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(03/29/10 11:51pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Despite a campaign by many Midwestern states to keep invasive Asian carp out of Lake Michigan, the U.S. Supreme Court has again rejected an injunction to close the locks leading to the lake until the case is decided. The fish, known for their ability to leap several feet out of the water when scared, are at the center of an interstate battle that spans the Midwest.In December 2009, Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox requested that an injunction be issued to force the closing of shipping locks just outside of downtown Chicago and along the Calumet-Sag Channel, which runs between Illinois and Indiana. These locks, which control shipping and boat traffic between Lake Michigan and the Chicago River, are the most likely route that the fish could take to the Great Lakes. Supporters of the measure contended that closing this connection between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River system is the only way to ensure a permanent solution to keeping the fish out. The Court is scheduled to review the court case on April 16.If the Asian carp do infiltrate the Great Lakes, the potential effects are unknown, but could be devastating. The fish feed mostly on zooplankton, and in some areas along the Mississippi River where the fish have traveled upstream, zooplankton have seen a 90 percent decline. Such a drastic loss of that food source could cause a chain reaction that would resonate up the food chain, from the bait fish that feed on the zooplankton to the predatory fish that feed on the bait fish.The Supreme Court originally rejected the injunction in January, but Michigan renewed its motion upon new DNA evidence that suggests the carp have infiltrated Lake Michigan. On March 22, however, the Supreme Court again refused to grant the request. Representatives from several states, including Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller, said they supported Michigan’s effort to keep the fish out of Lake Michigan.“Everyone agrees that if Asian carp reach Lake Michigan, they could have a very damaging impact on the Great Lakes’ ecosystem and the sport fishing industry,” Zoeller said in a statement.Although Zoeller supported the ultimate goal of keeping the fish out of the Great Lakes, he did not support Michigan’s proposal to close the locks.According to a study done by Conexus Indiana, approximately 160 million tons of commodities valued at $13 billion were shipped between the U.S. ports on the Great Lakes system in 2007. Indiana was responsible for about 19 percent of that activity. If the locks were to close, the economic efficiency of shipping bulk commodities via barge would be lost.“I would support them closing the locks,” said Craig Koepke, a charter boat captain who runs Into the Outdoors Fishing Charters in Michigan City, Ind. “If the Asian carp get into Lake Michigan, they will be in all five lakes in 20 or 30 years.”It is possible the fish have already reached the Great Lakes. Currently, electric fish barriers in the waterways near Chicago are in place as a temporary solution to keep the invasive species out. The barriers send out an electric current that repels the fish, and their installment has been part of an $80 million federal program to control and research Asian carp. However, nobody is sure the electric barriers have been 100 percent effective. A study from the University of Notre Dame showed that Asian carp DNA has showed up within miles of Lake Michigan, along various rivers.“Anybody in the charter industry or the bait shops are following this very closely because they make their living on the lake,” Koepke said.Those opposed to closing the locks argue that even completely blocking off the link to Lake Michigan will not ensure that the fish do not get into the Great Lakes. David Holt, vice president of operations and business development at Conexus Indiana, said that closing the locks will not guarantee that Asian carp stay out of the lakes and could have a large negative effect on Indiana jobs.“Locks do not stop certain things from moving through the water, the carp could still get into Lake Michigan,” Holt said. “So the question is, does it do any good to close it?”
