EVANSVILLE, Ind.- The University of Southern Indiana Men’s Swimming and Diving team helps complete the sweep with a victory over Rose-Hulman University on Saturday afternoon at the USI Aquatic Center. The Screaming Eagles took care of business by a score of 150-87.
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Senior Donnevun Banks (Evansville, Indiana) was recognized pregame for his decorated athletic career and contributions to USI. Head coach Cameron Kainer quoted the transfer senior as “a positive addition to our team and an athlete with a strong work ethic on and off the boards.” Banks joined the Eagles last January from Maryville University. He’s been a consistent force for the diving squad as displayed by his performance today and all year.
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Results
The men were locked in winning 11 out of 13 events on the day. Another collective attack resulted in ten different Eagles winning a heat. In the ultra intense event, freshman Cole Baker (Springville, Indiana) broke the 50 yard freestyle school record (20.84).
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Sophomore Jack Hannon (Lowell, Indiana) is breaking out at the right time winning two individual events in the 1000 yard freestyle (10:17.85) and the 100 yard freestyle (48.61). Sophomore Garrett Crist (Bargersville, Indiana) came close to the school record in the 200 yard IM (1:56.83).
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On his day of celebration, Banks remained focused winning both the one meter (249.75) and the three meter diving events (269.10). The 269.10 score in the three-meter marks Banks personal best and just two points off the school record.
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Banks sweeps both dive events highlighting a Senior Day victory for the men
USI Swimming and Diving hosts Rose-Hulman on Senior Day
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana Swimming and Diving Squads are hosting Rose-Hulman University at the USI Aquatic Center on Saturday for the lone home meet of the season together. The Screaming Eagles will also celebrate senior day for Jordan Ambrose (Mt.Vernon, Indiana) and Donnevun Banks (Evansville, Indiana).
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The meet is slated to kick off at 1 p.m. with senior day festivities starting at 12:45. Doors will open at 11:30 and tickets will be sold at the door for five dollars via cash or card.
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Ambrose is from the area, where she attended Evansville Reitz High School claiming All-City honors four times between both cross-country and swimming. In the 2022-23 season, she competed in six events for USI in freestyle, freestyle relay, and medley relay and earned the Summit League Academic Honor Roll award. Her personal best in the 50 yard freestyle was set at the Summit League Championships (25.33). Her 100 yard freestyle best was set against Eastern Illinois (58.36). Ambrose is projected to compete in the 50 yard freestyle and 100 yard breaststroke on Saturday.Â
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Banks is an Evansville native, where he competed in both gymnastics and diving at North High School. Before transferring to USI, he spent three seasons at Maryville University (St.Louis, Missouri). In January of the 2022-23 season, Banks transferred to USI where he immediately made an impact setting a school record in three-meter dive at the time (245.70) on the biggest stage at the Summit League Championships. He also recorded an impressive one-meter score (249.90) that ranks second on the all-time record book. Banks will compete in the one and three meter dive events on Saturday.
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Women
The USI women’s team is coming off a convincing win at conference rival Eastern Illinois University (149-109) last weekend. USI had six different swimmers that contributed to first-place finishes. Freshman Hayden Shurtz (Ft.Wayne, Indiana) and sophomore Sarah-Catherine Dawson (Prospect, Kentucky) led the way with two wins each.
The diving team also impressed at the past event against the University of Evansville. Freshman Maranda Uttke (Grafton, Wisconsin) collected two new school records in the one-meter (225.50) and the three-meter (220.05)
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Men
The men’s squad is coming off arguably the best meet of the season at EIU last weekend. USI dominated winning (168-93) behind a collective effort. Eight different swimmers contributed to first place-finishes. Freshman Cole Baler (Springville, Tennessee), sophomore Garrett Crist (Bargersville, Indiana), and freshman Sam Smith (Trafalgar, Indiana) all went a perfect four-for-four, placing first in each of their events.
The diving team took the individual win in the three-meter event against UE their last time out, but fell short in the one-meter. Freshman Nathan Deputy (Evansville, Indiana) won the three-meter event breaking the school record (271.88).
