172 items found for your search. If no results were found please broaden your search.
(11/12/12 2:41pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Strobe lights flashed.Cell phones and beer bottles were raised in the air as Matisyahu stepped onto the Bluebird Nightclub stage, wearing a long black trench coat and aviator sunglasses.The reggae and alternative rock artist performed for a packed crowd at 9 p.m. Sunday as part of his fall college concert tour in support of his newest album, “Spark Seeker.”Matisyahu began rapping as the lights turned purple and blue. His band, Dub Trio, played techno beats on the electric guitar, sounds that resonated during the entire show.A futuristic, auto-tune voice transitioned into Matisyahu’s beat-boxing at the beginning of “Searchin,” the third song on his newest album. Messages about searching or realizations were common themes in the artist’s lyrics.In the song that followed, “For You”, from the album “Light,” Matisyahu shed his coat and glasses, revealing a flannel shirt that was later stripped down to a black t-shirt.He took a long pause at the conclusion of the song, eyes closed, as the band continued to play.As he opened his eyes, yellow lights flooded the stage and cheers erupted as the beginning of the newest hit single, “Sunshine” was played.With outstretched arms, fans sang along to the lyrics, “Reach for the sky, keep your eye on the prize.”He sang an entire four songs before saying a single word to the audience.“Thank you,” he muttered after singing “Baal Shem Tov.”After singing the crowd-pleasing “Live Like a Warrior,” Matisyahu swayed in slow motion to low bass beats that made the ground shake.He mixed lyrics from old songs such as “Jerusalem” with the modern sounds of his newest album, rapping and beat boxing occasionally.The guitar and drums increased intensity and the strobe lights flashed once more as Matisyahu sang "King Without a Crown," the classic song that first brought the reggae artist to the limelight.After the first verse, he held onto the beam above him, grinning and nodding his head at the audience.Before the audience could react, he jumped into the mass of fans in a full-blown crowd surf. He crawled his way through the crowd, almost hitting his head against the ceiling fan hanging above.As the lights dimmed at the conclusion of the song, the crowd went wild, yelling “Encore!” and “Matisyhau!”An enthusiastic fan in the front row took off his shirt and swung it around in the air, revealing a cross tattoo on his bicep.As the band returned and began playing the familiar entrance to the much-anticipated song, “One Day,” every audience member raised his or her index finger and swayed it in the air.Matisyahu gave the audience one last curve ball by pulling members of the crowd onto the stage for the last chorus of the song.A group of over twenty screaming fans surrounded the musician onstage, reaching for hugs, or any form of contact, as he left the stage for the last time.“It was amazing," said John Putz, a doctoral student who is studying Public Health. "The people went crazy.”Putz said he had to work at 9 a.m. the following morning, but that the concert was definitely worth it.“I live with Israelis," Putz said."There are four of us. We’re all Jewish. We were all so excited to see Matisyahu.”Spencer Morris, a fifth-year IU student studying business management, said he drove to St. Louis, Mo., to see Matisyahu’s concert two months ago.He said he doesn’t like the newest album as much as the others, but he loves seeing the songs performed live.“The most fun thing about seeing his shows is the energy he brings,” Morris said. “He plays his songs differently every time.”Purdue University at Fort Wayne seniors Dan Mader and Jessie Manwaring drove three hours to see the concert at the Bluebird. Mader said he is a fan of Matisyahu’s positive music and the new sound he brings to “Spark Seeker.”“It’s less grudgy,” he said. “It’s crisper, more modern. I like it.”
(11/12/12 4:47am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The row of black-suited Veterans Honor Guards fired seven rifle shots as the crowd saluted the half-staff flag in silence. Local veterans, Boy Scouts, families and county officials gathered outside the Monroe County Courthouse at 11 a.m., on the 11th day of the 11th month to honor those who protected the country. The American Legion Post 18 has hosted the Veterans Day ceremony for more than 40 years, American Legion Colonel Turner Nolan said. The ceremony began at 10 a.m. in the courthouse center with a rendition of the National Anthem by the Veterans Day Brass Quintet. While the Boy Scouts of America Troop 100 lowered the flag to half-staff outside the courthouse, American Legion representatives and county officials gave the ceremony’s welcoming remarks. First Vice-Commander Larry Taillon led the Prisoners of War/Missing in Action remembrance portion of the ceremony. He directed the crowd’s attention to a place setting at the front of the room, which served as a physical symbol of the thousands of American POW/MIAs still unaccounted for from all foreign conflicts. He described how the white tablecloth represented the purity of the intentions of the POW/MIAs, the lemon slice symbolized their bitter fate and the red rose represented the families and loved ones who await their return. “The chair is empty, for they are not here ... the candle is the light of hope which lives in our hearts to illuminate their way home,” Taillon said. Hugh Dagley, American Legion Department of Indiana adjutant and IU alumnus, served as the guest speaker for the ceremony. He said Veterans Day is not only a day to remember those who have passed, but to honor those who continue to serve.“GIs go to war not because they’re looking for glory,” Dagley said. “They go to war because of honor, commitment and duty. That’s why many of them pay the ultimate price.”Taillon and American Legion Post 18 Adjutant James May then read off the names of the 98 veterans who died in the last year with the Legion, chiming a bell after each name was read. The crowd moved outside at 11 a.m. for the Veterans Honor Guard Gun Salute, which consisted of the firing of gun shots and a rendition of taps by the brass quintet as the boy scouts returned the flag to full-staff. Legion representatives then presented honorary decorative wreaths to individuals from 21 veteran-related organizations. The ceremony concluded with a benediction from American Legion Chaplain Jenny Tracey and a performance of “God Bless America,” led by Carolyn Burgess and Miss IU Jaclyn Fenwick. The crowd joined in the singing of the classic song as they faced the raised flag. For WWII veteran Charlie Wier, who graduated from IU in 1943, the ceremony brought back memories of his time serving in the Philippines and Japan, he said.He said his most vivid war memory was when he was given a plane ride over Hiroshima, Japan, following the atomic bombing.“When we flew over, there was nothing but rubble,” Wier said. “No one survived.”For Jim Arnold, a member of the firing squad and a veteran who played a communications role for 20 years in Vietnam, Korea and Germany, the ceremony reminded him of his cousins who were killed in WWII. He emphasized the importance of treating returning veterans with appreciation and respect. “Ceremonies like this bring attention to the general public what our service men and women sacrifice for the freedom to do what we did today,” Arnold said.
