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(04/20/11 2:11am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A chilling police brutality case in Gary came to a close after four years last Friday.Corporal Anthony Blood was found guilty in Hammond Federal Court for severely beating 63-year-old Gary resident and Army veteran Percy Perry on June 24, 2007.Perry was apprehended by Blood and Officer Irving Givens after attempting to remove a window from an abandoned building, according to a press release issued by Loevy and Loevy Attorneys at Law. Perry was reportedly removing the window in order to sell it. Perry also reportedly aimed a screwdriver at Blood. After he had surrendered, Blood struck him with his baton hard enough to force Perry’s left eye out of its socket. Perry was knocked unconscious.Pier Petersen, an attorney at Loevy and Loevy, said Perry was unarmed and lying on the ground when Blood struck him. She also said Givens did not attack Perry and was not present when the attack occurred.“Unfortunately this case is just one of many involving police misconduct and police officer defendants that Loevy & Loevy handles each year,” Petersen said. “As Americans, we are fortunate that, under our legal system, police officers are held accountable for their actions just as private citizens are.”Perry required several surgeries following the beating. During the first, physicians were forced to remove the eye. Last week the federal jury ordered that Perry be awarded $750,000 in compensatory damages and an additional $100,000 in punitive damages.Petersen said Perry was very cooperative during the legal process.“It is always heartening to work with people who maintain their faith in the ability of the legal system to right wrongs, even after their civil rights have been violated by a person in a position of trust and authority, such as a police officer,” Petersen said.Petersen said she was glad justice was done in this case despite the fact that Perry will never regain his sight and the damage can never be undone. She said the jury’s decision sent the message that police officers will be held accountable.“This is exactly what juries are for — to ensure that the government and its agents don’t abuse their power,” Petersen said.BREAKDOWN OF DAMAGESCOMPENSATORYUse: Replacement funds. Example: If a negligent driver destroys a car, these would equal the market value of the car at the time of its destruction.This case: Perry received $750,000.PUNITIVEUse: Punish the defendant.Example: If that negligent driver acted grossly reckless, additional awards may be granted to the plaintiff to punish the defendant’s behavior.This case: Perry received $100,000.
(04/16/11 3:38am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The founder of Bloomington-based medical equipment manufacturer Cook Group Inc. and Bloomington area philanthropist Bill Cook, 80, died Friday.Cook was born in 1931 in Mattoon, Ill. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University in 1953 and studied as a graduate student at Trinity University in Texas. Last September his wealth was estimated at $3.1 billion by Forbes Magazine.According to Cook’s biography on IU’s website, he specialized in medical devices, pharmaceuticals, genetics, real estate, retail management and travel services.Despite his success, Cook remained heavily involved in the community, specifically in the area of historic preservation.David McCarty, director of Global Public Relations for Cook Medical, confirmed that Cook passed away at about 4:30 p.m.At Saturday’s men’s Little 500 race, IU President Michael McRobbie led a moment of silence in Cook’s honor and spoke about the influences Cook had on IU.“He was a magnificent supporter of Indiana University and incredibly generous to thousands and thousands of people in the state. Many of the riders today are wearing black armbands to commemorate Bill’s passing,” McRobbie said.In 2009, Cook was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Philanthropy from Spoon River College in Canton, Ill. This was one of many awards for his philanthropic accomplishments.Details regarding Cook’s death have not been released, though McCarty said he is currently working to inform the public as soon as possible.U.S. Sen. Dan Coats released a statement about Cook on Saturday. “Bill Cook was a giant of a man whose creativity and generosity made life better for millions of people and made Indiana a better state,” Coats said in the release. “I had the privilege of getting to know him and the opportunity to catch a glimpse of his entrepreneurial spirit and enthusiasm. His legacy will continue to touch the lives of many, and he will be missed greatly.”Gov. Mitch Daniels also announced Saturday that he will posthumously present Cook with the Sachem award, Indiana’s highest honor.The award will be presented in May.Details concerning services for Cook have also been announced. He will lie in repose from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 23 in Cook World Headquarters, at 750 Daniels Way, in Bloomington.
(04/16/11 1:28am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The founder of Bloomington-based medical equipment manufacturer Cook Group Inc. and Bloomington area philanthropist Bill Cook died Friday afternoon.Cook, a Mattoon, Ill., native born in 1931, earned a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University in 1953 and studied as a graduate student at Trinity University in Texas. Last September his wealth was estimated at $3.1 billion by Forbes Magazine.According to Cook’s biography on IU’s website, he specialized in medical devices, pharmaceuticals, genetics, real estate, retail management and travel services. Yet despite his success he remained heavily involved in the community, including involving himself in historic preservation.David McCarty, director of Global Public Relations for Cook Medical, confirmed that Cook passed away around 4:30 p.m. He was 80.In 2009, Cook was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Philanthropy from Spoon River College in Canton, Ill. This was one of many awards for his philanthropic accomplishments.Details regarding Cook’s death have not been released, though McCarty said he is currently working to inform the public as soon as possible. Continue checking idsnews.com for updates.
