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OECOSL awards $8.7M in expansion grants to early education providers

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More than 1,500 spots will be added in 18 counties across the state

INDIANAPOLIS – The Family and Social Service Administration’s Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning awarded more than $8.7 million to child care providers to expand access to high-quality early education for Hoosier families.

OECOSL awarded 21 grants to 11 centers, four ministries, four homes and two public schools. The grants will add 1,572 child care seats in 18 Indiana counties. Seven providers received up to $200,000 to expand existing programs by updating facilities and operations; 14 received up to $750,000 to create new programs in underserved areas of the state. Additional grants may be awarded.

“This Child Care Expansion Grant will help high-quality providers grow their businesses and serve more children and families, particularly in underserved areas of Indiana, or expand availability to priority age groups where care is often hardest to find,” said Courtney Penn, OECOSL director. “The first five years of a child’s life are the most significant to build a strong foundation for future success. We are always looking for opportunities such as this to partner with providers to serve hard-working Hoosier families.”

Grant funds were made possible through Senate Enrolled Act 2 from the 2022 Indiana General Assembly special session.

“This expansion grant helps to build upon FSSA’s recent work to help stabilize and grow child care in Indiana to support providers and build available child care capacity,” FSSA Secretary Dan Rusyniak, M.D. said. “These investments directly strengthen the workforce.”

Just last month, FSSA announced the $25 million Employer-Sponsored Child Care Fund, part of Gov. Eric J. Holcomb’s 2023 Next Level Agenda, to mobilize employers and communities to create or expand child care offerings that address the needs of working Hoosiers.

In recent years, FSSA has provided $542 million in stabilization grants to more than 3,300 child care providers to help them rebuild after the instability caused by the pandemic, which led to a 29% decrease in vacant child care and early learning teaching positions from 2021 to 2022.

UE Volleyball puts up strong performance in 5-set match at Drake

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Following a 25-8 loss in the first set, the University of Evansville volleyball team took two of the ensuing three sets before coming up just short in the fifth as Drake took a 3-2 win on Friday at the Knapp Center.

Melanie Feliciano recorded a match-high 23 kills while Giulia Cardona added 21.  Both picked up double-doubles with Cardona totaling 17 digs and Feliciano finishing with 10.  Ainoah Cruz finished the evening with 15 digs.  Kora Ruff totaled 36 assists with Madisyn Steele and Cardona picking up two blocks each.  Leading Drake was Haley Bush with 21 kills.

Game 1 – Drake 25, UE 8

Holding a 5-3 lead, Drake scored four in a row, which would be the start of a 14-2 stretch that put them up 19-5.  The Bulldogs would cruise to the 17-point victory in the opening frame.

Game 2 – UE 25, Drake 22

Evansville did an excellent job of putting the first set behind them.  Three early Melanie Feliciano kills led to a 5-3 lead.  The Bulldogs tied it up at 6-6 before the Aces wrestled away a 13-11 edge with Feliciano and Giulia Cardona picking up kills.

Drake took three subsequent leads, but a 3-0 run was a big turning point for the Purple Aces.  Down 18-16, a pair of Feliciano points put her team back in front.  After Drake tied it at 19-19, it was Feliciano putting her team in front for good.  Two more kills made it a 21-19 game.  DU got back within one before a Feliciano ace and Cardona kill finished off the set.

Game 3 – Drake 25, UE 14

Ainoah Cruz picked up an early ace with Evansville taking a 2-0 lead.  Cardona picked up a kill to put her team back up by a 5-3 score and it looked as if the teams would have another battle to the finish.  The Bulldogs had other ideas.  A 9-0 run turned the deficit into a 12-5 lead.  UE was unable to overcome the rally as the Bulldogs took a 2-1 match lead with the 25-14 decision.

Game 4 – UE 25, Drake 22

It was the Aces who had the lead throughout the majority of the fourth set.  Two more aces from Cruz put her team up by a 5-1 score.  Feliciano was credited with her second ace of the match to solidify an 11-5 lead.

