Local News

A vehicle hit a gas main near the intersection of State Road 64 and Top Hat Road in Gibson County during the weekend. Roads in that area were blocked for hours as Vectren worked to stop the gas leak. No one was injured in the crash. The driver, Tina Hill, says she ran away from the vehicle as she called 911 because she smelled gas. She says she ran before she even looked at the damage. Crews fixed the leak and police reopened all roads in that area.

Fire has destroyed a western Kentucky fire department's headquarters. The blaze broke out Saturday night at the Dundee Volunteer Fire Department building in Ohio County. Fire chief Danny Pogue says firefighters were helpless, because their equipment was inside. Nearby fire agencies did help. They put out the fire but the building was a total loss. Pogue says an electrical problem may have started the fire. He says a truck was plugged into a wall outlet to charge equipment like flashlights and cameras.

December is the deadline for Indiana University to choose a location in Evansville for its new regional academic health science and research campus. The current IU two-year program is at University of Southern Indiana, and the new program will expand to four years plus residency opportunities. Possible locations include Downtown, USI, and the area along the Lloyd and Interstate 164.

The general manager of Tropicana Evansville says it's spent more than $19 million dollars, upgrading it's big facility since emerging from bankruptcy in 2010. During a Friday news conference called to celebrate the name change from Casino Aztar, Shaw told a large crowd in it's remodeled main hotel lobby that the spending continues in 2013. This fall, Shaw says a "Boogie Nights" franchise will open in the former Stoney's night club space. It's billed as "the ultimate 70's and 80's dance club. A new bar and grill, called "The Sports Book" will also be opening.

If you're craving Shyler's Barbecue, you'll have to wait at least another six months. Fire damaged the restaurant on Green River Road in December, and owner J.B. Simmons says he's still waiting for a settlement with his insurance company. Simmons says he's planning a major renovation of the restaurant. Shyler's filed for bankruptcy in 2011.

Former Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel says that City Councilman John Friend's "focus" has brought all progress in Evansville to a grinding halt. Weinzapfel sent a letter to media outlets that's aimed at setting the record straight and warning that without "positive" leaders, the city will "descend into mediocrity." Weinzapfel sharply disagrees with Councilman Friend's assertion that the Winnecke Administration "inherited a mess" regarding city finances. Weinzapfel says the combined cash balances and general fund increased 180 percent during his eight years as mayor.

Governor Pence has replaced four members of the State Board of Education. Six of the 11 board seats were up for reappointment. Pence kept two Mitch Daniels appointees but replaced four others with his own. One of the board‘s first tasks will be to reassess whether Indiana should withdraw from the Common Core curriculum standards. Pence says he didn‘t look for members on one side of that issue or the other.

Indiana Conservation Officers will join a national campaign aimed at creating heightened public awareness of the dangers of boating under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Operation Dry Water is scheduled for June 28-30, just before the Fourth of July. It's a nationwide education and enforcement initiative developed by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard. The annual campaign has shown success since it was launched in 2009.

A major sewer and road widening project is underway in Evansville. Crews have closed Oak Hill Road to through traffic between Pigeon Creek and Lake Drive until October 25th for phase one of the project. The work will eventually move farther north, all the way to Lynch Road. The project will eventually expand Oak Hill to three lanes from the creek to Lynch, with bicycle paths on each side. The project will cost $4.9 million, with 80 percent coming from the federal government.

Mayor Lloyd Winnecke says “Summer of Swimming” will be the focus of the Energize Evansville monthly “Fitness in the Park” program during June, July and August. The first in a series of three free pool exercise sessions is this Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. at Hartke Pool, featuring water Aerobics with YMCA Instructors. Participants may join any of the four, 30 minute segments. They'll be on water aerobics, Latin dance, aqua boot camp and shallow-and-deep water cool downs. All fitness levels are invited, and participants can go at their own pace.