Indiana
Smokey Bones barbecue chain closes its Indiana store
Kroger to close 60 underperforming stores after failed Albertsons merger
Amid plans to shut 60 stores, Kroger commits to new openings and employee relocations, navigating challenges after the attempted merger with Albertsons.
Scripps News
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.
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.
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.
Indiana
Bears reiterate Chicago stadium options are ‘exhausted,’ focused on suburban Illinois and Indiana
CHICAGO — The Bears reiterated Thursday they plan to leave Chicago as they continue to look at building a stadium in suburban Illinois or Hammond, Indiana.
“The Chicago Bears have exhausted every opportunity to stay in Chicago, which was our initial goal,” the team said in a statement. “There is not a viable site in the city. As a result, the only sites under consideration are in Arlington Heights and Hammond.”
The statement, which appears to again close the door on staying in Chicago, comes after team president Kevin Warren said last month at the NFL meetings in Arizona that the Bears were hoping to choose a new site for an enclosed stadium in Illinois or Indiana late this spring or early in the summer.
The Bears have played at Soldier Field for more than half a century. Indiana lawmakers are attempting to lure them from the Windy City with a plan to finance and build a domed stadium in Hammond, about 25 miles from their current home on Lake Michigan’s shore.
The Illinois General Assembly responded with legislation that would give tax breaks to so-called megaprojects of at least $100 million, a plan that would encompass the Bears’ proposal to build a complex on a 326-acre tract of land they own in Arlington Heights.
“Both of the sites are excellent sites,” Warren said last month.
The Bears are a charter NFL franchise that has played in Illinois since the team’s founding in 1920 as the Decatur Staleys. Since moving to Chicago in 1921, the Bears have never owned their stadium, whether playing at Wrigley Field from 1921 to 1970 or Soldier Field since.
Indiana
These former Indiana high school softball players are in NCAA Super Regionals
Patty Gasso, Audrey Lowry recap OU softball sweep in NCAA Norman Regional
OU softball defeated Michigan 8-1 on Sunday to advance to its 16th consecutive Super Regional. Pitcher Audrey Lowry allowed only one run on three hits over 4 ⅔ innings for the Sooners.
NCAA softball Super Regionals begin Thursday with the winner of these best-of-three series advancing to the Women’s College World Series. Meet the former Indiana high school stars looking to help punch their team’s ticket to Oklahoma City.
No. 3 Oklahoma
Audrey Lowry, pitcher (Tri-West): Lowry has really come into her own as a sophomore. An All-SEC second team honoree, she is 22-3 (tied 16th nationally for wins) with a 2.61 ERA and 88 strikeouts through 120.2 innings pitched. The lefty is limiting opposing hitters to a .230 average.
Berkley Zache, pitcher (South Bend St. Joseph): The younger Zache sister has appeared in 13 games as a true freshman, compiling a 1.95 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 14.1 innings pitched. She has allowed only one earned run in her past 12 appearances.
Riley Zache, catcher/infielder (South Bend St. Joseph): The sophomore has yet to appear in a game this season. She was 2-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored last season.
No. 6 Florida
Gabi Comia, infielder (Hanover Central): An All-SEC Defensive Team selection at second base, the sophomore has a .979 fielding percentage with only four errors on 193 chances (14 double plays). Comia’s been a factor at the plate, as well, batting a career-best .339 with 59 hits (13 doubles), 47 runs and 24 RBIs. She leads the team with 11 steals and has started in all 61 games she’s appeared in.
Kendall Grover, infielder (Mooresville): The senior Eastern Illinois transfer is among the Gators’ leaders in home runs (11), RBIs (46) and slugging percentage (.564). Grover has also doubled 11 times and maintained a .320 average. She’s been very good in the field, as well, logging a .969 fielding percentage with 30 putouts and 64 assists.
Keagan Rothrock, pitcher (Roncalli): Rothrock has continued her brilliance in the circle. She’s 29-6 with six shutouts, five saves and a 2.42 ERA. She’s racked up 179 strikeouts (25th nationally) and is limiting opposing batters to a .191 average. Rothrock pitched a seven-inning no-hitter vs. South Carolina in April, and she was lights-out in the regional, allowing only two runs on five hits in 15 innings pitched. The Roncalli grad was picked All-SEC first team and is a USA Softball Player of the Year Top-25 finalist.
