UE travels to Georgia State Invitational

09/05/2025

Aces set for three matches in Atlanta

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Non-conference action continues for the University of Evansville volleyball team as the Purple Aces travel to Atlanta for the GSU Invitational. Evansville face Florida A&M and Queens on Friday before taking on Georgia State on Saturday afternoon.

“Building off of last night, we’re excited to play 3 more teams that will prepare us for MVC play. FAMU, Queens, and Georgia State all present very different challenges, so this weekend will truly test how adaptable we are,” UE head volleyball coach Zach Weinberg said. “We’re looking forward to competing against 3 opponents we don’t see very often.”

Last Time Out

– Evansville gave Michigan State everything it could handle in Wednesday’s home opener inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse before falling by a final of 3-1

– Sabrina Ripple, Hinsley Everett, and Brooke Herdes paced the offense with six kills apiece

– Kora Ruff led the Aces with 24 assists and eight digs

Sell Out Crowd

– The third-largest crowd in Meeks Family Fieldhouse history was on hand for the home opener versus Michigan State

– A sell out crowd of 864 were in attendance

– The first sell out in the facility came against Indiana University of Sept. 8, 2017 when 1,164 were in attendance while 1,012 fans packed the stands when the Aces faced USI on Aug. 29, 2023 in the first meeting as Division I foes

Freshmen Lead the Offense

– UE’s top three offensive weapons following the opening four matches are freshmen

– Ryan Scheu leads the team with 2.88 kills per set while Hinsley Everett and Brooke Herdes hold averages of 2.72 and 2.56, respectively

– Everett and Herdes have the top tallies by a UE player this season with each posting 17 in the opening weekend

Scouting the Opposition

– UE opens the weekend against Florida A&M who open the tournament with a 1-2 record

– Last season, the Rattlers were 27-7 and a perfect 16-0 in the SWAC

– The second opponent on Friday is Queens University of Charlotte

– Through four matches, the Royals are 3-1 with victories over Gardner-Webb, Sacred Heart, and USC Upstate

– A match against Georgia State completes the weekend on Saturday

– The Panthers hosted a home tournament last weekend that saw them go a perfect 3-0 versus Presbyterian, West Georgia, and Furman

BURTON RESPONDS TO GOVERNOR BRAUN’S NEW OUCC LEADERSHIP APPOINTMENT AND CALLS FOR UTILITY COSTS REVIEW

09/05/2025

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INDIANAPOLIS – Today, State Rep. Alex Burton (D-Evansville) released the following statement in response to Governor Braun’s announcement of Abby Gray as the new commissioner of the Office of the Utility Consumer Counselor and his call to review utility company profits:

“Affordability must remain the most prioritized pillar of Indiana’s energy policy. Families in Evansville and across our state continue to raise concerns about the lack of affordability and the constant rise in utility costs. I welcome today’s announcement and look forward to continued collaboration that truly puts Hoosier ratepayers first.

“My priority next session is to protect Hoosiers from the constant and often unexpected strain of increased utility bills. That’s why I will be filing legislation in the 2026 session and will continue working with my colleagues to ensure ratepayers’ paychecks aren’t entirely spent on energy costs. Hoosiers deserve relief and a reasonable path forward – and I intend to make sure they get it.”

OECOSL Announces Updated Child Care Voucher Rates to Comply with Federal Regulations and Protect Families

09/05/2025

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INDIANAPOLIS – the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL) announced revised Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) voucher reimbursement rates. These adjustments address a $225 million funding gap through 2026 created by the prior administration’s unsustainable use of temporary COVID relief funds and ensure continued compliance with federal requirements.

To establish equitable rates, OECOSL received surveys from 25 percent of licensed childcare providers and analyzed their cost data, arriving at reimbursement levels that reflect current operating realities.

“We made this decision to protect the children and families that depend on CCDF vouchers. There is only one pot of money – we could either protect providers or kids, and we chose kids,” said Adam Alson, Director of OECOSL.

As of July, approximately 55,000 Hoosier children rely on CCDF vouchers—a decrease from the December 2024 peak of 68,000, yet still markedly above the pre-pandemic average of 35,000 recipients.

These rate changes prevent disruptions to voucher access and maintain federal compliance by establishing sustainable rates:

Infants (0–12 months): 10 percent decrease
Toddlers (13–36 months): 10 percent decrease
Preschoolers (3–5 years): 15 percent decrease
School-Age Children (K–12): 35 percent decrease

Rationale and Background

April 2021: Indiana increased CCDF rates by 20 percent per child using one-time COVID relief funds without a sustainability plan.
2023: The prior administration issued “transitional reimbursement rates” that didn’t address the impending financial cliff.
Result: An overexpansion of childcare capacity reliant on temporary funding, leading to a projected $225 million deficit by 2026.
2025 Legislative Session: The Governor and General Assembly made historic investments in childcare ($147.25 million) to avert more severe provider rate cuts and protect thousands of waiver recipients.
Today’s Action: Rate adjustments align reimbursements with actual provider costs and federal regulations, correcting the trajectory set two years ago.

“We remain committed to strengthening Indiana’s early childhood system. While we regret the necessity of these adjustments, they are essential to ensuring uninterrupted access to affordable care for Hoosier families,” added Director Alson.

