INDIANAPOLIS — Senator Mike Braun has again been recognized as one of the most conservative Republicans in the U.S. Senate, this time by CPAC with a 98% rating, ranking him the second most conservative Senator in the entire body.
“Hoosiers sent me to Washington to be a voice for common sense. I’ve been proud to vote against every bit of the Biden spending spree that’s burdened every Hoosier family with high prices from inflation.” – Senator Mike Braun
“To produce this year’s scorecard, the CPAC foundation’s Center for Legislative Accountability analyzed every vote taken during the last session of Congress, looking particularly at those related to such issues as fiscal matters, taxation, regulation, education, Second Amendment rights and election security, among others,” CPAC noted about their methodology.
Attorney General Todd Rokita continues his fight against Big Pharma in a new lawsuit against drug manufacturers and Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) for inflating insulin prices for hardworking Hoosiers.
Approximately 640,435 Indiana residents have been diagnosed with diabetes and over 1.7 million people are pre-diabetic. It is the leading cause of blindness, kidney failure, and lower limb amputations. It is the seventh leading cause of death in Indiana despite the availability of effective treatment.
“Diabetes is a public health crisis for Hoosiers,” Attorney General Rokita said. “This is a serious condition that requires insulin, putting patients in the impossible position of choosing between health and financial security.”
The lawsuit filed by Attorney General Rokita includes drug manufacturers Sanofi-Aventis and Novo Nordisk and PBMs CaremarkPCS Health, Express Scripts, CVS Health Corp., and Optum RX for conspiring to raise prices on insulin medications by more than 1000% in the last decade alone despite manufacturing costs decreasing.
“Too many Hoosiers have been forced to ration because drug manufacturers and PBMs have prioritized profits over patients,” said Attorney General Rokita. “Hundreds of thousands of Indiana residents rely on these medications to stay alive and these prices discourage people to take care of their health.”
According to the Complaint, every year, the direct medical expenses associated with diabetes care in Indiana are an estimated five billion dollars. If everyone with diabetes could adhere to their medication protocol, over $8.3 billion in direct medical costs would be saved annually.
“Our office hopes this case will also set a strong precedent for other pharmaceutical companies who want to take advantage of everyday Hoosiers,” Attorney General Rokita said. “Families are suffering enough already with the economic decline. Targeting and scheming against those who have a medical condition like diabetes is absolutely unethical.”
This is just one of the many times Attorney General Rokita’s Office has taken on dishonest companies who harm Hoosier patients regularly. Since Rokita took office, he has obtained a $66.5 million settlement against Centene for their failure to disclose true costs, won a $573 million multi-state settlement against McKinsey & Company for its role in “turbocharging” the opioid epidemic with Purdue Pharma, and secured nearly $7 million in an Indiana Medicaid fraud settlement against Mallinckrodt.
Last week saw the 70th anniversary of the ‘Milan Miracle’
Staff Report
Updated
Last week saw the 70th anniversary of the “Milan Miracle.”
U.S. Senator Todd Young, R-Indiana, commemorates the “Milan Miracle” with a speech on the Senate floor Thursday. Photo provided.
On March 20, 1954, Milan High School—enrollment 161—defeated Muncie Central in the Indiana High School Boys State Championship, making the Indians the smallest school to ever win the single class tournament in Indiana, according to a press release. The team and town are the inspiration for the movie “Hoosiers,” released in 1986.
On Saturday, Gov. Eric Holcomb spoke at the Milan 70th Anniversary Celebration at Milan High School Gymnasium, and on Thursday, U.S. Senator Todd Young, R-Indiana, commemorated the event on the Senate floor.
“The memory of Milan lasts because their team and town symbolizes what keeps our communities together … And it’s an inspiration still, across small towns, and struggling places, waiting on their own miracle, where the basketball team brings people together and makes them feel proud of the place they call home,” said Young. “That is why we still celebrate little Milan beating mighty Muncie Central 70 years on.”
Here is Young’s full floor speech:
“You might be surprised by the guest book of a museum in a small southern Indiana town.
“Inside it are names of visitors from all 50 states and farther away—other countries, other continents, places like Italy, France, Japan, and New Zealand.
“They have made their way to Milan, Indiana because … here is where the heart of Hoosier Hysteria lives … and the greatest basketball story ever took place 70 years ago this week.