USI Women’s Golf projected to finish eighth in OVC preseason poll
EVANSVILLE, Ind.-Â The University of Southern Indiana Women’s Golf team was voted to finish eighth in the Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Poll. The Screaming Eagles will open the season at Mill Springs, North Carolina to compete in the Bright Creek Intercollegiate, hosted by Gardner-Webb on February 24-25.Â
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The reigning OVC champs, Morehead State University emerged as the favorite in the poll with five first-place votes. University of Arkansas at Little Rock finished just behind with four first-place votes. Rounding out the top five is Tennessee Tech University, Western Illinois University, and Lindenwood University.Â
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The bottom four in the poll was Eastern Illinois University, Chicago State University, USI, and Tennessee State University, respectively.
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USI will travel in all four regular season matches that features events hosted by Gardner-Webb University in Mill Springs, North Carolina (February 24-25), Samford University in Huntsville, Alabama (March 4-6) Northern Kentucky in Batavia, Ohio (March 25-26), Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana (April 7-8). The regular season leads up to the Ohio Valley Conference Championship in Tunica, Mississippi on April 14-16.
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Ann Sullivan takes the reigns as the new head coach. Sullivan previously coached at Brenau University where she led the Tigers for two years. “We look forward to teeing it up at the Bright Creek Collegiate next month and start the season strong in our first of five tournaments this spring,” says Sullivan. “We are also excited to compete for the 2024 Women’s Golf OVC Championship this April in Tunica, Mississippi, and we hope to improve on last year’s finish.”
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USI got their feet wet in their first season of NCAA Division I, after finishing sixth in the OVC Conference Championship last year. The season was highlighted by a sixth place finish at The Julie, hosted by Northern Kentucky and a fifth place finish at the Jan Weaver Invitational, hosted by Murray State.Â
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The Eagles are led by a trio of seniors Halle Gutwein (DeMotte, Indiana), Haylee Exline (Poseyville, Indiana), and Katelyn Sayyalinh (Rockford, Illinois). All three are OVC Commissioner’s honor roll members. Junior Baileigh Schneider (Huntingburg, Indiana) is another pivotal contributor who won OVC Golfer of the Week last March.
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The squad also brings back sophomore Sydni Thurlow (Belleville, Illinois), along with the additions of freshman Ashlynn Weir (Evansville, Indiana) and Alexis Wymer (Bridgeport, Illinois)
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Gov. Holcomb Pursues Key Partnerships in Emerging Technologies
Indiana builds momentum through memorandum of understanding with Ontario to advance cooperation and economic growth
JANUARY 28, 20245
| INDIANAPOLIS – Governor Eric J. Holcomb returned to Indianapolis yesterday, concluding a two-day economic development trip to Ontario, Canada, focused on advancing government, business and industry partnerships to accelerate sector growth, innovation and educational collaboration and exchange initiatives.
“Indiana and Canada share a strong and proven partnership, and I was pleased to be back in Ontario earlier this week as we worked to build on the ties that help us realize our shared vision for the future,†said Gov. Holcomb. “Our newest memorandum of understanding signed this week with Premier Ford further affirms our commitment to take decisive action fostering even deeper bonds that will shape the very future of opportunities in our respective regions.â€
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In Ontario, Gov. Holcomb met with provincial leadership, including Ontario Premier Doug Ford, to foster ties between Indiana and Ontario and identify collaborations to advance economic growth across the two regions. The two leaders signed an official memorandum of understanding, building on Gov. Holcomb’s first trip to Canada in 2018 and further solidifying Indiana’s and Ontario’s joint efforts to accelerate economic growth and workforce development for tomorrow’s economy.
Indiana has landed multiple commitments from companies like Canadian Solar, Doral Renewables and Bila Solar to advance solar energy. The state is also home to innovation on small modular technology, which the delegation identified as an opportunity for future collaboration.
Gov. Holcomb and the delegation also met with numerous Canadian and global business executives and industry officials during a roundtable hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Canada and at a reception hosted by the U.S. Consul General Baxter Hunt. The governor highlighted the state’s robust economic momentum, unprecedented investments in community development and quality of place through READI, and commitment to advancing entrepreneurship and innovation, pitching Indiana as a premier destination for business, investment and talent.
This marks Gov. Holcomb’s 17th international economic development trip as governor and his second official trip to Canada. Indiana is home to more than 1,050 foreign-owned business establishments, representing more than 40 countries and territories – including approximately 78 from Canada. In 2023, 37 foreign-owned businesses committed to locating or growing in Indiana, together planning to invest more than $20.6 billion and create more than 8,509 new Hoosier jobs.
