Local News from WIKY

21st Century Scholars forum coming to Evansville

Submitted by WIKY News on Wed, 05/08/2013 - 11:57am
A study by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education finds that slightly more than one in 10 students in 21st Century Scholars program graduate from college on time. That's substantially lower than the rate of college students not in the 21st Century program. In an effort to help school counselors, teachers, parents and students better understand the program's changes, the Indiana Youth Institute is hosting a free forum that includes lunch. It's required of all scholars starting high school this fall.

New steel plant coming to Vanderburgh County

Submitted by WIKY News on Wed, 05/08/2013 - 11:54am
A steel fabrication plant and distribution center will be coming to the Vanderburgh Industrial Park. DSI Underground Systems plans to create 44 new jobs over the next five years with an average wage of $22.50 per hour. Workers will help fabricate raw steel into roof bolts, plates, and other steel products for the mining industry. The plant will also distribute adhesive products, and plans to be in business by the end of the third quarter. read more

Meetings set on government mandate to upgrade Evansville sewers

Submitted by WIKY News on Wed, 05/08/2013 - 10:22am
You'll have the opportunity to question and comment on the proposal to modernize the city of Evansville's aging sewer system, during public meetings next week. The plan, known as Renew Evansville amounts to the city's most expensive capital improvement ever. The Utility Department has until the end of this month to submit ideas for eliminating almost all the overflows from sewers that carry both wastewater and stormwater. The work would be done over 20-years, and yearly hikes in sewer rates foot the bill.

Toyota profits up

Submitted by WIKY News on Wed, 05/08/2013 - 9:51am
There should be a lot of smiles on the faces of Toyota workers in Gibson County and elsewhere. Toyota's quarterly profit more than doubled to $3.2 billion, as cost cuts and better sales worked with a weakening yen to add momentum to the automaker's comeback. Toyota, which last year reclaimed the title of world's top-selling automaker, says it expects the strong results to continue in its new business year that ends next March. It projects a profit of almost $14 billion.

Pence signs school security bill

Submitted by WIKY News on Wed, 05/08/2013 - 9:50am
Governor Mike Pence has signed a bill providing $10 million to heighten security in Indiana schools. Schools will be given up to $50,000 to hire and train school resource officers and purchase new safety technology. The original bill would have required schools to hire an armed officer, but that part of the legislation was dropped. The measure was proposed after the deadly shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Massachusetts.

University Parkway project approved

Submitted by WIKY News on Wed, 05/08/2013 - 9:46am
It's a green light for a planned commercial and residential development along University Parkway. read more

Missing teen OK

Submitted by WIKY News on Tue, 05/07/2013 - 5:17pm
The search has ended for a 14-year old who hadn't been seen since last Friday. Warrick County Sheriff's Department say Seth Legue was found safe. The Castle High School student was reported by his family as missing on Sunday.

State tourism official talks-up Evansville as an "incredible river city"

Submitted by WIKY News on Tue, 05/07/2013 - 5:07pm
The head of tourism in Indiana comes to Evansville to help celebrate National Tourism Week. Mark Newman told a news conference on the roof of the Pagoda that Evansville is an "incredible river city." He says his best advice to local residents would be to "wait with excitement, as I-69 comes to fruition." Newman also stressed the importance of investing in tourism. The Convention and Visitors Bureau also showed-off the renovated lower level of the Pagoda, which serves as its offices.

North students learn of texting and driving dangers

Submitted by WIKY News on Tue, 05/07/2013 - 4:58pm
New figures show that across the U.S. texting while driving increases the odds of a traffic crash by some 23%.  During an event at North High School Tuesday morning students had the opportunity to use a special driving simulator. They were seated in a car, connected to sensors that enabled the driver to use the steering wheel and pedals to navigate a road course, while wearing virtual reality goggles. Students Andrew Pfender, Tyler Melton, and Cody Adler enjoyed it. Students were urged to go to the website itcanwait.com and take a pledge to not text while driving.

Local students to gain from foundation grants

Submitted by WIKY News on Tue, 05/07/2013 - 4:55pm
When the new school year begins, some 4,500 students will take-part in special projects funded by the Evansville Rotary Foundation, the Evansville Education Foundation and the Love Foundation. Thirty-six grants were announced by the foundations for public and Catholic School classrooms. The projects range from an interactive unit on the Titanic, to environmental projects to development of Bluebird Trail at North Jr. High School. The foundations pumped $32,000 into the projects.