Longform

University gives opera 'legs'

By Josh Kastrinsky · Thursday, Feb. 3,2005 11:10 p.m.

Fans of the opera will experience a modern twist on an old format as the IU Opera launches into its spring season. William Bolcom's "A View From the Bridge" comes to the IU Opera Theater this weekend and next, showing at 8 p.m. today and Saturday, with additional performances Feb. 11 and 12.

23 new faces sign with IU football team

By Dan Click · Thursday, Feb. 3,2005 1:05 a.m.

After months of traveling around the country and hosting recruits on campus, IU coach Terry Hoeppner celebrated one of the most exciting days in football as the Hoosiers announced the signing of 23 recruits Wednesday in the Football Complex at Memorial Stadium. In addition to the announcement of 23 commitments, one "mystery player" has not been announced. Upon the player's request, Hoeppner will wait until Saturday to announce who recruit No. 24 is, he said.

He shall from time to time give the Congress information of the State of the Union

By Tony Sams · Thursday, Feb. 3,2005 1:05 a.m.

The actual West Wing preempted the television drama "The West Wing" Wednesday night, as President Bush delivered his State of the Union address, drawing mixed responses from the IU community looking for domestic policies from the wartime president. Bush's 53-minute speech -- the first of his second term and his fifth overall -- proposed an ambitious agenda balancing a continued presence in the war on terrorism while focusing on American concerns at home.

IUSA has 'five for fighting'

By Eric Tash · Thursday, Feb. 3,2005 1:05 a.m.

For those unfamiliar with the excitement, drama, and tension surrounding the IU Student Association elections: They're back. Wednesday's 5 p.m. deadline to file with the IUSA elections commission came and went with five tickets registering with the hopeful goal of taking the reins from the current Crimson administration. The parties that have submitted their applications to be in the elections, which will be held Feb. 22 and 23, are College, Connect, Kirkwood, Vote for Pedro and What about Bobby.

Greenbacks still falling vs. Euro

By Michael Zennie · Thursday, Feb. 3,2005 1:05 a.m.

Similar to the depreciation of an automobile, the value of every dollar in your piggy bank is deflating with each passing day. The strength of the good 'ole greenback, in fact, has been steadily falling during the past several months when valued against the Euro and other world currencies, despite President George W. Bush's support of "strong dollar policies."

Chocolate cook-off to benefit charity

By Janice Neaveil and Janice Neaveill · Thursday, Feb. 3,2005 12:40 a.m.

Tim Burton's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" isn't due out in theatres until this summer, but Bloomington residents can get a real cocao fix this Saturday at the Bloomington Convention Center.

Buck doesn't buy much today

By Katie Schoenbaechler and Katie Shoenbaechler · Thursday, Feb. 3,2005 12:39 a.m.

One-hundred pennies, 20 nickels, 10 dimes, four quarters. No matter how you add it up; a dollar is a dollar and these days and it doesn't buy much. In Bloomington, with restaurants and stores on every corner it's hard not to spend a buck or $20 on a daily basis. With a perceived sliding economy and prices rising faster than paychecks can be saved, thrifty buying is becoming harder these days. Nothing, it seems, can be bought for $1 anymore.

Rastafarians descend on Ethiopia for concert lashes with Ethiopian culture

By Alyson Brodsy and Anthony Mitchell · Thursday, Feb. 3,2005 12:36 a.m.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia -- Throughout his life, Bob Marley looked to Ethiopia as the spiritual home of his Rastafarian faith.

Institute raises cultural awareness

By Claire Bl · Thursday, Feb. 3,2005 12:36 a.m.

This year marks the African American Arts Institute's 30th anniversary at IU. In the 1970s the Institute debuted as one of the first performing arts programs in the country. Now it has an office in the Neal-Marshal Black Culture Center, 275 N. Jordan Ave.

IU faculty member gives talk , advice about photography

By Ronni Moore and Ronnie Moore · Thursday, Feb. 3,2005 12:35 a.m.