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The agreement between Indiana and Ontario creates a framework for collaboration across economic development and investment, workforce development and regulatory cooperation, and aims to advance innovation and growth across key, shared sectors, including infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, automotive, aerospace and aviation, agriculture and agricultural technology, life sciences, energy, information and communications technologies and sports economy.
In Canada, Gov. Holcomb and a delegation from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) joined Ontario’s Minister of Energy and visited the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station in Ontario to meet with leadership from Ontario Power Generation – one of North America’s largest, most diverse electricity generators. The two groups discussed the push to meet the growing clean industrial power generation needs through leveraging storage advancements and renewable sources like hydrogen and solar.
Indiana and Canada share strong economic ties, with more than $26.2 billion of goods exchanged between the two regions in 2022. Indiana is home to 78 Canada-owned business establishments – a number that continues to grow. Since 2017, 22 Canada-based companies have made plans to locate or grow in Indiana, together committing to invest $1.75 billion and create more than 3,700 new Hoosier jobs. Last year, Flipo sets 400-meter program record at PNC Lenny Lyles Invitational
LOUISVILLE, Ky. —Â Freshman runner Cedrik Flipo set a new program record in the 400-meter race on Saturday morning at the PNC Lenny Lyles Invitational.
A new program record, a podium finish, and three personal bests highlighted the Purple Aces performance at the Lenny Lyles Invitational hosted by Louisville. UE’s lone new program record came in the men’s 400-meter as Cedrik Flipo (Beloeil, Quebec, Canada) ran in 49.11 seconds to break the previous record set in 1977 by Jeff Korb. Freshman Sonja Inzinger (Mautern an der Donau, Austria) had a podium finish in her first collegiate 5000-meter race with a time of 17:42.43 for third place.
“This weekend we competed with a small group of individuals to gain more experience in their events,” said Head Coach Brooks LeCompte following the meet. “We had a couple of runners debut in the 5K as well as a freshman debut from Cedrik Flipo, which resulted in breaking one of the oldest standing school records! Most came away with personal bests, so all in all it was a successful trip to Louisville!”
Evansville had two personal bests in the mile race from Rafael Rodriguez (Segovia, Spain) and Nayla Martin (Vaudreuil-Dorion, Quebec, Canada). Rodriguez placed 17th with a time of 4:15.28 while Martin placed 18th with a time of 5:09.84. The Aces also had another distance runner Samuel Lea (Wochester, England) finish eighth in the 5K with a time of 15:06.31. Sprinter Taylor Johnson (Evansville, Ind / Reitz HS)Â also competed on Saturday morning, racing in the 400-meter with a time of 58.04 seconds.
SENATOR BRAUN’S 2023 SOLUTIONS UPDATE
“When I was elected, I promised Hoosiers that I would go to Washington to fight for them and get results. I’m proud to be named the most active and effective Republican Senator and to represent Hoosier work ethic in the Senate.†– SENATOR MIKE BRAUN
WASHINGTON – The numbers are in. You can now read Senator Mike Braun’s Solutions Update for 2023, with 8 bills passed into law, recognition from 3 independent organizations as one of the most effective legislators in the Senate, $11.4 million returned to Hoosiers, and all 92 Indiana counties visited for the 5th year in a row.
In 2023, Senator Mike Braun was named Most Effective First Term Republican Senator by the Center for Effective Lawmaking – a nonpartisan legislative ranking group run by the University of Virginia and Vanderbilt University, cited by the Washington Post as “the most oft-cited data on legislative success.â€
Senator Braun was ranked as the 6th most effective overall Republican in the Senate, behind Senators that have served in Congress for 20 years, 12 years, 12 years, 42 years, and 20 years, respectively. Senator Braun has served 5.
The Center for Effective Lawmaking also recognized that Senator Braun was the most effective Republican lawmaker in two issue areas important to Hoosiers: agriculture, and health.
Senator Braun’s 2024 is already off to a productive start: 2 out of the 3 bills passed by the U.S. Senate so far this year were authored by Senator Mike Braun.
