Indiana
Terre Haute looking toward next chapter – Inside INdiana Business
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The city of Terre Haute has seen several major changes recently.
The city has a new mayor—the youngest in its history—as well as a new president at Indiana State University, a new casino that opened with great fanfare and big crowds in April, renewed investment in the city’s downtown, and a general feeling that west central Indiana is ready to make a statement.
That feeling was evident as more than 300 business and community leaders filled the floor at the Hulman Center on the campus of ISU for a conversation on important issues facing the regional economy as part of our Engage Indiana series.
“Terre Haute and west central Indiana spent a lot of time planning and doing research and really feeling what we could do to increase our population and increase per capita income,” said Jon Ford, chairman of the Wabash River Valley Regional Development Authority. “And right now, it’s all kind of coming together, along with new talented people moving into our area.”
Terre Haute Mayor Brandon Sackman says the optimism is well founded, pointing to more than $80 million in downtown projects in the pipeline, including a new Courtyard Hotel on Wabash Avenue with walkways connecting to parking and additional hotel rooms.
The investment, which includes the restoration of the historic Indiana Theatre, is all part of a new vision for the city’s downtown.
“What we’re really doing is saying, ‘Hey, it’s not going to be like 50-60 years ago…but some of the characteristics will come back,” Sakbun said. “And that’s what’s important is we’re not going to go back to what the past was, but we’re going to build off of it and move towards the future.”
The bet on Terre Haute’s comeback is also riding on a $290 million casino and hotel that opened in the spring to big crowds and a boost to the region’s tourism efforts.
“We had over 12,000 people come in that first weekend,” a casino spokesperson told IIB. “We were just absolutely slammed. It was so great to see. We had people starting to line up starting at 6 a.m. that morning; we opened our doors at 11, and ever since then we’ve been open.”
After years of talk, efforts are moving forward around a Wabash River master plan focused on accelerating riverfront development and quality of place initiatives—all moves the mayor says position Terre Haute and the Wabash Valley to compete.
“It was not too long—decades ago—that Terre Haute was was beating the Muncies of the world, competing with the South Bends, the Evansvilles, the Fort Waynes,” said Sakbun. “So we’re really taking that hard look in the mirror saying, ‘Hey, let’s pivot and change some things up,’ and that’s what we’ve done through elections, through new leadership at organizations, and I strongly believe you’re going to see a lot of activity in the next 18 to 24 months, which will pay off not just for the next two years but the next two decades.”
One of the biggest issues facing communities in the Wabash Valley and throughout the state of Indiana is available housing. Just south of Terre Haute in Knox County, the city of Vincennes is taking the issue head on with a $35 million apartment project.
It comes as work begins on the $83 million AgroRenew bioplastics plant that is expected to create more than 250 jobs. Knox County Indiana Economic Development CEO Chris Pfaff says growth opportunities will drive demand for even more housing options.
“Now with the AgroRenew project, we’ve really got a unique opportunity to build a bioplastics cluster in this region, whether that’s right in Vincennes or Knox County or even in our surrounding community.”
Officials say increased communication and collaboration among local stakeholders has been key to the region’s growth thus far and will continue to be important moving forward.
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WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump spoke at length about Indiana football’s perfect season Monday afternoon during a ceremony on the South Lawn at the White House honoring the team.
“This was a year that will live forever in the hearts of Indiana football fans,” Trump said. “There’s no story like this.”
Trump relived that journey, offering his own commentary on IU’s 16-0 season. Here’s a look at the standout moments from the President’s speech:
Trump compares Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti to Muhammad Ali
The President referenced Cignetti’s famed “Google Me” press conference as he traced IU’s path to the national title. While Trump said he normally hates guys with “cocky” attitudes, he couldn’t help but admire Cignetti’s style. Trump compared it to the way Muhammad Ali backed up his tough talk.
“Just two years later, he brought home the national championship,” Trump said. “When you do that stuff, you have to be able to produce when you act that way.”
Trump laughs off Indiana football’s notable absences
Trump didn’t expect quite so many former Indiana football players to be busy with OTA’s in the NFL. While Fernando Mendoza’s absence made headlines last week, Trump was surprised to find out that key starters like Pat Coogan and D’Angelo Ponds weren’t in attendance either. The President sought to highlight their contributions during his remarks.
“We’ve got 15 of them in (NFL) training camp right now,” Cignetti told Trump.
“Oh, I can’t believe it,” the President said. “No wonder you won.”
According to Trump, Mendoza called the President last week to tell him he wouldn’t be able to attend the event. There were a handful of former IU players on the trip who graduated, but none of the ones who were drafted or signed to NFL teams.
Trump impressed with IU’s blowout win over Alabama in Rose Bowl: ‘You’ve got to be kidding’
Trump has maintained close ties with former Alabama coach Nick Saban, Cignetti’s one-time mentor. It might help explain why the President was so impressed by the lopsided final score of IU’s 38-3 victory over Alabama in the Rose Bowl.
