I know we have a lot of readers out at USI, so I thought I’d share this one. USI is proposing two increases in tuition for full-time, in-state and undergraduate students. The first increase for the upcoming school year would increase tuition by $271. The following year, the 2008-2009 school year, tuition would increase again by $287. For those that weren’t math majors, that’s an extra $500+ over the next two school years.

Why the increase in tuition you ask? University officials blame it on bringing in new faculty as well as increased operational costs at the University (personnel, benefits, etc). The University will hold a public hearing on Thurs May 17 at 3:00PM in the University Center (Carter Hall ABC) if you’d like to voice your concerns.

Tuition hikes aren’t an irregular thing by any means. My tuition went up every chance they had at Purdue. In fact, they’re looking to raise it again this year.

Before the days of Showplace Cinemas and Stadium 16, Evansville had quite a few small movies houses spread around town.

Flickr user SUPERBANANABOMB! snapped a photo of one of those theaters: The Alhambra. Terry Hughes tells us that The Alhambrais was a 350 seat theater on the corner of Adams Avenue and Parrett Street. It was also the first theater in town to have a sound system: silent pictures be damned!

Sadly the theater is no longer in use and closed in 1956. The theater has set dormant since then. Recently, ownership passed to a new non-profit owner, and The Alhambra and Haynie’s Corner are at the center of the city’s efforts to create an Art District. Here’s hoping this landmark has a long future in Evansville.

In Focus features a photograph taken by a reader of It’s Evansville. If you’d like a chance to have your photo featured as part of In Focus, upload your photo to Flickr and tag it with “itsevansville”.

Happy Wednesday. Is it Friday yet?

• The Courier has some post-primary quotes from both mayoral candidates. Most interesting thing I found in the article. Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel has $500,000 in the bank. Opponent David Nixon has no campaign funds.
• As I mentioned yesterday, voter turnout was low. There are 82,834 registered voters in Vanderburgh County. 6% of them showed up to vote Tuesday. That’s a little less than 5000 voters.
• If you just want the straight race results, head to ABC25. They have a nice listing.
• A 19-year-old USI student shot himself in the parking lot of a local Church last night.
• A Henderson woman is in the hospital this morning after she tried to grab onto a moving train. She was unsuccessful and was thrown several yards. In other news, she now knows grabbing moving locomotives is a bad idea.

photo courtesy of Awesome Photography

Who saw this coming? I’ve got news about another modern rock act coming to Evansville this summer. It just came across from Geffen Records that Papa Roach will be coming to Roberts Stadium this summer as well. Papa Roach will be playing Roberts Stadium July 15 with opening act Hinder.

You may know Papa Roach from their mainstream hits, Last Resort, Scars or from the opening theme of WWE Raw.

No word on when tickets will be going on sale, but I’ll be sure to let you know.

image courtesy of Geffen

The results from the Republican Mayoral primary for Evansville are in and David Nixon (not Nix. Sorry Courier & Press) has defeated USI Student Aaron M. Ridlen by a fairly wide margin. Nixon will go on to face Mayor Weinzapfel in the fall. Nixon operates a non-profit business called “Young Gentlemen and Women” that advises businesses on how to get not-for-profit status and apply for grants.

In other primary news, turnout was incredibly low as predicted. Some precincts had as few as 20-40 people show up to vote. Talk about a long day.

Looking forward, here’s a question for readers. How much should I cover the November elections? Are you interested in hearing from the candidates on It’s Evansville? Let me know in the comments.

I was having a conversation the other day about how the only acts that tend to come to down are mainstream country acts (see Brad Paisley) or washed up rockers (see Ted Nugent). It’s frustrating at a 20-something who likes listening to modern and indie rock that I have to drive 2-3 hours to listen to music I like.

Every now and then, SMG and the other local promoters throw people like me a bone, and in this case, it is the just announced show at Roberts Stadium fearing Tool in June. Tool produced one of my favorite albums of the 90’s with their 1996 release Ænima and has been producing great albums since.

The concert will be at Roberts Stadium June 17 starting at 8PM. Tickets can be purchased at The Roberts Stadium and The Centre box offices or Ticketmaster starting at 10PM on Saturday.

Happy Election Day! Go get your democracy on.

• An Evansville couple is in jail charged with neglect after three kids they were caring for apparently overdosed on prescription drugs.
• The Indiana Youth Institute says suicide is the second leading cause of death in Indiana for teens between the age of 15 and 19. It is now behind only accidental death as the leading cause of death for teens.
• Jasmine Jung, the Castle junior, sent home from Prom for wearing a tuxedo brought her appeal before the Warrick School Corporation with the help of the ACLU. Jung asked for her money back and an apology. No word on if she’ll get her wish.
• The Evansville School Board seems to have finally found a superintendent. They’ve entered contract talks.
• And in my obligatory plugging of Purdue news, the University announced that University of California at Riverside Chancellor France A. Córdova will be our 11th President. Córdova is a physicist and former NASA scientist. She’ll fit in great.

photo courtesy of Awesome Photography

Mothers Day is coming up this Sunday, and I have nothing to get my mother for a gift. I’ve already given her the standard gifts before: chocolates, cards, iPods, gift certificates. I need something new. I need something fun. I need creativity.

Because of this, I come to you, my dear It’s Evansville readers for help. Use this Open Thread and tell me what you are getting your mother to mothers day.

photo courtesy of mikelehen

Even though voter turnout is expected to be low, we wanted to make sure you were aware of where the polling places are. The polls will be open from 6:00AM. to 6:00PM. on Tuesday. Voters need to bring a valid, government issued ID to the polls.

You can get a listing of polling places from the Courier & Press Web site.

Even if you aren’t planning to vote, if you have any business you need to take care of at the Civic Center, don’t bother trying tomorrow as it will be closed for the primary.

Looking to catch up on all that happened this week on It’s Evansville? Here’s some highlights.

• We outlined some of the road construction projects underway around town.
• We had a local personal trainer provide us with an article on motivating yourself to hit the gym as part of Healthier Evansville week.
• We were live on the scene for photos of the Integra robbery on North Main.
• Ah, craigslist. We highlighted the best of Missed Connections.
• We posted photos from Thursday night’s Brad Paisley concert.
• We saw Spider-Man 3 and reviewed it.