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Asian Culture Center serves up cooking demo

Students learn about Chinese culture and cuisine through the Asian Culture Center's cooking demonstrations.

Consumer spending, incomes fall; savings rise

WASHINGTON – Consumer spending fell for a record sixth straight month in December as recession-battered households, worried about surging layoffs, boosted their savings rates to the highest level since May.

Bank lending policies become more strict

WASHINGTON – Many banks have made it harder for borrowers to obtain all kinds of loans over the past three months despite a $700 billion federal bailout program and a flurry of other bold moves to stem the worst financial crisis to hit the country since the 1930s.

Senate debates stimulus package

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama said Monday that “very modest differences” over a massive package to revive the economy should not delay its swift passage, making a fresh appeal to Congress as the nation dealt with another dose of dire financial news.

Seamen trained against pirates

With an alarming number of tankers and cargo ships getting hijacked on the high seas, the nation’s maritime academies are offering more training to merchant seamen in how to fend off attacks from pirates armed not with cutlasses and flintlocks but with automatic weapons and grenade launchers.

As many as 26 million rural migrant workers unemployed in China

The global economic crisis has taken hold deep in China’s impoverished countryside, as millions of rural migrants are laid off from factory jobs and left to scratch a living from tiny landholdings – creating unsettling prospects for a government anxious to avoid social unrest.

Emptying your pocket

This semester alone, each full-time student will dish out a hefty $431.52 in mandatory student fees. Divided between the bus fee, the health fee, the technology fee and the activity fee, the money that is collected through fees goes to support services and organizations that benefit IU-Bloomington students. But in these tough economic times, $400-plus is a lot of money to hand over blindly to the powers that be.

Gadhafi to lead African Union

Moammar Gadhafi of Libya was elected Monday as leader of the African Union, a position long sought by the eccentric dictator pushing his oil-rich nation into the international mainstream after years of isolation.

Bones could be of Muncie man missing since ’62

Bone fragments found in a decayed box in a bank building are being subjected to DNA tests to determine whether they might be the remains of a man who vanished in 1962.

Ringling Bros. cruelty-to-elephants case heads to U.S. District Court

After more than eight years of legal skirmishing, a trial is scheduled to open Wednesday in a lawsuit filed by animal welfare groups alleging that Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus routinely abuses its performing elephants.

Ringling Bros. cruelty-to-elephants case heads to U.S. District Court

Hoosiers potentially scammed by fake charity

In recent months, a supposed charitable organization has been drawing the ire of some with phone calls asking for money. The organization’s actions have also attracted the BBB, which began investigating them last fall.

New Ill. Governor: ‘We have to address each day with new eyes’

In his first Sunday since being thrust into the chief executive’s office, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn delivered a church service message of service and humility, calling on residents to work together despite challenges.

Yes, you can advertise!

Is it just me, or has advertising gotten exponentially worse over the past few years?

No Love for PETA

I’m thoroughly convinced that People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is the new Planned Parenthood.

Red staters’ blues

After nearly three decades of ascendency, the Grand Old Party finds itself on the outside looking in and desperately in need of some soul-searching.

Computers for a cause

The state of Indiana is working harder for its unemployed citizens. A new initiative involves placing computers in churches, libraries and community organizations throughout the state to ease the difficulties Hoosiers face in applying for unemployment benefits.

Hudson’s Super Bowl anthem showed courage

During the Super Bowl on Sunday, emotions were flying, from anger to excitement. Viewers from the stands and couches were all watching one of the biggest games of the year. There wasn’t just the game, the ads and the halftime show as per usual, but something that everyone should truly appreciate: Grammy-nominated singer Jennifer Hudson’s outstanding performance after a three-month hiatus.

‘Spelling Bee’ musical comes to IU Auditorium

“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” is making its way to Bloomington for two performances at the IU Auditorium.

‘Reefer’ grips audience with sex, drugs and death

“Reefer Madness: The Musical” blew through Bloomington last weekend, leaving theatergoers high on laughter with its comical social commentary on the effects of marijuana.