INDIANAPOLIS (CONSUMER REPORTS) — Looking to save money on lawn care this season? Consumer Reports says the key may be in how you mow and how you maintain your equipment. After cutting more than 500,000 square feet of grass in testing, CR’s experts say a few simple habits can go a long way toward keeping your lawn, and your budget, in shape.

Each year, Consumer Reports mower tester Dave Trezza heads to Florida during the winter months to get a head start on testing. There, on more than five acres of grass with hills, trees, and other obstacles, CR evaluates dozens of mowers and tractors for cutting performance, handling, mulching, and bagging.
One of the biggest takeaways from all that testing is that proper maintenance can save you money. Trezza says most mowers can deliver a good cut, but only if they’re well cared for. That means sharpening the blade at the start of the season and keeping the mower deck clean so it performs efficiently.

How you mow also matters. Consumer Reports recommends mulching your grass instead of bagging it whenever possible. Mulching returns nutrients back into the lawn, which can reduce the need for fertilizer and save money over time. A good mulching mower should leave an even cut without clumps of grass behind.

If you’re in the market for a new mower, Consumer Reports says to match the machine to your yard. For larger or sloped lawns, a self-propelled mower can make the job easier. Gas-powered models, like the Yardmax YG2760, can offer strong performance at a lower price point, cutting and mulching as well as more expensive options in CR’s tests.

For smaller yards or those looking to save even more, a battery-powered push mower can be a great choice. Consumer Reports found that models like the Ryobi RY401170VNM deliver an even cut and excellent mulching performance. Compared to gas mowers, battery-powered options also require less maintenance and run more quietly.

No matter which type of mower you use, Consumer Reports says cleaning it after each use is essential. Grass clippings can build up on the deck, leading to rust and reduced airflow, which can hurt performance over time.

With the right mower, proper maintenance, and a few smart mowing habits, you can keep your lawn looking great—without overspending.

Smokey Bones barbecue chain is closing stores, including its lone Indiana location.

The chain, known for its authentic fire-grilled and house-smoked meats, closed various locations April 28. Signage at some shops indicates all locations have been closed.

The store at 1203 Apple Glen Boulevard in Fort Wayne was among 20 locations listed on the chain’s website on April 29, but its hours were listed as “CLOSED” for every day this week and the site was not allowing customers to place orders there for pickup or delivery.

The chain previously operated stores in Central Indiana, including spots in Indianapolis, Avon and Greenwood.

The closures come after Twin Peaks Hospitality, the owner of Smokey Bones and Twin Peaks restaurants, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Texas, USA TODAY reported in January.

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The chain began closing restaurants in late 2025.

Smokey Bones was acquired as a 60-unit group by FAT Brands Inc. in 2023 and was spun off into Twin Hospitality in January 2025. Then, in September 2025, Twin Hospitality Group Inc. said it planned to rebrand 19 Smokey Bones locations as Twin Peaks restaurants while closing 15 underperforming sites.

Restaurant news: Blake Shelton restaurant and live music venue coming to Indianapolis

Contact Midwest Connect reporter Cheryl V. Jackson at cjackson@usatodayco.com or 317-444-6264. Follow her on X.com: @cherylvjackson or Bluesky: @cherylvjackson.bsky.social.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. ––– In the last week of the regular season, Indiana will host Evansville (April 29) and Illinois for the team’s final Big Ten series (May 1-3) at Andy Mohr Field.
 
The Hoosiers go into the week at 37-13 and 14-7 in the Big Ten. Evansville is 21-24 while Illinois comes into the week at 14-36 overall and 3-17 in the conference.
 
QUICK HITTERS:

• IU’s offense ranks top-15 nationally in many statistical categories: No. 14 Batting Average (.352), No. 4 On Base Percentage (.459), No. 6 RBI (374), No. 8 Scoring (8.18), No. 1 Hit By Pitch (68), No. 6 Total Runs (409), No. 8 Stolen Bases (112), No. 2 Triples (25).
• Avery Parker earned Big Ten Player of the Week after hitting .500 with five home runs and a double while not striking out once in Indiana’s 3-1 week. The Hoosiers defeated Valparaiso and won the series at Michigan.
• Avery Parker became the program’s career home run leader last weekend when she hit home run No. 46 at Iowa on April 19.
• Of Indiana’s 37 wins this year, 20 of them have been by run rule.
• Against Portland State in the Littlewood Invitational (Feb. 12), VanBrandt hit for the cycle as part of a 5-for-5 day where she also totaled two home runs.

 
LAST TIME OUT:

• Indiana took care of business against Valparaiso (April 22) in a 14-1 win in five innings before winning a road series at Michigan, 2-1.
• The Hoosiers took the Friday and Sunday games of the series, including an 11-2 win in five innings on Sunday. The Hoosiers blasted 13 home runs across the four-game stretch.
• After the game on Sunday, Indiana broke its single-season program record of 409 runs and tied their single-season record for RBIs with 374.
• Indiana has won 10 of their last 12 games dating back to April 8 in the win versus Butler.
• Parker’s two home runs against Michigan (April 26) put her at 50 and 51 career home runs.
• In that Sunday win, Taylor Hess pitched a complete game and struck out three batters.

 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT:

• Evansville is 21-24 on the season and has a 12-12 record in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Purple Aces lost their most recent series at UIC after winning three games in a row (Bradley 2x and Northern Kentucky).
• Niki Bode leads the way at the plate for the Purple Aces, posting a .team-high 407 batting average. Taylor Howe (.314) and Jess Willsey (.306) also have had strong seasons hitting for them.
• Illinois comes into the week at 14-36 overall and 3-17 in the Big Ten. The Fighting Illini got swept versus Penn State in their last Big Ten series.
• The Fighting Illini’s Skylar Brennan (.324) and Adisyn Caryl (.318) are Illinois’ two best hitters. Each of them have eight doubles on the season.
• Abby Sabalaskey and Karley Yergler are the Illini’s two-most consistent arms, each having at least 27 appearances and 50 strikeouts.

 
SERIES HISTORY NOTES:

• Indiana leads the all-time series versus Evansville, 27-8. The Hoosiers have won five in a row against them and Wednesday’s matchup will be the first meeting since 2023. Illinois leads the all-time series versus Indiana, 21-11. Indiana and Illinois have not faced one another since 2022.