Evansville Courier & Press (2007-Current)

Aztar Hearing Possibly Shuffled Gaming Commission May Wait for Buyer

Now that Columbia Sussex has announced it intends to sell Casino Aztar in Evansville, the Indiana Gaming Commission's investigation into a complaint about Columbia's layoffs may shift to a review of the finances of any potential buyer, a gaming official said Tuesday. The seven-member Gaming Commission was scheduled to hear a report by gaming agents in March about approximately 100 layoffs at the Evansville riverboat since Columbia Sussex bought Aztar Corp. last year.

Energy Measure Getting Mileage Bush to Sign Fuel Efficiency Bill

WASHINGTON - It was in response to the early 1970s energy crisis and gasoline lines that Congress in 1975 directed automakers to improve the fuel efficiency of their cars. That wouldn't happen again for more than three decades - not until Tuesday.

Land of Lincoln Ind. Officials Support Gibson County Artist's Depiction [Corrected 12/21/07]

A Gibson County artist's montage depiction of Abraham Lincoln's life will receive a high-profile boost today when it is unveiled in Indianapolis. Suellen Reed, state superintendent of public instruction, will present a canvas print of Thomas Kennedy's painting in her capitol office at 1:15 p.m. EST as part of a literacy campaign promoting reading about the 16th president.

Central Locations Preparing for Student Shifts

Lincoln Elementary School is open to change, but one unique component should stay as is, Principal Kim Johnson said. The Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corp. strategic agenda calls for K-8 framework at Lincoln, which for 11 years has been the only EVSC school on an alternate, year-round calendar.

Mitchell Report Should Cut From the Head Down

In preparing the recently released Mitchell Report detailing the prevalent use of illegal, performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball, independent investigators pored through more than 100,000 pages of documents, interviewed more than 700 witnesses and, ultimately, issued an encyclopedia-sized report of more than 400 pages. And yet, despite the intensity and the breadth of the investigation, the report seems to have done little but confirm what we all already knew: Steroid use - che...

Reunion After 26 Years Woman Greets Her Birth Mother in Emotional Meeting at Airport

It was a moment Tara Nelson had waited for. Standing just outside the gate Tuesday evening in Evansville Regional Airport, an emotional Nelson embraced the birth mother she never knew for the first time since Nelson was given up for adoption more than 26 years ago.

County Eyes Suit of Jail Design Firm

Vanderburgh County may sue the main design firm for its 2-year- old, $35 million jail, seeking six-figure compensation for mistakes it says the firm made - and corrected at the county's expense - while the facility was being built. The County Commissioners voted Tuesday to initiate mediation with United Consulting Engineers & Architects of Indianapolis, alleging the company corrected its design errors and omissions with money from a contingency fund intended for other purposes.

'You Took My Baby,' Mother Cries Emotions High As Slaying Suspect Appears in Court

BOONVILLE, Ind. - Emotion ran high Tuesday as a Dale, Ind., man accused of killing a pregnant woman made an initial appearance in court before an audience made up of his and the victim's families. Preston J. Taylor, 25, is charged with murder and feticide in the death of 22-year-old Brooke Balbach, who was four months pregnant. Her body was discovered Friday in her home in northeastern Warrick County, about a mile southeast of Selvin, Ind.

Adviser Offers Stadium Options Board Briefed On Early Findings

While a recommendation on the future of Roberts Stadium is still at least two months away, a consultant hired to study the facility said Tuesday that building a new stadium is an alternative that should be considered. The cost of building a new stadium versus renovating the current one, while millions of dollars apart, is close enough to merit a serious look at making a new investment, said Tom Chema of Gateway Consultants of Cleveland. Chema gave the Roberts Stadium Advisory Board an update ...

Indiana Meets Nine of 10 Preparedness Goals, Finds Trust Report

INDIANAPOLIS - A national report found that Indiana has met nine of 10 goals for preparing the state for an influenza pandemic, bioterrorism attack or other disaster. The Trust for America's Health found in its "Ready or Not?" report that Indiana had adequate plans to distribute antiviral vaccines and medical supplies from the Strategic National Stockpile, and had met eight other key criteria.

Stilwell Calls Water Project Tax 'Tough Sell'

Gaining approval from the Indiana General Assembly for a special amusement park tax on visitors to Holiday World & Splashin' Safari to help pay for a $10 million project to upgrade water service for Santa Claus likely would be difficult. That was the message Rep. Russ Stilwell, D-Boonville, delivered to members of the Santa Claus Entertainment Tax committee on Monday.

Officer Describes Stabbing Scene

The first officer to arrive at Room 133 of the Econo Lodge on North Fares Avenue on Oct. 3, 2006, told jurors on Tuesday he found the defendant standing in the room with blood on him, the victim already dead near a pool of blood on the floor. Jason Wells, 28, is charged with murder in the stabbing death of John Carter, 62, at the motel where the two worked.

Briefs

Evansville Ohio flooding expected to recede by weekend

Ivy Tech Expands Emergency Alert System to All Campuses

Ivy Tech Community College has expanded to all 23 of its campuses its Ivy Tech Alert system, which broadcasts emergency messages to student, faculty and staff subscribers. Similar warning and notification systems were put into place earlier this year at the University of Southern Indiana and the University of Evansville.

Obituaries

Local Deloris Jean DePriest

Briefs

Evansville Jasper man accused of porn possession