INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers did not waive point guard T.J. McConnell prior to June 28, and with the calendar now rolling to June 29, the veteran point guard has a fully guaranteed contract for the 2024-25 season.

McConnell, 32, signed a four-year, $33.6 million contract in August of 2021. The first three seasons of the agreement were fully guaranteed, but the fourth and final season only had $5 million out of $9.3 million guaranteed. In theory, had the Pacers waived McConnell before Friday ended, they could have saved $4.3 million.

But there was no sense in doing so. $4.3 million in savings is nothing compared to the value McConnell has on the hardwood — if anything he is underpaid at $9.3 million — and the Pacers are over the salary cap anyway. They would have gained little to no flexibility with the savings.

The veteran ball handler is one of the best reserve guards in the league and just averaged career-best numbers across the board. “Getting this franchise back into the playoffs and making a run to the Eastern Conference Finals when not a single person had us going there, it was really fun,” McConnell said of his 2023-24 season.

He averaged 10.2 points and 5.5 assists per game this past year. His scoring down the stretch of the campaign and in the playoffs was remarkable as he did everything for the second unit. Indiana needed McConnell to step up in the scoring department once Bennedict Mathurin went down with an injury, and he did.

“I don’t know, I try not to focus on stuff like that,” McConnell said of having a career year at his age. “Just the team success, really just getting back to the playoffs. That was the goal for us. Just tried to contribute in any way I could.”

The nine-year veteran was never going to be waived. It would have been incredibly misguided for Indiana to do so, but now it’s official. His contract is fully guaranteed for the coming season, and the veteran guard currently projects to be the backup floor general to open the upcoming season.

The more interesting question with McConnell’s contract is about a possible extension. Reporting has suggested that the Pacers would like to add years on to McConnell’s deal this summer, and he is eligible for a longer contract starting on July 6.

Indiana could add up to four years and up to about $80 million to McConnell’s contract this offseason if they are so inclined. “To have him here long term, we’d love to keep T.J. as a Pacer for life. The business part eventually comes into play for everybody, but would hate to lose that guy,” Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan said of McConnell late last month.

“His value to us is obviously very, very high,” the GM added. McConnell averaged 11.8 points and 5.1 assists per game in the playoffs.

McConnell, a Pittsburgh native, has been a key veteran for the Pacers ever since he joined the franchise. His fierce mentality after going undrafted in 2015 has never faded, and it makes him the competitor that he is. If Indiana wants to keep playing their up-tempo style that is possible because of star guard Tyrese Haliburton, keeping McConnell as a high-paced backup makes all the sense in the world. As of right now, they have him under contract for one more season.

INDIANAPOLIS (WXIN) — A judge has blocked a new Indiana law from going into effect which would have effectively cut off Hoosiers from accessing adult content websites, such as Pornhub. In his decision, the judge called the law “likely facially unconstitutional.”

Previously, Indiana lawmakers passed Senate Bill 17 which was signed into law by Governor Eric Holcomb and set to go into effect on July 1. Under the restrictive bill, websites hosting “material harmful to minors” would have required Hoosiers to upload sensitive documents, such as driver’s licenses, in order to prove their age.

While proponents of the law argued the age-verification law was meant to protect minors from accessing explicit material, such as pornography, critics pointed out that the law was not only a potential violation of the First Amendment but also opened up Hoosiers to substantial risk of having their sensitive information and documents stolen.

While Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita defended the age-verification law as a “shield” to protect children from “the psychological and emotional consequences associated with viewing porn,” the Free Speech Coalition filed a lawsuit to stop the law from going into effect.

“We will continue to fight for the rights of adults to access the internet free of shame and surveillance,” said Alison Boden, executive director of Free Speech Coalition. “While they may sound reasonable on their face, laws like SB17 have effectively functioned as state censorship.”

On Friday, a judge with the United States District Court of Southern Indiana issued a preliminary injunction blocking the law from going into effect on July 1. In his decision, the judge concluded that the law “likely violates the First Amendment” and echoed many of its critics such as pointing out how the law could be easily circumvented with technology and the broad, vague scope of the law.

The vagueness of the law was previously called out by the ACLU of Indiana who sounded the alarm against the age-verification law and its vague use of “material harmful to minors,” which the ACLU speculated could go beyond just blocking pornography and be used to also block “age-appropriate LGBTQ+” or be used to censor sex education content.

The ACLU also pointed out how the law could be easily circumvented, needlessly putting Hoosiers’ sensitive information at risk.

“The worst part, the law won’t even work,” said the ACLU of Indiana. “Minors will just go to sites that aren’t regulated by Indiana law or use technology to bypass the verification method. A @CommonSenseMedia report found 6 in 10 older teenagers already use VPNs to browse the internet.”