Tuesday evening a group of photography enthusiasts were treated to a 'work-in-progress' view of IU professor and former National Geographic magazine staff photographer Steve Raymer's most recent work on the Indian Diaspora.

Pope to remain hospitalized for several days

By Alyson Brodsy and Victor L. Simpson · Thursday, Feb. 3,2005 12:29 a.m.

VATICAN CITY -- Pope John Paul II had a restful night and his condition stabilized after he was rushed to a hospital with breathing trouble, but he will spend several more days at the clinic to recover from the flu, the Vatican said Wednesday.

Police find tsunami survivors on remote island

By Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, Feb. 3,2005 12:28 a.m.

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- Bureaucratic bungling has blocked food and medicine from reaching 70 percent of Sri Lankans left destitute by the tsunami, a government official said Wednesday, while nine survivors of the disaster were found deep in a jungle on a remote Indian island.

Castro labels President Bush 'deranged person'

By Alyson Brodsy and Vanessa Arrington · Thursday, Feb. 3,2005 12:27 a.m.

HAVANA -- In his first public remarks since the United States dubbed Cuba an outpost of tyranny, Fidel Castro called President Bush "deranged" and belittled recent improvements in relations between Cuba and Europe.

New Jersey plane skids into warehouse

By Alyson Brodsy and Wayne Parry · Thursday, Feb. 3,2005 12:26 a.m.

TETERBORO, N.J. -- A corporate jet hurtled off the end of an airport runway Wednesday while attempting to take off, speeding across a highway and striking two cars before slamming into a warehouse. About 15 people were injured, one critically, but no one was killed, officials said.

Abbas, Sharon to meet for summit in Egypt

By Alyson Brodsy and Amy Teibel · Thursday, Feb. 3,2005 12:25 a.m.

JERUSALEM -- The Israeli and Palestinian leaders on Wednesday accepted Egypt's offer to host a summit between them, raising hopes for a breakthrough in Mideast peace efforts after four years of fighting.

Bracey goes down, but IU keeps it up in Big Ten win

By John Rodgers · Thursday, Feb. 3,2005 12:25 a.m.

With their leading scorer Bracey Wright out with an injury and their second leading point-man D.J. White battling double-teams, IU still found a way to win. The Hoosiers' resourcefulness led to a 68-63 win against Penn State Wednesday at Assembly Hall.

Iraq election illegitimate in Sunni eyes

By Alyson Brodsy and Sameer N. Yacoub · Thursday, Feb. 3,2005 12:25 a.m.

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraq's leading Sunni Muslim clerics said Wednesday the country's landmark elections lacked legitimacy because large numbers of Sunnis did not participate in the balloting, which the religious leaders had asked them to boycott.

Business In Brief

By Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, Feb. 3,2005 12:25 a.m.

'Apprentice' looks for Kelley School grads for new season INDIANAPOLIS -- Casting directors of "The Apprentice" are looking for graduates and professors of the Kelley School of Business and the University of Indianapolis for an upcoming season. On "The Apprentice," host and executive producer Donald Trump assigns tasks to contestants and week-by-week eliminates one with his popular phrase, "You're fired." The final contestant wins a $250,000-per-year job running one of Trump's companies.

New chief to make industrial sites 'shovel ready' for development

By Alyson Brodsy and Rick Callahan · Thursday, Feb. 3,2005 12:24 a.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana's top environmental official is promising to remake the state agency he now presides over into a smarter, faster, more focused entity; one that better protects the environment without stalling economic development.

Pothole problems plague Bloomington drivers

By Lindsey Jancek and Lindsay Jancek · Thursday, Feb. 3,2005 12:24 a.m.

Bloomington streets have transformed from a pre-winter smooth-concrete feel to a late-winter obstacle course of perilous pitfalls for many drivers. Potholes have been popping out of the asphalt on IU's campus and the surrounding Bloomington streets -- in turn upsetting IU students, town residents and guests.