Region

New SAT option could allow students to choose reported scores

By Stephanie Doctrow · Monday, Jan. 12,2009 12:11 a.m.

A proposal by national testing agency The College Board could give SAT test takers more freedom when submitting entrance exam scores, but some IU administrators say they are still unsure about the initiative.

College students marry despite full class load

By Tyler James Perry · Monday, Jan. 12,2009 12:06 a.m.

While many IU students struggle to balance their academics, extracurricular activities, friends and stay sane while doing this, some take the extra plunge and add marriage to their plate.

Juvenile center manager charged with sexual misconduct, child seduction

Sunday, Jan. 11,2009 11:25 p.m.

A youth manager at Marion County’s juvenile detention center faces felony charges for allegedly forcing a 16-year-old boy to perform a sex act on him. Michael A. Jackson, 27, was charged Friday with sexual misconduct and child seduction.

Bennie Reed, 17, is escorted to the Brown County Courthouse for a hearing in Nashville, Ind. Friday. Reed has been charged with 11 felonies, including murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Police allege that Reed shot to death Richard Voland, 84, on Nov. 15, 2007 after swindling his way into the residence to get alcohol. Another teen, who is 13 and has not been publicly identified by officials, faces charges in juvenile court.

Teen brothers arrested in Brown County murder

Sunday, Jan. 11,2009 11:23 p.m.

Two teenage brothers have been arrested in the shooting death of an 84-year-old man and the wounding of his 77-year-old wife at their rural Brown County home.

State tries to ease environmental rules

By Jessica Anderson · Sunday, Jan. 11,2009 11:22 p.m.

Many state environmentalists charge that the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s plans to change environmental enforcement could make Indiana dirtier. IDEM announced in December plans to combine the office of enforcement with the separate offices of air, water and land quality. It also announced it would require “actual” or “significant” threats to public health or damage to the environment before imposing penalties, a move some environmentalists say will cause less regulation and more environmental harm.

Something worth crying about

By Chad Quandt · Sunday, Jan. 11,2009 10:38 p.m.

Cable news has done a lot of things to me: moved me, informed me and humored me (on purpose and not). It wasn’t until recently that they took away my sense of empathy. John Travolta, who plays Terl in “Battlefield Earth,” filled the headlines this month when his son Jett died. I watched non-stop coverage of the death, and instead of feeling deep sympathy, I thought to myself, “Why is this considered relevant news?”

Wildermuth name to stay

Sunday, Jan. 11,2009 10:37 p.m.

Even while students were resting at home this winter break, IU’s All University Committee on Names reaffirmed its previous recommendation to keep “Wildermuth” in the name of the intramural center. Retaining the name of the prominent IU board member and avowed racist caused controversy, even when the name of IU’s first black basketball player, William L. Garrett, was proposed to be added along with Wildermuth’s.

Making a splash in Washington

Sunday, Jan. 11,2009 10:35 p.m.

When President-elect Barack Obama announced several appointments to his administration’s Justice Department last week, the nomination of IU law professor Dawn Johnsen was among the most highly praised. Salon columnist Glenn Greenwald heralded Johnsen’s appointment to head the Office of Legal Counsel, a Department of Justice subsidiary, saying her appo intment “may be Obama’s best yet, perhaps by far.”

The politics of race

By Christian Hines · Sunday, Jan. 11,2009 10:34 p.m.

Over our winter break, in the midst of a political scandal that has engulfed the state of Illinois, embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich appointed Roland Burris to Barack Obama’s vacated Senate seat. If seated, Burris would become the only black senator in the chamber.

We don’t have it that bad

By Tyler Chernesky · Sunday, Jan. 11,2009 10:33 p.m.

Already? That went by fast. I guess between the dollops of cheeseball, the gifts and returns, the coffeehouse reunions and the joyous ringing in of ’09, my winter break ticked away. Classes start today. And though the wait for spring break will be long and cold, I can’t help but think: What a great time to be a college student.

A new year, a new you

By Amanda Cochara · Sunday, Jan. 11,2009 10:29 p.m.

