Local News from WIKY

Concerns raised about hotel project

Submitted by WIKY News on Tue, 05/21/2013 - 10:30am
Some members of the Evansville City Council have expressed concerns about the cost of the planned downtown convention hotel. Mayor Winnecke's Chief of Staff Steve Schaefer went before the Redevelopment Commission Tuesday and tried to alleviate those concerns, saying the mayor is working to get the best deal for the city and nothing's final yet. The commission also responded to questions raised by Randy Jones of Evansville about $20 million in taxpayer money that would go to the hotel developer. Commission attorney Ted Zeimer said the city has to provide an incentive.

Council rejects Smart City endorsement

Submitted by WIKY News on Tue, 05/21/2013 - 10:28am
The Evansville City Council takes action against the Smart City initiative designed to modernize the city’s water meters. The Council voted 5-to-2 Monday night to appeal a ruling by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission that endorsed a contract between the city and Johnson Controls. The Winnecke administration has asked the City Council for $53 million in bond financing to implement the program that would upgrade Evansville’s older water meters.

Worker dies after injury on Blue Bridge

Submitted by WIKY News on Tue, 05/21/2013 - 10:25am
One of the workers on the Blue Bridge at Owensboro is dead, after being injured Monday. Crew members who are painting the bridge found a 35-year-old co-worker unconscious in safety netting. Workers raised the netting, cut the injured man from it, and he was taken to the Owensboro hospital. He was pronounced dead a short time later. His name has not been released yet. The worker had burns on his hands, indicating he may have been electrocuted by power lines on the bridge.

Tornado system spawns local storms

Submitted by WIKY News on Tue, 05/21/2013 - 10:23am
Thunderstorms dumped heavy rain and caused power outages in the Evansville area Tuesday morning. But First Alert meteorologist Byron Douglas suggests the most severe weather is more likely Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. The storms are coming from the same system that spawned the deadly tornadoes in Oklahoma.

City near Oklahoma City devastated by historic tornado

Submitted by WIKY News on Mon, 05/20/2013 - 5:29pm
Moore, Oklahoma is reduced to rubble by a massive tornado that savaged the town. Helicopter shots show block after block of parts of the city destroyed by what some say was a mile-wide tornado that was on the ground for about two miles. Moore is a suburb of Oklahoma City. Moore has a population of about 56,000 - making it the seventh largest city in the state. It marked the second day of massive tornadoes in the state. Twisters Sunday killed two men and injured dozens of others when it turned a trailer court into splinters.

Cop out of woods on potential criminal investigation

Submitted by WIKY News on Mon, 05/20/2013 - 5:13pm
A criminal investigation ends - but an Internal Investigation will continue at the Evansville Police Deparrment after the family of  a local school student filed a complaint against an EPD officer last week. A police department spokesman says the department has been working closely with the family. The EPD told the family it would pursue charges the same as they would with any other citizen. The mother advised the department that the student didn't want to see the officer charged criminally and the parents concurred with his wishes.

Big Powerball bucks to somebody in Florida - of winners in Indiana, too

Submitted by WIKY News on Mon, 05/20/2013 - 2:47pm
Lottery officials say Powerball paid off for Hoosiers even though someone in Florida is the winner of the historic $590,000 jackpot. There‘s $148,000 worth of winning Powerball tickets in Indiana. Tickets sold in Evansville, Brownstown, Crown Point, Elkhart, Fort Wayne, Hobart, Kokomo and Spencer are worth $10,000 each.

Local state rep not giving up on fertilizer plant

Submitted by WIKY News on Mon, 05/20/2013 - 2:43pm
Posey County Republican lawmaker Wendy McNamara says Fatima Group still has her support. Republican Gov. Mike Pence withdrew the state's financial backing of the Pakistan-based fertilizer company. He was concerned about security risks voiced by the Pentagon about the company's fertilizer being used in terrorist bombs that have killed American GI's overseas. Fatima owns 48 percent of Midwest Fertilizer which wants to build an almost $2 billion plant in Mount Vernon. McNamara says the company has reduced risks associated with its products.

Hundreds turn-out for Streets Alive event

Submitted by WIKY News on Mon, 05/20/2013 - 10:02am
Hundreds were biking, rollerblading, and dancing on Fulton Avenue Sunday. The stretch of Fulton between Columbia and Diamond was closed to cars and trucks for Evansville Streets Alive. Gloria Schwartz of the Healthier Evansville Committee says the goal was to get kids and adults out of the house and to exercise. Vendors lined the street to promote healthy foods and choices. Organizers hope to put-on a third Streets Alive event next year.

Twin Bridges getting rusty

Submitted by WIKY News on Mon, 05/20/2013 - 10:00am
It looks like the Twin Bridges will need another coat of paint soon. Keith Todd of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says the paint that was applied in 2007 is already deteriorating, especially on the northbound bridge. Todd says the paint manufacturer altered the paint recipe, so it didn't adhere to the bridge as well as it should. He says that manufacturer has been removed from the supplier list. The last painting cost $21 million.