(04/14/11 2:44am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Two-year-old Anastasia tapped the stuffed baby seal doll on the head and jerked away, giggling. Then the doll started blinking.Students in the School of Informatics and Computing sponsored an open house at the University’s official robot research center, R-House, on Wednesday. They wanted to honor the nation’s second annual National Robotics Week.The R-House opened last year. Since then students have used it to show off research projects produced in different classes. Wednesday’s open house featured projects with titles such as “lost and found robot,” “Dewey break management robot,” “home security robot” and “Paro therapy robot.”Kris Hauser, an associate professor of computer science, said National Robotics Week and projects such as the R-House can help educate the public and inspire new generations of robotic technology experts.“We designed the event so that it is family-friendly and an opportunity to see what’s going on in research and education on robotics and other emerging technologies at IU,” Hauser said in a press release.Senior Greg Starr has been working on a robot to prevent people from losing their keys and other small objects.“We looked at it and asked, ‘How can we solve that problem?’” Starr said. “We considered using a central location.”Starr said he and his team worked on designs that would assist memory. They came up with a robot that would light up and make sounds when a person walked into his or her home, reminding him or her to hang his or her keys on their hooks. The project is still under construction.Graduate student Sarah Reeder collaborated with several others to create Dewey, a robot designed to alert computer users to take breaks.“It was really difficult to get working,” Reeder said.Dewey was built to sense temperature and motion when someone sat in front of a computer. Thirty minutes later, Dewey would light up and start shaking to let the user know to take a break.Reeder said her group used focus groups to test the robot and gain valuable feedback. She said only one member of the group noticed the physical alert. Users preferred the physical Dewey that sat on a desk to an Internet Dewey that popped up on-screen.“Even though the project technically failed, we learned a lot,” Reeder said.Senior Shi Hui Lim and junior Josh Cravens were two of the collaborators who wanted to investigate whether different designs for robots would help people feel more or less safe in their homes.Their results were varied. Lim said people who did not already have home security systems were most comfortable with robots designed to appear humanoid, while those who already owned home security systems preferred a small, box-like robot.“People that don’t have a home security system are less likely to want to adopt a robot,” Cravens said.Anastasia patted the robot, Paro, as her mother asked her what Paro was doing. The robot began blinking its huge black eyes, so Anastasia started blinking dramatically at her mother in demonstration.Anastasia’s father, Thomas Sugimoto, said he and his family first started going to robot open houses last year when his wife, an IU faculty member, heard about them from fellow staff. He said his daughter quickly fell in love with Paro.Paro was developed for therapy to replace real animals. Many hospitals have been leery about allowing animal-assisted therapy and activity, despite its positive effects, because of the possibility of allergy, infection and bites, according to a pamphlet from the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology.Developers chose to make Paro a baby harp seal rather than a cat or dog so people could accept the robot without preconceptions. The robot sports soft, white artificial fur and responds to touch and motion by moving its head, fins and tail, blinking and making cooing noises.It was these reactions that caused young Anastasia to spend the majority of her time with Paro despite the other technological wonders throughout the house.“She loves this robot,” Sugimoto said. “So we take her whenever Paro is out on display.”
(04/06/11 1:01am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In case you haven’t been able to keep up with all the debate going on in the Indiana General Assembly, here’s a quick look at legislation related to key topics that passed committee last week.Civil LawThe House Judiciary Committee heard Senate Bill 215. This bill determines the distribution of the proceeds in a civil forfeiture action. Concerns were brought to the committee’s attention, and the committee made amendments to the original draft. The amended bill passed 10-1.The House Employment, Labor and Pensions Committee passed SB 411, which would prohibit public or private employers from requiring employees or applicants to disclose information about their ownership, possession, use or transportation of firearms or ammunition. The bill passed 11-1.Criminal LawThe House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard SB 216, which concerns access to child pornography in criminal discovery. This bill provides that material allegedly constituting child pornography must remain in the custody of the state or the court. The amended bill passed 9-0.The Senate Corrections, Criminal and Civil Matters Committee passed House Bill 1083, which would require the Criminal Code Evaluation Commission to study child solicitation and trafficking. An amendment was adopted to include the study of increased penalties for sex crimes against children by school employees, volunteers and others. The amended bill passed 10-0.The Senate Corrections, Criminal and Civil Matters Committee heard HB 1416, which states that an imprisoned person can earn credit time for successfully completing requirements for a high school diploma. The correspondence course must be approved by the Department of Correction. The bill passed 10-0.Family and Juvenile LawThe Senate Judiciary Committee passed an amended version of HB 1107, which concerns preventive programs for at-risk children. An amendment was adopted to revise the definition of an at-risk child. In addition, the amendment requires a criminal history check on an early intervention advocate prior to appointment. The bill passed as amended 8-0.