(02/15/10 11:17pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Paying with plastic might be convenient, but convenience for college students means payday for credit card companies.In an effort to curtail the predatory practices of these companies and protect consumers, President Barack Obama signed the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act (or Credit CARD Act) in May 2009, the final rules of which go into effect Feb. 22. The bill alters the way credit card companies are permitted to conduct business with all consumers, but many of the reforms have major implications for college students.When student loan foundation Sallie Mae published its latest report detailing student credit-card usage, the results showed a need for immediate change in consumer behavior. The study, published in April 2009, showed that undergraduates were carrying record-high credit card balances.According to the study, seniors in 2008 graduated with an average credit card debt of more than $4,100, up from $2,900 in 2004. Also, only 15 percent of freshmen avoided any debt and maintained a zero balance on their card, down significantly from 69 percent in the fall of 2004. “Underage students may not have the experience to manage credit cards responsibly, so they are more prone to be victimized,” said Mark Kantrowitz, founder and publisher of financial aid information site FinAid.org.Starting Feb. 22, the key provisions of the Credit CARD Act will take effect. Perhaps the most significant change will be that anyone under the age of 21 will need a cosigner in order to apply for a card or else he or she will have to prove an independent means of repaying any debt. This means most students under 21 will not be able to apply for a credit card on their own, which is likely to reduce the number of students applying for cards each year.Ben Woolsey, director of consumer research at CreditCards.com, said he believes this will force huge changes in the way many students pay for college.“Some students may be able to apply with a parent as a cosigner, but most likely, students will have to find a source other than credit cards to make ends meet while in college,” Woolsey said via e-mail.Another provision of the law limits when credit card issuers can increase interest rates on existing card balances. Consumers whose interest rates are increased can get rate reductions after six months if their bills are paid on time and they do not spend beyond their credit limits. Because students will find it more difficult to pay for tuition and other educational expenses with a credit card, a potential increase in student loans could occur. Sallie Mae’s study found that 30 percent of undergraduates put tuition payments on their credit card. “Student loans would be a better way to finance your education, since credit cards are a very expensive way to finance tuition,” said Charles Delbaum, staff attorney with the National Consumer Law Center.But tuition isn’t the only educational expense students have been charging to their cards. In fact, IU does not allow students to pay for tuition via credit card. According to Sallie Mae’s study, students estimated charging $2,200 on expenses such as textbooks, school supplies, food and clothing. In 2004, students estimated charging only $942. The Credit CARD Act also includes provisions to limit the ubiquitous presence of credit-card companies on campus. The familiar sight of credit-card issuers offering T-shirts and iPods to students in exchange for signing up for a card will disappear. The Credit CARD Act disallows the exchange of free gifts on or near campus to lure college students to apply for a card, although companies can still set up tables on campus when permitted by the school. The law also aims to protect underage kids by banning the sale of their credit report to potential creditors, meaning those under 21 will no longer receive unsolicited, pre-screened credit-card offers.Additionally, Congress is encouraging, but not requiring, colleges to offer credit card and debt education and counseling sessions as part of their new student orientation programs.“I think that Congress should have taken the extra step and mandated financial literacy courses,” Kantrowitz said. “The problem is that nobody is teaching you how to manage your money, and it is the ideal time to teach students how to manage money.” Big changes— Consumers under 21 need a cosigner to open a card unless they have demonstrated proof of their financial independence.— Retroactive rate increases, which are increases in the interest rate on existing card balances, are more restricted.— Opt-in: Consumers must agree to fees that allow them to charge over their limit, instead of letting the company do it automatically.— No interest rate increases the first year of your account.— Additional fees, such as application fees, cannot total more than 25 percent of your credit limit the first year.— Double cycle billing, in which the company charges interest over two billing cycles instead of only the current cycle, is prohibited.— Bills are now due on the same day each month, with a payment cut-off time no earlier than 5 p.m. of that day.Birth of credit reformMAY 2008: The Federal Reserve Board announces new proposed credit rules to protect consumers from “unfair practices” and asks the public for comment.AUG. 2008: 56,000 people respond to the Fed’s proposed rules, shattering the previous comment record of 45,000 in 2000. The respondents are overwhelmingly in favor of further restrictions.DEC. 2008: The Fed approves a swath of new credit restrictions that limit interest rate hikes and over-the-limit fees, among other things.APRIL 2009: Sallie Mae publishes its student credit study, noting major increases in student credit charges and debt.MAY 2009: The Senate and House pass the Credit CARD Act and President Obama signs it into law. An earlier bill had similar but fewer restrictions and was abandoned.AUG. 2009: The first phase of the Act goes into effect, requiring creditors to give consumers 45 days’ notice of significant changes in terms and allowing at least 21 days to make bill payments.FEB. 22, 2010: The major changes of the Credit CARD Act take effect.–Information from CreditCards.com, Sallie Mae and the Federal Reserve
(02/11/10 10:47pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Today, champions of snow and ice from around the globe will descend on Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Although the Olympic Games are billed as the embodiment of global diversity, many warm-weather countries have no winter athletes to offer. In Africa and South America, participation in the Winter Olympics is rare, and success is even rarer. Enter Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong, the inexperienced underdog whose story is sure to turn skeptics into fans.Nkrumah-Acheampong is the first athlete from Ghana ever to qualify for the Winter Olympics and will participate in the slalom and giant slalom skiing events in Vancouver. Born in Scotland while his father was a teacher at the University of Glasgow, Nkrumah-Acheampong was raised in Ghana without ever seeing snow except on television. Not until 2002, when he was a student working at an indoor ski center in England, did he have his first experience with snow. He made his professional debut in 2004 and earned the nickname the “Snow Leopard,” and soon set his sights on the world stage of the Olympic Games. By narrowly earning the 140 points needed to qualify for the Olympics, the Snow Leopard will be on a mission to prove that even those from tropical climates can compete in the Winter Olympics. So how does he rate his chances?“Very far,” he told BBC News, adding that his hope is “to ski very well and prove to people that I deserve to be on the hill, with the other top world-class athletes.”
