Community Arts

Bloomington Community Band seeks percussionist

The Bloomington Community Band, an all-adult volunteer band, has an opening for a percussionist. The band, which has about 50 members, plays about 20 concerts a year at civic events and public gatherings in Monroe County and surrounding areas. The band always welcomes new members, but it particularly needs a percussionist who can read music.

Poker event raises $3,600 despite low attendance

While some were willing to risk the snowy roads and sidewalks leading to the Indiana Memorial Union, most people thought the trip might be too much of a gamble.

Six months later, Michael Jackon's Katrina song said to be ready soon

LOS ANGELES -- Eight days after Hurricane Katrina hit, Michael Jackson announced he would release an all-star charity single within two weeks. Nearly six months later, after questions about exactly who would be participating, the prince who has been hosting Jackson during his self-imposed exile in Bahrain says the song will come out by the end of this month. In a telephone interview from Dubai last week, Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the son of Bahrain's king, told The Associated Press, "The record is coming along great. We've been taking our time to perfect it and mix it."

ONLINE ONLY: Fairness -- liberal style

If you dislike Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity, that's fine -- go voice your opposing views, but don't cut them off from voicing theirs.

End game

The IU basketball family needs to unite. And Mike Davis says he can't do it. At the end of a turbulent, rumor-filled week, IU coach Mike Davis made his resignation official Thursday, confirming reports that he had arranged a contract buyout with IU President Adam Herbert earlier in the week. Any speculation about Davis' status as IU's head basketball coach was settled at the press conference, as Herbert, IU Athletics Director Rick Greenspan and the embattled but upbeat coach took to the podium in Assembly Hall's basketball press room. "I just felt like it was time for the former players, the fans, the alumni and anyone who loves Indiana basketball to be a part of Indiana basketball again," Davis said. "This is a great day for Indiana basketball. Trust me, it is."

White, Vaden to follow IU coach

Two Hoosier stars made it clear they would probably not return to the team after this season.

Community voices strong opinions on IU coach

Some Bloomington residents gathering at local watering holes for happy hour had strong opinions about the resignation of IU men's basketball coach Mike Davis. Most of them thought Davis -- following the legacy of former IU men's basketball coach Bobby Knight -- never had a chance at IU. Davis just didn't have the experience to live up to high expectations of the demanding IU fans, some said.

Dow Jones index hits 4-year high

NEW YORK -- Stocks posted moderate gains Thursday, buoyed by Hewlett-Packard Co.'s earnings, a surprising jump in home construction and more positive comments from the Federal Reserve. The Dow Jones industrial average posted a new 4 1/2-year high on a late surge in trading.

IU Sing leaders look to make 'Legends'

Thirteen-hundred IU students will pay tribute to legendary figures Friday and Saturday during the 74th annual IU Sing, a song and dance competition among student organizations. Unlike past competitions, this year's event will focus more on the musical aspect of the performances. "Our goal was to cut out the cheesiness," said steering committee member Brian Mehler. "We spun it around into a show to watch."

Open Opportunity

THE FAVORITE: STEVE ALFORD | IOWA Fueled by Davis' suggestion that IU fans need "one of their own" two days after the Hoosiers lost to Iowa, the Hawkeyes' basketball coach tops the growing list of potential replacements. Alford, a native of Franklin, Ind., and former Indiana Mr. Basketball, led IU to its last NCAA Championship in 1987. In his seventh season in Iowa City, Alford's team is currently in first place in the Big Ten. Though Alford's name has been widely mentioned, the coach said he is centered on this season with the Hawkeyes. "My complete focus and efforts are to help my team win a Big Ten Championship," Alford said in a statement. "That's my only concern."

Hoosiers set for rematch with rival Boilermakers

When the IU women's basketball team (14-10, 8-5 Big Ten) arrives in West Lafayette for Sunday's matchup with No. 10 Purdue, it will be looking for more than just an ordinary conference win. As the two rivals face off, bragging rights in the state of Indiana will be on the table. On Jan. 5, the Boilermakers escaped Assembly Hall with a narrow overtime victory. After losing a rivalry game on their home court, the Hoosiers are ready to return the favor.

coach Davis: 'Don't be sad'

IU coach Mike Davis said thursday was a 'great day for indiana basketball.'

Moving on despite davis' resignation, season not over yet

It would be an understatement to say the Hoosiers are traveling to Illinois with more than basketball on their minds.

GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY

One goal for IU: Get backpacks

The IU softball team starts its season this weekend in McKinney, Texas, with one thing on its mind -- backpacks. The Hoosiers are not thinking about the run-of-the-mill North Face backpacks seen around campus, but special backpacks reserved for the participants of the Big Ten Tournament -- something the Cream and Crimson have not competed in since 1997.

Wrestling squad faces final tests

After an 11-0 start, the second best in Duane Goldman's 14 seasons as the Hoosiers head coach, the IU wrestling team hit a string of four top 10 opponents in a row. On all four of those occasions, the Hoosiers came away on the losing end, with their latest fall being last Friday's 27-8 loss to No. 8 Penn State.

'Other Miami coach' trying to resurrect baseball program

Across Indiana's eastern border, in the quaint college town of Oxford, Ohio, lies Miami University -- home to rich daddy's girls, birthplace of fraternities and former stomping grounds of mediocre Boston Celtics forward Wally Szczerbiak. It's a cute little place.

ROAD BLOCK

ROAD BLOCK -- Before a town hall-style meeting Wendesday in Angola, Ind., Gov. Mitch Daniels, left, talks to a protester about the Indiana Toll Road lease plan. The bill, which would allow Daniels to lease the Indiana Toll Road across northern Indiana to an Australian-Spanish partnership for 75 years, passed the Republican-controlled House last week.

Local area mail potentially detoured to Indianapolis en route

Bloomington might soon disappear from the map. The future of the city's postmark remains up in the air. The Monroe County Commissioners intend tonight to endorse an objection to a plan to shift the postmarking of mail from all 474 ZIP codes to Indianapolis -- even mail sent locally, to another 474 code.

Students play role in increasing global awareness of AIDS, HIV pandemic

Senior Katherine MacDonald, a volunteer for Outreach Kenya, has been carrying around a gift bag filled with condoms and conversation hearts since Monday, hoping to get the word out about IU AIDS Awareness Week. MacDonald said she has been pretty successful because her classmates were always curious about the goodies, which were attached to small booklets containing AIDS facts and condom instructions.