WHAT’S INSIDE THE 2023 SOLUTIONS UPDATE:
Senator Braun’s 8 bills that were signed into law in 2023:
- The COVID-19 Origins Act (Public Law 118-2)
- Reforming Benefits for Children of Vietnam Veterans with Spina Bifida (Public Law 118-8)
- The Wounded Warrior Access Act (Public Law 118-21)
- The Administrative Pay-As-You-Go Act (included in Public Law 118-5)
- The Korean American VALOR Act (Public Law 118-20)
- The Department of Defense Overdose Data (DOD) Act (Public Law 118-31)
- Supporting the Provision of Veteran Survivor Benefit Plans (Public Law 118-31)
- Flexibility and Funding for the World Trade Center Health Program (Public Law 118-31)
Senator Braun’s bills passed by the Senate and awaiting House action:
- The GAO Inspector General Parity Act
- Working Dog Health and Welfare Act of 2023
- Train More Nurses Act
This Solutions Update includes information about Senator Braun’s new bills introduced in the last months of 2023, including his landmark bill to reveal the prices of health care services to drive down prices, the Health Care PRICE Transparency Act, as well as his work in committee for Hoosiers and bills passed by committee and awaiting action on the Senate floor.
The Solutions Update also includes Senator Braun’s challenge to President Biden’s ESG 401(k) rule, which would allow money managers to invest your 401(k) based on ESG factors like environmental scores or diversity ratings instead of rate of return. Braun’s challenge was passed by both the House and the Senate but vetoed by President Biden.
Senator Braun also excelled at regular order in 2023, or passing bills in the way Congress was designed to do. Only 23 standalone, clean bills were passed into law in 2023. Senator Mike Braun was the author of 4 of them.
SENATOR BRAUN’S 2023 SOLUTIONS UPDATE MESSAGE:
I’ve spent my life building a business in my hometown, from a small company of three employees all the way to a national industry leader. That’s the best job I’ll ever have. My employees were like family, and creating jobs for my neighbors in my hometown is a great feeling.
I left my company to run for the U.S. Senate because I was tired of seeing our country driven into the ditch by career politicians who cared more about getting elected than they did about our kids and grandkids.
I promised Hoosiers if they sent me to Washington, they’d get more than just talk. They’d get a workhorse who wouldn’t take ‘no’ or ‘that’s not the way we do things’ for an answer.
I’m proud that in my five years in the Senate so far I’ve been named one of the Most Effective Senators by multiple rankings, with a focus on the issue areas matter so much to Hoosiers: healthcare and agriculture.
Traditionally, first-term Senators are supposed to be “seen and not heard†– that wasn’t going to work for me. The Center for Effective Lawmaking – a nonpartisan organization run out of Vanderbilt and the University of Virginia, which The Washington Post this year called the most-cited ranking of legislative effectiveness – recognized my office as the most effective first-term senator and the 6th most effective Republican in the entire Senate: every Senator listed above me has served at least 12 years. I’m the only first-termer on the list.
Over this last year, I was proud to shepherd through a bill to declassify all COVID lab leak intelligence (which we passed unanimously in both chambers of Congress, forcing President Biden to sign it). We also passed a measure to protect your 401(k) from being politicized with “ESG†investing.
In the last few months of the year, I passed several pieces of legislation designed to help Hoosier veterans. One bill makes it easier for veterans to access their health records online, where previously they would have to go to a VA office. Another aims to address the epidemic of opioid overdoses among veterans.
I promise to run hard through the tape as I end my Senate term. My office has big things planned for Hoosiers in 2024, and I hope you will reach out if you have thoughts you’d like to share with us.
Indiana’s best days are ahead, and I hope you enjoy reading about my work for you in 2023 in this edition of the Solutions Update.
THUNDERBOLTS GIVE BULLS ALL THEY CAN HANDLE IN 2-1 LOSS
THUNDERBOLTS GIVE BULLS ALL THEY CAN HANDLE IN 2-1 LOSS
Pelham, Ala.:  Missing several prolific players and playing a man short, the Thunderbolts put a real scare into the first-place Birmingham Bulls, nearly pulling off the weekend sweep but coming up just short in a 2-1 loss on Saturday in Pelham.  The Thunderbolts’ next home game will be on Friday, February 2nd against the Knoxville Ice Bears, with puck drop at 7:00 pm CT.