“March, 20, 1954, the Fieldhouse on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis …
“The finals of the Indiana High School Basketball Tournament …
“The Indians of Milan High, enrollment 161, vs. The Bearcats of Muncie Central, enrollment 1,660 …
“Fifteen thousand fans are in the bleachers … with thousands more Hoosiers listening over the radio…
“It’s the fourth quarter…
“The game is tied at 30…
“Eighteen seconds on the clock…
“Milan inbounds…
“Senior Bobby Plump gets the ball … He fakes left, dribbles right, pulls up, knocks down a 14-foot jump shot just as the clock expires.
“The nets come down and the celebration starts.
“The next morning, the new state champions headed home in a fleet of Cadillacs along Indiana’s county roads—there was no interstate or highway connecting Indianapolis to Cincinnati, the closest city to Milan.
“Hoosiers were waiting along the way, in Greensburg, in Shelbyville, holding signs, waving.
“State Road 101, which led back home, was lined with cars and cheering fans for 13 miles.
“Forty thousand people were waiting in Milan, even though at that time the town had only 1,100 residents.
“As they rolled into town, two members of the team—Ray Craft and Kenny Wendelman—hopped on the roof of their Cadillac with the championship trophy between them.
“The procession ended near Milan High, where that trophy remains today.
“The next morning, the crowd was gone.
“The small town quiet gradually returned.
“In the days that followed members of the team graduated, went off to college, pursued careers and drifted apart.
“Coach Marvin Wood took a job up in New Castle.
“The passage of time brought other changes, not all of them welcome.
“Milan, like so many towns across the country has faced challenges.
“And the single class basketball tournament system that gave small town teams like Milan a shot at the title is no more.
“Some of the schools that played in the 1954 tournament are gone.
“Milan has not won another championship, though they made it to the semi-state back in 1973.
“Despite this—or just possibly because of it—the Milan Miracle is inspiring as ever, seven decades on.
“Yes, it’s the tale of the little guy, the underdog, David vs. Goliath. The smallest school to ever win the single class tournament.
“Literally in fact: Muncie Central’s average height was 6’4. Milan’s was 5’11.
“But this story is so much bigger than that or even basketball, or even Indiana.
“Milan’s players always note that their championship run in 1954 was not a lightning strike or a stroke of good luck.
“The Indians made it to the final four the previous year; most of the players had known and practiced with each other since grade school.
“They played tough, were coached well, and had faith in their teammates.
“Bobby Plump’s last shot is the moment we remember, but it was the culmination of a lot of hard work, dedication, and teamwork.
“And it happened because of the support of families, friends and neighbors.
“Milan was a place where when a student needed a winter coat, locals took up a collection at the drug store and bought him one…
“… A place where the kids who didn’t have a lot of money could eat for free at Rosie’s.
“… And the ones from nearby Pierceville, who often had to walk to school, could count on rides from friends.
“And in a different era, when the world seemed so much smaller, the local basketball team was, at least for the month of March, the world.
“Even a water shortage in the spring of 1954 didn’t dampen Milan’s or Ripley County’s excitement for the Indians.
“As an area newspaper reported, ‘water or no water, Ripleyians want Milan to bring home the crown.’
“Apart from what happened on the hardwood at Hinkle Fieldhouse, the memory of Milan lasts because their team and town symbolizes what keeps our communities together …
“… What lifts their hopes and fuels their dreams, even when it feels like hopes and dreams are all they have.
“That trophy in the newly refurbished lobby of Milan High’s gymnasium is a symbol of more than just a state championship.
“It’s proof how much we can achieve when we work together towards a common goal and resolve to hold our own no matter the odds.
“And it’s an inspiration still, across small towns, and struggling places, waiting on their own miracle, where the basketball team brings people together and makes them feel proud of the place they call home.
“That is why we still celebrate little Milan beating mighty Muncie Central 70 years on.
“It’s why we will for the next 70 years too.
“Of course, this is the story that inspired ‘Hoosiers,’ a beloved movie, written and directed by a pair of Hoosiers.
“Visitors still come to Indiana in search of the movie’s fictional Hickory, hoping to find the small town epicenter of Hoosier Hysteria.
“What they are really searching for is right there in Ripley County.
“They will recognize it by the basketball goals in driveways, the backboards on barns …
“The black water tower with white lettering reading “STATE CHAMPS 1954”
“… The historical marker commemorating the Milan Miracle … and that museum that celebrates it right there in the center of town.
“As a newspaper declared back in March of 1954:
“‘In basketball, Little Milan is the new capital of Indiana.’
“Seventy years later, it is still the capital, and the Indians will always be champions.”
