IUPD

IU playwrights seek Masters

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Sept. 18,2002 1:10 a.m.

Within the next couple of months, two IU Master of Fine Arts playwright students will have their original works performed to the benefit of the Bloomington community. Jonathan Yukich, in his second year of the MFA program, has written and will also direct his work entitled "The Mime Crime." The play tells the story of a mime who commits a murder in broad daylight.

Spanish film festival seeks respect

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Sept. 18,2002 1:10 a.m.

MADRID -- The Spanish-speaking world's biggest film festival, San Sebastian, opens Thursday, still struggling for respect on its 50th birthday. As usual, there's a smattering of stars (Francis Ford Coppola gets a lifetime achievement award; John Malkovich presents his first movie as director) and a full slate of movies -- 233 -- but no major world premiere. San Sebastian's Golden Shell -- to be awarded Sept. 28 -- lacks the glamour associated with the Palme d'Or (Cannes), Golden Bear (Berlin) and Golden Lion (Venice), not to mention Hollywood's Academy Awards.

Poker and revenge

By Alyson Brodsy and Rory Starks · Wednesday, Sept. 18,2002 1 a.m.

Hopefully the upcoming weapons inspection in Iraq will show us that Iraq has absolutely nothing. Something tells me that Saddam Hussein has been carrying out a four-year bluff with the whole world. I don't think he's been trying to fool us, I just think he doesn't have anything worth fighting a war over, and he doesn't want us to know that.

This theory counts too

By Alyson Brodsy and Cherry Blattert · Wednesday, Sept. 18,2002 12:59 a.m.

The Ohio State Board of Education will decide later this year whether or not they will continue teaching Darwinian theory of evolution as the only explanation for the origin of life. Those pushing for reform within science curriculum are hoping that teachers will highlight the controversy surrounding Darwinism, perhaps leading to discussion of the other theories.

It's okay to miss your mommy

By Alyson Brodsy and Joe Grace · Wednesday, Sept. 18,2002 12:57 a.m.

I may be 21, but I can still miss my mommy. And I'm sure that there are many other college students here who have also felt the pinch of homesickness during these first few weeks of school. Joe Freshman is sitting in class attempting to figure out what human beings did wrong to deserve Finite Math, when suddenly he'll realize that he now has to do his own laundry and that he doesn't know the difference between detergent and anthrax.

WTC survivor trivializing Sept. 11

By Jessica Halverson and Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Sept. 18,2002 12:56 a.m.

World Trade Center survivor Edward Fine is charging $911 for a two-hour interview, the New York Post reported last week. He said the sum is no coincidence. Hard to believe? So far, 12 media organizations have paid.

Iraq: Inspectors will see truth

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Sept. 18,2002 12:55 a.m.

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraq said Tuesday that returning U.N. weapons inspectors could learn the truth about the country's alleged weapons of mass destruction "within a reasonable time," but claimed the United States still might find a new reason to attack. It was the country's first public comment after bowing to Arab and world pressure and agreeing to allow the unconditional return of inspectors following a nearly four-year absence. Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz said Iraq had balked because it was not sure if U.S. and British demands were "a genuine concern or a pretext."

Fuel tanker with dynamite seized

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Sept. 18,2002 12:54 a.m.

KABUL, Afghanistan -- A fuel tanker seized over the weekend with sticks of dynamite attached to it was headed to Bagram Air Base, the headquarters of the U.S. military in Afghanistan, a peacekeeping spokesman said Tuesday. The truck was filled with aviation fuel when it was stopped Saturday by Afghan soldiers and international peacekeepers at a checkpoint in southern Kabul, said Squadron Leader Terry Hay, a spokesman for the multinational force. Two men in the truck were arrested, Hay said.

West Nile outbreak continues to spread

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Sept. 18,2002 12:53 a.m.

CHICAGO -- Bob Meisenheimer liked to sit in his back yard with friends on sultry summer nights, wearing a T-shirt and trying to solve the world's problems. The one that killed him -- West Nile virus -- has authorities scrambling for answers. The mosquito-borne illness has hit Illinois harder than any other state this summer, with 399 cases so far, including 21 deaths. That is far worse than even hot, humid and swampy Louisiana, which has had 11 deaths.

Tampa lawyer beats Reno in tight race

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Sept. 18,2002 12:52 a.m.

