Evansville Courier & Press (2007-Current)

Blagojevich Faces 19 Counts

CHICAGO - Ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich was indicted Thursday on charges of trying to auction off President Barack Obama's vacant U.S. Senate seat along with new corruption allegations that he tried to extort a congressman. A sweeping 19-count federal indictment alleges that Blagojevich discussed with aides the possibility of getting a Cabinet post in the new president's administration, substantial fundraising assistance or a high-paying job in exchange for the Senate seat.

Money to Burn for Smokers Lighting Up Can Be Taxing

Smoking has become a little less relaxing since the federal government increased the cigarette tax by 62 cents a pack this week. The tax increase easily could push the price of a carton of some popular brands of cigarettes to $60 or more, and the price of a single pack to $6.59 or more, local store operators said.

Sports Bailout Weighed Some Say Plan Helps Indy Most

INDIANAPOLIS - State lawmakers on Thursday took the first step toward bailing the struggling group that runs Indianapolis' pro sports stadiums out of its financial woes, in part by doubling Indiana's alcohol taxes. Many lawmakers say they're hesitant to back a plan they believe is special treatment for Indianapolis, but the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced the proposal offered by its chair, Sen. Luke Kenley, R-Noblesville, on a 10-2 vote.

Spring Into Home Show at Roberts Stadium

Ordinarily, I'm the kind of per son - insane, some might argue - who enjoys cold weather, snow, even the occasional mix of rain and ice. I argue that you can always add layers in the winter, you can only take so many layers away in the summer and it's much easier to warm up than to cool down.

House Approves Fda Regulation of Tobacco

WASHINGTON - The federal government would for the first time have regulatory powers over the tobacco industry under a bill the House approved Thursday after years of campaigning by anti-smoking forces. The measure, passed 298-112, gives the Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate - but not ban - cigarettes and other tobacco products.

'Spotlight' to Get Kids On Stage, to Shows

Last year, when Central High School student Malia Blair won a state forensics competition and qualified for a national event in Las Vegas, she didn't make the trip. The expenses weren't in Central's budget, and the student told her father, Joe Blair, she didn't want him to pay for it.

Adoptees to Visit Asian Orphanage

NEWBURGH - Except for the Russian accent, Alex and Oksana Wicker appear to be your typical American teenage brother and sister - with Alex involved in school sports and dreaming of becoming a police officer and Oksana learning the clarinet and seeing herself as a nurse. Until the conversation turns to the fact Alex is 16.

Putting Stars in Their Eyes '100 Hours of Astronomy' Celebrates 400 Years Using Telescopes

The Evansville Museum and members of the Evansville Astronomical Society are offering stargazers an opportunity to peer at the open sky using observatories, telescopes and global webcasts over the next three days and nights A part of an international campaign targeting 800 locations in 130 countries, "100 Hours of Astronomy" marks the 400th anniversary of the invention of the astronomical telescope by Galileo. The event encourages people to look into the sky through a telescope, said Mitch Lu...

Talks Start On Jobless Fund

INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana lawmakers emerged Thursday afternoon from the first conference committee meeting of this year's General Assembly session promising a bipartisan effort to reach a compromise to fix Indiana's bankrupt unemployment insurance fund. However, the lawmakers offered no hints what the deal they're attempting to broker will look like.

Warrick Mourns a Friend Councilman Felled by Stroke

When Gary Meyer first was elected to the Warrick County Council, Ray McIntyre took him around to introduce him to people. "He never knew a stranger, and he would talk to anybody," Meyer said of McIntyre. "Ray knew a lot of people. He was friendly with everybody, and it didn't matter if you had $1 million in your pocket or 20 cents. He treated you the same. I'm really going to miss him. I think we all are."

Briefs [Corrected 04/17/09]

Evansville Witness tackles man

Briefs

Evansville Cops wait tables

Briefs

Evansville Driver hurt in crash

Tornado Cleanup, Repair Continue

Storm clouds hovered over Corydon, Ky., Thursday afternoon, but men like Paul Shoff and Jeremy Romain continued their work, handling chain saws and boosting limbs into the back of a recently emptied truck. They were just two of many who had descended on the Western Kentucky community to continue repair and cleanup from the EF3 tornado that swept through the city on Saturday.

'Wedding Singer' to Kick Off Stage Series

A reception hall crooner, tenement full of impoverished puppets, a troubled monarchy and a scarecrow, tin man, lion and little lost girl will troupe through Evansville in the 2009-2010 season of Broadway at The Centre. And as a bonus, a gang of barrel-bashing percussionists will crash the hall.

Obituaries

local Robert Basil Kelley

Briefs

Princeton, Ind. Phony drug case ends with jail time

Search Resumes Today for Missing Boater

CAVE-IN-ROCK, Ill. - The operator of a tugboat helped rescue a fisherman from the Ohio River who feared that his friend had drowned. "It was just after midnight when we heard someone hollering for help on the Kentucky side of the river," said Lonnie Lewis, who was pulling a load of rock with his boat. "He was weak and really suffering. I heard him say, 'I think my buddy drowned.'" Neither man was identified, although they were reported by a northern Indiana newspaper to be from the Lake Stati...