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Bush calls for new security checks

WASHINGTON -- The administration ordered new security checks for airline workers Monday and granted mortgage relief to thousands of reservists called to active duty as part of the coming war on terrorism. The stock market rallied after last week's plunge. "We'll come out of this and we'll come out of it strong," said President George W. Bush, as he sought to coax investors and consumers to open their wallets. Despite the impact of this month's terror attacks on the economy, he said, "The fundamentals for growth are very strong."

FBI report shows reversal in falling crime statistics

WASHINGTON -- The number of murders in the United States rose by 3.1 percent last year as police departments nationwide reported an overall increase in major crimes for the first time in a decade, a law enforcement official said.

Costello attracts new and old fans with rereleases

Catalog sales of older CD titles are continuing to dwindle as Baby Boomers finally convert their LP collection to digital. And while it's likely there will always be college freshmen lining up to buy Bob Marley's Legend, you can also expect to see an ever-widening parade of spiffy re-releases advertising remastering, repackaging and the ever-popular extra bonus tracks. Elvis Costello gets his second turn on the re-release merry-go-round starting this month. Costello's early 1977-1987 catalog was originally reissued by Rykodisc in the mid-1990s. Now, after some of his older titles are falling briefly out of print, Rhino Records is again re-releasing his first 17 albums in groups of three. Instead of releasing them in chronological order, the groups of three in question are spread out over the periods of Costello's long and diverse career.

TV violence brings no peace

So just how much is too much? A study released last Thursday in Science magazine found that too much TV as an adolescent might result in increased aggression and violence as an adult. All it takes is three hours or more of television watching a day to leave a lasting impact. This study, which tracked around 700 boys and girls over the course of 17 years, might make some parents nervous and others a bit skeptical about watching so much television.

Hanks guns for a third Oscar in 'Perdition'

Many critics have compared Sam Mendes' sophomore directorial effort to Francis Ford Coppola's "The Godfather," and while both films revolve around the world of organized crime the similarities stop there. "Road to Perdition" is a mafia film, but first and foremost it's a tale of fathers and sons.

Crow still rocks, but doesn't grow

Activists plan resistance

Bloomington activists have planned a "week of resistance," starting Sunday, to coincide with Frank Ambrose's April 5 court appearance. Police have charged Ambrose, a prominent local environmentalist, with driving nails into trees set aside for lumber in the Morgan-Monroe State Forest last June. Timber spiking, a class D felony in Indiana, carries a punishment of up to two years in jail and a $10,000 fine.

Poor Sunday round hurts Hoosiers

The men's golf team struggled to get through the Finkbine Golf Course Sunday in the Big Ten Championship. The Hoosiers finished sixth overall. Minnesota won the event, followed by Illinois, Purdue, Northwestern and Michigan State. The team shot a round of 300, 12 over par -- the second-worst score of Sunday's final round. Wisconsin was the only team to shoot worse with a 13 over par.

New law has gray areas

Recently, as another part of the domestic war on terrorism, Attorney General John Ashcroft pushed through a new exception that would allow prison officials to listen in on conversations between inmates and their lawyers, and disreguard the attorney-client priviledge. Attorney-client privilege is a tool used by every lawyer to make sure he or she can get all the facts straight before going to court. It's something defendants use to feel completely comfortable when they are talking to their lawyers. It's something that has been a part of civil liberties for many years, and it is something we should not to tamper with. Like many parts of the new anti-terrorist legislation that was recently pushed through, this too is a very frightening attack on our rights.

Child's death overshadows Armstrong's solid ride

PAU, France -- A child's death overshadowed Lance Armstrong's ride to the foot of the Pyrenees, where he is expected to make his first serious assault on this year's Tour de France. Before riders started Wednesday's 10th leg from Bazas to Pau, a car from the Tour convoy struck and killed a 7-year-old boy who was crossing the stage route.

Taking his knowledge on the road

Brett Dvorak grew up watching Jeopardy. The junior watches new shows and old shows; it doesn't matter to him. He watches the show so much he actually stayed up-to-date on Alex Trebeck's famous mustache, which Dvorak reaffirms is now noticeably missing. It is only fitting that a true fanatic like Dvorak can fulfill his dream and compete on his favorite show.

