Local News from WIKY

Police warn they're looking for careless and aggressive drivers

Submitted by WIKY News on Fri, 05/24/2013 - 4:23pm
Indiana State Police, as well as city and county authorities across the state, are increasing road patrols. The Click It or Ticket campaign is in high gear. Indiana has 96% compliance with the seatbelt law, but many would like to see that figure increase. Last year, Indiana police wrote more than 18,000 tickets to drivers who weren‘t wearing seatbelts. Another program, that targets agressive driving runs for a few more weeks. read more

Highway 61 Bypass at Boonville on "fast track"

Submitted by WIKY News on Fri, 05/24/2013 - 4:20pm
The long-sought Highway 61 bypass around Boonville is being moved from the decidedly slow track to the fast track by INDOT. INDOT official Troy Woodruff says bids will be taken on the project in December of 2014 and work should begin in spring of 2015. Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann says the work should be complete by the end of 2016. The officials thanked Alcoa for donating right-of-way along Highway 61 near their Warrick County smelter. Legislators and Boonville officials who want heavy truck traffic out of the downtown applauded the announcement.

Safer Route to School program to step forward

Submitted by WIKY News on Fri, 05/24/2013 - 4:17pm
It's a project that has been years in the making. Work to provide students with a safer walk to Newburgh Elementary School will begin in the late summer of next year. Town Manager Lori Buehlman says INDOT has given its blessing to the expenditure of a quarter million dollars in federal funds that's been held by the town for the work. Buehlman says the sidewalks are along Jennings and State Streets.

Vectren union members ratify contract

Submitted by WIKY News on Fri, 05/24/2013 - 11:38am
Vectren and IBEW Local 702 have a deal. Members of the union have voted to ratify a new three-year labor agreement. The 300 employee-union members serve natural gas and electric customers in southwestern Indiana. The contract replaces one due to expire on June 30th.  Company executive Bill Doty says the willingness of both parties to come to the table and finalize a contract shows Vectren's commitment to maintain a productive work partnership and continue to reliably and safely serve its customers.

Coroner says Jessica Tice died from wounds to head and arm

Submitted by WIKY News on Thu, 05/23/2013 - 5:06pm
The Gibson County Coroner's office releases the name of the mother who was shot to death outside a resaurant after celebrating her son's graduation from middle school. She was Jessica Tice. An autopsy determined Tice was shot twice - once in the side of the head and once in an arm. 31-year old Jason Perry of Princeton is being held without bond facing a charge of murder. The shooting happened at about noon Wednesday. The couple's 13-year old son had just graduated from middle school, and was with his mom at the time.

Man jailed in connection with life threatening injuries to baby

Submitted by WIKY News on Thu, 05/23/2013 - 2:45pm
A Henderson man is arrested after his 7-month old son is admitted to Saint Mary's Medical Center, for treatment of what police say are life-threatening injuries. James Andrew Blackston was jailed on a 1st Degree Assault Charge. Henderson investigators say they believe Blackston's actions caused the injuries to the infant. The child has since been transferred to Kosair Children's Hospital in Louisville, where his condition is not being released.

St. Mary's to restructure and cut jobs

Submitted by WIKY News on Thu, 05/23/2013 - 1:52pm
Changes are coming to St. Mary's Medical Center and the restructuring will result in a reduction in employed and contracted associates across the system. President and CEO Tim Flesch announced the restructuring Thursday afternoon. He says it will begin July 1st. He did not say how many persons would be released. Flesch says changes in the healthcare industry have put providers across the country under increasing economic and competitive pressure. He cites decreasing reimbursement and the Affordable Care Act's mandated reduction in payments as challenges that hospitals are facing.

Three new businesses to open downtown

Submitted by WIKY News on Thu, 05/23/2013 - 9:29am
Two downstairs bars and a hibachi restaurant are planning to open in downtown Evansville. One of the bars, The Vault, has applied for a liquor license at the old Little Cheers location. The other bar, called Babel, plans to open in another below-street location in the 300 block of Main Street. And Zuki, a hibachi restaurant with one location on Green River Road, is opening a second location in the old Fitness Zone building on Main.

Evv man facing child porn charges

Submitted by WIKY News on Thu, 05/23/2013 - 9:28am
State Police arrest an Evansville man accused of possessing and sharing images of child pornography. Troopers and detectives from the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force arrested 46-year-old Jonathan Henderson after executing a search warrant at his apartment in the 5000 block of East Sycamore. Henderson faces one count of Child Exploitation and five counts of Possession of Child Porn.

Water line break creates gusher

Submitted by WIKY News on Thu, 05/23/2013 - 9:27am
It looked like a geyser in northern Vanderburgh County. Crews responded to a large water line break at the intersection of Oak Hill and Millersburg roads Wednesday night. They found water shooting into the air, going over the nearby Church of the Harvest. No word on whether a boil advisory will be issued.