(11/12/12 2:53am)
Gulf War veteran Mike Bastin and Gold Star Mothers' Marilyn Allen accept their honorary wreaths at the end of the Veteran's Day Ceremony outside the Monroe County Courthouse on Sunday morning.
(11/12/12 2:53am)
World War II veteran Charlie Wier faces the flag along with the crowd of fellow veterans and families at the Veteran's Honor Guard Salute portion of the Veteran's Day Ceremony. The ceremony was held at the Monroe County Courthouse on Sunday morning.
(11/12/12 2:53am)
The Veteran's Honor Guard prepares for the flag lowering portion of the Veteran's Day Ceremony at the Monroe County Courthouse on Sunday morning.
(11/09/12 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Grammy-nominated reggae and alternative rock musician Matisyahu will stop in Bloomington this weekend as part of his nationwide college tour, performing at 9 p.m. Sunday at the Bluebird Nightclub.Tickets are $22 and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com.Matisyahu is headlining the concert tour in support of his most recent album, “Spark Seeker,” which marks a time of major transition for the artist. “There’s a certain lightness,” said Matisyahu, whose legal name is Matthew Paul Miller. “There’s a feeling of somebody really connecting with a big realization in their life. In past albums there was the lack, the missing piece, the struggle. This one feels more to me like a rebirth, a redemption, a freedom.”Matisyahu released the album on his new label Fallen Sparks Records on July 17, according to a press release. “Spark Seeker” debuted at No. 19 on the Billboard 200 Chart and at No. 1 on the Billboard Reggae Chart. It includes singles “Sunshine” and “Live Like a Warrior.” Matisyahu gained popularity in the mid-2000s for the stripped-down reggae sound of his first album, “Live at Stubb’s,” as well as for his orthodox Jewish garb of a traditional black suit, black hat and long beard.In his consecutive albums “Youth” and “Light,” Matisyahu fused his reggae style with beatboxing, hip-hop, and alternative-rock sounds.Some of his best-known tracks include “Jerusalem” and “One Day.”As of late last year, Matisyahu has shed his signature beard and decided to distance himself from his Hasidic Jewish ways, a lifestyle change hinted at in the album’s sounds and lyrics.“I pretty much try to live my life a day at a time,” Matisyahu said. “I don’t try to concern myself with where I fall, I spent a lot of my time doing that.”He said audiences should expect to hear new and old material, as well as a beat with the band Dub Trio.“The sound is most similar to the ‘Live at Stubbs II’ album,” Matisyahu said. He just recently spent the summer months co-headlining with the Dirty Heads and making stops in more than 50 cities, according to a press release. He decided to headline a college tour because he realized he had been playing in several college towns in past years, Matisyahu said.“We’ve had a lot of fans who were home for the summer and who are coming back,” he said. His newest album was produced by Kool Kojak, who has worked with artists such as Ke$ha and Nicki Minaj, according to the press release. Matisyahu said many of the songs on the album contain music he recorded in Israel. He mixes Middle Eastern instrumentals and chants with futuristic electro-beat sounds.“The element that you hear on the record that has the more organic flavor is coming from our time spent in Isreal,” Matisyahu said. “We try to combine that sound with a more modern sound.”Matisyahu said the conflict in the Middle East is an ancient war that must be approached with compassion. Music is his form of expressing this philosophy. “I think that as human beings, the most divine way to connect with holiness is through peace, through love and through empathy,” Matisyahu said. “Music can play a big role in helping people relate to the human dimension, to the more empathic, compassionate dimension.”
(11/08/12 4:48am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Eighteen hungry families and couples dug into the Turkish kebab, hummus, grape leaves and tarator on the long table at Anatolia restaurant on Fourth Street. The group participated in Bloomington’s first annual Dish Crawl, an event that invites community members to visit several restaurants in one night, sampling food and meeting the chefs and owners. Anatolia was the second stop on the night’s lineup of five local restaurants. Tickets were $39 each and included the price of each meal as well as tax and tips, Dish Crawl Bloomington ambassador Brittany Bland said. Participants were not given the itinerary of restaurants until Monday, in the hope of keeping the list a much anticipated “secret,” Bland said. The night began at Nick’s English Hut, where the group was given an antipasto appetizer of locally produced cheese and smoked meats. After Anatolia, the group enjoyed meals at Esan Thai and Crazy Horse, walking to and from each restaurant. Dish Crawl CEO Tracy Lee first began organizing Dish Crawl events two and a half years ago in San Jose, Calif. The idea was to gather community members to experience a night of great food while also supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs, Lee said.“The community started going crazy over it,” Lee said. “All these people in different cities started emailing me.”Lee and a staff of two other directors now oversee Dish Crawl events in 40 cities across the United States and Canada. She said after visiting Bloomington a couple of months ago, she decided the local dining scene was perfect for Dish Crawl. “We’re helping provide a lot of marketing to the local restaurants,” Lee said. “We believe in small businesses.”Lee said Dish Crawl also provides the unique opportunity to go behind the scenes and meet the chefs. “That’s something people don’t always get,” she said. “Being able to put a face to the food is something we’re able to do with Dish Crawl.” Bland said she hopes to organize about two Dish Crawl events each month, and she plans to incorporate different themes and audiences into each event. “I really want to have some student ones,” she said. She said the prices would most likely be lowered for college students. An event called Dish Walk, which should take place in January or early February, will provide community members with a self-guided scavenger hunt through eight local restaurants in one night. Sarah Huguenard, an IU senior studying biology and psychology, said she was invited to the Dish Crawl Facebook event and decided it was a good opportunity to get an overall taste of Bloomington’s best restaurants. “When I first started out at IU I said ‘I want to go to as many restaurants as possible,’” Huguenard said. “I realize it’s my senior year and I haven’t been to that many.”Bland plans to expand the Dish Crawl audience to people in surrounding regions who might not come to Bloomington often. Dish Crawl participant Amber Cates traveled from Linton, Ind., to support Bland and to experience the Dish Crawl. “It sounded like a really neat idea to try some new food and meet some new people,” Cates said. As the group left Nick’s for Anatolia, Bland gave them a warning. “You’re gonna be really, really full,” she said. “Hopefully you’ll walk some of it off.”Rationing the Dish Crawlers’ food intake was not on the agenda for Anatolia manager Sibel Cekic. She encouraged the waiters to bring out dish after dish, giving each participant a four-course meal. While most restaurants were paid a fee for participating in the dish crawl, Cekic decided to instead donate the money to a local charity, the Hoosier Hills Food Bank. “You have to practice giving, not always receiving,” Cekic said. “That’s one way of enlarging your heart. That’s my philosophy.”Cekic said the Dish Crawl is a great way to encourage Bloomington residents to try new foods.Dish-Crawler and Bloomington resident Keith Pledger said he appreciated the opportunity to try the Turkish food at Anatolia. “It was excellent, and this is coming from someone who’s never tried anything like this,” Pledger said. “I will definitely be coming back.”
