Local News from WIKY

Toyota profits up

Submitted by WIKY News on Wed, 05/08/2013 - 9:51am

There should be a lot of smiles on the faces of Toyota workers in Gibson County and elsewhere. Toyota's quarterly profit more than doubled to $3.2 billion, as cost cuts and better sales worked with a weakening yen to add momentum to the automaker's comeback. Toyota, which last year reclaimed the title of world's top-selling automaker, says it expects the strong results to continue in its new business year that ends next March. It projects a profit of almost $14 billion.

Pence signs school security bill

Submitted by WIKY News on Wed, 05/08/2013 - 9:50am

Governor Mike Pence has signed a bill providing $10 million to heighten security in Indiana schools. Schools will be given up to $50,000 to hire and train school resource officers and purchase new safety technology. The original bill would have required schools to hire an armed officer, but that part of the legislation was dropped. The measure was proposed after the deadly shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Massachusetts.

University Parkway project approved

Submitted by WIKY News on Wed, 05/08/2013 - 9:46am

It's a green light for a planned commercial and residential development along University Parkway. read more

Missing teen OK

Submitted by WIKY News on Tue, 05/07/2013 - 5:17pm

The search has ended for a 14-year old who hadn't been seen since last Friday. Warrick County Sheriff's Department say Seth Legue was found safe. The Castle High School student was reported by his family as missing on Sunday.

State tourism official talks-up Evansville as an "incredible river city"

Submitted by WIKY News on Tue, 05/07/2013 - 5:07pm

The head of tourism in Indiana comes to Evansville to help celebrate National Tourism Week. Mark Newman told a news conference on the roof of the Pagoda that Evansville is an "incredible river city." He says his best advice to local residents would be to "wait with excitement, as I-69 comes to fruition." Newman also stressed the importance of investing in tourism. The Convention and Visitors Bureau also showed-off the renovated lower level of the Pagoda, which serves as its offices.

North students learn of texting and driving dangers

Submitted by WIKY News on Tue, 05/07/2013 - 4:58pm

New figures show that across the U.S. texting while driving increases the odds of a traffic crash by some 23%. During an event at North High School Tuesday morning students had the opportunity to use a special driving simulator. They were seated in a car, connected to sensors that enabled the driver to use the steering wheel and pedals to navigate a road course, while wearing virtual reality goggles. Students Andrew Pfender, Tyler Melton, and Cody Adler enjoyed it. Students were urged to go to the website itcanwait.com and take a pledge to not text while driving.

Local students to gain from foundation grants

Submitted by WIKY News on Tue, 05/07/2013 - 4:55pm

When the new school year begins, some 4,500 students will take-part in special projects funded by the Evansville Rotary Foundation, the Evansville Education Foundation and the Love Foundation. Thirty-six grants were announced by the foundations for public and Catholic School classrooms. The projects range from an interactive unit on the Titanic, to environmental projects to development of Bluebird Trail at North Jr. High School. The foundations pumped $32,000 into the projects.

Sharon Randall to speak and raise money for TOUCH

Submitted by WIKY News on Tue, 05/07/2013 - 4:54pm

Award-winning writer and syndicated newspaper columnist Sharon Randall will speak on “The Art of Living and Laughing: Things I’ve Learned from Those I’ve Loved." Tickets for the speech this Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. at the Harrison High School Auditorium are available online at TouchIndiana.org or at the door. The event will benefit TOUCH, a not-for-profit organization formed to provide non-medical financial assistance to cancer patients. Saturday’s audience also may participate in a live auction for a 7:30 p.m. dinner with Randall.

Judge to decide Patriot Coal case

Submitted by WIKY News on Tue, 05/07/2013 - 10:11am

Patriot Coal's push to cut thousands of retirees' health care and pension benefits is in the hands of a judge. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Kathy Surratt-States has until May 29 to rule for either Patriot or the United Mine Workers union, following a hearing last week. The company, which is a spin-off of Peabody Energy, filed for Chapter 11 protection last summer. CEO Bennett Hatfield has called the cuts necessary for Patriot's survival and the preservation of more than 4,000 jobs, many of them in Kentucky.

New lanes planned for accident-prone intersection

Submitted by WIKY News on Tue, 05/07/2013 - 10:09am

The intersection of Washington and Weinbach has become a frequent site of traffic accidents, 71 of them since 2011. So, the city of Evansville plans to add dedicated left-turn lanes on Washington next year, with help from the feds. The number of crashes helped Evansville secure federal funding to pay for most of the planned upgrade. Ninety percent of the estimated $1.1 million cost will be from the Highway Safety Improvement Program, with the rest coming from the city budget.