(03/31/11 3:28am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU’s Atmospheric Science Program reached new heights Wednesday, but not without a little turbulence.The program teamed IU students with professors from Taylor University who produce studies by releasing high altitude balloons, similar to the common weather balloon. The release at the IU campus marked the first release in Bloomington’s history.“We do this because it’s fun,” Taylor professor Don Takehara said. “To have something real in front of you is much more fun to work with.”Takehara said he and others promote this program because it gives students an opportunity for critical thinking and designing their own experiments. He also said no two launches are the same because of variations in weather, jet stream, atmosphere and more. THE JOURNEY UPEarth’s atmosphere has four levels: the troposphere, the ozone layer within the stratosphere, the rest of the stratosphere and the mesosphere, in order from closest to farthest from the Earth’s surface. The balloon reached the bottom of the mesosphere, higher than Mount Everest or a jet plane, before it exploded due to low pressure. THE MEASUREMENTSThe balloon carried three cameras as well as several instruments that sent different measurements to Taylor students and professors in real time. Radiation, humidity, temperature and greenhouse gases were among those measured. THE BIG BOOMBalloons can expand from about five feet in diameter to up to 40 feet before they explode, Taylor professor Jeff Dailey said. He said the balloon released from Bloomington did this before it exploded, sending the cameras and instruments spiraling back to earth. THE DATAMuch of the data had not yet been processed and converted when the professors discussed the release at a 4 p.m. lecture. They did say, however, that the balloon’s speed reached 130 knots, or about 149.8 mph. The balloon was blown east, though not as far as they had estimated it would go. They expect to release more information later. THE RETRIEVALThe team responsible for retrieving the fallen equipment found it in a dire situation. At the end of a dead road, the equipment had become tangled and fried on a power line. One piece had actually caught fire. The balloon’s remains were found just south of Wayne County, a little more than two hours northeast of Bloomington. Dailey said they had expected the balloon to land even farther east in Ohio.
(03/11/11 2:01am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Many IU students will be experiencing the nightlife during spring break. Here's a look at different laws for bar access in popular spring break destinations.FloridaMany students will be hitting Miami or Panama City. Some clubs will allow those 18 or older inside at night. Usually they’ll have a sign reading something like “18 to enter, 21 to party.” You still can’t buy alcoholic drinks. If you are serving as designated driver for your group of 21 and older friends, many clubs will give you free nonalcoholic drinks.TexasThis state will be warm and sunny as well and might be a great getaway for some students. Like Florida, it depends on the bar. Some will allow people 18 and older in, but many will not take a chance on a minor sneaking liquor. However, if you’re with a group of friends that are 21 and older, your chances improve.IndianaIt’s probably not a big spring break destination, but some of us are stuck here. As you all probably know, in Indiana you have to be 21 to get into the bars or buy alcohol. Sorry guys, you’ll need to find another way to stay warm. IllinoisThough it will be colder there than in southern Indiana, some of us might head to Chicago for our break. Again, it is up to the bar’s discretion whether or not to let minors in. Most, however, will let in people 18 and older, but they’ll mark their hands so the bartenders know not to serve them.
(02/28/11 2:15am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Nothing goes better together than fish and love.Or at least, that was the first lesson Andrea Conger, a professional dancer and choreographer, taught those gathered Saturday for a dance workshop at First Presbyterian Church.This was the third workshop sponsored by the IU Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center during February. Saturday’s workshop focused on dances from Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.“These are dance cultures that are massive,” Conger said.Conger showed videos of professional dancers from these areas on an projector to illustrate different forms and styles. She told those present that the dances they would learn from Uzbekistan and Afghanistan mainly focused on the upper body and hands. This was unlike the dances from Transylvania and Turkey they learned last week, which focused on the feet. She said, however, that many of the dances they looked at during the course of three weeks would have much in common. She said dance culture was transferred among people along the Silk Road.“This is an area that is full of borders and mixing,” Conger said. “Borders that move, people that move.”The first dance was a traditional Afghani dance that could be performed by either a man or woman, though with subtle differences. It told the story of fishing and falling in love.“What goes better together than fish and love?” Conger asked. Her students burst into laughter.Outreach Coordinator Amarantha Byer said this is the first time the department has put on this particular event, though two years ago an international student sponsored something similar with great success.Byer said about 20 to 25 people attended every class, and she was very pleased with the program’s success. She said it took people out of their comfort zones and therefore may not have been successful, but despite this, the evaluations she asked participants to fill out had been very positive.“Especially the ones about (Conger),” Byer said. “Everyone just loves her.”Conger and Byer were introduced by Byer’s adviser after she suggested the idea of having a workshop. Byer said meeting Conger, who has danced with the Ethnic Dance Theatre in Minneapolis as well as the Gabriele Choir in Budapest, was “a miracle.”Byer said she hopes to hold the event next year as well. She also hopes that Conger, who has a few more years at IU studying anthropology, will be available to teach it again.“We’d love to keep this plan alive,” Byer said. “We definitely want to keep it going.”
