Local News

Evansville police are searching for two males, including one believed to be just 13 years of age, after a pursuit early on Thanksgiving morning. Investigators say the incident began on Salem Court, where the pair were reportedly trying to break into a truck. They fled in a van and were chased until both bailed out and escaped on foot. Police say the van belongs to the 13-year old's parents.  

Evansville Police say two children, ages 8 and 13 face arson charges after a vacant house caught fire at 957 East Blackford, near Kentucky Avenue, and the flames spread to two vacant houses next door. Detectives say the two admitted to lighting paper on fire, starting the blaze shortly after 4 Tuesday afternoon. Fire Investigator Jesse Storey says neighbors saw the boys leaving the house where the fire began, and running down an alley shortly before flames were visible. The fires took almost 90-minutes to tap out, but no one was injured.

The burn ban, which has been in effect in Vanderburgh County since Sept 22nd, is lifted. The decision followed consultation today with the Suburban Firefighters, the Evansville Fire Department and the Evansville EPA. Residents located within the city limits and four miles beyond - but not outside of Vanderburgh County - must contact the Evansville EPA to obtain advance approval for all open burning. Only clean, untreated wood, may be burned, nothing that has ever been painted, treated, stained, glued or laminated. No leaves, tree stumps, or root balls can be burned.

The state's top education official says the latest performance statistics show too many of Indiana's public high schools are failing their students. Some three-quarters are on the bottom two rungs of the state's five-tier ranking system. In Evansville, North is in the next to last, "Academic Watch" catagory. Nearly half are on the lowest level, "Academic Probation," and that includes Central, Harrison, and Reitz. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett considers the results worrisome.

Ways and Means has long been recognized as one of, if not the most powerful Indiana House committee, because it deals with purse strings. And incoming House Speaker Brian Bosma has appointed fellow Republican Suzanne Crouch as vice chair of the committee. Crouch will also serve on the Select Committee on Government Reduction, and the Public Health Committee. Freshman Representative Ron Bacon was also appointed to Public Health, along with Natural Resources, and the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee.

The nation's highest ranking military officer, Joint Chiefs Chairman Mike Mullen, is urging the Senate to move ahead with ratifying a nuclear arms pact with Russia. And so is Republican Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana. He's blasting his party's leadership for foot-dragging on the new START Treaty. Click HERE to see Lugar tell other members of the Senate what's in it for the American people - and others.

A special judge denies the latest appeal of death row offender Roy Lee Ward, and agrees the original sentence should remain intact. Judge Robert Pigman of Vanderburgh County rejected every claim Ward’s defense team raised. State Attorney General Greg Zoeller says victim Stacy Payne was killed "in a horrifically violent manner by an intruder in her own home." Ward stands sentenced to death for the 2001 murder and rape of the 15-year-old Payne in Spencer County.

Indiana's next Speaker of the House wants to change how lawmakers conduct business at the State Capitol Republican. Brian Bosma says it should start with better, more positive communication across the political aisle. Hoosiers will be watching to see how their hired hands conduct business like never before. Microphones and cameras have been installed in all of the hearing rooms. Both committee hearings and floor debates will be visible on the internet. Bosma says the message Hoosiers delivered in the Nov. 2 election is they want government to work better.