Region

Democratic candidate drops out of governor’s race Monday

By Associated Press and Alexandra R. Moses · Tuesday, Oct. 2,2007 12:01 a.m.

State Senate Minority Leader Richard Young, the first Democrat to join the 2008 race for governor, dropped out on Monday. Young, 64, said it would take at least $20 million to mount a successful race and he realized he could not raise that much. He also said that getting out would give the other two Democrats seeking the nomination — former U.S. Rep. Jill Long Thompson and Jim Schellinger, president of an Indianapolis architecture firm – more room to compete for the party’s nod.

Sex, drugs and major athletes

By Jacob Stewart and Jake Stewart · Monday, Oct. 1,2007 11:59 p.m.

Sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll. Since the Beatles released “Love Me Do” in 1962, those three words began a love affair that would develop and become a phrase that was socially accepted all over the world. Generation after generation of the music scene’s greatest artists have been under the influence of everything from marijuana to LSD and, in light of the resultant creativity, the social crackdown on drug use is limited. But has the social acceptance of drug use gone a little far? It is possible, especially if we consider replacing one of the words. Try this on for size: sex, drugs and major athletics.

Memphis football player fatally shot on campus, police say

By Aaron Beard · Monday, Oct. 1,2007 11:41 p.m.

A University of Memphis football player was fatally shot on campus in what police believe was a targeted attack, and classes were canceled Monday as a precaution.

Jury leaning against Thomas in harassment case

By Aaron Beard · Monday, Oct. 1,2007 11:39 p.m.

A jury indicated Monday that it believes New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas and Madison Square Garden committed sexual harassment against a former team executive.

Nation’s beef supply safest in the world, says U.S. agriculture official

Monday, Oct. 1,2007 11:37 p.m.

WASHINGTON – The nation’s meat supply is “the safest in the world,” a U.S. agriculture official said Monday, seeking to reassure consumers following the recall of 21.7 million pounds of ground beef that may be contaminated with E. coli bacteria.

Panic attacks may raise risk of heart attack and stroke in women

By Carla K. Johnson · Monday, Oct. 1,2007 11:35 p.m.

CHICAGO – The rapid pulse and shortness of breath of a panic attack can feel like a heart attack, and it may signal heart trouble down the road, a study of more than 3,000 older women suggests.

Joan Wood Lecture set for Wednesday

By Ben Homrig · Monday, Oct. 1,2007 11:32 p.m.

Entering college often means a great deal of change, and in the case of Dr. Jamie L. Stalker, her change was for the better. “A lot of people enter college already knowing what they want to do for a living,” said Stalker, an IU alumna and medical director of Argonne National Laboratory. “For me that wasn’t the case. There were a number of things I went through that made me rethink my career.”

UAW local official disputes GM closing

By Tom Krisher · Monday, Oct. 1,2007 11:23 p.m.

DETROIT – General Motors Corp. could close or sell a stamping plant in Indianapolis under a tentative contract agreement reached last week with the United Auto Workers, according to a detailed copy of the agreement. But the local union leader in Indianapolis said he has received assurances from a top UAW official that the plant would remain open.

The fluid present

By David Weisburd · Monday, Oct. 1,2007 11:22 p.m.

When I hear most people talk about dreams or ambitions, they talk about their plans for the future. As I was talking to one of these individuals recently, I had an epiphany: There is no such thing as the future. Well, at least not the kind most people envision.

Career workshops help business students stand out

By Heather Haemker · Monday, Oct. 1,2007 11:21 p.m.

Students on the job or internship hunt are often looking for opportunities to practice the skills they have and prepare for their future careers. IU’s Kelley School of Business offers its students a chance to do so by holding a variety of career workshops each semester.

Dry summer causes paltry pumpkin harvest

Monday, Oct. 1,2007 10:48 p.m.

There’s trouble brewing in the pumpkin patch. Scorching weather and lack of rain this summer wiped out some pumpkin crops from western New York to Illinois, leaving fields dotted with undersized fruit.

$200,000 rewards offered in new campaign against Taliban, al-Qaida

By Jason Straziuso · Monday, Oct. 1,2007 10:47 p.m.

The U.S. military has launched a new “Most Wanted” campaign offering rewards of up to $200,000 for information leading to the capture of 12 Taliban and al-Qaida leaders.

Texas oilman Wyatt pleads guilty

By Larry Neumeister · Monday, Oct. 1,2007 10:46 p.m.

Texas oilman Oscar Wyatt Jr. pleaded guilty Monday to charges that he paid millions of dollars to Iraqi officials to illegally win contracts connected to the United Nations oil-for-food program.

Blood drive begins this week

By IDS staff and Ab D. Phillip · Monday, Oct. 1,2007 10:19 p.m.

IU faces off against Purdue on the field, in the pool and on the court several times a year. But starting this week, IU will face Purdue in another challenge – the 11th annual IU vs. Purdue University Blood Donor Challenge.

India Studies expert to visit IU during speaker series

By Chelsea Merta · Monday, Oct. 1,2007 10:18 p.m.

Racial, religious and ethnic conflicts occur all over the world, said India Studies Department Director Sumit Ganguly.

Britney Spears temporarily loses custody of her 2 sons to ex-husband

By Sandy Cohen · Monday, Oct. 1,2007 8:41 p.m.

LOS ANGELES – Britney Spears’ continuing downward spiral took a devastating turn on Monday when she was ordered to relinquish custody of her children by a judge who had cited a troubling lifestyle fueled by drugs and alcohol

Beyonce cancels Kuala Lumpur show

By Sean Yoong · Monday, Oct. 1,2007 8:40 p.m.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Beyonce Knowles has scrapped plans to stage her first concert in Malaysia and will instead perform in neighboring Indonesia, which has less stringent rules about how performers should dress and behave.

Letters from Abroad

By Lindsey Landis · Monday, Oct. 1,2007 8:39 p.m.

BOLOGNA, Italy – Other than my discovery of the absence of Mexican food in Italy, I have had few major disappointments in my trip thus far.

Speak your mind

By Grace Low · Monday, Oct. 1,2007 7:03 p.m.

It is not often that I find myself in agreement with anything the hyper-conservative media criticism outlet, Accuracy in Media, has to say about constitutional interpretation. In quite a few past columns, I have attacked this organization for its often racist, homophobic and Christian-centric themes. One of my columns even resulted in a heated phone call from respected pundit Andy Selepak. Imagine my surprise when I found myself nodding my head in emphatic agreement while I read a Sept. 25 guest column by Dr. Phyllis Chesler, in which she spouts off in frustration about inconsistent treatment of political free speech, specifically in academia.

Leave reality TV alone!

By Mike Abrams · Monday, Oct. 1,2007 7:01 p.m.

American entertainment has officially hit an all-time low. We have kids running a colony and people attempting to prove they are smarter than a fifth grader. Reality TV has caused the industry to take a real nosedive.