(02/24/11 3:36am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Whether you’ve lived in Indiana all your life or just moved here, the Hoosier state has many odd tourist attractions worth visiting.World’s Largest Ball of PaintAlexandria: Michael Carmichael has spent more than 30 years applying more than 18,000 layers of paint to a baseball. It now weighs close to 1,500 pounds.Ultraviolet ApocalypseMunster: This Carmelite monastery features buildings made of sponge rock with semi-precious crystals and angel carvings set into the walls. One sculpture depicts Jesus rising from the dead and is covered with blacklights. The Hubcap WomanJeffersonville: A 20-foot sculpture of a woman, made completely from hubcaps, is supposedly a tribute to the strength of all women.Mid-America Windmill MuseumKendallville: The museum’s goal is to collect, display, preserve and tell the story of wind power from its origination through the American windmill to the present day.World’s Largest Sycamore StumpKokomo: The once-massive tree was about 800 years old before storms felled it. It is 57 feet in circumference and 12 feet high.Giant Lady’s Leg SundialLake Village: For a time, Lake Village was known for yearly events, including the Ms. Nude Teeny Bopper contest, the Erin Go Bra-less event and the building of the giant lady’s leg sundial. The sundial is 63 feet long.Husband Killer ExhibitLaPorte: Police found 12 bodies and suspected about 40 more men were buried on the property of Belle Gunness in LaPorte. She vanished in April 1908 and was never found. World’s Largest EggMentone: The town claims its concrete statue of an egg is the largest in the world, though Winlock, Wash., also claims this feat.Source: www.roadsideamerica.com
(02/17/11 5:55am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The dreaded day finally came, and a little girl felt sweat break out on her brow as her body turned ice cold. It was the day when all the third-graders in her class would be weighed as part of their physical exams. She didn’t know what else to do but stand in line patiently and hope her teacher would listen to her. When it was her turn, she quietly asked the teacher not to say her weight out loud. She was embarrassed — she knew she was about 20 pounds heavier than the other girls in her class and she hated it. But though she was certain she was different from everyone else, studies show those feelings were not unique. A study published in Teen magazine in 2003 reported that 35 percent of girls ages 6 to 12 had been on at least one diet. Fifty to 70 percent of girls with healthy weights said in the article they believed they were overweight. And it doesn’t just happen to women. A study by the University of Colorado at Boulder Wardenburg Health Center showed that two out of five women and one out of five men would trade three to five years of their lives to achieve their weight goals.***Two years ago, Caitlin Boyle had a bad day at work. She decided to do something simple for someone else to feel better and unknowingly launched a national campaign to promote self-esteem. “The biggest mistake we make is beating ourselves up for not looking like models or celebrities,” Boyle said. “It’s time we stop emulating or striving for a type of perfection that doesn’t even exist in the real world. It’s okay to look like a human.”Boyle started the Operation Beautiful website to encourage men and women to inspire self-esteem in complete strangers and in themselves.The movement involves posting notes in different places that are heavily trafficked. Bathroom mirrors, stall doors and trash cans have all been locations to find notes with messages such as “You’re beautiful” or “Scales measure weight, not worth.”Boyle said she tries to get people to post encouraging notes in places where negative self-talk occurs, such as while looking in the mirror, on scales or at the gym.“I think it makes people smile when they realize how much goodness there is in the world,” Boyle said. “The idea that someone would do this for a stranger is so uplifting.”The explosion of the site’s popularity surprised Boyle. Since its creation, she has been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Network, “The Today Show” and Chicago NBC Morning News, to name a few.But Boyle has never lost sight of what is most important about the site — the people. She said she’s received more than 7,000 notes from around the world since she started the movement, and she tries to reply to every e-mail she receives.Boyle said her favorite story is that of Vit, a teenager from Canada sent to a treatment facility for severe anorexia. Doctors were concerned she would not survive. One day, Vit slipped into a bathroom to throw up her lunch. She found an Operation Beautiful note on the stall.“The simple message — ‘You are good enough the way you are’ — made her pause and reconsider her destructive behavior,” Boyle said.Vit contacted Boyle months later with news that she was out of the hospital and very healthy.“Vit knew a stranger posted the note, but she felt like the timing was a message from God,” Boyle said.***Rachel Patrick, a sophomore at Floyd Central High School in Floyds Knobs, Ind., said she became inspired by Boyle’s work and decided to make it local.She had no idea her idea would spread the word to thousands.Patrick first heard about Operation Beautiful from a friend, but it took a while for the movement to have meaning for her.