(11/07/12 4:57am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Rep. Todd Young, R-9th District, clinched another two years in Congress after a late ballot count Tuesday night. “My bags are packed, I’m ready to suit up and I’m ready to serve another two years as your 9th-District congressman,” Young said.Young beat Democratic candidate Shelli Yoder 57 to 43 percent, with 97 percent of votes counted, said Trevor Foughty, Young’s press secretary. “Hoosiers have spoken loud and clear tonight,” Young said. “In its simplest terms, this race was really about trust.”Young made his official address at 10:30 pm. at KRC Banquets and Catering in Bloomington, where families, local candidates, College Republicans and Monroe County Republicans alike gathered to watch the results roll in. Young began his victory speech by sending regards to Yoder and thanking his family and entire campaign staff. He then vowed to continue working to make decisions on behalf of Hoosiers, placing the power “back in the people themselves.”Supporters began arriving at the victory celebration at 6:30 p.m. They waited patiently for the results and for Young to arrive. As Young walked in at 9:30 p.m., with the ballot counting still unfinished, the crowd stood and applauded, shaking hands with Young as he made his way around the room. The results were expected to come in by 8 p.m., but strong voter turnouts in several 9th-District counties held up the counting, Foughty said. Monroe County, which planned on closing polls at 6 p.m., extended polling hours to 9 p.m. because of long voter lines. Clark County precincts ran out of ballots at about 6 p.m., causing voters to wait in line for additional ones to be printed.For Young, the day started at 6 a.m. when he cast his ballot at Smithville Christian Church in Bloomington. He spent the morning and afternoon traveling to polling locations throughout the district, greeting voters for one final campaign push, Foughty said. “The positive response, the high turnout we saw everywhere, it was all encouraging,” Foughty said. Young’s final stop, at about 3 p.m., was in Salem, Ind., the same place where he completed his campaigning two years ago. “He felt like it was good luck, so he went to the same polling place,” Foughty said. Jenny Young, Todd’s wife, said the campaign has been easier this time around. His 2010 campaign began only five weeks after the couple’s twins were born, she said. “This time the kids and I have been going to all sorts of events,” Jenny said as her son Tucker handed her a Spiderman picture he was coloring. “It’s hard on us being away from Todd, but I think it’s harder for him.”Jenny said they hope to have a family dinner tomorrow night before Young returns to Washington, D.C. Todd’s mother, Nancy Young, twirled around 5-year-old Ava, who wore a pink tutu matching that of her 8-year-old sister, Abby. Nancy, an IU grad, said she has enjoyed meeting with Todd’s constituents. “He loves his job,” she said. “I’m excited that he’ll have the opportunity to return to Congress to complete what he started there.”Susan Monsey arrived with her three children, her 6-month-old daughter Megan wearing a red, white and blue bow on her head. Monsey is a close friend of Jenny and attends Sherwood Oaks Christian Church with the Young family. Monsey, whose husband served in Afghanistan for the last six months, said she is grateful for Todd’s military support and hopes he continues it in his next term. “He’s been very supportive,” she said. “When I see him at church he asks how my husband’s doing and if we need anything.”On the other end of the room, about 20 IU College Republicans talked about Young’s campaign. Chairwoman Hilary Leighty said the group had been making calls since before school started, making more than 30,000 calls for all Republican candidates combined. Leighty said Young has been extremely supportive of the College Republicans, taking time out of his campaign to write a letter encouraging constituents to donate to the group. Vice chairman Daniel Cheesman said he hopes to see Young continue to lead Congress on the path toward fiscal austerity through his work on the Budget Committee. “That’s what he campaigned for in 2010, and that’s what he campaigned for now,” Cheesman said. “He’s the man to do it.”One of many local Republican candidates who attended the victory rally, Republican State Senate candidate Reid Dallas said he looks up to Young’s approachable personality. “He was the first person to call me this morning and let me know I was on his mind,” Dallas said. Young said one lesson he learned in his last term was that tone matters. “There are times for debating,” he said. “But you can do that in a respectful, statesman-like way.”Looking forward, Young said he aims to continue to take part in the larger effort to reform the tax code and tame the national debt. He said he plans to continue to take the lead on the REINS Act, giving Congress more control over the regulatory process of federal rules. Following his speech, Young said he was humbled by his win and won’t take it for granted. “Let’s enjoy our time with friends and family, and then let’s get to work,” he said.