No. 7 Tennessee
Maddi Rutan, third base/pitcher (Columbus North): Rutan was the ASUN Freshman and Pitcher of the Year with Eastern Kentucky in 2024. She’s been similarly impactful with the Vols, logging 23 hits, including five homers, 19 RBIs and 19 runs scored. She’s 5-for-6 on stolen base attempts and has pitched 16.2 innings, picking up two wins and 12 strikeouts.
Note: Freshman catcher Elsa Morrison grew up in Indiana and played at Carmel High School as a freshman.
No. 10 Georgia
Keirstin Roose, infielder (Lakeland): Roose, an All-SEC honoree, enters Super Regionals batting .350 with 12 doubles, a triple and 15 home runs (.684 slugging). She’s stolen a base, scored 57 runs and driven in 39 RBIs, and boasts a .932 fielding percentage. The 2021 Indiana Miss Softball finalist played her first four collegiate seasons at Coastal Carolina.
No. 11 Texas Tech
Jackie Lis, utility (Castle): One of the greatest players in Castle history, the senior Southern Illinois transfer has been excellent in her first season as a Red Raider, averaging .445. She’s hit 18 home runs, 10 doubles and three triples, and accounted for 66 RBIs (tied 25th nationally) and 49 runs scored.
No. 12 Duke
Brookelyn Grayson, infielder (Noblesville): Grayson, a true freshman, hit an RBI double against CSU Bakersfield in her lone collegiate at-bat.
No. 13 Oklahoma State
Melina Wilkison, outfielder (Greensburg): Wilkison made stops at Ohio State and IU before landing with Oklahoma State for her redshirt senior season. She is batting .227 with five hits, seven runs and five RBIs. The Greensburg grad has drawn two walks and is 3-for-4 on stolen base attempts.
No. 16 LSU
Kylee Edwards, infielder (Shelbyville): Edwards was tremendous her two seasons at Mississippi State and she’s been even better at LSU. An All-SEC first team pick, her .349 batting average is a career-high, as are her 60 hits, 43 runs, 10 homers and 40 RBIs. Edwards has only struck out 10 times in 172 at-bats, and holds a .963 fielding percentage with only seven errors on 188 chances.
Char Lorenz, utility (Munster): Lorenz was an All-ACC pick as a freshman at Louisville. She’s maintained a .266 average in the Bayou with four doubles, six homers, 30 runs and 23 RBIs. Lorenz has three steals and holds a .970 fielding percentage.
Arizona State
Megan Bartlett, head coach (Terre Haute North)
Mississippi State
Paige Ernstes, catcher/infield (New Palestine): Ernstes has started in 32 of the 49 games she’s appeared in and collected 17 hits (three doubles, three homers), six runs and 18 RBIs. She’s logged 175 putouts and seven assists with zero errors in the field.
Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen.
Indiana
Caitlin Clark scratched from Indiana Fever lineup at the last minute because of injury
The Indiana Fever suffered a major blow ahead of Wednesday night’s game when superstar guard Caitlin Clark was ruled out against the Portland Fire because of a back injury.
The 24-year-old All-Star was not listed on the team’s official injury report the day before.
However, following the Fever’s pregame walkthrough on Wednesday afternoon, team officials made the last-minute decision to scratch her from the lineup. While initial reports indicated the move was mostly precautionary to protect her health, the sudden benching sparked concern across the league.
This is Clark’s first missed game of the current season.
CAITLIN CLARK GIVES INSIDE LOOK AT HOW SHE’S MANAGING NAGGING INJURY: ‘NEVER BEEN THROUGH ANYTHING LIKE THIS’
Indiana Fever guards Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham watch a game from the sidelines. (Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire)
Unfortunately, health hurdles are nothing new for Clark.
During her highly anticipated 2025 sophomore season, recurring soft-tissue injuries and physical wear and tear completely derailed her momentum.
Clark only appeared in 13 games during that 2025 campaign, missing 27 regular-season games due to her extended time on the injury report.
Fever head coach Stephanie White and the front office have consistently made it clear that protecting Clark’s long-term wellness is the franchise’s top priority.
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Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark celebrates a basket in the first half against the Seattle Storm at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., on May 17, 2026. (Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images)
The team will likely take things very slowly as they evaluate her back over the coming days before letting her return to the court. Indiana’s next game is Friday against Golden State.
Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela
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