“I really didn’t think anything of it at first,” Patrick said.After suffering a tragedy in her family, Patrick began going to counseling. She went to the bathroom afterward one day and found a note posted on the mirror — “You are beautiful.”It brightened her day and put a smile on her face. She decided to start posting the notes herself.Patrick can’t drive yet, so she assembled a few friends to drive around with her to post the notes around town. Suddenly 20 people wanted to go along, so she decided to put the event on Facebook to make it easier on everyone to coordinate. That’s where it exploded.“People invited college friends, who invited friends abroad, and suddenly it was huge,” Patrick said. The Facebook event now has attendees from many states and several countries, such as Australia and Germany, and almost 14,500 have listed themselves as “attending.” The number continues to grow rapidly.***Now an IU freshman, Lorissa Pietruszka, the little girl afraid her teacher would reveal her weight to her classmates, said this movement and similar work by others have helped her accept and appreciate her body.“When I was younger, I was always the chubby kid,” Pietruszka said. “I wasn’t really pretty. I felt I wasn’t good enough.”She said a friend told her about the movement her junior year of high school.After seeing the success of the website, Pietruszka and her friends started posting the notes in their school and in diners around Munster, Ind.She said when she came to IU she was hesitant to continue posting, but the day she moved into Collins Living-Learning Center, she found a note stuck to the bathroom mirror.“To think there are other people out there like myself ... to know strangers wanted to help one another, was really powerful,” Pietruszka said.She said she believes the media contributes heavily to negative images men and women develop of themselves. Pietruszka used the show “America’s Next Top Model” as an example. During one season, the show featured “thick” models. The average weight of these models was 120 pounds.According to the Wardenburg Health Center, the average U.S. woman is 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 140 pounds, whereas the average U.S. model is 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs 117 pounds.But she said these “silly pieces of paper” continue to negate these incorrect impressions. She said they and similar works by authors such as Eve Ensler have helped her revise her self-image.“There’s no limitation. There’s no perfect size or shape,” Pietruszka said. “I feel as though I’m still the chubby kid, but that’s beautiful.”
(02/14/11 4:37pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Indiana legislature has reviewed several cuts to college aid in a package to reduce spending, and one cut may cause dissent among veteran groups.Under a new bill, children of disabled Indiana veterans would no longer receive full college scholarships.Since 1935, Indiana has guaranteed full payment of tuition and normal fees so that children of disabled or deceased veterans could attend college.But under the new bill, children of veterans less than 80 percent disabled would receive a minimum aid of 20 percent of the cost of college, plus the percentage of the parent’s disability.Children of deceased veterans or veterans at least 80 percent disabled would still receive a full scholarship.During the 2009-10 school year about 6000 students received a full scholarship. The state budget had appropriated $20.5 million for the program, but it was not enough. Colleges had to cover a $2.2 million shortfall.The Indiana Senate passed the bill Thursday with a vote of 32-17, and the bill will soon be voted on in the House.
(02/09/11 1:37am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>At 11:15 a.m. Monday, the Indiana State Police Scale Facility began operations as they would on any normal day.By 11:20 a.m., Indiana State Police Commercial Motor Vehicle Inspector Joe Dravigne had performed a routine truck inspection that led to the discovery of 125 pounds of marijuana and $1,187 in cash.Dravigne had signaled an eastbound 2007 Kenworth Tractor pulling a box trailer to enter the scale facility. Trucks and other large vehicles are regularly weighed in scale facilities for safety concerns. During the inspection, Dravigne noticed several irregularities involving the driver, his cargo and paperwork. Dravigne requested assistance from ISP Commercial Motor Vehicle Area Coordinator Cindy Gray, who was also working at the facility. After further investigation, Dravigne and Gray requested help from Terre Haute’s law enforcement canine unit.Terre Haute Police Department Canine Handler Brent Long and his dog Shadow arrived moments later and began a walk around of the tractor trailer. The dog alerted the handler as he was escorted around the exterior of the trailer. Dravigne and Commercial Motor Vehicle Master Trooper Matt Ames entered the trailer and inspected the load. Inside the rear one-third of the trailer and between pallets of nutritional drinks were 12 bundles of marijuana wrapped in plastic. A masking agent had been used inside the bundles in an attempt to disguise the scent of the marijuana from police canines.The driver was identified as Harry Lawrence Wilson III, 44, of Baltimore. Wilson was taken to the Vigo County Jail and preliminarily charged with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver (more than 10 pounds), a Class B felony. He currently has no bond.How much is too much?Dealing or possession of marijuana in an amount less than 30 grams is a Class A misdemeanor, which carries a sentence of up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $5,000.Dealing, possessing or growing marijuana in an amount of 30 grams to 10 pounds is a felony and carries a sentence of six months to three years in jail as well as a $10,000 fine.Dealing or growing more than 10 pounds of marijuana is also a felony and carries a sentence of two to eight years in jail and a fine of $10,000.