(11/06/12 5:36am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Feeling the restlessness of their final class period Friday afternoon, 12th grade students chatted among themselves at the start of their government class at Bloomington High School North.“Let’s start with some current events,” social studies teacher Geoff Aiken said. Logan Blake, a senior hoping to study pre-law next year, listened to Aiken as he discussed the Hurricane Sandy news coverage. “I’m curious to see what they’re going to do with the whole election,” Blake said. “They can’t even get to the polls.”On the chalkboard at the back of the classroom, a scrawled out message reminded students to turn in their second civic participation project. The civic participation project involves them demonstrating engagement in the Bloomington community or in the local or national political process, Aiken said. Three times per semester, students must volunteer at a local nonprofit organization, attend a Bloomington City Council meeting or watch a presidential debate. They then write an essay describing the event and their reaction to it. “We’ve found that our students go above and beyond,” Social Studies department chair Pat Wilson said. “We see a rollover into an increased awareness of what’s going on.” Several students in Aiken’s class chose to engage in community service for their second project. Senior Jalen Williams volunteered at Habitat for Humanity. Blake, Williams and Michael Lenning II chose to register to vote for their first project entry. In early September, the League of Women Voters worked with the 12th grade government and economics classes to get eligible students register to vote, Aiken said. “It’s a really exciting time to be a first-time voter,” Lenning said. Blake watched all three presidential debates for his projects and said he found himself actually enjoying them. Since he is taking both economics and government, he must complete six project entries by the end of the semester, a civic participation “double duty,” he said.“I think having the election our senior year, we got really lucky,” Blake said. “But some of the kids in our class probably don’t feel the same way we do.”Lenning said for many high school seniors, who must balance their senior year workload with college applications, it is difficult to process the different issues affecting them in this year’s election. “A lot of things have happened in a short period of time,” Lenning said. “It’s staggering, overwhelming.” Blake said he feels many of his classmates lack an interest in the election or are unsure how to the handle the information discussed in the debates. “I think that’s why a lot of people shy away from it,” Blake said. Outside of school, Lenning works with a construction company. The conversations he has with his coworkers and family members have helped him stay engaged in the election, he said. Lenning said he supports most of the Republican candidates running for election but is more interested in the local races. “I’m mainly going to stick to the local government, because that’s who is really affecting you,” he said. Blake and Lenning said they hope to attend a city council meeting for a future project entry and are especially interested in participating in the open microphone portion of the meetings. Aiken said he often goes to city council meetings with the students as part of their project and remembers seeing up to 30 of his students present in one of the meetings. Sometimes the students even speak up during the meetings, Aiken said. “One kid thought he needed more sidewalks in his neighborhood, so he got up and asked for more sidewalks,” Aiken said.City Council Attorney Dan Sherman said he recalled seeing high school students in several city council meetings. Council members will often recognize the youth in the room and sometimes give a group a tour of the chambers prior to a meeting, he said. “It’s always good to see young people out in the chambers,” City Council Vice President Susan Sandberg said. “It certainly is helpful to us when people get engaged.”The project’s main goal is to get students to realize the importance of being involved in their community on a regular basis, even after the project has ended, Aiken said. “They’re very comfortable in their high school world, but they’ll be out of that world soon,” he said. “We need to find ways to get them out there.”
(11/03/12 8:12pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In a dark Ballantine Hall classroom, with a backdrop of painted banners declaring “Strike” and “All Prisoners are Political,” about 60 protesters listened to the recorded voice of a prison inmate Friday night.“Uhuru Sasa,” the voice said. “That means ‘freedom now’ in Swahili.”The students and community members gathered to promote awareness of education cuts in Indiana prisons.The event, called “Shake the Cage: Free Show to Support Indiana Prisoners,” was attended by groups such as Student Power IU and Decarcerate Monroe County, a group that challenges the local justice system.“Shake the Cage” consisted of three live performances from local bands and speeches from individuals. The recorded phone call with the prisoner marked the first portion of the event.Tom, a student who helped organize the prisoner recording portion of the event, described the speaker as a long term inmate and activist from an Indiana prison. He did not provide a last name.Tom mentioned the importance of preserving the speaker’s anonymity, as many prison activists are punished if discovered. They are often placed in isolation units, for up to 23 hours in one day, Tom said. “When I first came here in 1999, higher education gave me a feeling of empowerment,” the prisoner said.Much like the funding cuts universities are experiencing, prison education and other prisoner services have been sacrificed due to financial restrictions, the prisoner said.These cuts have eliminated GED-granting programs and have restricted college classes, contact visitation and access to mail. The cuts have also limited prisoner showers from seven to three days per week, senior and former IDS opinion columnist Aidan Crane said.Crane said the cuts are depriving prisoners of basic rights to education to better themselves.News of the protest spread mainly via word of mouth, and the event’s purpose was outlined on a website called shitisonlygettingworse.blogspot.com.“Educational programs are almost nonexistent,” the prisoner said. “It’s making the environment a lot worse.”The protesters used the space in Ballantine without permission, keeping the door open with a duct tape wedge. The protesters also broke other University rules, Crane said, including using amplified sound equipment and being there after hours.“That itself is sort of a statement that the rules are restrictive,” Crane said. “They don’t run our lives and control our political expression.”The group was striving to express their view rather than create a disturbance.“Nothing destructive,” Crane said. “It’s just a concert.”Three police officers arrived at the event at 10 p.m., leaving shortly thereafter without making arrests.The event lasted until about 11 p.m. and included performances from the bands Ratón and The Underhills.Singer Crescent Ulmer gave the final performance of the night, playing guitar and singing four original songs. Between songs, she spoke about how her brother was shot by police officers in 2005.“My dad also spent some time in jail in his youth, and it definitely made him a different person,” Ulmer said.She sang an original song titled “Futility.”“The whole premise of the song is fighting against the futility in our lives,” she said. “Working with prisoners behind bars and the futility they’re fighting as well. It’s pretty awesome.”The prisoner on the recording talked about students’ ability to build relationships with struggling prisoners. He encouraged community members to write prisoners letters or make them phone calls.As both a student and someone with friends who are currently in prison, Tom said he appreciated the importance of the protest.“There’s lots of prisoners in the inside that are drawing inspiration from student struggles in the same way that we are drawing inspiration from them,” Tom said.
