Longform

Voters 'bring back Baron' for 4th term after 2004 loss

By Chris Freiberg and Warren Christopher Freiberg · Wednesday, Nov. 8,2006 1:48 a.m.

SEYMOUR, Ind. -- Hoosiers have brought back Baron. After months of tough campaigning in one of the closest races in the country, The Associated Press projected Democrat Baron Hill as the winner in the 9th District congressional race Tuesday night, with a lead of more than 2,000 votes and 77 percent of precincts reporting.

Sports stars have mixed results with voters in elections

By Fred Lief · Wednesday, Nov. 8,2006 1:46 a.m.

Lynn Swann, the Hall of Fame receiver whose football career was one long string of successes, was beaten Tuesday in his bid to become Pennsylvania's governor.

Rokita wins re-election as secretary of state

By Deanna Martin · Wednesday, Nov. 8,2006 1:36 a.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Republicans appeared on their way to keeping control of the three statewide offices up for grabs Tuesday.

Sodrel concedes congressional loss before hometown crowd

By Paige Ingram · Wednesday, Nov. 8,2006 1:35 a.m.

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. -- Early cheers turned to tears late Tuesday night at the Republican headquarters in Jeffersonville, Ind., as U.S. Congressman Mike Sodrel conceded to Democratic challenger Baron Hill. As the polls closed and preliminary numbers came in favoring Sodrel, spirits in the crowd were high. Sodrel walked around the downtown square of his hometown sharing hugs and smiles with the hundreds of locals who came out in his support. Silently showing his authority to return to Washington, Sodrel wore a denim shirt bearing the official U.S. House of Representatives embroidery.

Dems force out 3 Indiana GOP congressmen

By Associated Press · Wednesday, Nov. 8,2006 1:34 a.m.

Democrats ousted Republican incumbents Tuesday in Indiana's 2nd, 7th and 8th Congressional Districts, giving the party three of the 15 seats it needed to take control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Political parties still waiting for Monroe County results

Wednesday, Nov. 8,2006 1:32 a.m.

Four hours after Monroe County's polls closed, Franklin Andrew tightly held his choice drink of the night -- Red Bull.

Siam House renovations will add more tables in restaurant

By Will Moffat and Will Moffatt · Wednesday, Nov. 8,2006 12:47 a.m.

Although the Siam House is undergoing external renovations, residents can rest assured that Indiana's oldest Thai restaurant is keeping its traditional Thai food and atmosphere as it has been for the past 17 years. Siam House, 430 E. Fourth St., has been undergoing renovations that are expected to be finished by the end of the month and will allow the restaurant to fit in five or six more tables.

Hip-hop artist wants Midwest rap scene to get recognized

By Maria Srour · Wednesday, Nov. 8,2006 12:46 a.m.

Hip-hop music doesn't exactly grow in cornfields. Consequently, the entire Midwest has picked up a reputation for its lack of successful hip-hop artists. As Vibe magazine Editor Alan Light puts it in his new book on the history of hip-hop: "The last place anybody expected to hear rap music blowing up was the Midwest." But it seems as though Bloomington might be on the brink of becoming home to an oasis in the Midwest hip-hop desert.

Bosma concedes that Democrats take control of Indiana House

By Alyson Brodsy and Mike Smith · Wednesday, Nov. 8,2006 12:45 a.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana House Democrats knocked off at least four Republican incumbents and regained control of the chamber, something both parties considered their top priority this election. Republicans went into the election with a 52-48 majority, but House Speaker Brian Bosma conceded late Tuesday that his party will now trail by at least 51-49. Democrats had narrowly controlled the chamber for eight consecutive years before Republicans gained the gavel in 2004.

Voters 'wary' of machines but still feel duty to vote

By Kristi Oloffson · Wednesday, Nov. 8,2006 12:44 a.m.

Voters might have felt a duty to vote Tuesday, but not all of them felt confident their votes were counted accurately in the electronic machines used on Election Day in Monroe County. The Monroe County Courthouse, one of 19 Election Day poll locations in Bloomington, had drawn about 250 voters by 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. Many voters leaving the polls at the courthouse said they felt it was their civic duty to vote but admitted they didn't feel 100 percent confident in the electronic system.