(01/26/11 5:37am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After decades of violent conflict and six years of uneasy peace, the road to independence is being tread by southern Sudanese.For 22 years northern Sudan was pitted against the South in armed conflict that cost two million lives.Five million more were forced to flee or be killed.In 2005, a peace agreement was reached with the condition that southern Sudanese would be allowed to vote to secede in the future. If passed next month, the referendum would split Sudan into two independent nations.Although southern Sudan is on the brink of secession, some southern Sudanese refugees have committed to leading a life in the United States regardless of the results such as Peter Thiong.Thiong came to the United States in September 2001. He did not live very long in Sudan but spent most of his childhood in refugee camps in Ethiopia, Kenya and other nearby countries.Thiong has been following the political news coming from Sudan and said he favors separation. He said Sudan has a much better chance at peace if the South secedes than if it remains united with the North.“I did not cast a vote, but I’m siding with those who cast their votes for separation, since it is the only healthy choice for the whole country,” Thiong said.Voting occurred from Jan. 9 to Jan. 15 and preliminary reports show overwhelming support for secession.Early reports from Sudan indicate more than 90 percent of the votes are in favor of secession.Sudanese in other countries, including the United States, were allowed to cast votes at centers in certain cities including Chicago and Nashville.“I think it really went very well,” said Agnes Oswaha, co-founder of the Southern Sudanese Women’s Association. “The Sudanese in America were represented in the vote.”Oswaha said 98.9 percent of the nearly 9,000 who voted in America voted in favor of secession, and early reports from other countries reflect these numbers.Oswaha said all of the votes should be compiled and results will be announced by Feb. 2. If there is no objection, southern Sudan will begin its transition into a new nation.“If there is no appeal process, South Sudan will declare itself an independent state on July 9,” Oswaha said.But the story of the Sudanese referendum is not the story of politics. It is the story of people.Beginning in 2001, 150 of the 4,000 refugees who came from southern Sudan to the United States settled in nearby Louisville, Ky. They became known as the Lost Boys and Lost Girls because they were forced to raise themselves after war tore them from their homes.The Lost Boys and Girls now watch from afar as their homeland may become the world’s youngest nation.Most of them did not vote for or against secession. Some remain torn between unifying the conflicting parties and splitting them apart. But some like Thiong said secession is the only road to peace.Besides, few if any of the Lost Boys and Girls plan to return to Sudan. Many have started successful lives in the United States.Ngor Biar Deng was the first Lost Boy to earn a college degree of those in Louisville and one of the first of the Sudanese refugees in the United States. He holds a bachelor’s in chemistry from the University of Louisville.James Maluak Malou was a founding member of the Sudanese Refugee Education Fund and was recently recognized for his dedication to the community.Kuol Kuai Deng began as a young boy living in refugee camps in Ethiopia. Now he holds a bachelor’s of science in public health.During the past 10 years Thiong has also built a life in Louisville.In 2001, Thiong flew from Kenya to Saudi Arabia, Rome, France and finally the United States.He enrolled in GED courses and began working at the University of Louisville Hospital.In 2005, the same year the peace treaty that ended the civil war was signed, Thiong began courses at Berea College.At Berea Thiong spent the majority of his time working on the college’s farmland.“I worked at the college farm with cattle, goats, sheep and other animals,” Thiong said. “Planting and harvesting crops with the tractor was my favorite.”Since earning his degree, Thiong has dedicated his career to public service.He currently works at Youthbuild in Louisville. The center helps unemployed and undereducated young adults, ages 16 to 24, earn their GED or high school diploma.The young adults also assist in building affordable housing for local homeless and low-income families.Part of Thiong’s responsibilities include managing Youthbuild’s garden and coordinating community service activities with the students and surrounding neighborhoods.“I have an opportunity to teach students how to grow their own food and give back to the communities by carrying out volunteering service in the communities when needed,” Thiong said.Still, he vividly remembers his childhood in Juba, Sudan.Thiong said he fondly remembers living in a small home with his family. They were very close and talked, laughed and enjoyed life with one another.But not all of Thiong’s memories of Sudan were happy. His mother, father and two sisters and two brothers were killed in conflict.When he was young Thiong fled to Kenya. Around him, refugees became malnourished and sickly. Young and old who had survived the bullet succumbed to illness and faded away, but he survived.Although he doesn’t have any plans to move back to Sudan and didn’t participate in the referendum, Sudan remains an important memory.“All I could remember from my childhood in Sudan is when I wrestled our village boys, herded cattle and goats and cuddled with love by my family,” Thiong said. “It was heavenly living in Sudan.”
(01/25/11 8:26pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology has received more than 4,000 applications from both men and women for the 2011-12 freshman class.The 4,000-plus applications represent a record for the engineering-, science- and mathematics-focused institution, said Jim Goecker, vice president of enrollment management.This number also reflects a growing number of women who want to attend the institute. The number of female applicants is up 23 percent from last year.About 20 percent of current Rose-Hulman students are women.For the first time, Rose-Hulman has created a waiting list for prospective freshmen. Rose-Hulman is not seeking large-scale enrollment growth, and undergraduate enrollment is capped at 2,000, Goecker said. For fall 2010, undergraduate enrollment was 1,875, while graduate enrollment was 105. The college seeks slow, sustainable growth, Goecker said.
