Evansville Courier & Press (2007-Current)

Grades Get Unexcused Absence Evsc Computer Crash Destroys Semester Data

Second semester grades for thousands of students in Evansville's public schools vanished during last week's spring break. A computer crash, officially described in a news release as a "hardware malfunction," zapped the information Thursday.

Kidnapping Suspect has Tri-State Link

A former Mount Vernon, Ind., resident who once pleaded guilty to attempted theft in Posey County is facing kidnapping charges after allegedly taking a newborn baby from a central Florida hospital. Jennifer Lynn Latham, 39, was arrested Friday afternoon less than two hours after police say she posed as a nurse and snatched the infant from the maternity ward at Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford, Fla.

Offer Made for Aztar Trustee to Run Riverboat During Sale, Licensing

INDIANAPOLIS - Robert "Tom" Dingman, appointed as trustee to run Casino Aztar temporarily until its sale to Eldorado Resorts goes through, said he plans to keep the Evansville riverboat's current staff levels in place. "In 25 years I never had a layoff, and I don't intend to start now. So I think they don't need to be worrying about that," Dingman said Monday.

It's Ok to Skip Mouth-to-Mouth and Do Hands-Only Cpr

NEW YORK - You can skip the mouth-to-mouth breathing and just press on the chest to save a life. In a major change, the American Heart Association said Monday that hands-only CPR - rapid, deep presses on the victim's chest until help arrives - works just as well as standard CPR for sudden cardiac arrest in adults.

Cub Fans Know Opening Day Starts 'the Year'

This, my fellow Chicago Cub fans, is the year. Go right ahead, Cubs haters: Cut out this column and save it for October. If my cursed Cubbies aren't hanging a World Series banner inside Wrigley Field, you can mail it back to me along with whatever trash talk you deem necessary. I'm a Cubs fan. I learned long ago to eat my words with good humor.

School Graduation Rates Alarm America's Promise

WASHINGTON - Seventeen of the nation's 50 largest cities had high school graduation rates lower than 50 percent, with the lowest graduation rates reported in Detroit, Indianapolis and Cleveland, according to a report released today. The report, issued by America's Promise Alliance, found that about half of the students served by public school systems in the nation's largest cities receive diplomas. Students in suburban and rural public high schools were more likely to graduate than their coun...

A World of Knowledge Area Students to Participate in Geographic Bee

Do you know which nation's capital, an administrative, commercial and financial center, also is the headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)? That is the type of question 10-year-old Rachel Hatfield is studying for the annual state Geographic Bee, being held Friday in Indianapolis.

Agency Getting Riches Patchwork Hires Co-Directors

Patchwork Central has selected two familiar faces to fill its top leadership spot. The faith-based community outreach organization has hired John and Amy Rich - both of whom have previous Patchwork experience - as co-directors.

Court Refuses to Hear Mcmanus Case

The U.S. Supreme Court will not hear an appeal from death row inmate Paul McManus. But the decision by the nation's highest court this week does not mark an end to McManus' potential appeals.

Pothole Hot Lines Established

The city and county are starting a pothole blitz today, asking residents to call a dedicated line to report damaged streets. The blitz runs through Friday. The city's pothole hot line is 435- 6000. The county's hot line is 435-5777. Callers should be ready to give specific information about the location of the pothole and their contact information in case workers have trouble finding the pothole.

Rash of Vehicle Arsons Strikes Neighborhood

With five vehicle arsons reported in her neighborhood in three days and no word of an arrest or a suspect in the cases as of Monday afternoon, 32-year-old Scarlet Robinson is more than a little concerned. She recently bought a 1997 Dodge Stratus. On Monday, it was parked just down the street from the burned Oldsmobile sedan targeted over the weekend by the apparent serial arsonist or arsonists.

Boy Scouts Select Romain As Distinguished Citizen

Evansville businessman Ron Romain has been selected as the 2008 Distinguished Citizen by the Boy Scouts of America Buffalo Trace Council. Romain is president and CEO of United Companies, a financial and transportation services company with three subsidiaries: Romain Automotive Group, United Leasing Inc., and Professional Transportation Inc.

Briefs

Evansville Police say shot fired in Sunday incident

Ky. Cigarette Tax Increase Rejected by Lawmakers

Smokers likely won't have to pay more for cigarettes, after state lawmakers backed down Monday on a proposal to raise Kentucky's tobacco tax by a quarter. House Speaker Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green, said the proposal to raise the cigarette tax is off the table as a way to raise revenue for the state budget. Kentucky's cigarette tax is among the lowest in the nation at 30 cents a pack, and health advocates say raising it could improve the state's overall physical well-being.

Piano Concert to Explore Survivors' Tales

In the late 1930s, as the Nazi campaign against the Jews escalated, a British organization brought nearly 10,000 children out of Austria and Germany. Among them was a 14-year-old piano student named Lisa Jura. Jura settled in London and fulfilled her dream of becoming a concert pianist after winning a scholarship to London's Royal Academy of Music.

Woman Convicted in Soldier Slaying Jenny T. Wolfe Is Fourth Defendant Found Guilty in Case

After six hours of deliberations Monday evening, a Benton, Ill., jury found a Richland County, Ill., woman guilty of first-degree murder for her role in the Aug. 23, 2005, stabbing death of a soldier home on leave from the Army. Jenny T. Wolfe, 23, was convicted of one count each of first- degree murder, home invasion and conspiracy to commit murder.

Obituaries

Local Windola 'Winnie' B. Bosaw

Iu Med School Hopes to Expand Training Sites

INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana University started boosting its medical school class size last fall to counter a looming doctor shortage. Next, it wants to stretch its reach around the state. The nation's second-largest medical school plans to have students take clinical rotations at hospitals outside Indianapolis starting this fall. The school hopes to launch pilot rotations in South Bend and Fort Wayne and eventually expand to several other cities.