MIAMI -- Florida finally sorted out the mess Tuesday from last week's bungled election as final vote counts showed Bill McBride narrowly defeating Janet Reno for the Democratic nomination for governor. The former Clinton administration attorney general conceded the nomination, saying she told McBride "he was going to be a great governor." McBride, a Tampa lawyer and first-time candidate, won by about 4,800 votes out of more than 1.3 million cast, according to the still-unofficial figures. He will face Republican Gov. Jeb Bush in November.

Man linked to dead reporter

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Sept. 18,2002 12:48 a.m.

KARACHI, Pakistan -- An al Qaeda militant arrested with alleged Sept. 11 organizer Ramzi Binalshibh has been identified as one of the killers of Wall Street Journal correspondent Daniel Pearl, a senior police official said Tuesday. The identification was made by a Pakistani held but not charged in the kidnap-slaying of the newspaper's South Asian correspondent, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Around the region

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Sept. 18,2002 12:46 a.m.

Regional news

Abortion-rights group may challenge ruling

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Sept. 18,2002 12:44 a.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- An abortion-rights group is considering challenging an appeals court ruling that Indiana's law requiring women to get in-person counseling before an abortion is constitutional. Betty Cockrum, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Greater Indiana, said the group is reviewing the ruling to decide whether to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. "As we've said all along, those waiting periods are very burdensome," Cockrum said Tuesday. "My greatest emphasis is how difficult an abortion is for any woman who is faced with it. It is not a frivolous undertaking on any woman's part, and to the extent that you add to that burden, it's a problem."

Ragweed plagues Indiana's seasonal allergy sufferers

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Sept. 18,2002 12:43 a.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- As summer gives way to autumn, rising levels of ragweed pollen are sending many Indiana allergy sufferers running to tissue boxes and doctors' offices. An estimated 20 percent of the state's residents suffer from seasonal allergies, and many have had a tough summer, even though, according to experts, this has been an average allergy season. Eric Willman looks forward to the changing of the seasons. But not from summer to fall. He prefers winter, when everything is dead.

Living like King Tut

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, Sept. 17,2002 2:12 a.m.

COLUMBUS, Ind. -- Patrick Conner acknowledges that the two pyramids in his side yard are a bit unusual and attract a lot of attention. "People stop by every day and ask about them," Conner said. "They are kind of hard to miss." The two large structures are visible from U.S. 31 and curious motorists often use the front yard of his home as a parking lot, so they can get a closer look. But if those visitors think Conner's outside pyramids are unusual, they should peek inside his house. The interior looks like the inside of the pyramids used as burial chambers for ancient Egyptian royalty.

IU families face financial woes

By Takashi Nakamichi · Tuesday, Sept. 17,2002 2:12 a.m.

Each semester, about 200 families facing hardships like death, illness and job losses consult with assistant bursar Janet Flynn. Affected families may be allowed to spread students' school expenses over a longer period. This year, stock prices dropped, job growth was stagnate and IU tuition rose. But Flynn says she has seen no increase in hardship families. "I don't think there's any large difference I've seen," she said. While some national media report on students' financial crises caused by the country's economic problems, there are few visible signs in Bloomington of financial disasters forcing undergraduates out of college. And experts and statistics suggest there are a few.

Creek search uncovers new evidence

By Julia Balnford and Julia Blanford · Tuesday, Sept. 17,2002 2:07 a.m.

Crews working all day Monday to search Salt Creek discovered new evidence police say could be linked to missing IU student Jill Behrman. BPD Detective Marty Deckard, a member of the Jill Behrman Task Force, said investigators will forensically analyze the evidence to determine whether it has any value.

Iraq allows inspectors to return

By Alyson Brodsy and Dafna Linzer · Tuesday, Sept. 17,2002 2:07 a.m.

UNITED NATIONS -- Iraq agreed Monday to allow the unconditional return of U.N. weapons inspectors, a reversal coming days after President Bush warned Baghdad to comply with U.N. resolutions or face military action. The White House dismissed the offer as a tactical move.

'She was one of us'

By Bennet Haeberle and Bennett Haeberle · Tuesday, Sept. 17,2002 2:07 a.m.

Last Sept. 17, Marilyn Behrman was stranded out of town visiting relatives. But she felt the need to be back in Bloomington with her family at Nick's English Hut. It would have been her daughter Jill's 21st birthday. Today would have been her 22nd. As rescue crews continue to search Salt Creek for evidence that may help them recover Jill Behrman, the IU student missing since May of 2000, family and friends are remembering her on her birthday.

9/11 display at Willkie angers some

By Maura Halpern · Tuesday, Sept. 17,2002 2:07 a.m.

A bulletin board meant to raise awareness in Willkie Quad has left some students angry, saying that it's offensive.