Local News from WIKY

Select Specialty Hospital investigated

Submitted by WIKY News on Wed, 06/12/2013 - 10:16am
State officials confirm that a medical facility that was raided in Evansville last year is under the microscope. The Indiana Attorney General's Office tells WIKY and 14 News that it's medicaid fraud unit is conducting an investigation into Select Specialty Hospital. A lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court last year by three former employees. Among their claims was certain patient treatment decisions were made not out of medical necessity but for financial gain. read more

Casino Aztar now Tropicana Evansville

Submitted by WIKY News on Wed, 06/12/2013 - 10:15am
Out with the old, in with the new. Signs are going up around the local casino, re-branding Casino Aztar as Tropicana Evansville. Officials will celebrate the new owner Friday morning with an event that includes showgirls and oversized novelty dice. General Manager Ward Shaw and Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke are expected to toss the big dice, as part of the celebration. There will also be an announcement about the former Stoney's nightclub, which has been sitting vacant.

Heat, humidity, and storms on tap

Submitted by WIKY News on Wed, 06/12/2013 - 10:13am
Today might be a good day to take a dip in the swimming pool. First Alert meteorologist Byron Douglas says Tuesday was the hottest day of the year, so far, with a high of 88. But he says we'll top that today with the mercury reaching the low-to-mid 90s, and the heat index topping 100. Byron says he can't rule out strong storms this afternoon and tonight, especially north of Evansville. The mini-heat wave should end Wednesday, with temperatures about ten degrees cooler.

Second day of testimony complete in capital murder trial

Submitted by WIKY News on Tue, 06/11/2013 - 6:03pm
Another day of testimony in the murder and arson trial of Jeffrey Weisheit is complete. Police who chased Weisheit from a house where Lisa Lynch's children suffered a fiery death say Weisheit threw a knife at law enforcement after they used stop sticks to blow-out the tires on the vehicle. Defense attorney Mike McDaniel said officers tased Weisheit and he suffered brain damage in the confrontation. The prosecution said Weisheit duct taped 5 year old Caleb Lynch. McDaniel submitted that Weisheit was in a depressive state and duct taped Caleb so he could escape.

Murder charges placed in death of S.W. Indiana woman

Submitted by WIKY News on Tue, 06/11/2013 - 5:55pm
Two young men face murder charges in connection with the death of 19-year old Katelyn Wolfe. A Greene County jail officer identifies the suspects as 25-year old Randall Crosley and 26-year old Jordan Buskirk - both from the Jasonville area. Linton Police Chief Troy Terrell says state conservation officers found Wolfe's Monday evening in rural Greene County. Officer say Wolfe was last seen about 2 in the morning Thursday walking near a Dairy Queen in Linton. Her last cellphone or computer activity came about an hour later, and her father reported her missing Thursday night.

Rotarians urged to turn off cell phones before driving vehicles

Submitted by WIKY News on Tue, 06/11/2013 - 5:53pm
A team comprised of St. Mary's Trauma Services experts and a State Police Sgt. are delivering a message that could save your life - turn-off your cell phone before sitting down behind the wheel. They've talked to 23,000 high school students since 2010 and are delivering their message during summer vacation to groups, including Rotary clubs and other service organizations. They're urging adults to always set a good example by turning off the cell phone while driving. Sgt. Todd Ringle said, "no text message or phone conversation is worth fatal injuries."

Scooter Tiemann suffers fatal injuries

Submitted by WIKY News on Tue, 06/11/2013 - 5:49pm
An Evansville man who recently returned from his honeymoon is killed during a business trip in Texas. Scooter Tiemann - about 31 years old - worked for an Evansville oil firm. His mother, known as "T Tiemann," is a former member of the Evansville City Council and his father Robert Tiemann is a prominent local businessman. Friends of the family say Scooter's vehicle was T-boned in an intersection by a teen-age driver.

ISTEP debacle re-opens debate on testing of Hoosier kids

Submitted by WIKY News on Tue, 06/11/2013 - 5:47pm
Legislators are supporting state school superintendent Glenda Ritz‘s hiring of an outside consultant to review the reliability of this year‘s ISTEP exam. But they don‘t share her opposition to the test‘s role in evaluating schools and teachers. Ritz says the computer glitches that disrupted this year‘s ISTEP for 78,000 students prove her longstanding argument that high-stakes tests are a bad idea. But legislators note the federal No Child Left Behind law requires states to base school evaluations on those tests.

Death of inmate a suicide

Submitted by WIKY News on Tue, 06/11/2013 - 11:24am
An autopsy shows the death of a 37-year old Warrick County Jail inmate was a suicide by strangulation. Guards found James Pyott of Evansville unconscious in his cell late Sunday night. Jail and EMS personnel attempted to revive him, but they were not successful. Pyott was being held on a theft charge. He'd been jailed since June 4. 

Arrests made in death of Linton, Indiana woman

Submitted by WIKY News on Tue, 06/11/2013 - 11:19am
Two young men face murder charges in connection with the death of 19-year old Katelyn Wolfe. A Greene County jail officer identifies the suspects as 25-year old Randall Crosley and 26-year old Jordan Buskirk - both from the Jasonville area. Linton Police Chief Troy Terrell says state conservation officers found Wolfe's body Monday evening in rural Greene County. Officers say Wolfe was last seen about 2 in the morning Thursday walking near a Dairy Queen in Linton. Her last cellphone or computer activity came about an hour later, and her father reported her missing Thursday night.