(01/24/11 1:46am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives made good on campaign promises Friday when they voted to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.This was the first exercise of power by the Republican majority since the fall election, according to political analysts, but it won’t be the last.Representatives voted 245 to 189 to pass the repeal called H.R. 2, Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act. All 242 Republicans and three Democrats voted for the repeal.“Today, I will vote to repeal the health care law, and I have signed on as a co-sponsor of the repeal bill,” Rep. Todd Young, R-9th, said in a press release Friday. “However I do not believe that a blanket repeal is the only solution.”Before the vote, Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, said the law would eliminate jobs, increase the national deficit and raise taxes.“Repeal means paving the way for better solutions that will lower the costs without destroying jobs or bankrupting our government,” Boehner said on the floor.So far it appears the health care law is safe. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he is confident the repeal will not pass in the Senate; however, House Minority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., did not share his view.“If Harry Reid is so confident a repeal will die in the Senate, then he should bring it up for a vote,” Cantor said in a briefing.President Obama has also promised to veto the repeal should it reach his desk but said he is willing to revisit the law to review changes.“Americans deserve the freedom and security of knowing that insurance companies can’t deny, cap or drop their coverage when they need it the most, while taking meaningful steps to curb runaway health care costs,” Obama said.The president will give a speech Tuesday night to comment on the repeal.Despite promises the repeal will fail, Republicans in both the House and the Senate are still working to revisit provisions of the law they see as unnecessary or damaging.“The best course of action moving forward is to repeal the current law and begin anew the discussions to implement meaningful reform,” Young said in the release. “The majority of people in Indiana’s 9th District want the same thing, and I’m proud to represent them with my vote today.”
(01/12/11 5:12am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>FROM IDS REPORTSMedia officials at Planned Parenthood of Indiana announced today they will offer influenza vaccines for the 2010-11 season for $10 per vaccine.PPIN previously offered flu vaccines for $15, one of the lowest costs in the state.The Indiana State Department of Health announced the first Indiana flu death of the 2010-11 season on Dec. 22. No other information about the deceased was released.“The flu season is in full swing right now, so this is a very good time to get yourself vaccinated,” PPIN President and CEO Betty Cockrum said.The ISDH reports that the season will likely peak in January or February but can last through May.Flu shots from PPIN are available at 19 locations, including one in Bloomington and four in Indianapolis.The Centers for Disease Control recommend annual vaccinations for everyone ages six months or older. Vaccinations at PPIN centers are only available to people at least 12 years old.Anyone who wishes to receive a vaccination from PPIN must make an appointment in advance. The phone number for Bloomington’s PPIN health center is 812-336-0219.“We want to help our patients stay healthy,” Cockrum said. “Knowing that we’re often the only medical providers some of them will see, it’s important that we have a variety of affordable services at each of our health centers.”— Mary Kenney
(12/09/10 5:16pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Indiana Department of Transportation announced the following traffic changes on the S.R. 45/46 bypass that began today.Walnut Street and College Avenue will be restricted to one lane in each direction between roughly the Hampton Inn and McDonalds. However, dedicated left turn lanes will be maintained for both northbound and southbound at the SR 46 intersection.Just west of Kinser Pike, the crossover will be put in place that will utilize the existing westbound lanes for a single eastbound and a single westbound lane. This will allow for bridge work at Cascade Road to begin. Traffic will continue to be shifted to the northernmost side of SR 46 up to the Dunn Street intersection. At this time, no traffic pattern changes are occurring east of Dunn Street. However, there will be left turn lanes maintained at both the Kinser Pike and Walnut/College intersections.Lane restrictions currently in place west of Kinser Pike will be lifted.
(12/09/10 5:24am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>From IDS ReportsThe U.S. Senate voted 59-40 to table the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, which it was to have voted on at 11 a.m. Thursday.The DREAM Act, introduced by Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., and Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., in March 2009, would provide incentive for young illegal immigrants to attend college or perform military service.The act would allow those who have lived in the U.S. for at least five years and are younger than 30 years of age to obtain temporary legal status after completing high school, a GED or being admitted to college, according to National Immigration Law Center. To qualify for the program, the person would have to have no criminal record and be of good moral character.Immigrants who serve in the military or attend college would be granted permanent legal status after two years of education or service.The DREAM Act, if passed in the U.S. Senate, would not allow those with temporary legal status to receive certain federal student aid, such as the Pell Grant, while they attended school.The Act would also leave it up to the states whether or not to let universities grant in-state tuition to illegal immigrants, which is currently penalized under federal law, according to NILC.“We want other people, the less fortunate, to be able to graduate and walk across the stage and fulfill their dreams,” said Omar Gama, a member of DREAM IU, a student advocacy organization, in an earlier interview with the Indiana Daily Student.Opponents of the act have voiced the concern that it would reward illegal immigrants and serve as a slap in the face to immigrants who have gone through the legal process of becoming a citizen.Opponents also worry that the states would unfairly grant in-state tuition to illegal immigrants over legal citizens.The decision to table the DREAM Act will give senators at least another week for discussion before they vote on its fate.The DREAM Act passed in the U.S. House of Representatives with 216 votes Wednesday night.