Voter fraud allegations investigated

By Audrie Garrison · Wednesday, Nov. 8,2006 12:43 a.m.

onded to allegations that a Democratic Monroe County employee was found illegally holding overseas absentee ballots Tuesday. Initial reports from The Associated Press stated that the FBI was conducting an investigation into the matter. County clerk Jim Fielder and Jack Schmit, a Republican Monroe County Election Board member, both said the FBI began an investigation, but Indiana State Police First Sgt. Dave Bursten said the FBI was never involved. Wendy Osbourne, spokeswoman for the Indianapolis office of the FBI, said she could not confirm or deny whether any investigations were being conducted. The FBI has jurisdiction over voter fraud allegations, she said.

GOP faces some losses in Senate

By Alyson Brodsy and David Espo · Wednesday, Nov. 8,2006 12:41 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Resurgent Democrats grabbed Republican Senate seats in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Rhode Island Tuesday in midterm elections shaped by an unpopular war in Iraq and scandal at home.

Dems win governorships in Mass., Ohio, New York

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Nov. 8,2006 12:40 a.m.

Democrats scored a string of victories in governors' races Tuesday, taking back Massachusetts, Ohio and New York from the GOP, holding a vulnerable seat in Michigan and fighting hard to unseat Republicans in Minnesota and Maryland.

Voters elect to ban same-sex marriage in 3 states, 5 pending

By Alyson Brodsy and David Crary · Wednesday, Nov. 8,2006 12:38 a.m.

Amendments to ban gay marriage won approval Tuesday in three states, including Wisconsin, where gay-rights activists had nursed hopes of engineering the first defeat of such a ban. Nationwide, a total of 205 measures were on the ballots in 37 states -- ranging from routine bond issues to a riveting contest in South Dakota, where voters chose whether to uphold or reject a toughest-in-the-nation law that would ban virtually all abortions.

UPDATE: 12 a.m. results

By IDS staff · Wednesday, Nov. 8,2006 12:17 a.m.

As of midnight, Monroe County's election results were as follows, with 31 out of 96 Monroe County precincts tallied (32 percent):

UPDATE: 11 p.m. results

By IDS staff · Tuesday, Nov. 7,2006 11:40 p.m.

As of 11 p.m., Monroe County's election results were as follows, with 28 out of 96 Monroe County precincts tallied (29 percent):

UPDATE: Hill, Ellsworth, Donnelly give Democrats key wins in Congress

By Deanna Martin · Tuesday, Nov. 7,2006 10:57 p.m.

Baron Hill squeaked past Rep. Mike Sodrel in southern Indiana's 9th District. Meanwhile, Democrats ousted Republican incumbents Tuesday in Indiana's 2nd and 8th Congressional Districts as well, giving the party three of the 15 seats it needs to take control of the U.S. House. Joe Donnelly topped Rep. Chris Chocola in northern Indiana's 2nd District, and Brad Ellsworth swept past Republican Rep. John Hostettler in southern Indiana's 8th District.

UPDATE: 10 p.m. results

By IDS staff · Tuesday, Nov. 7,2006 10:49 p.m.

As of 10 p.m., Monroe County's election results were as follows, with 18 out of 96 Monroe County precincts tallied (19 percent):

Online Only: Jesus isn't a ninja

By Alyson Brodsy and Abram Hess · Tuesday, Nov. 7,2006 10:41 p.m.

As I was hustling down 10th Street last week, late as usual, I was accosted by a smarmy grin poking a piece of paper at me. "Hey man," the smarmy grin said. "Want a free ticket to a concert next week?" Eager to make haste, I accepted the proffered piece of paper and plunged on to my late appointment. As I bustled along, I examined my "ticket," only to discover that it was the very same uninformative and ubiquitous advertisement I'd already seen about a million times in the previous days, inviting me to an ambiguous event called "AFTERdark." Par for this course, the "ticket" listed the program's name, date, time, location and little else: no description, campus affiliation or sponsoring student group could be found. Apparently cat-killing curiosity was the intended enticement.

For Freitag and gang, 1 goal to go

By Alyson Brodsy and Jonathan Hines · Tuesday, Nov. 7,2006 10:40 p.m.

One goal. It sounds rather cliche, but no phrase better summarizes the IU men's soccer team at this point in the season. The team has already reclaimed the Big Ten regular season championship and the conference tournament title, two feathers that never made it in their cap last year. They brought home the hardware, despite losing six of 11 starters from a year ago and being the lowest-scoring team in the 34-year history of the program. If that doesn't typify how dominant IU soccer has been over the years, I don't know what does.