Region

Indiana's $4 billion debt highest in more than a decade

By Alyson Brodsy and Mike Smith · Wednesday, Aug. 24,2005 1:29 a.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana owes more money than it has in more than a decade, with a tab topping $4 billion for such projects as prisons, government office complexes, university buildings and the Indiana State Museum. It will take taxpayers years to pay it all off, even if lawmakers don't add another dime.

Kirkwood faces road closing

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Aug. 24,2005 1:28 a.m.

The 100 block of East Kirkwood Avenue will be closed from 10 p.m. Monday until 6 a.m. Tuesday each night until Sept. 2.

Bloomington Police Reports

By Gavin Lesnick · Wednesday, Aug. 24,2005 1:25 a.m.

A 20-year-old woman reported being raped early Tuesday morning in her apartment at the Varsity Villas complex, according to Bloomington Police Department reports. The victim said she met a man she didn't know while she was at another apartment in the complex with about 10 to 15 other people, BPD Sgt. David Drake said. The report said the two then returned to the woman's apartment, where they drank and began kissing on the woman's bed.

Local parties react to Gov. Daniels' performance report

By Shaan Joshi · Wednesday, Aug. 24,2005 1:22 a.m.

Gov. Mitch Daniels' office released its first six-month budget performance report on Friday, outlining the governor's first steps toward reaching his goal of a streamlined state government and a balanced budget. The 80-page report claims a saving of more than $150 million made through varied budget cuts and cost-saving measures in numerous departments.

Iraqis want more time for constitution

By Alyson Brodsy and Sameer N. Yacoub · Wednesday, Aug. 24,2005 1:18 a.m.

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The head of Iraq's constitutional committee said Tuesday he did not think the three additional days lawmakers said are needed to reach a compromise on the draft charter would be enough. The draft was submitted to parliament just minutes before a midnight deadline Monday by Kurds and Shiite Arabs on the committee drafting the charter. That last--minute scrambling came one week after the original Aug. 15 deadline.

Israel pulls out last Gaza settlements

By Alyson Brodsy and Ravi Nessman · Wednesday, Aug. 24,2005 1:16 a.m.

SANUR, West Bank -- Israeli forces armed with riot gear, saws and wire cutters evicted militant holdouts from two Jewish settlements Tuesday, completing Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's historic withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and a corner of the West Bank.

Venezuela slams Robertson's call for Chavez assassination Venezuela slams Robertson's call for Chavez

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Aug. 24,2005 1:15 a.m.

CARACAS,Venezuela -- Venezuela's vice president accused religious broadcaster Pat Robertson on Tuesday of making "terrorist statements" by suggesting that American agents assassinate President Hugo Chavez. Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel said Venezuela was studying its legal options, adding that how Washington responds to Robertson's comments would put its anti-terrorism policy to the test.

The new creationism

By Alyson Brodsy and Bryan Schmidt · Wednesday, Aug. 24,2005 1:13 a.m.

"Thunder? It's so loud and fearsome! There is simply no way something this weird can naturally happen! Only Zeus, who throws his lightning bolts from Mount Olympus, could be responsible for such a racket."

So long, sweet summer

By Ryan Want · Wednesday, Aug. 24,2005 1:12 a.m.

It might be hard to believe as you walk to class drenched in sweat, but summer is over. How sweet it was ... I thought about going to Aruba with some friends, or taking a cruise with the girlfriend that I don't have or going fishing off the coast of California by myself. But after watching several cable news programs I thought better of it and stayed within a 50-mile radius of my house all summer.

Normalize Japan

By Jeff Lightfoot · Wednesday, Aug. 24,2005 1:09 a.m.

President Bush understandably focused his first term foreign policy on addressing the threat of international terrorism. While Iraq and the Middle East will continue to occupy the efforts of his second term, the twin threats of China's rise and North Korea's nuclear ambitions demonstrate that President Bush must now adjust American relations with Asia by encouraging Japan to pursue a more assertive foreign policy.

We want to hear your voice

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Aug. 24,2005 1:08 a.m.

