazing as a monster among men, able to lull the unsuspecting with simulated humanity and music, despite something not feeling right about him.
Remmick gives the terrified patrons an interesting pitch—suggesting that giving in to the immortality of becoming a vampire is the only way to exist freely in a racist world that doesn’t want them.
He arrives with some recent undead converts and performs some pretty amazing Irish tunes along the way, so he’s not your typical supernatural assassin. Sound silly? Maybe, but their fanged trio can really jam.
And it’s the music that fuels the movie to be something different than your typical vampire action flick. When Sammie sings the song he wrote for his preacher dad—his magic bridging past, present and future—those few minutes are as epic and memorable as any scene I’ve watched this year.
Turns out the blues can do more than get your foot tapping. “Sinners” sings straight from the heart—then drives a stake through it.
Scott McDaniel is a department chair and assistant professor of journalism at Franklin College. He lives in Bargersville with his wife and three kids.
Ivy Tech Event May 1
Entrepreneurship Expo
11 a.m.-1 p.m. – Entrepreneurship Expo. Businesses that have been created in this year’s Entrepreneurship classes will be represented in booths throughout the event. The winner of the pitch competition will be announced at 12:45 p.m. by Chancellor Daniela Vidal.
Ivy Tech Community College Evansville, 3501 N First Avenue, Koch Student Center, Room 152
Parking:
Please park near Entrance C on the north side of the main Ivy Tech building (Colonial Avenue parking lot) and enter through Entrance C.
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.
HOT JOBS
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
Evansville Man Arrested after Fleeing Trooper on I-69
Vanderburgh County – On Saturday, April 19, at approximately 12:55 p.m., Master Trooper Finney was patrolling I-69 near Lynch Road when he observed the rider of a black sport bike traveling north at a high rate of speed. Trooper Finney lost sight of the motorcyclist, but he continued to travel north and eventually located the rider again when he had to slow down due to construction near the 18-mile marker. Trooper Finney attempted to stop the motorcyclist by activating his emergency red and blue lights, but the rider left the driving lane and passed the slow traffic by using the shoulder at a speed of more than 100 mph. Trooper Finney terminated the chase after losing sight of the motorcycle near I-69 and SR 68.
Over the next several days, Trooper Finney was able to identify the motorcycle rider as Zakei Amad Rasheed, 21, of Evansville. It was also determined the motorcycle was a 2025 Suzuki.
A search warrant was executed for Rasheed’s residence and a motorcycle helmet, the backpack he was wearing during the chase, and a 2025 Suzuki was recovered. Rasheed was not at the residence when the search warrant was executed.
The case was reviewed by the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office and an arrest warrant was issued on April 28 for his arrest. At approximately 2:00 p.m. yesterday, Rasheed turned himself in at the Vanderburgh County Jail. He posted bond and was released.
Arrested and Charges:
- Zakei Amad Rasheed, 21, Evansville, IN
- Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle, Level 6 Felony
- Reckless Driving, Class C Misdemeanor
- Aggressive Driving, Class A Misdemeanor
- Speeding, Class C Infraction
- Passing on the right, Class C Infraction
Arresting Officer: Master Trooper M. Finney, Indiana State Police