(10/20/09 4:18am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Students and community members filled the Woodburn Hall auditorium Monday for a debate about the controversial Bloomington Transit bus advertisement, which says “You can be good without God.”The debate featured Dan Barker, co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, who discussed the merits of the atheist ad campaign with Dan Waugh, pastor of Adult Ministries at the Evangelical Community Church in Bloomington.“There is no absolute moral guideline in the Bible,” Barker said in his opening remarks. “If you are motivated to be a good person because of the promise of heaven, that shows how little you think of others.”The debate was highlighted by varying moments of humor and tension. Barker drew surprised gasps from some audience members when he called out Waugh for practicing faith in vain, calling his God a “petty, vain, insecure, egotistical being.”Barker’s arguments centered around the idea that morality is a human trait, defined by the goal of minimizing harm. He said that there is no purpose of life, only purpose in life.Waugh responded by saying “good is a function of purpose. If there is no God, then all that is left is nature, and nature cannot communicate meaning or purpose.”The debate, which was co-sponsored by the Secular Alliance of IU, the Evangelical Community Church and the Indiana Atheist Bus Campaign, centered on the moral question posed by the bus advertisement rather than the reasons for or against running the ad.“I’m not against the campaign at all, I welcome it,” Waugh said. “It allows for this debate, it is not a threat.”The mood changed when Barker asked Waugh a question.“If God told you to, would you kill me?” Barker asked.The question drew laughter from the audience and a pause from Waugh.“If there was a specific verse saying Dan Waugh should kill Dan Barker, then I would have to consider it,” Waugh responded, drawing more laughter and applause from the filled auditorium.Joe Hughto, president of the IU Secular Alliance, was pleased with the choice of both Waugh and Barker to participate in the debate.“The whole point of this ad was not to convert people. It was to start this debate,” he said. “We wanted to make it balanced, we wanted to find people with strong convictions who wouldn’t back down from their views.”Hughto was also pleased with the full crowd turnout.“I thought we had a good mix of people, both secular humanists and believers,” he said.Eoban Binder, co-founder of the Secular Alliance, also appreciated the direction and tone of the debate.“The discussion, debate and argument about this topic can sometimes degrade into something unproductive. Everyone has a lot to gain from this debate,” he said.
