Local News from WIKY

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.

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.

Purdue is studying how autism develops in young children.  Researchers are seeking infants between 6 and 18 months who have an older sibling with autism.  Purdue will observe the children until they are 2 and a half years old, assessing language development, physiological development, and several other developmental areas.  For more information or to enroll a child in the study, call 765-494-6610 or email AJLab@purdue.edu

Concerns over security involving a Pakistani firm convince Gov. Mike Pence to reverse the state's support of a planned fertilizer plant in Posey County. The Daniels administration had committed to backing bonds for the proposed $1.3 billion dollar plant.  Then came national news media reports disclosing that the Fatima group's fertilizers were being used to make bombs that targeted U.S. soldiers. The Pence administration launched a four-month study that concluded with the announcement by Pence that it would not back the bonds needed to finance the plant.