(11/02/12 2:18am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The last contract for the alignment of Interstate 69 in Monroe County has been awarded to Bloomington contractor Crider & Crider Inc., which will connect State Road 37 with the interstate at a “trumpet” interchange south of Bloomington.Crider & Crider’s $29 million bid was the lowest among eight companies and 10 percent below the engineer’s cost estimate, the Indiana Department of Transportation announced Thursday in a press release. The trumpet design for the interchange will allow traffic on I-69 and SR 37 to move at higher speeds on ramps and will provide exit and entrance access in both directions, INDOT spokesperson Will Wingfield said. In anticipation of the increase in traffic expected on the interchanges, INDOT is currently seeking safety upgrades needed on SR 37, Wingfield said. INDOT has nearly completed the acquisition of all properties located in the areas of development and will not begin construction until all properties have been acquired, he said. Because Crider & Crider Inc. is a local contracting company, they will have an advantage in the construction process because the proximity of the site to construction employees and equipment, Wingfield said. However, Wingfield said INDOT realizes that due to the locality of the contracting company, INDOT will need to display increased sensitivity toward local property owners affected by the construction. The connection with SR 37 corresponds with Section 4 of the I-69 alignment, which extends from Naval Support Activity Crane to Bloomington and is expected to be open by 2014, according to the press release. Only one construction contract for Greene County remains to be awarded and contractor bids are scheduled to be released by the end of this year, Wingfield said. On Tuesday INDOT announced the release of the Tier 2 Draft Environmental Impact Statement for I-69 Section 5, which will connect the SR 37 corridor from just south of Bloomington to SR 39 near Martinsville.The draft describes the maximum potential environmental impacts of the construction of Section 5, according to the press release. INDOT is encouraging public input on the document. INDOT will welcome comments at a public hearing on the DEIS on Dec. 6 at the Monroe County Fairgrounds Auditorium. One of the issues that will be discussed is whether to build a full interchange in the floodplain north of Bloomington at Old SR 37/Walnut Street, where a partial interchange currently exists. The DEIS document will then be sent to the Federal Highway Administration for review. Pending approval, construction is expected to begin during the first half of 2013, Wingfield said. “We’ll be seeking detail from designers, consultants and construction companies on the fastest and most cost-effective way to build the project,” Wingfield said.
(10/30/12 5:22am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The City of Bloomington has released a newly drafted vision statement and is seeking public input through ImagineBloomington workshops, the first of which was Monday night at the Monroe County Library. Bloomington residents can attend the next workshop tonight from 4 to 7 p.m. in the City Hall Atrium. The statement summarizes a wide range of topics affecting the future of Bloomington, including affordable housing and public safety, Planning Director Tom Micuda said in a press release. The draft was written by the 25-member Steering Committee and was based on public input received from ImagineBloomington workshops conducted February through April, Long Range Planner Nate Nickel said. Nickel said ImagineBloomington is “our marketing effort to get people to think about the future.”The vision statement will create the foundations for an updated long range comprehensive plan, Zoning and Long Range Planner Katie Bannon said. The city’s current comprehensive plan, the Growth Policies Plan, was adopted in 2002, she said. Bloomington residents can offer their opinions about the draft by filling out a survey at the workshops or submitting it online. ImagineBloomington is also incorporating an online discussion forum for residents to post feedback and vote on which portions of the statement they consider most important. “This is one of the first planning efforts that has made full use of the online options,” Nickel said. Once public input has been taken into account, the revised draft will be taken to the Planning Commission and City Council for approval, Bannon said. She expects the vision to be adopted by early next year. “Our next steps will be working to find ways to actually implement these goals,” Bannon said. Bannon expects local schools, nonprofit organizations and IU to become involved in the process. “Sometimes students feel like they’re temporary residents,” Bannon said. “They live here. They work here. It’s important that we hear from them.”