The lead for UE grew even more when an error by the Bulldogs gave UE an 18-11 advantage.  Capped off by a pair of service aces, the Bulldogs reeled off six in a row to get within one point before eventually tying it up at 21-21.  Evansville forced two errors to retake the lead while Feliciano finished off the 25-22 win with a kill.

Game 5 – Drake 15, UE 8

A quick start by the Bulldogs saw them take a 4-1 lead.  Evansville did its best to come back, getting within one at 7-6.  The Bulldogs countered with five in a row and would clinch the match with the 15-8 win in the fifth game.

Tomorrow, the Aces will be in Cedar Falls to face Northern Iowa at 6 p.m.

Fourteen UE Students Selected for Prestigious Scholars Program

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EVANSVILLE, IND. (11/03/2023) The University of Evansville (UE) proudly announces that fourteen of its students have been selected to join the prestigious Class of 2025 Indiana AHEC Scholars Program. This highly competitive program is part of a national initiative aimed at preparing the health care professionals of tomorrow to be leaders in interprofessional, transformative practice, dedicated to serving the underserved populations of Indiana.

The Indiana AHEC Scholars program is tailored to individuals with a resolute commitment to providing health care services in rural and medically underserved communities across the state of Indiana. These dedicated students will undergo a rigorous two-year program that combines didactic training opportunities with hands-on field experiences. These experiences are specially designed to focus on both rural and urban health care, with an emphasis on caring for underserved populations.

Throughout their journey in the Indiana AHEC Scholars program, these outstanding students will engage with and integrate eight core topics:

  • Behavioral Health Integration
  • Cultural Competency & Humility
  • Interprofessional Practice
  • Practice Transformation
  • Social Determinants of Health
  • Connecting Communities and Supporting Health Professionals
  • Virtual Learning and Telehealth
  • Current/Emerging Issues (Including topics such as COVID-19, the Opioid Epidemic, and Maternal-Child Health)

“UE extends our congratulations to the exceptional students comprising the new class of Indiana AHEC Scholars,” said Dr. Andy Lampkins, Interim Dean of the College of Education and Health Sciences. “These students represent the future of health care and have demonstrated their unwavering dedication to making a positive impact in communities that need it most.”

The Class of 2025 Indiana AHEC Scholars from the University of Evansville are as follows:

Katelyn Brown – Physician Assistant

Sydney Hirt – Physician Assistant

Aubrey Lankford – Physician Assistant

Heather Mathis – Nursing

Samantha Moore – Exercise Physiology

Hannah Myers – Physician Assistant

Hannah Rawhoof – Physical Therapy

Chastity Reising – Physician Assistant

Natalie Schimp – Physician Assistant

Carlie Schultheis – Physician Assistant

Yanyu Wei – Physician Assistant

Erika Will – Physician Assistant

Kathryn Williams – Physical Therapy

Keri Zumbahlen – Physical Therapy

USI falls short in tight battle with Tennessee Tech

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Volleyball (10-14, 6-7 OVC) was able to force a fifth set but could not close out against Tennessee Tech University (9-16, 5-9 OVC) at Screaming Eagles Arena Friday evening, 3-2 (25-21, 25-22, 25-22, 25-13, 15-12).
 
A late surge from TTU cost the Screaming Eagles in the end, 25-21. USI held an early 9-7 lead after five kills from four different Eagles and a run-capping ace from senior outside hitter Leah Anderson (Bloomington, Illinois). The Golden Eagles returned the favor with a 3-0 run that gave TTU the advantage. Both sides switched rallies until a TTU timeout started a run for the Golden Eagles to cap off the opening-frame win. TTU scored seven of the last 10 points of the set with six points coming off kills. USI lost the offensive battle with nine kills and an ace compared to TTU’s 16 kills and one ace.
 
