IUPD

Kirkwood Observatory to reopen

By Matt Cunningham · Tuesday, March 21,2006 12:01 a.m.

The Kirkwood Observatory will open to the public for a free viewing of the night sky from 8 to 10:30 p.m Wednesday. If the weather prohibits clear skies, a rain date has been set for March 29 with the same hours. Caty Pilachowski, chair of the IU Department of Astronomy, said in a press release the opening could not take place at a better time because Saturn will be visible. "Saturn is particularly interesting because it is bright and the rings are easily visible," she said. "People can easily make the connection between what they see in pictures and Saturn in real life."

Stripping into shape

By Megan George · Tuesday, March 21,2006 12 a.m.

Dancing for a workout is slowly making its way into the exercise market since Carmen Electra came out with her own aerobic striptease dance videos and Oprah Winfrey showcased Sheila Kelley's S Factor classes on her show. Bloomington offers similar classes for those willing to bust a move. The Walnut Street Tap, formerly Axis Nightclub, offers striptease aerobics classes to women 21 and older Wednesday nights from 8 to 9 p.m.

Cinergy to merge with North Carolina company

By Alyson Brodsy · Monday, March 20,2006 11:56 p.m.

Cinergy Corp. shareholders approved a merger with Duke Energy, which will close as early as April. Duke Energy, a Fortune 500 company, is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C. State regulators have approved the terms of the merger, and PSI Energy in Indiana, along with other existing franchises of the electric and gas utilities, will be rebranded as Duke Energy.

Police investigating Village Pantry robbery

By Audrie Garrison · Monday, March 20,2006 11:55 p.m.

Bloomington Police Department officers are looking for a man who robbed a Village Pantry on Winslow Road Saturday night. The convenience store clerk reported that at about 11:30 p.m., a white male came to the counter with a package of doughnuts, said BPD Detective Sgt. David Drake, reading from the police report. When the clerk opened the drawer to complete his transaction, she said the man handed her a note that said, "This is a robbery. Empty the drawer."

'Major Moves' to affect election

By Alyson Brodsy and Mike Smith · Monday, March 20,2006 11:53 p.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- As united in vehement opposition as Indiana House Democrats were to Gov. Mitch Daniels' "Major Moves" highway plan, some were actually giddy and grinning when Republicans were about to pass the bill without one Democrat vote. "Let 'em drink the Kool-Aid," several said to one another privately. The saying was in reference to the 1978 event in Guyana when more than 900 members of a cult led by Jim Jones committed suicide by drinking cyanide-laced punch.

Heroic Civil War horse's story chronicled in new book

By Laura Jane Hyde · Monday, March 20,2006 11:52 p.m.

Bridgette Z. Savage of Stanford, Ind., recently wrote and illustrated her new book "Fly Like the Wind." The book is based on the true story of a horse, Fly, and her rider George Barrett in the American Civil War. Savage got the idea to write the story from the Working Men's Institute in New Harmony, Ind., where she came across the mare's skeleton, along with a four-page account of the mare's life titled, "The Story of Old Fly." The book tells of Barrett and Fly's experiences in the Civil War in the Union Army's 1st Calvary, 28th Regiment, and how their friendship carried them through the war.

Baby tiger charms audience at WonderLab

By Ariel Ivas · Monday, March 20,2006 11:50 p.m.

About 20 young children gathered eagerly Saturday afternoon to take advantage of their last opportunity to see Max, a 5-month-old baby tiger at WonderLab, a local health, science and technology museum. Since they were urged to stay behind the blue line to prevent Max from becoming scared, the children and their parents sat down and watched the tiger cub in fascination. After a long day of being in his cage at WonderLab, Max was sleeping when the presentation first began. Jeann Herrberg, the assistant director of the Exotic Feline Rescue Center in Center Point, Ind., rubbed Max's belly to wake him up.

'V for Vendetta' No. 1 with $26.1M debut

By Alyson Brodsy and David Germain · Monday, March 20,2006 11:46 p.m.

LOS ANGELES -- Audiences were in a rebellious mood, lifting the action tale "V for Vendetta" to the top spot at the weekend box office with a $26.1 million debut. The Warner Bros. film, which stars Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving in a story of revolution against a totalitarian British government, bumped off the previous weekend's box-office leaders. Paramount's romantic comedy "Failure to Launch," which debuted at No. 1, slipped to second place with $15.8 million, raising its 10-day domestic total to $48.5 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Hollywood's next Kevin Smith

By Alyson Brodsy and Derek Kagemann · Monday, March 20,2006 11:45 p.m.

Making a movie is easy. All you need to do is max out all of your credit cards, take out a bank loan and fit the first day of shooting in while your wife is giving birth to twins. OK, none of that is easy, but it's only part of what writer/director Chris Folino went through to bring his long-standing dream to fruition.

