Local News from WIKY

Redevelopment Commission approves another downtown hotel study

Submitted by WIKY News on Wed, 02/22/2012 - 6:22pm
The Evansville Redevelopment Commission votes 3-2 in a packed room to approve a feasibility study on a downtown hotel. It will look at how how many rooms and the cost to the city for the proposed hotel. The commission is hiring Hunden Strategic Partners for the analysis. The Kunkel group told the commission it's ready now to build the hotel, and the decision for a new study of current market conditions may cause it to pass on the project.

Arrested for obtaining Vicodin by fraud

Submitted by WIKY News on Wed, 02/22/2012 - 6:20pm
A former office manager and dental assistant are free on bond, after their arrest for obtaining a controlled substance by fraud. State Police say that 40-year old Tracy Dickens and 36-year old Amy Kippenbrock, both of Evansville obtained hydrocodone, know commercially as Vicodin while employed at an Evansville dentist office in 2009. Investigators say Dickens called in fraudulent prescriptions and claimed to have been authorized to do so by the dentist. read more

Holiday World may be close to running Kentucky Kingdom

Submitted by WIKY News on Wed, 02/22/2012 - 6:17pm
The owners of Holiday World and Splashin Safari hope to take another step toward re-opening Louisville’s amusement and water park next year. The Kentucky State Fair Board will consider a proposed lease agreement for what was known as Kentucky Kingdom, with the Koch family Thursday afternoon. Four members of the family formed a new firm known as Bluegrass Boardwalk to negotiate the agreement, secure financing, and apply for economic development incentives. read more

Evansville home damaged by fire

Submitted by WIKY News on Wed, 02/22/2012 - 6:14pm
A house on Evansville's near west side is damaged by fire. District Chief Amy Smith says a neighbor reported smoke coming from the rear of a home at 2126 Delaware, near 11th Avenue shortly after one Wednesday afternoon. Smith says no one was at home at the time, but a pet cat was killed in the blaze. Smith says damage on both floors is moderate, but was confined to the interior of the house. An investigator is trying to determine the cause. 

Fire levels pole barn

Submitted by WIKY News on Wed, 02/22/2012 - 7:18am
A two-alarm fire destroys a barn in northern Vanderburgh County. Scott Township, German Township, and McMutchanville firefighters were called to the big pole barn behind a house in the 4300 block of Bromm Road at about 5:45 Wednesday morning. Flames from the blaze could seen from Boonville-New Harmony Road, State Road 65, and North St. Joe Avenue. Firefighters kept the fire from spreading to two nearby fuel tanks, and there's no word of any injuries. The nearby house was not damaged. There no word on how the fire started.

Police chase ends in crash

Submitted by WIKY News on Wed, 02/22/2012 - 5:38am
A car is stolen from a west side parking lot, starting a police pursuit that quickly ends in a crash. An officer spotted the car just before 1:00 Wednes morning on Rosenberger near the Lloyd. The officer pursued the suspect vehicle south on Rosenberger to Bosse Avenue. The stolen car crashed a short time later, and police took the suspect into custody. Nobody was injured. The suspect faces numerous preliminary charges, including possession of marijuana.

Bucshon is in

Submitted by WIKY News on Wed, 02/22/2012 - 5:36am
8th District Congressman Larry Bucshon makes it official. He launched his re-election bid in Terre Haute Tuesday. He'll hold a rally at GOP Headquarters in Evansville at 12:30 Wednesday afternoon. read more

Almost time for ISTEP Plus tests

Submitted by WIKY News on Tue, 02/21/2012 - 9:43pm
The state's measuring stick for schools, the ISTEP Plus test begins within the next two weeks for Evansville-Vanderburgh students in grades 3-8. During Tuesday night's school board meeting, Superintendent David Smith said that for the first time, scores will be analyzed for growth. So, even if a student did not pass the test in the past, the growth they can display is important. When last year's scores were released, almost all grade levels showed an increase in the English/Language Arts and Math sections.

Cheers rock Ft. Campbell hanger as rest of 101st returns home

Submitted by WIKY News on Tue, 02/21/2012 - 4:41pm
Fort Campbell celebrates its final big troop return. And this one was especially sweet. It marks the first time in two years that all members of the 101st are back on U.S. soil. A big hanger at the fort erupted in deafening applause as the plane carrying the 186 members of the 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, and the brigade colors, returned from Afghanistan. A sea of small American flags and "welcome home" signs were the first things the troops saw as they got off the plane. Task Force Thunder had been providing medical, combat and logistics support to U.S. troops since January of 2010.

Minor earthquake causes a little damage

Submitted by WIKY News on Tue, 02/21/2012 - 4:39pm
As earthquakes go, it wasn't a "biggie." But it was enough to fray some nerves and rattle residents out of bed at about 4 this morning. The U.S. Geological Servey says the 4.O magnitude earthquake was centered near the Illinois-Missouri border, 16 miles southwest of Cairo. It originated about 3 miles underground. Little damage was reported. The temblor hit just two weeks after the Great Shake Out, a nationwide earthquake drill marking the 200th anniversary of the huge New Madrid earthquake of 1812. The drill was designed to convince Americans to get ready for the next big one.