Despite TTU forcing a comeback, USI controlled the end of the game and scored a 25-22 win in the second set. The Golden Eagles got the jump early with a 5-3 advantage, but it was USI with an 8-2 stint that prevailed positively for the Screaming Eagles. During the run, TTU posted six offensive errors while Leah Anderson earned back-to-back aces. With an 11-7 lead, USI watched TTU storm back by scoring five of the next six points. The Screaming Eagles bounced back quickly with a 7-1 surge to extend USI’s lead to six. Sophomore Bianca Anderson (Chicago Heights, Illinois) kicked off the run with a kill before Leah Anderson nabbed a pair of kills with sophomore Keira Moore (Newburgh, Indiana) adding on a run-ending ace. Even with a 21-15 advantage, no lead was safe as TTU went on a 6-0 surge to knot it up at 21 apiece. USI would not stumble, securing the second-set victory after back-to-back kills from Leah Anderson and senior outside/right side hitter Abby Bednar (Chagrin Falls, Ohio). It was a more balanced attack from both sides; however, it was TTU’s six blocks that made the difference on the score sheet.
 
TTU controlled the entire set as USI fell in the third frame, 25-22. The game began with a pair of kills from Bianca Anderson and one kill from junior middle hitter Paris Downing (Avon, Indiana) before Leah Anderson added repeating kills to tie it at six early. Tied at eight, TTU started to coast, scoring five of the next six points to hold a four-point advantage. USI was able to recover and cut the deficit to 18-16 thanks to kills from three different Eagles. It was back-and-forth play through the rest of the set as TTU was able to hold off a USI comeback. Between both teams, all the last 18 points were scored off kills, the longest such streak in the match. TTU was able to secure 20 kills in the frame with just two errors as USI batted down 15 kills with also two miscues. Neither side was able to record an ace nor a block in the set.
 
An 8-0 start and a 5-0 end resulted in a big win for USI in the fourth frame, 25-13. The Screaming Eagles began the set with a strong start with seven kills, four kills coming from the attack of Bianca Anderson. TTU was able to stop the bleeding before USI added another run, this time a 4-0 stint to make it a 15-6 game. The Golden Eagles sought revenge by cutting the deficit to seven and trading points until it reached 20-13. To cap off an incredible set, USI scored the last five points with kills from Downing and Leah Anderson along with a big ace from junior setter Carly Sobieralski (Indianapolis, Indiana). The Screaming Eagles’ defense was the MVP in the frame, holding TTU to just nine kills and a 0.129 hitting percentage. USI’s offense was not too shabby either, earning 18 kills with just one error to post a 0.548 attacking percentage.
 
Strategic runs by TTU led to a 15-12 victory over USI. The Golden Eagles kicked off the frame with three-straight points before the Screaming Eagles recovered with a 4-0 run led by Bednar who tallied a kill and an ace during the stint. Down 5-4, TTU stormed back by scoring seven of the next nine points to take a commanding 11-7 advantage. However, USI kept battling and tied the match up with another 4-0 surge. Despite the late push, TTU held off USI and scored four of the final five points to seal the win. The Screaming Eagles have not won a fifth set since November 19, 2021. USI only had one error in the frame, but it was 12 TTU kills that sealed the match.
 
Leah Anderson posted big numbers in the loss, securing 16 kills and 19 digs for her fourth-straight and ninth total double-double of the season. She also had a team-high three aces. Also earning double-digit kills and leading the team in blocks were Bianca Anderson and Downing who had 13 kills with four blocks and 10 kills with three blocks, respectively. Sobieralski tallied 45 assists while junior outside hitter Abby Weber (Fishers, Indiana) and Moore each recorded double-digit digs with 14 and 11 apiece. Bednar also had a solid outing with eight kills and four blocks.
 
As a team, the Screaming Eagles earned 58 kills, 47 assists, and six aces to go with 65 digs and seven blocks. The Golden Eagles had 70 kills, 61 assists, and four aces to pair with 75 digs and eight blocks.
 
NEXT UP FOR THE EAGLES:
The Eagles host TTU one last time tomorrow at 2 p.m. Tomorrow’s match will be Senior Day for USI where the Eagles will recognize their four seniors: Leah Anderson, Bednar, Audrey Crowder (Avon, Indiana), and Evie Duncan (Evansville, Indiana).