EVANSVILLE, INDIANA (March 25, 2024) – As the solar eclipse approaches on April 8, 2024, boaters who may enjoy the eclipse from the water are reminded of key safe boating tips.
Always wear a life jacket. The Coast Guard reminds boaters to ensure life jackets are serviceable, properly sized, correctly fastened, and suitable for your activity. Where the cause of death was known, 75 percent of fatal boating incident victims drowned. Of those drowning victims with reported life jacket usage, 85 percent were not wearing a life jacket.
File a float plan! A float plan is telling someone where you are going and when you plan to return. A float plan should be given to a friend or family member and includes a description of your boat, what is on board and a description of the safety equipment you are carrying. If you change plans mid-voyage, let someone know!
Always take a marine radio. A VHF-FM radio is the best method of communication while on the water. Although cell phones are a good backup, they can be unreliable due to gaps in coverage area and the inevitable dead battery.
Wear approved solar eclipse glasses. Looking at the sun without approved eclipse glasses can cause eye damage and impair your ability to safely operate your vessel after the eclipse.
Use navigation lights in low light conditions. Navigation lights will make you more visible to other boaters and promote a safer boating environment during the eclipse.
The Coast Guard Auxiliary promotes Recreational Boating Safety, provides trained crews and facilities to augment the Coast Guard and enhance the safety and security of our waterways, and supports Coast Guard operational, administrative, and logistical requirements.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The No. 4 Vincennes University Trailblazers fell in the opening game of the 2024 NJCAA Division I National Championship tournament in Hutchinson Tuesday afternoon, falling to No. 13 Odessa College 58-56.
Both teams really struggled to get their footing early on and would prove to be a preview of what would ultimately be a very tough defensive battle.
The two teams traded baskets for most of the first half, with the lead changing hands five times and the score being tied an additional six times throughout the first 20 minutes of play.
Vincennes would grab the lead late in the first half on a three-pointer by sophomore Kent King (Washington, D.C.) to put the Blazers ahead 28-27 at the break.
VU looked to grab the momentum early in the second half by building a 33-30 lead before the Wranglers answered back with a 10-0 scoring run to take a 40-33 lead.
The Trailblazers would battle down the stretch, using a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to two and using a four-point possession to even the score at 56-56.
VU sophomore Michael Osei-Bonsu (Bolingbrook, Ill.) grabbed a rebound put back and converted the and-one free throw to seven the score with 47.8 seconds remaining.
Odessa was able to convert on their end of the floor on a put back dunk to put the Wranglers ahead by two with 20 seconds to play.
VU got down the floor with plenty of time and was able to get a pair of good shot attempts but were unable to get a make as the buzzer sounded and ended the game with the Blazers on the wrong end of a 58-56 final score.
The Trailblazers were led offensively by an outstanding game by freshman Damarien Yates (Somerville, Tenn.) who finished with 22 points and seven rebounds.
Sophomore Kris King (Washington, D.C.) had a big impact off the bench, ending the game with seven points and team-highs with 10 rebounds, six assists and a pair of steals.
Sophomore Kent King was the second VU scorer in double figures, finishing the game with 12 points and four rebounds.
Sophomore Michael Osei-Bonsu just missed out on a double-double, finishing with nine points and nine rebounds.
The Trailblazers end the season with a final record of 30-4, with a 17-2 record against Region 24 opponents, capturing VU’s first District Tournament Championship since 2018.
Outdoor Public Restrooms will Remain Open from 8am until 4 pm
(Evansville, IN) – Sunrise Pump Station’s lobby and indoor restrooms will be closed to the public on Monday, April 8, Solar Eclipse Day. Outdoor public restrooms will remain open from 8 am until 4 pm. EWSU officials decided to close the building after careful consideration. It was determined that the pump station would not be a good place to view the eclipse. The building and upper observation deck are surrounded by security lights that automatically turn on when sunlight dims, which will make it difficult to see the eclipse. Public safety is also a concern because of a large influx of people expected to visit Evansville that day. EWSU does not have staff to manage a large crowd.
The pump station lobby and observation deck will reopen to the public on Tuesday, April 9, at 8:00 am.
INDIANAPOLIS – “The fastest meet in the world” returns to Indianapolis for the first time since 2017, essentially a home meet for Big Ten Champion Indiana men’s swimming and diving. The 2024 NCAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships will be held at the IU Natatorium Wednesday (March 27) through Saturday (March 30) in the Hoosier State capital.
Final sessions will start at 6 p.m. ET each evening. Preliminary heats will begin at 10 a.m. every morning beginning Thursday. Fans can buy tickets here or stream the event via the ESPN+ digital platform.