(10/29/12 4:19am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>About 700 people stood barefoot in the large auditorium, arms raised at eye level. “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar.” Allah is great, Allah is great.The Islamic congregation recited the takbir prayer three times before bowing, standing and pressing their hands and foreheads to the ground. Performed only twice a year during the major Islamic holidays, Friday morning’s prayer marked the beginning of Eid-al-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice. Muslims from Bloomington and surrounding cities gathered at the Draper Earles Auditorium at the Monroe County Fairgrounds for the celebration, which began at 8:30 a.m. The men stood with their sons on their prayer rugs on one side of the venue. The women and daughters, wearing their hijab head coverings, gathered on the other side. The division served as a sign of respect toward the women, said Abdul Baram, president of the Islamic Center of Bloomington. “It has nothing to do with order,” he said. “Woman is equal to man. Prayer is for woman and man.”Baram led the crowd in the congregational prayer, which he described as an appreciation of God, a way of asking Him for His love and mercy. “A sense of rhythm develops,” said Bloomington resident Maha Nour. “You get a sense as though every pilgrim is saying it.”A Feast of Sacrifice for Muslims worldwideAs the group prayed in Bloomington, a mass of about 4 million Muslims recited the same prayer in the holy city of Mecca, standing on Mount Arafat, Baram said. The holiday marks the last day of the annual two-week pilgrimage, or hajj, that every Muslim must take at some point in their lifetime. “We will synchronize our celebration with the people in Mecca,” Baram said. “All Muslims across the earth, wherever they are, will celebrate.”The holiday not only marks the last day of the two-week-long hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, but also commemorates a story of obedience and sacrifice, Baram said. Muslims believe that Ibrahim, also known as Abraham, was commanded by God in a dream to sacrifice his son, Ishmael, Baram said. When God saw Ibrahim’s willingness to follow through with the task, he sent the Archangel Gabriel to Ibrahim with a ram, allowing the ram to be sacrificed instead. “He wanted to test and examine the will of Ibrahim,” Baram said. In remembrance of this sacrifice, Muslims sacrifice a lamb, camel, cow or goat, depending on the country. It is also common for Muslims to choose to make a monetary donation as their sacrifice, providing the less fortunate with the means to sacrifice an animal, he said. A pause for prayer in a shattered SyriaEvery year, The Islamic Center of Bloomington donates to Muslims in a struggling country. This year, they chose Syria. Baram said leading up to the Eid-Al-Adha celebration, the center had already raised enough money to send 20 sheep to Syria through the International Development Organization, a nonprofit Baram founded. The sheep will be divided among representatives in different cities across Syria. Baram’s daughter, Mujahida Baram, is a second-generation Syrian who lives in St. Louis. She visits her family in Bloomington during the two major Muslim holidays. Wearing a sash with the words “Free Syria” around her neck, Mujahida Baram spoke about her family in Aleppo, Syria, the country’s largest city and a key battleground for recent rebel fighting. The Syrian Army announced Thursday it would cease military operations from Friday to Monday in observance of the holidy, according to The New York Times. Mujahida Baram said there is still a great deal of fighting despite the ceasefire. “Not much of a celebration is going on,” she said. “People are very scared to leave their homes.”Mujahida Baram said some of her relatives were killed recently after a local bakery was bombarded. “We really just keep them in our thoughts and prayers, especially during these hard times, and especially when these are supposed to be joyous occasions,” she said.In a sermon following the prayer, Abdul Baram described the Islamic values of mutual care and support and encouraged the congregation to donate to struggling Muslims around the world. He quoted the Prophet Muhammad, saying, “You cannot be a believer if your stomach is full and your brother is hungry.”Following the ceremony, families embraced each other as part of the holiday tradition. As the children went outside to enjoy an inflatable bouncer and other activities, the men and women passed Arabic coffee, dates and Turkish pastries called borek, along with several American food items and baked goods. “It’s wonderful to see the rest of the community and celebrate together on this one day,” Mujahida Baram said. “But (we must) also remember those around the world who are less fortunate and who don’t have the capability to celebrate it.”
(10/26/12 3:57am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The three Indiana gubernatorial candidates debated for the third and last time Thursday evening in Fort Wayne. DePauw University Executive Director of Media Relations Ken Owen served as moderator of the hour-long debate between Democratic candidate John Gregg, U.S. Rep. Mike Pence, R-6th District and Libertarian candidate Rupert Boneham. Medical marijuana:Gregg:“I would oppose the decriminalization of marijuana...as for medical use, that’s something I would at least want to talk about.”Pence:“I’ve seen too many people become involved with marijuana and seen their lives sidetracked as a result.” Boneham:“It is a plant. If it will help the suffering of patients in Indiana, we should let them have that plant.”Science education/creationismGregg: Didn’t directly answer the question. Supports including more teachers, parents and school board members in the reform discussion.Pence:Didn’t directly answer the question. Supports giving parents more choices and teachers more freedom. Believes issues of curriculum should be decided by parents at local schools, not dictated from Indianapolis.Boneham:Would not support a bill allowing creationism education in schools, but supported finding outlets in alternative schools. “I want to keep science, science.”Education:Gregg: Supported developing state-funded early education programs. Pence: Supported nongovernmental early education programs. Boneham: Supported ending the I-Step test, restructuring grades to be based on progress, instead of performance on one test.Clean coal energy:All three candidates support moving forward with the development of a clean coal plant in Rockport, Ind. Local government reform:Gregg:Supports a more “inclusive” system of local government, avoiding “top-down” decision-making. Pence:Aims to develop a reformed framework for local government to consolidate functions. Boneham:Supports the decentralization of government, transferring more power to the counties. Fact Check:Economic health of IndianaPence said we’re the financial envy of the nation. FACT: From July 2011 to June 2012, Indiana’s personal income increased by 4.2 percent, compared to just 3.3 percent nationally. That made Indiana the leader of five states in the Great Lakes region and 11th nationally.SOURCE: Federal Bureau of Economic AnalysisAutomotive industryGregg said Pence voted against the auto bailout.FACT: Pence did vote against the Automotive Industry Financing Bill, which passed in the House 237–170. Pence said he supports General Motors did not want to put the financial burden on taxpayers. SOURCE: Votesmart.orgMinimum wage:Gregg said Pence didn’t support a raise in the national minimum wage.FACT: He called it excessive. He said the effects would actually increase unemployment and go against fundamental free market economics.SOURCE: C-SPANVoting record:Gregg said Pence’s record on passed bills he authored is 0-63.FACT: Gregg uses govtrack.us to cite this fact. However, that information is no longer on the site. It does show that of the bills Pence sponsored or co-sponsored, 68 failed while 21 simple resolutions passed.SOURCE: govtrack.us