EPA Advances Enforcement Actions to Protect Communities from Hazardous Lead Paint

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Enforcement Initiatives and Tools Target Noncompliance by Renovators and Property Managers

WASHINGTON (Oct. 30, 2023) – Today, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a snapshot of enforcement actions taken across the country in 2023 to protect children and their families from the health hazards posed by exposure to lead-based paint. EPA enforcement actions help ensure that renovation contractors, landlords, property management companies and realtors comply with rules that protect the public from exposure to lead from lead paint.
“No family should have to suffer adverse health impacts from exposure to lead because a property manager, landlord, or renovator failed to follow lead-safe work practices,” said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann, for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “EPA is committed to vigorous and fair enforcement of lead paint regulations and will hold companies and individuals accountable for unsafe conditions that put children at risk.”
The federal government banned residential use of lead paint in 1978, but old lead paint remains in over 34 million older homes, including 3.3 million homes with children under the age of six, who are more vulnerable to the health impacts from lead paint. Children can be exposed to lead from lead paint dust on the floor or windowsills, chipped or peeling paint, or old layers of lead paint disturbed by renovation work. EPA rules require renovation firms to protect their customers by using certified renovators and lead-safe work practices. They also require renovators, landlords and others to tell tenants and buyers about known lead paint in a home.
The enforcement actions EPA took in 2023 reflect the agency’s continuing commitment to implementing the Federal Lead Strategy and result in reducing or eliminating lead exposures, particularly to children in communities disproportionately impacted by historic lead paint exposure.

USI’s first Be a Medical Professional Day hosts over 100 high school students

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Over 100 high school students from the Tri-state visited the University of Southern Indiana to learn more about becoming a medical professional at the first annual Be a Medical Professional Day, hosted by the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education.

Students were able to explore a variety of majors leading to professional school such as chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics, exercise science and psychology. An alumni panel, including a physician’s assistant, a physical therapist, current students at IU School of Medicine, a current USI biology major who was recently accepted to medical school and a current USI exercise science major who was recently accepted to physical therapy school, answered questions about every step of the process to become a practicing medical professional.

In a hands-on biology lab, students used six different colored strains of bacteria to paint on agar plates, which are petri dishes filled with bacterial growth food. The bacteria will grow over the course of a few days and the students’ artwork will develop.

In a transformative chemistry lab, students turned copper pennies into “silver” and “gold” by using a zinc chloride mix to plate zinc onto the surface of a penny, creating a coin with a silver appearance. Then, by heating the penny, the composition changes, creating a coin with a golden appearance.

To close, Dr. Joey Barnette, USI alumnus and former Co-Chair of the Vanderbilt School of Medicine Admissions Committee, gave an inspirational keynote on planning a path to professional school.

Dr. Kim Delaney, Interim Associate Dean of the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education, thought the inaugural event was extremely successful. “We were able to give students hands-on experience and show the resources USI can provide to help students reach their goal of becoming a practicing medical professional,” she said.

USI’s Pre-Professional Program provides students with the necessary preparation to reach graduate school and their chosen profession. Personalized tracks in pre-medicine, pre-dentistry, pre-chiropractic, pre-optometry, pre-physician assistant, pre-pharmacy, pre-occupational therapy, pre-physical therapy, pre-veterinary and medical laboratory science allow students to prepare for the career most interesting to them. Over 90% of pre-professional students are accepted into professional school, and 99% of USI alumni in medical school earn a residency placement of their choice. USI has produced over 500 medical professionals regionally.

No. 6 Trailblazers tip-off season with wire-to-wire win at Kiwanis Classic

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VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University men’s basketball team started off the 2023-24 season Friday night at the Physical Education Complex as the No. 6-ranked team in the country and more than lived up to that billing after defeating Schoolcraft College 86-45.

The Blazers set the tone early in the season opener, scoring the first seven points of the game and quickly building a 23-9 lead midway through the first half.

Vincennes would continue to build on this big lead with an 11-0 scoring run to take a 36-13 advantage, before adding on more before the end of the first half to head into the locker room holding a 42-17 lead over the visiting Ocelots.

VU’s first half was fueled by an explosive Trailblazer debut by redshirt freshman Lebron Thomas (Bishopville, S.C.) who scored the first five points of the game and finished the first 20 minutes of play with 13 points.

VU looked to continue this run in the second half and used an 11-1 scoring run to lead Schoolcraft 55-20.