The yellow rays of summer are melting into cream and crimson. No matter what brought you to IU, be it car, plane, parachute, hamster ball or just being a native, we're excited that you're here. The fish in Showalter Fountain are spouting as the lines at the bookstores are lengthening -- all in honor of welcoming you to campus. As we start a new year at a University with rich tradition, we're glad to offer you one tradition that gives you a voice: the student-run newspaper.

New Iraqi version of 'Cops' comes to Kirkuk television

By Alyson Brodsy and Tini Tran · Wednesday, Aug. 24,2005 1:05 a.m.

KIRKUK, Iraq -- Shattered glass, body parts, a blood-splattered blue sedan: the grainy video pans over the scene as Iraqi officers comb the site of a drive-by assassination. It's "Cops" Iraqi-style, minus the "Bad Boys" soundtrack but otherwise roughly modeled after the American TV show.

IU Auditorium debuts new season lineup

By Josh Kastrinsky · Wednesday, Aug. 24,2005 1:03 a.m.

The 2005-2006 IU Auditorium season will feature comedy for the college crowd, steamy musicals for adults, and family-oriented shows for the kids. Big bands and one-man shows highlight the eclectic upcoming season, which will run from September to April. "You can tell that students are back in town," IU Auditorium Director Doug Booher said. "It's not just the cars on the street; ticket sales are reflecting that (too)."

Top overall draft pick will be on 49ers' bench

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Aug. 24,2005 1:01 a.m.

Alex Smith will begin his first NFL season on the San Francisco bench. After struggling in both of his preseason starts, Smith was told Tuesday by coach Mike Nolan that Tim Rattay will open the season at quarterback against St. Louis. "I know how this works," said Smith, the top overall pick in this year's draft. "This is a team game. This isn't all about me. I think the team wants to win now. We expect to win now, and as of right now, this looks like the right decision.

Cincinnati tells Huggins: resign or accept firing

By Alyson Brodsy and Joe Kay · Wednesday, Aug. 24,2005 12:57 a.m.

CINCINNATI - Bob Huggins was ordered Tuesday to resign or he'll be fired as Cincinnati's basketball coach, culminating a power struggle with the school president. In a letter sent by the university, Huggins was given 24 hours to resign, or he would be fired and get a buyout, said an associate who spoke on condition of anonymity because Huggins had not yet seen the letter.

Hoosier Sports History

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Aug. 24,2005 12:57 a.m.

Aug. 25, 2004 IU Senior Jeff Overton reaches the semifinals in the U.S. Amateur Golf Championships. Overton advanced to the semis after defeating St. John's alumnus Andy Svoboday 2-up. The IU senior fell 2-and-1 to the defending NCAA champion Ryan Moore.

Armstrong accused of steroid use during 1999 Tour de France

By Alyson Brodsy and Angela Doland · Wednesday, Aug. 24,2005 12:55 a.m.

PARIS -- A French newspaper says Lance Armstrong used the performance-enhancing drug EPO to help win his first Tour de France in 1999, a report the seven-time Tour winner vehemently denied. L'Equipe devoted four pages to its allegations, with a Tuesday front-page headline "The Armstrong Lie." The paper said that signs of EPO use showed up in Armstrong's urine six times during the '99 race.

IU football to start 2006 season against Ball State

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Aug. 24,2005 12:53 a.m.

Despite being just a few hours away, the IU football team has never paid a visit to its northern neighbors, the Ball State Cardinals. That will change Sept. 9, 2006, when IU begins its second season under head coach Terry Hoeppner in Muncie.

Hoosiers earn top preseason ranking

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Aug. 24,2005 12:50 a.m.

Fresh off winning its seventh national title, Soccer America ranked the IU men's soccer team as its preseason No. 1 -- the team's third such ranking so far. The publication also named junior forward Jacob Peterson to its preseason All-America list. The Hoosiers will have one of the toughest schedules in the nation again in 2005, facing six opponents ranked in Soccer America's preseason top 25 including No. 4 Maryland, No. 8 Southern Methodist University, No. 18 Wake Forest University, No. 19 Notre Dame and No. 22 Cal State-Northridge in addition to Big Ten foe No. 17 Northwestern.

Exiled prime minister speaks to IU

By Alyson Brodsy · Friday, Aug. 12,2005 4:09 p.m.

A world leader told a group in Bloomington about corruption in the Burmese government.