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Good songs gone bad

Bill may affect student visas

Congress is debating a visa bill that could affect Bloomington's international student community in the near future. The makeup of future classes of IU international students could change if the legislation passes. Catalyzed by a speech by President George W. Bush last week, four congressmen are working on legislation to tighten immigration requirements for international students wishing to study in the United States.

What's hip?

Governor confirms anthrax in Indy

INDIANAPOLIS -- A small number of anthrax spores was found on a piece of postal equipment sent to an Indianapolis center for cleaning from a contaminated mail processing center in Washington. Gov. Frank O'Bannon said Wednesday afternoon that one positive test for a few anthrax spores had been found after 44 tests on equipment at the Critical Parts Center. This is the first sign of anthrax contamination found outside the Eastern Seaboard.

Overtime games lead to mixed results

The women's soccer team finished a weekend road trip in which it went into overtime twice, defeating Xavier 1-0 Sunday, after falling to Notre Dame 2-1 Friday.

City tightens enforcement of flier, handbill ordinance

The city of Bloomington has begun enforcing a long-standing ordinance banning the posting of fliers and handbills on light poles, telephone poles and other locations around town, eliminating an inexpensive advertising method for local bands and arts events. The crackdown came as a result of complaints from area businesses who feel the fliers, particularly in the newly renovated Kirkwood Avenue area, hurt the attractiveness of the downtown shopping district. "We've had complaints by store owners. They were upset that the fliers were pasted to the posts. They get taken down, and the new ones come up -- it's destroying the posts," said Lynne Friedmeyer, manager of Zoning Enforcement for the Bloomington City Planning Department. John Freeman, Bloomington Director of Public Works, sends a team out every day to clean up the fliers. Since the crackdown, he's noticed a definite decrease in postings.

Farmers not surprised by lack of flood aid

When President George W. Bush made the presidential disaster declaration on June 13 following the devastating floods that swept the central and southern parts of Indiana, it made federal disaster aid available for farmers and businesses on a list of qualified counties throughout the state.

Seeing Red

For more than 100 years, the Marching Hundred has been entertaining Hoosiers and IU fans across the country. In 1972, the RedSteppers were added, and they have been thrilling the football crowds ever since. Putting in more than 10 hours a week of practice, the RedSteppers work hard to perfect their routines. They perform at each home football game with the Marching Hundred and also at one away game each season. The women receive two credit hours for each semester they are a member.

Hoosiers aim for revenge against No. 9 Badgers tonight

The IU women's basketball team reviewed game video of themselves after practice Tuesday instead of examining the Wisconsin squad on tape. Coach Kathi Bennett said she would rather expend her energy worrying about her own team than fretting about the Badgers.

Arson suspected in fire

The fire kindled near the stairwell in the basement. It wasn't long before the flames licked at combustibles stored under the stairs. Glutting themselves on oxygen, the flames reached a ceiling temperature of about 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit. Spontaneous ignition occurred.

A true taste of Bloomington's best food items

The "Taste of Bloomington," was a new experience to me, since I am not a Bloomington native. I had heard rumors and seen signs about "The Taste," but no one had ever explained to me what it was.

Bush did all he could

Reports released from the White House say the Bush administration had been warned of increased danger of hijackings prior to the Sept. 11 attacks.

Prosecutor seeks death penalty for Pruitt

Prosecutors have decided to seek the death penalty for Tommy Pruitt, the 39-year-old Martinsville man who's been charged with the murder of a Morgan County Sheriff's Deputy. Morgan County Prosecutor Steven Sonnega filed the sentencing request Monday with Dearborn County Circuit Court Judge James Humphreys. Because of the intensive local media coverage, the trial has been moved to Lawrenceburg, Ind.

Floods kill at least 175 in South Asia

DHAKA, Bangladesh -- Monsoon rains have killed at least 175 people in Nepal, Bangladesh and India with swollen rivers surging through embankments, flooding thousands of villages and triggering mudslides, relief officials said Wednesday.

Jazz ensemble to play Buskirk-Chumley

Nationally recognized jazz ensemble The Greg Osby Four will play the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre, 114 E. Kirkwood Ave., at 7:30 p.m today. The quartet features Greg Osby on alto and soprano saxophones, Jason Moran on piano, drummer Derrick Phillips and bassist Calvin Jones. The band is touring with songs from Symbols of Light (A Solution), Osby's 11th. album, which is being heralded as his most adventurous release on the Blue Note label.

Woessner goes for the gold medal

Bloomington, Ind. -- Women's swim team captain Susan Woessner will return to Bloomington this week with at least two medals.

Ageless Afghanistan

With satellite dishes snipped from tin cans, Afghans can sit back in the Middle Ages and keep tabs on the 21st century. Their bad luck is that this optical miracle only works one way. "I'm afraid the world just doesn't understand us," Shahla Paryan lamented, pouring the inevitable tea for a visitor sitting on a rich red carpet inside old mud walls.

Hoosiers loose, ready for Utah

SACRAMENTO - Sophomore Jared Jeffries joked with freshman Donald Perry, telling him to dive into press row for a loose ball. Senior Dane Fife wildly applauded every made free throw. IU coach Mike Davis' youngest son, Antoine, entertained girls sitting near the court. And Jeffries capped off the 50-minute workout Wednesday night with an alley-oop off the backboard to Jeff Newton for a reverse dunk. Their recent struggles in the post season still fresh in their minds, the fifth-seeded Hoosiers are not about to be intimidated at the thought of another early exit from the NCAA Tournament. Tonight, at a little after 10 p.m. Bloomington time, IU takes on 12th-seeded Utah in an opening round game in the South bracket at Arco Arena in Sacramento.

Democrats back plan to oust Saddam

Prominent Democrats in Congress called today for removing Saddam Hussein from power, endorsing a classified Bush administration plan that gives the CIA broader power to take action against the Iraqi leader.

French arrest five in shoe bomb investigation

French anti-terrorist police rounded up five people on Wednesday who are suspected of providing assistance to alleged shoe bomber Richard C. Reid in Paris, the second such sweep in two months.