Schoolcraft looked for answers down the stretch but were unable to cut into the VU lead as Vincennes closed out the game on a 10-2 scoring run to pick up the season opener victory 86-45.

“I thought tonight was good for the first game,” VU Hall of Fame Head Coach Todd Franklin said. “There were ups and downs and just learning how to play hard enough and to be low enough. I’ll keep harping on that because that’s such an important thing on both ends of the floor and I think that all of us can learn that.”

“I thought it was a good night,” Franklin added. “I thought Lebron played pretty good early for us. He got some things going which is key at that position and for the first night he was able to play. Eventually we will start hitting some shots from the perimeter. That hasn’t really clicked in yet but tonight it didn’t have to.”

“We had 25 assists and 14 turnovers,” Franklin said. “14 turnovers is probably a little much for tonight, but 25 assists was excellent. This time of year you could pick apart a lot of things that have got to get better and it’s all true.”

“I was not very heated tonight until the last 10 minutes of the game,” Franklin added. “I just thought we were a little stagnant and standing straight up with some sophomores that should know better and we can’t do that playing who we are going to be playing. We’ve got to get an edge to us. But again, it’s natural, but it’s also one of those things that we have to pick it up and get to that point and tomorrow will be a whole different kind of game.”

Vincennes was led offensively by four scorers reaching double-figures, including three making their VU debut Friday night.

Redshirt freshman Lebron Thomas led the Blazers with a game-high 18 points, to go along with four rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Sophomore Kris King (Washington, D.C.) came away with 11 points on the night, while leading the Trailblazers with six assists and zero turnovers.

Freshman Damarien Yates (Somerville, Tenn.), better known as ‘Dink’, made a big impact off the bench in his first collegiate game, just missing out on a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds.

Freshman Alphonse Muteba (Montreal, Quebec) also scored in double-figures in his first game with the Blue and Gold, coming off the bench to add 10 points and five rebounds.

Sophomore Michael Osei-Bonsu (Bolingbrook, Ill.) just missed out on a double-double of his own, scoring eight points and leading the Blazers with 12 rebounds.

Sophomore Karyiek Dixon (Enfield, London, UK) also had a big night in the post, finishing with seven points and six rebounds.

“I thought Dink was pretty good,” Franklin said. “There are going to be some freshman things but I thought he was pretty good. I think Dink’s got a chance. He’s learning and he’s been put behind a little bit because of an injury that kept him out all throughout the summer and early part of the school year. He’s really only been on the floor for about a month after being off for that long, which for a freshman is hard. He’s catching up.”

“Alphonse, same kind of thing,” Franklin added. “He wasn’t here during the summer but I think both he and Dink have a lot of ability. I think both of those guys could be really good players. I think you can see that, but they have got a million things to learn and master and as they do, they will only get better. But they are also going to see better and better competition. Things they got tonight might not come to them the same way tomorrow. But I’m impressed with both of them. I think both of them could be good players, it’s just how bad do they want to work and how much do they want to listen and that’s true for a lot of guys.”

“Gerard is in that same group,” Franklin said. “He has the ability to get some things done. But one of the things we’ve talked about is the fire. We need more fire from the sophomores. We’ve been challenging them. They didn’t have to do that last year and for some of them it’s not in their nature but we are pushing to get it. I’m not going to be okay with blank faces. I’m not going to be okay with shoulder shrugs or hands to the side or not being the first one to get down into a stance. So you are going to see me get a little fiery on those things and you can know why.”

“We could be a good team,” Franklin added. “We’ve got a lot of work to do. We are going to have to really improve in a lot of areas and improve individually. But those are things that can be done. How much each individual improves is really, at the end of the day, what makes all the difference. How much more comfortable do these sophomores get in being sophomores. How much more comfortable does Lebron get to being on the floor after being out for so long. That’s what’s going to tell the tale of our season. It won’t be something magical in the x’s and o’s, those will be the things that will give us a chance, but it’s going to be as they improve, then it’s going to be easy for me to put them into the right spots. We’ve got a chance, we’ve just got to race the clock every day to get better.”