Two words: popcorn shirts.No, don’t worry. Those bubbly, one-size-fits-all blouses from the late 90s are not back in style. I am sure you remember that so-called “fashion statement,” which had a starting size fit for a doll, yet had limitless stretch.

Future Chinese execs encouraged to seek inner chickens

Sunday, Jan. 11,2009 10:28 p.m.

Amena Schlaijker makes her students cluck like chickens, mimic a toothbrush, jump up and down or pretend to die an agonizing death.

Joe trades wrench for reporter’s notepad in Israel

Sunday, Jan. 11,2009 10:27 p.m.

Joe the Plumber has set aside his wrenches to become a rookie war correspondent, covering Israel’s side of its two-week-old military offensive in Gaza.

Ex-pro dancer teaches Bloomington ballroom dance moves

By Amanda Lowry · Sunday, Jan. 11,2009 10:27 p.m.

Feeling awkward on the dance floor comes about as naturally for most people as getting sweaty palms in front of someone they like. But if there’s one time-tested method for overcoming shyness both on the dance floor and in romance, it’s learning ballroom dancing.Dance instructor Margot Scholz teaches one-hour classes in ballroom dancing from 4 to 10 p.m. Mondays at the John Waldron Arts Center and from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Fridays at the Bloomington Adult Community Center.

Israel protest targets U.S. consulate in Pakistan

Sunday, Jan. 11,2009 10:26 p.m.

Security forces used tear gas and batons to repel anti-Israel protesters who tried to attack a U.S. consulate in Pakistan on Sunday, as tens of thousands in cities across Europe, the Middle East and Asia demonstrated against Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Illusionist BJ Harris levitates a table Saturday afternoon at the Buskirk Chumley Theater. Harris wowed the audience with tricks to entertain, as well as some classics to amaze.

Audience is left ‘Senseless’

By Brent Williamson · Sunday, Jan. 11,2009 10:24 p.m.

Magic was in the air Saturday night as illusionist BJ Harris performed his faith-based show “Senseless” at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater. As part of the North Central Church of Christ’s Youth Conference, he entertained the audience with a display of mind tricks, sleight of hand and escape acts, giving a short speech before the finale about his philosophy of life and magic.

Salmonella prompts King Nut peanut butter recall

Sunday, Jan. 11,2009 10:24 p.m.

An Ohio distributor says it has recalled two brands of its peanut butter after an open container tested positive for salmonella bacteria.

IU freshman Daniel Moore (3) pancakes Illinois' Trent Meacham (1) as he dives for a loose ball in the second half of a 76-45 IU loss in Champaign, Ill. The defeat was the Hoosiers' sixth consecutive and eighth in their last nine games.

Hoosiers stumble at Illinois to 6th straight loss

By Matt Dollinger · Saturday, Jan. 10,2009 7:08 p.m.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Last year’s infamous chest bump pales in comparison to the in-game beat down the Fighting Illini laid on the Hoosiers Saturday.After holding their own but losing in their first two conference games, IU coach Tom Crean and his team got the kind of Big Ten welcome many had been bracing for all season.A 31-point thrashing marked the biggest loss by the Hoosiers in the rivalry’s 161-game series.IU’s orange rivals to the west opened the game on a 21-2 run and never relaxed their grip of the lead. The Illini led by 25 at the half and continued to humiliate the traditionally proud basketball school in the second half, brushing off the Hoosiers 76-45 and handing their longest losing streak – at six – since 2004.

Police: 16-year-old involved in shooting called 911 himself

Saturday, Jan. 10,2009 12:49 p.m.

Police said Friday that the 16-year-old who was shot by Bloomington Police made the 911 call himself. After an investigation, the cell phone number of the individual matches the number captured by dispatch when the call was placed, according to a BPD press release.

Details released on police shooting

Friday, Jan. 9,2009 4:58 p.m.

Officers John Coleman and George Connolly were the two policemen involved in the shooting of a 16-year-old Bloomington North High School student. A preliminary investigation revealed no police misconduct.