“Coach, you’ve got to be kidding,” Trump said after reading the final score. “That’s right, over Alabama. That’s a big one.”
Cignetti, who won a title as an assistant at Alabama for Saban, even poked fun at his former school as Trump spoke about the game.
“Roll tide,” Cignetti shouted.
Trump spotlights Indiana football’s gutsy QB draw in CFP title game
Former Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza’s diving touchdown against the Hurricanes made quite the impression on Trump, who attended the CFP championship game at Hard Rock Stadium. The President raved about the play call on Monday afternoon with Cignetti by his side.
Facing a fourth-and-four from Miami’s 12-yard line, Cignetti called a QB draw with his team holding onto a slim lead in the final 10 minutes. Mendoza scored by breaking a series of tackles and making a Superman-esque dive across the goal line.
“No coach in America would have done what this guy did,” Trump said of Cignetti. “They said, this guy is making such a mistake, and he won. That was a hell of a play. That’s the kind of play if they don’t do that play, if it doesn’t work, that’s like career-threatening, right?”
Trump circled back to the thought before talking about Jamari Sharpe’s interception.
“He kept doing all this stuff,” Trump said. “The things that weren’t supposed to happen. You’re just lucky you won that game because if you didn’t, they would have said, this coach is crazy.”
Trump celebrates Indiana football’s ‘legendary story’
Trump frequently veered away from his prepared remarks to offer up asides on Indiana’s rags to riches story. Cignetti orchestrated a turnaround in just two seasons in Bloomington at a school with very little tradition in the sport.
“What you did is something that I don’t think anybody’s ever really done in college football history,” Trump said.
Trump, like many fans, was impressed with the way IU dispatched the sport’s blue bloods — mostly in lopsided fashion — on their journey to winning the CFP title.
“You went through a lot of great teams,” Trump said. “And real football powerhouses over the years. That’s pretty intimidating. Amazing. Top tens. This team lifted the Indiana football program from a historic low.”
For Trump, it’s what made Indiana’s 16-0 season distinct from other championship teams that have visited the White House.
“The story of Indiana University is really a legendary story,” Trump said.
Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.
Fernando Mendoza did not attend Indiana University’s visit to the White House commemorating the Hoosiers’ college football national championship on Monday. The Las Vegas Raiders quarterback said earlier this month that he would not attend if it interfered with any activities with his new team.
“I’m on the bottom of the totem pole here,” Mendoza said following a rookie minicamp practice. “I got to prove myself. I can’t miss practice. I don’t know anything official. I don’t have the calendar, but I just wouldn’t. As a rookie, I don’t think that’s a good look, and I want to try to best serve my teammates. And I don’t know if that’d be accomplishing that goal.”
According to the team’s official offseason schedule, the Raiders did not have any formal practices or workouts on Monday. The team’s next organized activity is May 18, its first OTA workout.
“Fernando couldn’t be here today because, as I said, he’s now a member of the Las Vegas Raiders,” President Donald Trump said in his address. “Let’s see how good of a team they have, and I think he’s gonna do great. He’s a winner.”
Mendoza wasn’t the only absence. Center Pat Coogan and cornerback D’Angelo Ponds were among the other Hoosiers not in attendance for the event due to NFL obligations. Indiana had a program-record eight players selected in April’s NFL Draft.
Trump highlighted Mendoza’s accomplishments and contributions to the school’s first football national title. He celebrated Mendoza as Indiana’s inaugural Heisman Trophy winner and praised his fourth-quarter touchdown run in the championship game against Miami.
“He’s gonna be a good one,” Trump said.
Indiana was well-represented by returning members of the team. Charlie Becker, one of Mendoza’s go-to receivers during the College Football Playoffs, and Jamari Sharpe, whose late interception secured the title-game victory, both spoke on behalf of the school, as did head coach Curt Cignetti.
Mendoza is one of four members of the national champion Hoosiers who joined the Raiders this offseason. Running back Roman Hemby and wide receiver E.J. Williams Jr. signed as undrafted free agents in the days following the draft. Wide receiver Jonathan Brady earned a contract after impressing as a tryout player during rookie minicamp.
MUNCIE, Ind. (WISH) — Police are investigating a triple shooting that took place on Muncie’s south side Sunday evening that left a woman dead and two men injured.
According to police, at approximately 5:27 p.m., Muncie Police Officers were dispatched to the 2700 block of South Walnut Street in reference to reports of several people being shot.
Officers arrived and located three gunshot victims: A 23-year-old female who died from “multiple wounds,” a 39-year-old male who is hospitalized in stable condition, and a 40-year-old male who was airlifted to an Indianapolis hospital in critical condition.
Police say a suspect is in custody, a 21-year-old man.
Police did not provide any additional information.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Muncie Police Detective Division at 765-747-4867 or dispatch at 765-747-4838.
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