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Vanderburgh County Recent Booking Records

09/05/2025

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Booked Last 24 Hours-Public

State slashing rates for child care providers

09/05/2025

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By Niki Kelly, Indiana Capital Chronicle

Child care providers around Indiana will see reimbursement rate cuts of 10-35% as the state’s Family and Social Services Administration tries to close a $225 million funding gap.

The sustainability maneuver could push providers to drop out of a low-income child care program, however.

“We made this decision to protect the children and families that depend on (Child Care Development Fund) vouchers. There is only one pot of money — we could either protect providers or kids, and we chose kids,” said Adam Alson, director of the Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning.

CCDF is a federal program that provides financial assistance via subsidies or vouchers to low-income families to help them pay for child care so parents can work or attend education and training programs.

The rate cuts weren’t an easy decision, Alson said, but the only other way to rein in spending would’ve been to cut the number of families in the program.

Right now, 55,000 children receive a voucher — above the pre-pandemic average of 35,000 participants.

Alson said former Gov. Eric Holcomb’s administration used federal COVID-19 dollars to raise rates and expand eligibility. The program peaked at 68,000 children, costing almost $900 million in state and federal funding.

When the pandemic assistance waned, the state tapped surplus money from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program in fiscal year 2025 to cover the loss. But those funds are no longer available for CCDF, which means the state would have to pull from its General Fund to make up the difference.

Indiana has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on Child Care Development Fund vouchers in recent fiscal years, which run from July to the following June. Fiscal years 2026 and 2027 are estimates. (Family and Social Services Administration)

The legislature set aside $147 million in additional dollars for the ongoing fiscal year — which started July 1 — to preserve income eligibility criteria for families already on the program. Lawmakers tightened the requirements for new enrollees.

The program is expected to cost about $400 million in fiscal year 2027.

To establish “equitable” reimbursement rates, the state received surveys from 25% of licensed child care providers and analyzed their cost data, arriving at reimbursement levels that “reflect current operating realities,” a news release said.

Rates for infant and toddler care, for instance, will drop by 10%. Rates for preschoolers between the ages of 3-5 will be cut 15%. And rates for school-age children will be cut by 35%.

The new rates go into effect Oct. 5, with the first pay date being Nov. 6.

Alson acknowledged some providers might drop out of the program.

“There’s definitely a possibility of that occurring. That’s part of the regrettable part of this decision, right? That it does affect business models of child care businesses throughout the state of Indiana. There’s no getting around that,” he said.

The change aligns reimbursements with federal regulations that require the rates to be sustainable, according to the news release. The federal government hasn’t notified the state of any compliance violations.

The cuts are the latest challenge for the program, which added a waiting list for applicants seeking services last December.

Sen. Shelli Yoder, D-Bloomington, has likened the waiting list to “a moral failure and fiscal disaster,” criticizing the Republican majority’s decision to expand private school vouchersto high-income Hoosiers during the last legislative session rather than boosting early childhood education for low-income residents.

UE Lands $200K NSF Grant to Expand Research, Boost Regional Innovation

09/05/2025

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EVANSVILLE, IND. (09/03/2025) The University of Evansville (UE) has received an approximately $200,000 planning grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to explore new ways of strengthening research on campus and across the region.

The grant, totaled at $195,681, comes from NSF’s Office of Integrative Activities, which invests in projects that expand research opportunities and foster collaboration.

Over the next two years, UE will develop a plan for a future Grants Development Office that will support faculty research and connect the University more closely with community and business partners. The planning process will focus on designing a model that meets both campus and regional needs before the office is officially launched. A key component of this effort is building collaborative capacity with the City of Evansville, local industries, and strategic partners such as Talent EVV, the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership (EREP), and the Applied Research Institute (ARI).

“By preparing for new partnerships and funding opportunities, the initiative will create more research opportunities for students, support faculty scholarships, and encourage economic growth in Southwestern Indiana,” said Dr. Dave Dwyer, Associate Provost of Academic Affairs. “With this support, UE will work with faculty, community leaders, and economic partners to lay the foundation for stronger research capacity and long-term impact.”

State Rep. Ledbetter commemorates Ascension St. Vincent Warrick for 50th anniversary

09/05/2025

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STATEHOUSE – State Rep. Cindy Ledbetter (R-Newburgh) recently honored Ascension St. Vincent Warrick Hospital on its 50^th anniversary for five decades of dedicated service, compassionate care and commitment to the health of Warrick, Pike and Spencer counties.

On Aug. 23, 2025, the hospital officially celebrated 50 years of service to Warrick County and surrounding communities. Through a proclamation, Ledbetter recognized the hospital’s enduring mission and pledged to preserve the memory of its contributions as a beacon of high-quality health care for future generations.

“Congratulations to Ascension St. Vincent Warrick Hospital on the incredible achievement of serving their community faithfully for 50 years,” Ledbetter said. “Many outstanding health care professionals have contributed to this hospital’s resilience over the span of a half century.”

Ledbetter said the establishment of Warrick County Hospital in 1975 marked the beginning of a vital health care presence in southern Indiana. The decision was made in 2017 to align with statewide Ascension branding, and the institution adopted the name Ascension St. Vincent Warrick Hospital.

Ledbetter also said this milestone reflects the hospital’s rich history and its steadfast commitment to evolving and meeting the growing needs of Warrick County and surrounding communities.

EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

09/05/2025

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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.

Vanderburgh County Arrest Warrants

09/05/2025

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Vanderburgh County Arrest Warrants

Volleyball battles Michigan State in front of sold out crowd

09/04/2025

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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.