(10/24/12 4:46am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Republican state treasurer Richard Mourdock incited national attention in Tuesday’s U.S. Senate debate when he said he does not accept rape as an excuse for abortion.Even pregnancies from rape are the will of God, Mourdock said.“I struggled with it myself for a long time, but I came to realize that life is that gift from God,” Mourdock said. “And I think even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen.”U.S. Senate candidates Rep. Joe Donnelly, D-2nd District, Mourdock and Libertarian candidate Andrew Horning participated in Indiana’s final U.S. Senate debate last night at IU-Southeast New Albany. The event was moderated by Dennis Ryerson from the Indiana Debate Commission Board. The question of abortion was one of several questions posed by voters across the state. Mourdock said he believes the only time an abortion should occur is when the mother’s life is at risk. Following the debate, Mourdock said it was “sick” and “bizarre” that anyone would believe he said God intended the rape, according to the Indianapolis Star. He said regardless of the circumstances, God created the life. Indiana Democratic Party Chair Dan Parker, a self-proclaimed pro-life Catholic, said he is ashamed Mourdock believes God intended rape.“Victims of rape are victims of an extremely violent act, and mine is not a violent God,” Parker said. “Do we need any more proof that Richard Mourdock is an extremist who’s out of touch with Hoosiers?”All three candidates declared themselves pro-life, but Donnelly said he considered rape and incest legitimate exceptions. Horning said he considered abortion a state matter. “As a federal legislator, there isn’t that much that I can do,” Horning said. The debate began with a question regarding foreign policy. “The greatest threat to our national security is our national debt,” Mourdock said. Mourdock and Donnelly agreed that the U.S. should stand by Israel and ensure Iran does not attain nuclear weapons.Horning said he would support a non-interference strategy to foreign policy. During the Lincoln-Douglas portion, each candidate was invited to pose a question. Mourdock brought up the topic of health care, criticizing Donnelly for casting the deciding vote on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or what he referred to as “the greatest tax intrusion and intrusion on American liberty in history.” Donnelly responded by claiming that Mourdock plans to give $716 billion in tax breaks instead of investing it in care for senior citizens. Throughout the debate, Donnelly’s statements contained themes of bipartisanship. Multiple times, he said Mourdock told media outlets he enjoys “inflicting his opinion on other people.”“I love to get people to think about these issues,” Mourdock said, responding to Donnelly. “It’s important stuff. This is the future of our country.”Horning said he disapproves of the two-party system. “The solution is pretty much me,” he said. “There comes a time when you need to kill the monster. You don’t need to keep feeding it.” About the question of gay marriage, both Donnelly and Mourdock said they agreed “marriage is between a man and a woman.”In his closing statement, Donnelly said he was proud to have helped create “$2.4 trillion in spending cuts” and said he stood by Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., and the people of Indiana. “The wisdom does not come from Washington,” Donnelly said. “There’s a whole lot more wisdom in Indiana.” Mourdock said he pledged to stand by his principles and said Donnelly did the exact opposite when he voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. However, he joined Donnelly in giving a nod to his fellow Hoosiers. “We need to make Washington work like Indiana,” Mourdock said. Horning gave his closing remarks by vowing to stand by the Constitution at all costs. “We have screwed up everything,” he said. “We had something special in this country and I want it back.”
(10/24/12 4:10am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Local GOP leaders led a press conference Monday to voice concerns surrounding an alleged lack of “checks and balances” within the county government.Monroe County Republican Chairman Steve Hogan claimed several local issues have received insufficient or biased media coverage. “In two weeks we will be electing county leadership, and issues that will drastically change the future of Monroe County are on the table,” Hogan said. Hogan focused much of the press conference on criticisms surrounding the Monroe County Comprehensive Land Use Plan, a plan for economic and residential development.Hogan said the plan was passed by the Board of Commissioners in February 2012, allegedly disregard Monroe County Comprehensive Land Use Planing public input in the process. Hogan claimed that no ordinances have been passed with reference to the plan because “to do so prior to the election could prove disastrous to the incumbents.”New property restrictions in the plan include prohibiting construction on a 15 percent slope or on any land without a connection to city sewers, according to the plan document.Hogan said he believed the plan could be summed up with a quote from page 59 of the 111-page document. It states, “The presumed future use of rural property shall be the current vested use.” Hogan suggested that as a result there will be little room for development on rural property, preventing economic growth. “Democrat Commissioners and County Council voted this through as if it were a normal part of our future to take away private property rights,” Hogan said. Monroe County Planning Director Larry Wilson responded to Hogan’s allegations by clarifying that the plan simply presents broad guidelines. Just because a provision is mentioned in the plan doesn’t mean it will be passed on. He also said the Planning Commission aims to approach the County Council by the end of the year with a proposal to fund the hiring of a consultant to assist with the development of the ordinance. The Planning Commission will seek additional input through public hearings during the development of the ordinance, possibly modifying provisions included in the comprehensive plan.“The ordinance was not delayed for political reasons,” Wilson said. “It was delayed for lack of funding.” Wilson also defended the plan’s guidelines and said the commission hopes to encourage urban growth but direct it to areas where existing infrastructure is available. “It will not prohibit housing development in non-urban areas, but you don’t want a dense shopping center to go in the middle of a cornfield,” he said. “There’s no money to make new infrastructure.”During the press conference, Hogan also mentioned Auditor Amy Gerstman’s alleged use of county credit cards for personal reasons, an act currently under investigation. He criticized current commissioners for continuing to provide Gerstman with her $50,0000 payroll despite the fact that “she has not actively nor otherwise been in that office since this was reported a year ago.”Hogan and Republican candidate for auditor Vivien Bridges, who was also in attendance at the press conference, also questioned the reasoning behind an alleged “interlocal agreement” made between the auditor’s office and the Solid Waste District in August 2011. Bridges said an unnamed employee in the auditor’s office, who had been fired, secured a job in the Solid Waste District, a completely separate entity, with the help of County Commissioners. Bridges called it a “sweetheart deal” on behalf of the commissioners. “The commissioners need to be responsible,” Hogan said. “If they’re shuffling stuff under the rug, they need to be held accountable.” A representative from the Commissioner’s Office could not be reached for comment. Hogan said he hopes to incite public discussion surrounding the issues mentioned prior to the election in two weeks. “These issues should be reported and be hot topics of conversation with everyone,” Hogan said.