Fifteen Hoosiers qualified for the national meet – 12 swimmers and three divers. Indiana also qualified all five relays.
IU finished fourth at last year’s championships with 376 points, its fourth top-five finish of the last five years. In those five years, only four team have consistently finished top six nationally: Cal, Texas, Florida and Indiana.
Last year Indiana scored 104 points from diving alone, 32.5 points more than any program. That total would have finished 12th in the team standings by itself. The Hoosiers return three divers from the 2023 roster: juniors Quinn Henninger and Carson Tyler and sophomore Maxwell Weinrich.
Tyler is the defending NCAA platform champion and placed fourth on the 3-meter board a year ago. He also comes into this year’s championships as a four-time Big Ten Champion, winning his second-straight conference platform title as well as his first-career 3-meter title. The junior was the nation’s top scorer from the NCAA Zone Championships on 3-meter and platform and the No. 5 scorer on 1-meter.
Henninger earned bronze on both the 3-meter board and platform as a sophomore and is a four-time All-American. Both Henninger and Tyler competed at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in February.
Indiana also returns its swimming national champion of the last two seasons, senior Brendan Burns, for his fourth and final NCAA meet – the fifth-year’s first championships in 2020 were canceled due to COVID-19. Since then, Burns became a national champion in the 200-yard butterfly (2022) and 100-yard backstroke (2023). Burns will race both again, this time taking on the 200 back as his third event for the first time at a national meet – matching his annual Big Ten program, which he swept every season from 2021-23. He’s the No. 7-seeded swimmer in the 100 back (44.62) Friday and No. 13 seed (1:39.50) in the 200 back and No. 7 seed in the 200 fly (1:40.24) on Saturday.
Senior Tomer Frankel is again a medal contender in the butterfly events Friday and Saturday as the No. 5 seed in the 100 fly (44.32) and No. 6 seed in the 200 fly (1:39.80). The 2020 Olympian was the only swimmer at last year’s meet to finish top five in both events and earned bronze in the 100-yard event with a program record 44.04.
IU will look to harvest a bounty from the breaststroke events with four competitors qualified in each of the two races. Junior Finn Brooks (51.30), senior Jassen Yep (51.49), junior Josh Matheny (51.69) and Maxwell Reich (51.87) all have top-26 times in the country in the 100-yard race. Indiana is an even greater threat in the 200 breast with Yep (1:50.40), Matheny (1:51.13), Reich (1:51.89) and freshman Toby Barnett (1:51.95) all having top-15 seeds after taking the top four podium spots at the Big Ten Championships.
Indiana again qualified all five relays for the championships, and each earned a top-16 seed – within scoring territory. The Hoosiers come in as the No. 5 seed in the 400-yard medley relay (3:01.61), an event they’ve finished runner-up each of the last two seasons with the quartet of Burns, Matheny, Frankel and junior Rafael Miroslaw – all still with the team. IU also has the No. 6 time in the 200 medley relay (1:22.17) and the No. 8 time in the 800 freestyle relay (6:10.86), the two events that will open the meet Wednesday night.
MEET INFO
Wednesday, March 27 – Saturday, March 30 • 10 a.m. ET (prelims), 6 p.m. ET (finals)
FOOTNOTE: EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.
Humbled to be named among Forbes 30 Under 30 for 2024. This recognition belongs far more to the incredible anu™ (previously gropod) team and unwavering supporters. Our collective vision of building a resilient future, especially in ensuring adequate nutrition amid dwindling resources, is what drives us every day. Grateful to the mentorship at Purdue University, which revolutionized my perception of a college student’s potential—not just in what we can achieve externally, but how we can transform our outlook and ourselves. Co-founding the company with Ivan Ball has been a remarkable journey, yet I believe our greatest impacts on food sovereignty, nutrition, and safety lie ahead. Here’s to the journey that continues to inspire and challenge us towards making a meaningful difference in the world.
Congratulations to Scott Massey, co-founder of anu™ (previously gropod) and a Purdue University alumnus, as he was recently named to Forbes 30 Under 30 list in Manufacturing & Industry. Purdue Innovates has previously invested in anu, which is leading the charge in the Ag-Tech revolution. Last year, anu was awarded $200,000 in Indiana Manufacturing Readiness Grants to mass manufacture its aeroponic seed pods that grow produce in controlled environments. Read more about Massey: https://ow.ly/eNef50QXYKK#Purdue#PurdueInnovates#30Under30