Classical guitar major finds healing in music

By Michael Sanserino · Monday, March 20,2006 11:41 p.m.

A native of Detroit, home to rock legends KISS and more recent rock star Kid Rock, Matthew Douglas Smith wanted to play guitar his whole life. Detroit had established itself as a city infatuated with rock 'n roll, and it was the perfect laboratory for up-and-coming rock stars. But Smith wasn't really interested in any of it. Ever since he began to play guitar seriously as a freshman in high school, Smith has known his talents were better suited for the Metropolitan Opera than they were for the Mets' Tigers' stadium, which hosts occasional rock concerts.

"Piss Christ:" a controversial crucifix

By Alyson Brodsy and Lindsey Landis · Monday, March 20,2006 4:21 p.m.

Andres Serrano mixed blood, urine and a crucifix in a vat and concocted a controversy. In 1987, he photographed his creation, called it "Piss Christ" and was given a $15,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. At a Senate meeting in 1989, Alfonse M. D'Amato, R-N.Y., and Jesse Helms R-N.D., expressed their outrage.

Players feel Davis fallout

By Andy Romey · Monday, March 20,2006 8:25 a.m.

SALT LAKE CITY -- After IU's 90-80 loss Saturday night, the walk through the long-winding tunnel beneath the stands of the Jon Huntsman Center felt like a funeral procession. The awkward silences and the irrelevant small talk couldn't conceal the fact that IU coach Mike Davis was making his final trek to the IU locker room. The fallout of his departure couldn't be concealed, either. "I'm sure he knows this, but my father passed away this summer, and he's like a father figure to me," sophomore forward Robert Vaden said. "I love him with all my heart and I'm sure he loves me as well."

3 teenagers die in accident over break

By Alyson Brodsy · Monday, March 20,2006 8:24 a.m.

Three young women were killed in a two-car accident on Ind. 46 Wednesday afternoon.

Senior ties school mark

By Sam Story · Monday, March 20,2006 12:41 a.m.

IU senior golfer Shannon Johnson knew she had been playing well. She had carded round after round of sub-80 golf. What she didn't know was how dominant her play would be at the UNLV Spring Invitational in Las Vegas during spring break. Johnson's three-day score of 211 (68-75-68) tied the IU school record, but more importantly, was good enough to finish at the top of the leaderboard.

IU captures Florida State Invitational title

By Chris Engel · Monday, March 20,2006 12:40 a.m.

After three weeks of what-ifs, the IU women's softball team had a breakthrough weekend by capturing the Florida State Invitational March 12. The Hoosiers defeated two ranked opponents in one weekend after posting a 0-2-1 record against ranked teams prior to the tournament. Overcoming mental barriers helped push the Hoosiers to finally defeat a ranked opponent for the first time since 1998.

Hoosiers win 3 of 7 during spring break trip

By Jordan Majewski · Monday, March 20,2006 12:40 a.m.

After playing seven games in seven days in Bradenton, Fla., the IU baseball team completed an eventful spring break road trip with a 5-1 loss to the University of Illinois-Chicago on Saturday. The Hoosiers went 3-4 on the trip and now have an overall record of 4-10.

Hoosiers' rowing season back onboard

By Alyson Brodsy · Monday, March 20,2006 12:40 a.m.

After a long winter hiatus, the IU women's rowing team jumped back into action at the Clemson Regatta on Saturday. The meet concluded the squad's spring break training trip, which was held from March 11 to 18. The event showcased Clemson Universitiy, Marist College, Pennsylvania, Purdue and IU in Clemson, S.C. Coach Steve Peterson said in a statement the regatta would be a positive starting point for the relatively young team.

More of the same

By Ryan Phillips · Monday, March 20,2006 12:37 a.m.

A 90-80 loss to Gonzaga in the second round of the NCAA Tournament was more of the same. IU struggled all night and battled back but simply came up short against another great squad.

Wrestling champion KINGPIN

By John Wustrow · Monday, March 20,2006 12:34 a.m.

As the last match of Joe Dubuque's collegiate wresting career came to a close, the IU senior flexed his arms as he walked around the mat and then raised two fingers in the air, presumedly to signify his back-to-back national championships. Dubuque defeated Troy Nickerson of Cornell 8-3 at the NCAA Championships in Oklahoma City on Saturday to capture the 125-pound title once again. Dubuque is the second Hoosier wrestler in the program's history to win two national titles, but the first to do it in consecutive seasons. Charlie McDaniel captured titles for IU in 1935 and 1938.

Senior trio dominates in WNIT win

By Tim O Brien and Tim O'Brien · Monday, March 20,2006 12:33 a.m.

For the IU women's basketball team, the postseason is the postseason whether it is the NCAA or the National Invitation Tournament, but the goal remains the same -- keep winning.