(10/22/12 4:18am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Bloomington residents Pat and Bob Williams donned red, white and blue as they sat on couches in a room lined with campaign posters, American flags and volunteer sign-in sheets. The couple, along with about 20 other local Republicans, gathered at the Monroe County GOP Headquarters on Saturday with only two days’ notice to support Rep. Todd Young, R-9th District, and meet U.S. House Majority Chief Deputy Whip Rep. Peter Roskam, R-6th District of Illinois.Roskam, who lives in Wheaton, Ill., stopped by Bloomington on his way home from a Romney-Ryan rally in Cincinnati. He was in the area and decided to reach out to Young to support his campaign for reelection, Roskam said. “It’s an important seat,” Roskam said. “If we can send people like Todd, we’re going to start getting our spending under control and living within our means.”Young and Roskam shook hands and met with constituents, pausing to each give a brief speech to the group. Young spoke about his belief in trusting the American people and championing hard-working entrepreneurs, using late Bloomington resident Bill Cook as a model. Cook started Cook Inc., a Bloomington-based medical device manufacturing company, from the ground up. The company currently employs about 10,000 people.“Time and again, this is how the American people have responded to adversity,” Young said. In the speech that followed, Roskam mentioned the importance of Young’s reelection as a way for Republicans to run up the score for 2014. “If you support Todd, it will have a buoying effect,” Roskam said. “Let’s make this district a solid Republican district.” The audience responded with applause. One man gave a resounding “Amen.”Roskam and Young both commended the group for creating a strong conservative presence in what is often viewed as a “liberal university community.” “These are conservative die-hards,” Young said. “Living in Bloomington, for a conservative, is a form of mission work.” Roskam said he believes the campaign’s success is a reflection of Young. “He’s able to communicate beyond bumper stickers and sound bites,” Roskam said. “He’s able to find common ground with people. That’s not a universal characteristic among members of Congress.”Following their speeches, Roskam and Young spoke with the younger crowd in the room, which included members of Young’s campaign staff as well as representatives from IU and national College Republicans. Clay Helton, a representative from the College Republicans National Committee, said he was sent to IU to work with the IU College Republicans in reelecting Young. “We want Todd to be back in Washington because he has such a logical voice,” Helton said. Young interrupted the discussion to give the announcement that IU football had just lost to Navy 31 to 30. The crowd chuckled as Young said he was “expressionless” after hearing the score. Young received his undergraduate degree from the United States Naval Academy and a law degree from IU. Young has two weeks left to campaign and plans to debate Democratic opponent Shelli Yoder on Tuesday and Oct. 29, he said. “We’re wrapping up our phone banks and deploying people for door-to-door operations,” Young said. Young said introducing local constituents to visiting House leaders like Roskam is a great way to motivate voters. “It reminds people of the national importance of this race,” Young said. “It will give us a boost of energy as we hit the home stretch.”
(10/22/12 2:53am)
Rep. Todd Young and Rep. House Chief Deputy Whip Peter Roskam speak to a group of local constituents at the Monroe County GOP Headquarters on Saturday.
(10/22/12 2:53am)
Rep. Todd Young and Rep. House Chief Deputy Whip Peter Roskam meet with members of College Republicans and Young's campaign staff at the Monroe County GOP Headquarters on Saturday.
(10/19/12 3:50am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A new Indiana license plate will be available to drivers this year, commemorating the state’s bicentennial celebration in 2016.The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles approached the Bicentennial Commission, which is co-chaired by Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman and former congressman Lee Hamilton, with the idea for the new license plate, said Tyler Stock, Skillman’s press secretary.The bicentennial plate will replace the “blue torch” plate design as a standard option for the next five years. The “In God We Trust” plate will continue to be offered as a second option. Both plates are free of additional charges to drivers, unlike specialty plates. The license plate includes a graphic of the state of Indiana with the number 200 on the left-hand side. A ring of 19 stars, one of them gold, will be wrapped around the state map, representing Indiana’s placement as the 19th state in the nation, Stock said. Across the bottom, a gold banner displays the words “Bicentennial 1816-2016.”The plate, which was designed by the BMV and the Indiana State Museum, was unveiled by the Bicentennial Commission on Oct. 11 at the Indiana Historical Society in Indianapolis, Hamilton said. Stock said the plate will serve as free marketing for the coming bicentennial, since an estimated 2 million drivers will display the license plate on their vehicles. “It will be a traveling billboard, if you will, to alert people to 2016,” said Hamilton, who is also the director of the IU Center on Congress. “It will be a reminder that a big celebration is coming to our state. We hope it will create enthusiasm.”The plate will become available to drivers starting Dec. 27. All Indiana drivers will need to upgrade their license plates during the coming year as part of the standard five-year cycle, Stock said. Each driver will be assigned a specific month to carry out the upgrade, designated alphabetically by last name. The timing for the plate design is ideal because its cycle will overlap with the bicentennial celebration, Stock said. The plate is one of many initiatives planned by the Bicentennial Commission to prepare for the 2016 celebration, Hamilton said. The commission was appointed by Gov. Mitch Daniels at his final State of the State Address in January. Hamilton said the group has had four meetings so far and has begun discussing projects related to the celebration. “We have received scores of ideas and are beginning to sort through them now,” Hamilton said. Hamilton said the commission has considered ideas from the centennial celebration in 1916 during its brainstorming process. According to the Indiana Magazine of History, several ceremonies and pageants were held in counties across the state during that year, under the direction of former Gov. Samuel Ralston. One memorable ceremony took place on Oct. 12, 1916, at the state fairgrounds. President Woodrow Wilson gave a speech on the importance of a highway system, providing encouragement for the completion of the Dixie Highway in Indiana. “We’ve discussed the possibility of a major event,” Hamilton said.The centennial also marked the establishment of Indiana’s state parks system, Hamilton said. He said the commission will almost certainly develop land trusts in honor of the bicentennial, possibly even creating a new state park. “We want the celebration to be forward-looking as well as historical,” Hamilton said. Hamilton said the commission hopes to plan an inclusive celebration encouraging all Hoosiers to get their towns and counties involved. “We want the celebration to come from the people themselves,” he said.