Local News from WIKY

Guard with broken leg lifts spirits of Cardinals Final Four team

Injured Louisville guard Kevin Ware is cleared for travel to the Final Four on crutches. Ware says the overwhelming support he has received has helped him maintain his spirits and strengthened his confidence of a full recovery. The normally reserved 20-year-old says he doesn't think Louisville would be in the Final Four if he had lost composure while suffering a devastating injury. Coach Rick Pitino says having Ware in Atlanta might provide the Cardinals with a little "extra emotion," but in his experience the "the team that executes the best will win."

Henderson bank robbed

Kentucky State and Henderson Police are trying to find the man who robbed the downtown branch of 5/3 Bank on Second Street in Henderson Wednesday afternoon. Investigators say the man handed the teller a note saying he had a weapon and demanding money. After he got cash, he ran away. He's described as white, in his 40's with a camouflage cap, short brown hair and a brown jacket. A State Police K-9 unit was close by when the bank was robbed and is part of the search. Nobody was injured.

Federal grant to help fight substance abuse and child abuse

Kentucky Governor Beshear says a $2.5 million grant will help families with substance and child abuse and neglect disorders in Daviess County. The 5-year Health and Human Services' Grant will support the Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Teams, or START program. It's aimed at helping families at risk of child removal, by assisting parents in overcoming their addictions. Beshear says the funds should be enough to support comprehensive services for 130 families.

Fire destroys Warrick Co. home

The Red Cross is helping members of a Warrick County family who lost their home to fire. Firefighters responded to the call at 800 E. Meyers Road, near Boonville, at about 9:30 Tuesday morning and found smoke and flames coming from every door and window. No one was injured in the fire, and there's no word on what caused it.

Bill to atttract gun makers approved

A resolution that tries to attract small arms manufacturers to Indiana has passed the Indiana House. A Senate Committee has passed an almost identical resolution. The measures tout the state’s tax climate and gun rights laws. The House resolution also directs the chamber’s clerk to a copy of the resolution to vendors and businesses that deal and manufacture small arms. The Senate resolution gives that duty to the Senate secretary. Senator Jim Tomes of Wadesville authored the Senate measure.

Bill calls for guns in schools

An Indiana House Committee has approved a bill that would require every public school in the state to have an armed and trained officer or staff member on site. The House Education Committee added the provision to Senate Bill 1, legislation backed by Attorney General Greg Zoeller that was originally intended to give schools grants to encourage more schools to hire school resource officers. Those officers – who can be the people designated by the school to carry a gun – must undergo law enforcement training and specialized training for schools.

Redevelopment commissioner indicted

A member of Evansville's Redevelopment Commission is free on bond, after being indicted by a federal grand jury. 48-year-old Jay Carter faces 9 counts in connection with a money laundering scheme that brought hundreds of pounds of pot to the Evansville area. U.S. Attorney Joe Hogsett calls it "troubling" that the charges have been filed against a man who holds a position in the "public trust." The Evansville City Council appointed Carter to the Redevelopment Commission in January 2011. read more

Local official indicted

U.S. Attorney Joseph Hogsett comes to Evansville today to announce the indictment of an Evansville public official. Federal agents and prosecutors will join Hogsett at a news conference this afternoon at the Federal Building. Hogsett says the indictment comes at a time that he is redoubling efforts to combat public corruption through he launch of the state's first federal public integrity working group.

Deal may be near on Medicaid expansion

A house committee has added its endorsement to an expansion of Medicaid, as long as it‘s on Indiana‘s terms. But it‘ll take negotiations with the Senate to finalize the bill. House and Senate Republicans have backed Governor Pence in tying Medicaid expansion under the federal health care law to receiving government permission to do it under the state‘s Healthy Indiana Plan. The House Public Health Committee tacked on an escape hatch, declaring the state can terminate any expansion if the government breaks its funding promises.

Duke warns of debit card scam

Authorities have a warning for customers of Duke Energy. If you recieve an unsolicited phone call saying your electricity will be disconnected you unless you make an immediate debit card payment, don't do it. It's a scam. The caller tells the customer to buy a prepaid debit card and call back with the card's receipt and PIN numbers. The caller then has access to the money loaded on the card. Duke Energy says it never asks past due customers to but a prepaid card. If you get this sort of call, hang up and notify police.