(12/08/10 3:10am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Some IU students are pushing congress members to vote in favor of the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, also known as the DREAM Act. Seven members of DREAM IU, a student advocacy group for the DREAM Act, met with members of U.S. Rep. Baron Hill’s, D-9, office in Bloomington to persuade Hill to vote favorably.The DREAM Act, introduced by U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar, R-IN, and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin ,D-IL, in March 2009, would provide incentive for young illegal immigrants to attend college or perform military service. The act would allow those who have lived in the U.S. for at least five years and are under 35 years of age to obtain temporary legal status after completing high school, a GED or being admitted to college, according to National Immigration Law Center. Immigrants who serve in the military or attend college for two years would be granted permanent legal status. In May, IU President Michael McRobbie wrote a letter to Sen. Lugar to show support of the Act. “Enacting the DREAM Act would truly open the door to a better life for thousands of individuals who were born elsewhere but now consider the United States their home,” McRobbie wrote. The U.S. Congress is predicted to vote on the DREAM Act this week.Trent Deckard, District Director for Rep. Hill, thanked the students for presenting their side of the issue. He said he and Jason Karns, field representative for Hill, receive a lot of feedback from constituents regarding proposed legislation. “This is a huge part of that decision-making process,” Deckard said.Junior Ivonne Romo said DREAM IU was recognized last year by the University as one of the most civilly engaged and progressive on-campus organizations. She said the group has written more than 150 letters to Hill’s office and to McRobbie to persuade them to support the act.Romo said the act is intended to be bipartisan, though more Democrats favor it than Republicans. She said 11 Republican senators have voted for it so far.Graduate student Juan Berumen addressed some of the opposition the act has received. Many opponents believe the act would encourage or reward illegal immigration.“That’s unfounded,” Berumen said. “People come to this country for opportunity. As long as the U.S. is economically sound, people will come.”Berumen talked about the attempt in California to lessen immigration by denying illegal immigrants government services, such as health care. He said it didn’t stop the flux of immigrants.Berumen said adults who attend college and are able to find work after are likely to have a positive impact on society, while adults who are unable to attend college or find work often turn to crime.“It’s a decision of what impact we want them to have on society,” Berumen said.Junior Minelle Amezquita is one of the three members of the group currently on a hunger strike in support of the act. She said it was her eighth day Tuesday without food, and she was very tired.Amezquita began to cry as she told Deckard about friends in high school who attended the same classes as her and graduated with her but were unable to apply to college because they were not legal residents.“We’ve been through everything together,” Amezquita said, “but only I can continue my dream.”
(12/03/10 4:33am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>It is toxic for your heart, bones, intestines, kidneys, reproductive and nervous systems, and you probably inhale it every day.It’s lead, and it’s one of the most common air pollutants.The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently found 16 sites in 11 states in violation of its new air quality standards for lead, and Muncie is home to one of them.The Clean Air Act passed in 1970, and amended in 1990, required the EPA to set standards for air quality with regards to lead, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and ozone — a primary component of smog.Robert Elstro, of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, said the EPA recently made their standards much stricter.He said the previous standard allowed up to 1.5 micrograms of pollutants per cubic meter, but the new standard allows only 0.15 micrograms.Exide Technologies of Muncie’s south side had levels of up to 2.14 micrograms between 2007 and 2009, according to reports by the EPA.“A part of Muncie does not meet that new air quality standard,” Elstro said. “The new standard required additional monitoring.”Philip Stevens, chair of environmental science faculty for IU’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs, said this pollution is caused because of battery recycling by the Muncie company.“Lead acid batteries are commonly used in cars and other forms of transportation,” Stevens said. “There may be steps that involve melting parts of the battery that could lead to air emissions of lead.” Karla Johnson, administrator for the Marion County Health Department, said lead exposure can result in adverse health effects to both adults and children, but the effects are often irreversible in young children and the unborn.“There are learning difficulties for children that are exposed to lead,” Johnson said. “There has been some suggestion that it is connected to ADHD.”Johnson said lead exposure has also been shown to cause problems with impulse control and aggression in children, which may lead to delinquent behavior.“Those kinds of things can happen at lower level exposure,” Johnson said. “The higher the lead levels in the liver and the body, the more devastating the effects, but serious damage can occur even at lower levels.”Johnson said lead exposure can cause neurological damage as well as damage to other tissues to both children and adults, and high levels of lead inhaled can prove fatal.The violation could cause the EPA to label Muncie as a “nonattainment area.”When an area is labeled as “nonattainment,” it is published on the EPA’s website as failing to meet air quality standards. The state is then expected to work with local businesses and organizations within that area to fix the problem.Elstro said IDEM has already made plans to work with facilities in the area, and EPA enforcement will bring improvements.“We will bring that facility back into attainment,” Elstro said.