'McCool's' lacks humor, quality, entertainment

The writer and director of "One Night at McCool's" are bigger teases than my high school girlfriend. They should never have an opportunity to make another movie after the disappointing, not funny, leave you blue (not depressed), annoying dud of a movie they turned out.

Council raises concerns

The Bloomington Economic Development Corporation won't be seeing any new faces for a while. In a marathon session Wednesday, the members of the Bloomington City Council raised several concerns with an ordinance to broaden the BEDC membership base to include a more diverse population. The resolution, sponsored by council members Andy Ruff and Jeffrey Willsey, was voted down 3-6.

Bush promises aid to Afghan civilians

WASHINGTON -- President Bush committed $320 million in humanitarian aid to the "poor souls" of Afghanistan Thursday as he and allies from Mexico to Qatar moved ahead with plans against terrorists sheltered by Afghanistan's ruling Taliban. "In our anger, we must never forget we're a compassionate people," the president said.

Cook sells drug division

Cook Group Inc., the Bloomington-based medical supplies titan, is getting back to basics -- minimally invasive medical devices such as stents and catheters. Company officials announced Wednesday that Cook has sold its pharmaceutical branch to Baxter Healthcare Inc. for $219 million in cash and stocks. The Deerfield, Ill.,-based pharmaceutical giant reported $6.9 billion in sales last year. "Cook Group has always recognized the tremendous potential for growth in our contract pharmaceutical business," said Phyllis McCullough, executive vice president of operation for Cook Group Inc. "Our decision to sell that portion of our business to Baxter will ensure that the pharmaceutical business we started reaches its fullest potential."

Woman reports rape at SAE

A 20-year-old student and member of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority, reported being raped at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house, 1511 North Jordan Ave., early Tuesday morning. While the IU Police Department continues its investigation Thursday, SAE President Kyle Bach says the reports of misconduct are not true. "The alleged altercations are false, and it's in the laws hands at this point," said Bach late Wednesday night. "It's basically out of our hands. We're waiting for a response from IUPD." The student went to the Bloomington Hospital Emergency Room 6 a.m. Tuesday morning after a Bloomington Police Department officer responded to a call, IUPD said.

Fans' lawsuit to continue

Special judge Cecile Blau ruled Monday to allow 46 plaintiffs to pursue their claim that the IU board of trustees broke the Indiana Open Door Law in firing former men's basketball coach Bobby Knight last September. While Blau ruled Myles Brand was within both the scope of the law and his legal authority as university president in firing Knight, she did acknowledge the plaintiffs' claim that the board met in executive session without public notice. Blau rejected both parties' requests for summary judgment and will allow the suit to commence. In a ruling received by the Monroe County Court Monday, Blau agreed Brand had sole authority to fire Knight, a power designated by the trustees. Blau wrote that the president "had the authority to make, enforce and terminate contracts," thus enabling him to legally fire Knight.

Women test knowledge

The women of Alpha Omicron Pi know sports. And they aren't afraid to show it. Sunday, the sorority's intramural sports trivia team, consisting of seniors Dana Sitarz and Ann Poosuthasee and juniors Maria Delimata and Natasha Heimer, was in first place heading into the third round of an intramural sports trivia contest held at the Student Recreational Sports Center Auditorium.

World-class trio to perform

For over 40 years the Beaux Arts Trio has provided audiences with precise, exciting and critically acclaimed performances and recordings of chamber music for piano, violin and cello. The founding pianist of the trio, Menahem Pressler, is accompanied by violinist Daniel Hope and cellist Antonio Meneses. Hailing from Britain, Hope was voted Young Artist of the Year 1999 by Germany's two leading music magazines and Classical Performer (of the year) 2001 by London's Evening Standard newspaper. Meneses has performed with top orchestras all over the world, and has won first prize in several international competitions, not the least of which was the prestigious Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow.

Game has postseason implications for team

The men's lacrosse club team is preparing for a home game that has playoff implications. The Hoosiers will meet Illinois at 2 p.m. Saturday at the intramural fields.