The Trailblazers will look to keep this early success going tomorrow night when VU hosts Columbia State Community College from Columbia, Tenn. in the final game of the 2023 Kiwanis Classic. Tip-off time for the Trailblazers is set for 7 p.m. eastern.

Other results from day one of the 2023 Kiwanis Classic include Shawnee Community College winning over Columbia State C.C. 69-63.

“The biggest thing is keeping it really simple, be low, be strong and sprint harder,” Franklin said. “Get your eyes up to see the floor better, have vision, talk and communicate better. That’s it. The x’s and o’s will take care of itself. But will you get down in a stance better. Will you get lower, tougher, stronger with the ball when they are trying to pressure you. Will you run that floor harder. Will you be first on a box out. That’s what I’m concerned about right now.”

“I’ve been in this game a long time, those are the things that matter,” Franklin added. “So when you see me pushing buttons or getting after it, that’s what it is and when we don’t get the real response, then we’ve got to push a little. Because we’ve got to set a different tone than what’s natural.”

“It’s not natural to be in that defensive stance for two hours,” Franklin said. “It’s not natural to run that floor hard every time. It’s not natural to be that low, strong, tough every time you catch the ball. But that’s what we have to be if we are going to get where we want to go.”

“That’s what I will look for tomorrow,” Franklin added. “Can we do those things and can we do them better. Can we take another step forward tomorrow and we will have to to have success. But tonight was a good starting point. It was a good day to get started. We challenged some guys tonight in the last 10 minutes to step up some things and we will see if they do that tomorrow.”

“Nobody needs to be comfortable,” Franklin said. “It’s all earned time here. So guys in the lineup tonight may not be in the lineup tomorrow and if I was one of those inside guys I’d be pushing. It looks like Dink might push you. Alphonse might push you. They might want to be on that floor. We’ll find a perimeter guy. Does Gerard really want to push to get out there. Does Kent want to push to get more time. We are going to play the ones that push the hardest. That’s what we do. Comfortable is not really part of our deal. The only thing you can be comfortable in here is being uncomfortable. Once you get comfortable with being uncomfortable then things get pretty good. That’s where we are and I think we’ve got some guys that can push a little bit and I hope they do.”

VINCENNES BOX SCORE

VINCENNES (86) – Kris King 4-8 3-3 11, Michael Osei-Bonsu 4-9 0-0 8, Karyiek Dixon 3-7 1-2 7, Ryan Oliver 2-3 3-4 7, Lebron Thomas 6-10 5-7 18, Damarien Yates 5-8 1-2 11, Gerard Thomas 0-2 0-1 0, Mathieu Nader-Kalombo 2-4 0-0 5, Alphonse Muteba 4-8 2-2 10, Kent King 3-3 1-2 9, Team 33-62 16-23 86.

Schoolcraft – 17   28 – 45

VU (1-0) – 42   44 – 86

Three-point goals: VU 4 (Ke. King 2, L. Thomas, Nader-Kalombo). Rebounds: VU 48 (Osei-Bonsu 12). Assists: VU 25 (Kr. King 6). Steals: VU 9 (Osei-Bonsu 3). Blocked Shots: VU 4 (Kr. King. Osei-Bonsu, Yates, Muteba). Turnovers: VU 14. Personal Fouls: VU 13. Fouled out: None.

EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

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EPD

 

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.

Update: Officer Involved Shooting 1700 block S. Evans Ave.

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 The EPD officer involved in the Officer Involved Shooting Incident (Case #23-21058) that occurred on October 25th, 2023, in the 1700 block of S. Evans Ave. has been identified as Sergeant Blake Hollins. 

Sergeant Hollins is currently assigned to Motor Patrol. He has been with the Evansville Police Department for 11 years and prior to being promoted, he was a Field Training Officer. Sgt. Hollins has been through the crisis intervention training and is a part of the Crisis Intervention Team. 

Sgt. Hollins has returned back to active duty after completing a three-day administrative leave, which is protocol in an Officer Involved Shooting Incident 

Vanderburgh County Recent Booking Records

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Booked Last 24 Hours-Public – 2023-11-03

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