Local News from WIKY

Indiana Legislators have reached a deal on a new state budget which gives Governor Pence half the tax cut he asked for. The House and Senate will vote Friday on a deal which includes a five-percent tax cut, phased in over four years. Your tax rate would go down one tenth of a point on your return for 2015, then dip to a final rate of three-point-two-three percent two years later.  Senate Appropriations Chairman Luke Kenley says the delay gives the state time to monitor its revenues and spending and gain confidence that the cut is affordable.

Indiana‘s oldest city is preparing for rising waters from the Wabash River. Flood gates are being installed in Vincennes and sandbags will be placed around the Knox County city. Heavy rains that fell last week have pushed the Wabash well over flood stage. The National Weather Service says the river is projected to crest in Vincennes on Saturday at about 27 feet. That‘s almost 12 feet above flood stage.

A former officer of the Order of the Eastern Star is given a three year prison sentence and is told she must pay the Eastern Star $290,000. 37-year old Susan Hilgeman of Newburgh had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit theft and forgery. Circuit Judge David Kiely could have sentenced Hilgeman to up to eight years in prison. Hilgeman's mother, 80-year old Marilee Garrison, is be tried July 18th on a charge of conspiracy to commit theft. They were officers of the organization associated with Freemasons. They're accused of embezzling $290,000.

Arbor Day is celebrated in Evansville, with Mayor Winnecke recognizing the contributions trees make to our environment. He used a proclamation at a downtown Keep Evansville Beautiful celebration to convey that trees need to be well-planned and nurtured. This is the 13th year that Evansville has received a Growth Award from Tree City USA. Last year the city accounted for more than 20,000 trees.