(09/17/09 3:17am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The limestone buildings that define IU’s campus are a pristine sight from the outside. The way energy is used to keep these buildings running on the inside, however, is not as pretty.Each year, it takes about 68,000 tons of coal, 3.4 million therms of natural gas and 771 million gallons of water and sewage to keep the buildings in working condition, according to the IUB Physical Plant. Many older buildings on campus are not built to current standards in terms of energy efficiency, which may be costing the University unnecessary money and resources.In fiscal year 2008, IU spent about $14 million on electricity, $3.3 million on coal and $3.2 million on natural gas, said Charles Matson, certified energy manager of IU Engineering Services. Matson expects fiscal year 2009 figures to be different, reflecting the increased use of natural gas and decreased use of coal.IU has been taking strides to increase energy efficiency for years. In 2007, two old boilers in the Central Heating Plant were replaced by new, high efficiency boilers. Also in 2007, the campus began a program in the academic buildings to replace incandescent light bulbs as they fail with compact fluorescent bulbs, Matson said. The IU Office of Sustainability produced a 2007 report that analyzes ways IU could become more sustainable, and sponsored summer internship projects since then to encourage action on some of the sustainability measures. This year, there were three projects dealing specifically with upgrading IU buildings to better utilize energy.Jeff Kaden, director of Engineering Services and member of the IU Sustainability Task Force, has brainstormed a list of potential remedies for wasted energy in IU buildings. He mentions everything from new windows to roofs, but it’s only wishful thinking until the University finds funding.“The state hasn’t given us repair and rehabilitation money for the last decade,” he said. “The buildings are the most important thing in terms of energy efficiency.”Kaden often hears that IU uses too much coal to power its buildings, but says that the availability of coal makes it a more viable resource than others.“We have a 500-year supply of coal just 40 miles from campus,” he said.Kaden said that there are 11 buildings on campus that are seeking LEED certification, a rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council that recognizes environmentally sustainable construction. Today, none of IU’s buildings are LEED certified. For Steve Akers, the associate director for Environmental Operations at RPS, the solution to energy waste is in the occupants of the buildings instead of the building material itself. Akers is also a member of the Sustainability Task Force and has sponsored an energy challenge across all dorms on campus for the last two years. The challenge rewards the dorm that conserves the most energy. “We saw a lot of interesting student behavioral changes with the energy challenge, and it has helped us at RPS update our metering system as well,” Akers said.As a result of the energy challenge, which is set to run again this spring, IU dorms have become more energy friendly. Low-flow shower heads and sinks have been installed, and almost all of the lighting in the dorms has been switched to compact fluorescent bulbs. The dorms are even using 100 percent recycled toilet paper.The City of Bloomington is also taking strides to improve buildings to increase energy efficiency. The city will receive $745,000 from the federal government to retrofit buildings with energy efficient technologies, as part of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program. The buildings that will be updated include City Hall – Showers Building, the Traffic Division facility, Fire Department Headquarters and Bloomington SportsPlex.IU may be taking action to reduce energy waste, but the changes are slow and the list of needs is long. The old buildings that look so immaculate are using energy at an unsustainable rate. Kaden stresses that older buildings are where the most changes are needed.“Our design guidelines have been in place for 15 years, and since then we have always had an eye for energy reduction,” Kaden said. “But if you look at the buildings built before 1980, there are some problems.”
(08/25/09 2:26am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Smith-Holden Music has weathered economic downturns in the past, but after serving the community for 47 years, the music store is closing down.The store will be running a liquidation sale through its scheduled closing date Oct. 10. The current economic climate has proven too costly to maintain business, said 74-year-old owner George Holden.“If I were 50, I would just cut back inventory and stick this out,” he said. “I don’t want to take another year’s loss. This is the time to get out.” In addition to selling musical instruments and music paraphernalia, Smith-Holden also runs a studio that provides music lessons for 220 students. Of the 13 teachers working in the studio, five are IU graduate students. “I’ve been here for 47 years, and we’ve always had a tremendous connection with all University people,” Holden said.Kelley Brown, spokesperson for the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, said that Smith-Holden’s closing is not a harbinger of further economic trouble for local retailers.“Bloomington itself is insulated, and has fared this economic downturn fairly well,” Brown said. Smith-Holden Music is not a member of the Chamber.Talisha Coppock, the executive director of Downtown Bloomington, Inc., acknowledged that development has slowed down recently.“We got used to strong investment over the last six years. We were experiencing about 30 new businesses a year. So compared with that, we have slowed a bit,” she said. According to Downtown Bloomington, Inc., the overall vacancy rate for businesses in Bloomington remains under 3 percent. Still, Coppock recognizes the symbolism of Smith-Holden’s closing.“It is really sad, they are a long-time backbone of downtown,” she said.George Holden is quick to point out that the hardest part about closing his business will be laying off the employees.“The worst part is that we’re just about to put another 20 people out of business,” he said.Holden hopes to sell all remaining inventory, along with the building that Smith-Holden Music is housed in, which he also owns. He said he is confident that the inventory can be sold in time, since the fall is typically the busiest time. As for the building, Holden is hopeful that he can find a buyer, despite the economic climate that is forcing his business out.“I’ve had about eight people who want to buy it, so I don’t think it will be a problem,” he said. “We have a whole lot to do before we even think about that.”