Local News from WIKY

Judge to decide Patriot Coal case

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

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.

Lincoln dropping year-round calender

Lincoln School is returning to a traditional calender, after 17 years of year-round school. The Evansville Vanderburgh School Board approved the change Monday night. EVSC Superintendent David Smith says when Lincoln switched its calendar in 1996, the 21st Century Summer Learning opportunities weren’t available. They provide after-school and summer activities for students to help them stay engaged academically through the summer. Lincoln’s June intersession will still take place from June 10th to the 21st.

Former Perry County school official arrested in Shreveport, LA

Former Cannelton School Superintendent Marion "Al" Chapman will likely come back to Indiana to face federal charges. State Police say he was arrested by the U.S. Marshal's Service working at a car dealership in Shreveport, Louisiana. Indiana Attorney Greg Zoeller filed a civil suit against Chapman nine months ago, saying he overpaid himself more than $200,000, stopped paying the school district's federal taxes and misspent $300,000 from a trust. Zoeller is trying to recoup the funds.

Springing Into Caring food drive in high gear

This is the week of the "Springing into Caring" food drive. It has two goals - to make people more aware of the need to collect food to feed the hungry people - and then to get the job done. The United Way of Southwestern Indiana and the National Letter Carriers Union are spearheading the effort. And Mary Blair of the Tri-State Food Bank is thankful. She says that during a time when the demand for food is higher, donations have been considerably lower. The event culminates Saturday when letter carriers will collect bags and boxes of food that people will leave at their mail boxes.

New info released on Walmart shooting

Police release new information on what happened before 30-year-old Travon Burns was shot in the lower back as he tried to flee into the Walmart at Burkhardt and the Lloyd in Evansville. Officers say Burns was alert when they arrived, and told them he was trying to get away from two men in another car. He's being treated at Deaconess. A woman in Burns' car said they had been cut off while on the Lloyd, before both vehicles got to the parking lot. read more

Internet shoppers may all pay state sales taxes

Internet shoppers could be a step closer to paying sales taxes on items purchased online. The Senate is expected to vote in favor of a bill that will require all online retailers to collect sales taxes for the states where they ship goods. Indiana's Joe Donnelly says he'll vote for it. The legislation still needs to pass the House before it can become a law. read more

Former Gov. Otis Bowen dies

Governor Mike Pence is directing flags at state facilities statewide be flown at half-staff to honor former Governor Otis "Doc" Bowen. He died over the weekend at 95. The former small town doctor served two terms as governor, from 1973 to 1981. President Reagan chose Bowen to head-up the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 1985, as the Reagan administration faced criticism over its response to the AIDS epidemic. Bowen addressed the issue squarely and the criticism subsided. read more

Van hits house; Occupants safe

A van crashes into a house on Evansville's West Side, and the driver is arrested for drunken driving. The Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office says 53-year-old Larry Joe Sanders of Evansville lost control of the van on a curve, and crashed into the home of Keith Vonderahe at 2814 Harmony Way  Sunday afternoon. Investigators say the van slammed into a bedroom shared by Vonderahe's two young daughters, but luckily, nobody was in the room. Members of the family had just returned home before the crash.

Man shot outside Walmart; Suspect arrested

One man is in the hospital and another is in jail after a shooting outside the East Side Walmart. Evansville Police say a dispute between the occupants of two vehicles on the Lloyd led to the gunfire just before 9:00 Sunday night. Spokesman Jason Cullum says 30-year-old Travon Burns got out of his car and was heading toward the door of Walmart when somebody in the other car got out and shot him in the back. Police later arrested 24-year-old Isaiah Green at an apartment in the Arbors at Eastland. He faces preliminary charges of attempted murder and criminal recklessness.