Local News from WIKY

Gibbs on the grow

Good paying jobs .... some 160 of them .... are coming to Henderson through a $23-million expansion of Gibbs Die Casting. The Henderson Gibbs facility employs more than 560 people. Kentucky encouraged the project with tax incentives of up to $3 million through the Kentucky Business Investment program. Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear joined local and company officials to make the announcement at the plant, owned by Koch Enterprises of Evansville. read more

Ivy Tech looking for tuition hike

Ivy Tech Community College is considering an increase in tuition for the next two years. The college system is considering a $20 increase per credit hour. The increase equates to 4.5 percent for the fall of 2013 and 4.3 percent for 2014.

Boil advisory issued for Evansville's Westside

A boil water advisory is issued... It invovles German Township Water District customers in Vanderburgh County on Bender Rd. north of Boonville New Harmony Rd. It also includes customers on Sensmeier Rd. east to St. Joseph Ave., and both Steinkuhl Ln. and Patdora Dr. A broken water main has been repaired but the temporary precautionary measure is recommended because the water pressure dropped below the required pressure for about two hours during repair work. WIKY News will let you know when the advisory has been lifted.

Evansville community pride to be on display

A number of downtown events will incorporate the "We Are Evansville" theme. Friday is a community pride day, the "Evening on the River" is that night, and a "Clean Evansville" pick-up Saturday morning will be folowed by a community photo and video shoot, that can later be viewed on YouTube. Pam Hight of the Parks Foundation teaches at USI, and that's where her class initiated the "We Are Evansville" campaign. She says the shoot starts at 11 a.m. read more

Sen. Rand Paul coming to Henderson

A rising star in the Republican party comes to Henderson July 1st to speak to a joint meeting of the chamber of commerce, the Henderson Breakfast Lions Club and the Henderson Lions Club. Kentucky Senator Rand Paul will keynote the gathering at the Henderson Fine Arts Center. His local speech will provide a break in his schedule of talking to voters in other state's -- including Iowa -- an early-voting state. Paul has made it clear he'd like to be president

Bradford appeal denied

The Indiana Court of Appeals agrees with a Vanderburgh County trial court's denial of an appeal by former Evansville Police Officer Patrick Bradford. Lawyers presented their cases in March at Indianapolis, and disagreed on whether Bradford received a strong defense at his trial. His attorney Hope Fey also said new scientific evidence raised questions about the timing of a fire in civilian jailer Tammy Lohr's home in 1992. Bradford was convicted of murder and arson for stabbing Lohr to death and setting the fire.

Fireworks store blaze destroys Dale building

A fire that started in a fireworks store destroys a building in Dale. It broke out at about 6:00 Tuesday night in the building on Washington Street in the Spencer County town. Fire Chief Can Reinke says when firefighters arrived, the entire building was engulfed in flames, and fireworks were flying. He says firefighters and spectators had to be moved back. Officials say everyone got out of the store and three apartments on the top floor of the building.

Fire damages mobile home

An electrical problem is blamed for a fire that severely damaged a trailer in Eastbrook Mobile Home Park Tuesday. Evansville firefighters put out the flames and an investigator determined that an electrical issue led to the blaze. The residents were not home when the fire started and no other homes were damaged. The Red Cross is providing temporary lodging for the residents.

Robert Hicks, 56, given 55 years in prison

An Evansville man convicted of murdering his former girlfriend is sentenced to 55 years in prison. 56-year old Robert Hicks was found guilty of stabbing Anna Jochem about 50 times last July. The coroner's office ruled she died from a blow to the head with a block of wood. Vanderburgh County Prosecutor Nicholas Hermann argued for an extended sentence due to the brutal nature of the crime. Circuit Court Judge David Kiely agreed - rejecting an argument for leniency that was based on Hicks' lack of a previous criminal record

Completion of I-69 may still be a hot topic in 2020 and beyond

Near the end of June, Indiana will make the first deposit into a newly established trust fund, to pave the way for the state‘s next big round of highway-building. INDOT says 2020 is too far away to speculate on what projects may be built. But Indiana Motor Truck Association president Gary Langston says completing I-69 is one big need. read more