Only 2:10 into the game, Evansville grabbed an early 1-0 lead as Myles Abbate scored from Dmitri Yushkevich and Brendan Harrogate. Despite several good scoring chances, Evansville was unable to extend the lead, despite putting together a very solid effort at both ends of the ice, keeping Birmingham’s chances heavily limited and taking the attack to the Bulls’ end for several minutes at a time. The Bulls managed to tie the game on their 22nd shot of the night, as Nikita Kozyrev scored at 14:51 of the second period. The Thunderbolts controlled most of the play in the third period, however, they caught a tough bounce late as Josh Harris scored with 3:02 remaining in regulation to give Birmingham the 2-1 lead, which stuck after one final effort with goaltender Ty Taylor pulled for a 6th attacker. Despite the loss, the Thunderbolts finished the month of January with a winning record of 5-3, the second consecutive month with a winning record.
Abbate scored Evansville’s lone goal while Taylor finished with 27 saves on 29 shots faced.  The Thunderbolts and Bulls meet again on Friday, February 9th at Ford Center.
Individual game tickets and group packages are on sale for this 2023-24 season. Season tickets for the 2023-24 season are also on sale. Call 812-422-BOLT or visit our all-new website (www.evansvillethunderbolts.com) for details.
About Evansville Thunderbolts: The Evansville Thunderbolts is the area’s only professional hockey team. The Thunderbolts are a proud member of the SPHL.  The team is owned and operated by VW Sports, L.L.C, a subsidiary of VenuWorks, Inc. www.evansvillethunderbolts.com
BOB DEIG TO RUN FOR THE VANDERBURGH COUNTY COUNCIL SEAT
For the last 6 years, I have lived and worked in Vanderburgh County.
I was born and raised on a farm in Posey County and served the community well. My experience includes:
·       President of the Posey County Council
·       President of the Posey County Commissioners
·       State Senator, District #49
·       Area Plan Commission
·       Boards: Sheriff’s Merit, Solid Waste, Drainage and Council on Aging
During this time, I successfully expanded and attracted, existing and new businesses, utilizing local economic development taxes and establishing tax increment finance districts. This allowed the community to retain and bring good-paying jobs. Under my leadership, the development of county-wide road signage, courthouse renovations, expanded medical services, and the creation of a Sheriff’s Department pay matrix was significant.
Representing portions of Posey, Gibson, and Vanderburgh Counties as your State Senator, I was fortunate to represent the south and west sides of Evansville. During this time, I was appointed to the following:
·       Appropriations Committee
·       Pensions and Labor Committee
·       Local Government and Elections Committee
·       Utilities and Technology Committee
·       Agriculture and Small Business Committee
·       Public Policy and Commerce
I am asking for your vote and support. I’m excited about this opportunity and look forward to representing you on the Vanderburgh County Council.
Sincerely,
PASSED THE SENATE: Braun’s bipartisan bill to address nursing shortage, the Train More Nurses Act
Two out of the three bills that have passed the Senate this year so far were written by Senator Mike Braun
U.S. Senators Mike Braun, Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Susan Collins (R-ME) announced that their bipartisan Train More Nurses Act has passed the Senate.
This bipartisan legislation addresses the nursing shortage that affects communities all across the nation.
It directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Labor to conduct a review of all nursing grant programs to find ways to increase faculty at nursing schools, particularly in underserved areas. It also increases pathways for Licensed Practical Nurses to become RegisteredNurses.
Along with the Working Dogs Health and Welfare Act which passed the Senate a week ago, two out of the three bills that have passed the U.S. Senate in 2024 so far were written by Senator Mike Braun.
“We have a serious nursing shortage, and we need new ideas to solve this problem to help Hoosiers get better health outcomes,â€Â said Senator Braun. “I’m glad this bipartisan legislation to get moreAmericans into this important profession has passed the Senate.â€
    “Nevada families deserve access to quality health care, but the shortage of medical professionals is hurting their ability to get it,â€Â said Senator Rosen. “I’m proud that our bipartisan bill to address the shortage of nurses in our state has passed the Senate. I’ll keep pushing to make sure it becomes law, which will improve health care access across our state.â€
  “In the midst of a growing demand for medical treatments and services, health care providers across Maine continue to face a significant shortage of nurses. One challenge in growing the nursing workforce to meet this demand is the limited supply of nursing faculty available to increase student enrollment and train the next generation ofnurses,â€Â said Senator Collins. “I am pleased that the Senate passed this bipartisan legislation that will identify strategies to close the faculty gap and other potential solutions to strengthen our nursing workforce, ultimately improving access to care, particularly in underserved communities in Maine and across the country.â€