As part of his decision, the judge wrote in defense of his injunction by stating, “Indiana’s legislature chose an ineffective and more broad method to protect minors from harmful materials than other alternatives. The First Amendment does not allow such imprecision.”

The injunction will remain in effect until a final judgment is made or a higher court dissolves the injunction.

Arby’s franchisee Miracle Restaurant Group has once again filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and could sell multiple stores in three states, according to court documents.

Court documents show Chapter 11 bankruptcy was filed by Miracle Restaurant Group on June 20, 2024. The business was formed in 2005 and currently own and operates 25 Arby’s restaurants across Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.

Several restaurants have been filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy or closing stores in 2024, including Red Lobster, Hooters, Tijuana Flats and Alamo Drafthouse to name a few.

Hooters closing 2024: Locations are closing; 2 restaurants near Louisville among dozens closed

The court documents for Miracle Restaurant Group state:

“In September 2023, the Debtor sold three of its stores located in Indiana and used the proceeds to pay down its notes with First Franchise Capital Corporation (“FFCC”), the LH Mortgage, and the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”). The Debtor’s remaining two stores in Indiana remain operating.”

Additionally, stores in other states are also being impacted:

“The Debtor intends to continue to market and sell its seven Texas Stores, eight Illinois Stores and two remaining Indiana Stores through the Bankruptcy Process, and to focus on its Louisiana and Mississippi Stores. To accomplish this, the Debtor has retained Peak Franchise Capital, LLC as financial advisor to assist in marketing the Debtor’s stores.”

CEO Donald Moore declined to answer questions about the bankruptcy when contacted by phone. In the filing, Moore notes he has “experience in senior officer roles at public and private restaurants since 1990.”

Red Lobster closing 2024: Red Lobster lists 99 restaurants closed in 28 states: See locations closing in your state

Here’s what to know:

Is Arby’s filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy?

No. Franchise operator Miracle Restaurant Group is filing for bankruptcy and owns 25 Arby’s locations in Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.

Who owns Arby’s?

Arby’s is owned by Inspire Brands. They own several restaurants including Baskin Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin’, Jimmy John’s and SONIC.

Are Arby’s restaurant locations closing via Miracle Restaurant Group’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy?

No. Miracle Restaurant Group is attempting to sell the remaining locations in Illinois (8), Indiana (2) and Texas (7), according to court documents.

Has Miracle Restaurant Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy previously?

Yes, this is Miracle Restaurant Group’s second Chapter 11 filing. The franchisee used to own 60 Arby’s franchise locations before filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2010, according to court documents. A number of stores were closed after the plan was confirmed and all creditors were paid in full under the plan.

What Arby’s restaurant locations could be closing in Illinois, Indiana and Texas?

Miracle Restaurant Group has not confirmed a list of store closings or which restaurants are being sold. Below is a list of locations posted on the website at mrgarbys.com/locations.htm. Three Indiana locations were sold in September 2023, but which stores were sold is unclear.

Arby’s restaurants in Illinois related to Miracle Restaurant Group

• 6000 Northwest Highway, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
• 1169 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120 – CLOSED
• 340 North York Road, Elmhurst, IL 60126
• 1874 E. Belvidere Road, Grayslake, IL 60030
• 2307 Jefferson, Joliet, IL 60435 – CLOSED
• 9550 W. 179th St., Tinley Park, IL 60477
• 1800 N. Richmond Road, McHenry, IL 60050 – CLOSED
• 520 Townline Road, Mundelein, IL 60060 – CLOSED
• 7001 W. Dempster Ave., Niles, IL 60714
• 2539 Greenbay Road, North Chicago, IL 60064
• 139 N. Northwest Highway, Palatine, IL 60067 – CLOSED
• 1331 Golf Road, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 – CLOSED
• 776 Rollins Road, Round Lake Beach, IL 60073

Arby’s restaurants in Indiana related to Miracle Restaurant Group

Arby’s restaurants in Louisiana related to Miracle Restaurant Group

Arby’s restaurants in Mississippi related to Miracle Restaurant Group

Arby’s restaurants in Texas related to Miracle Restaurant Group

• 7222 I-40 W., Amarillo, TX 79108
• 4020 82nd St., Lubbock, TX 79423
• 5052 Frankford Ave., Lubbock, TX 79424 – CLOSED
• 5711 19th St., Lubbock, TX 79407
• 7701 I-40 W., Suite No. 208, Amarillo, TX 79109 – CLOSED
• 5214 S. Western St., Amarillo, TX 79109
• 2422 19th St., Lubbock, TX 79401 – CLOSED

Chris Sims is a digital content producer for Midwest Connect Gannett. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisFSims.