The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) Wednesday officially marked the start of its 2024 construction season and emphasized the importance of work zone safety as construction and road maintenance projects get underway across the state. INDOT said it will deliver just over 1,000 construction projects in 2024.  To prepare for construction season, Indiana drivers are encouraged to “Know Before You Go” by visiting 511in.org or downloading INDOT’s TrafficWise app to see real-time traffic conditions and construction project updates. This week, INDOT is recognizing National Work Zone Awareness Week, April 15-19, 2024. “Drivers are reminded to slow down, buckle up and avoid distractions as they travel this construction and road maintenance season,” a news release from INDOT said. More information on work zone safety is available online at http://workzonesafety.in.gov .

Indiana Basketball is experiencing a major overhaul this offseason, replacing several players from last season’s roster. Here is a list of players who have transferred out and into the program.

Transferred Out:

Kaleb Banks: Still in the Portal

The sparingly used Kaleb Banks did see his minutes double in 2023-24 (five to ten minutes per game), but he never got going last season. With no direct route to more playing time and Indiana wanting to improve in the front court, Banks entered the portal on March 19th. He has not signed with another program yet.

CJ Gunn: To Dayton

Hopes were high for the Lawrence North High School product. However, Gunn was wildly inconsistent, struggling to shoot from the outside. He found himself in and out of the rotation. Gunn enrolled at the University of Dayton on March 29th.

Payton Sparks: To Ball State

Hopes were high for Ball State transfer Payton Sparks. He was a two-time All-MAC player in Muncie and was considered someone who could contribute. However, Sparks never cracked the Ware, Reneau, and Walker front-court rotation, so he transferred back to Ball State.

Incoming Transfers

Myles Rice: From Washington State

Rice gives Woodson and the Hoosiers a point guard for at least the next two years. The Washington State transfer was All-Pac 12, All-Pac 12 Freshman team, and Pac 12 Rookie of the Year. He needs to improve his shooting, but he can get to the basket and finish.

Oumar Ballo: From Arizona

Ballo, the top-rated transfer in the class gives Indiana a rebounder and rim protector. He is a more traditional center at 260 pounds. Ballo is a double-double machine who doesn’t need the basketball to influence the outcome of the game.

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (WAVE) – Saturday will bring a big change to the typical crowd at Jeffersonville’s Upland Brewing Company.

Thunder Over Louisville spectators have already sold out the riverside patio and bar manager Allison Lyles said tickets for the outdoor beer garden may soon sell out too.

“Very busy day,” Lyles said. “Lots of fun stuff going on, good vibes all the way around.”

Lyles said a single day of Thunder Over Louisville means five times the normal sales. For public safety officials, the potential for 100,000 visitors means the end of a year’s worth of planning.

And 2024 brings a new wrinkle.

In Clarksville, construction currently makes parts of the waterfront inaccessible. On Riverside Drive there will be no access to Jeffersonville, even if you are walking.

“You’re not going to want to walk to Jeffersonville or Clarksville from either location on foot,” Assistant Clarksville Police Chief James Van Winkle said. “It’s going to be way out of your way. Best bet is to park in Jeff and go to Jeff or park in Clarksville if you want to go to Clarksville.”

Clarksville Police posted warnings and a map of alternatives to social media. The red and green lines show there are no easy detours, making a walk to the fireworks more of a hike.

More people may drive to Jeffersonville, park and then walk.

“As everyone probably knows, Clarksville is experiencing some growth and construction on Riverside Drive,” Jeffersonville Police Major Joshua Lynch said. “So, we anticipate that there’s going to be a larger foot crowd, pedestrian crowd on the pedestrian side. And that’s something we’ve taken into consideration in our planning.”

Both Jeffersonville and Clarksville Police have posted traffic and parking information including a list of road closures to their social media accounts.

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