Longform

Coalition for transgendered stages first public lobbying event

For three days in May, three dozen transgendered individuals took to Capitol Hill to tell their stories. They were stories of heartache, of disappointment and disillusionment, of confusion and stigma.

Al Qaeda lab suggests effort to make chemical weapons

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Materials left behind in a compound used by Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network, including a booklet offering advice on how to survive a nuclear explosion, suggest the terrorist group may have been trying to develop chemical arms and other unconventional weapons.

AOL lawsuit without merit

A federal lawsuit has been filed against AOL Time Warner alleging that America Online has allowed hate speech to go unsanctioned in Muslim chat rooms. The class-action lawsuit filed in a U.S. District Court in Virginia holds that the Internet-provider giant has violated federal civil rights laws. It asks for an injunction requiring AOL to prevent members from sending messages contrary to its terms of service agreement, which bars hate speech.

Morning after pill still distributed

Planned Parenthood will begin offering free emergency contraception to rape survivors this month. The family-planning center will continue to sell the pill to the public for $29.

Around The Region

Nine indicted in alleged drug ring Poultry truck explosion deliberate Indiana businesses receiving tax bills Report: Indiana guard ranks near bottom

Red Bull under investigation

The popular drink Red Bull, sometimes mixed with vodka, might have adverse side affects many students aren't aware of. "I started drinking it because I wouldn't sleep much...after drinking it, I could stay up all night and have fun," sophomore Corey Gavin said.

Skrape: Drops of Jupiter

Not so much goodbye, but good luck

Movies can provide us with a great way to look at life. One of my favorite movies is "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." One thing that I always remember from that movie is something that Ferris said. "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around every once in a while, you can miss it."

Does father know best?

Why do others hate us?

The devil himself couldn't have dreamt up this week's horror. Needless to say, this is hardly the end, but the beginning of something terrible. As I think about the people on the airplanes that were used to kill thousands, as I watch replays of the World Trade Center towers crashing, as I see the smoldering hole in our defense building, as I wonder what is to come, I can only think, "Why?" "Why do so many others hate us?"

New lead in Behrman case

Authorities are looking into a new lead in the Jill Behrman case. Behrman, a 19-year-old lifelong Bloomington resident who had just completed her freshman year at IU, went out for a bike ride on the morning of May 31 last year. She never returned. Her bike turned up later that day in an Ellettsville cornfield, more than 10 miles away from where she was last seen. Bloomington police and the FBI have since been investigating the presumed abduction.

Tensions mount as countries debate responsibility for presumed death of pilot

As the standoff between the United States and China enters its second week, no resolution is in sight to the conflict that started with the collision of a U.S. EP-3 Aries II spy plane and a Chinese F-8 fighter jet in international airspace. This is shaping up to be President George W. Bush's first major foray into foreign relations -- an area in which he seemed to be weak during his election campaign.

Letters to the players

The following are letters from IU fans (not really) addressed to the Hoosier players and coach prior to their Big Ten battle with No. 19 Ohio State which will determine first place in the conference. These fans know what needs to get done tomorrow for IU to avoid a second straight home flop.

Israeli bread crisis averted after talks

JERUSALEM -- Israel's flour mills agreed to end a six-day work stoppage Sunday, reaching accord with the government for a 14 percent increase in flour prices and averting a nationwide bread shortage.

Grant funds pioneering technology project

IU launched three new computer technology labs Tuesday, funded by a $30 million grant from the Lilly Endowment. Three more labs funded by the grant, which was announced in 1999, will be opened in the near future at IU-Purdue University at Indianapolis. The Pervasive Technology Labs at IU will bring together high-speed computers and "smart" devices ranging from scientific instruments to home appliances.

Around The Arts

Jerry Lewis raises record $56.8M LOS ANGELES -- Jerry Lewis, headlining his 36th annual Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon, raised a record $56.8 million to fight neuromuscular diseases. The telethon, originating from CBS Television City in Hollywood, was broadcast for 21 1/2 hours on about 200 TV stations around the country during the Labor Day weekend. As usual, the variety show featured celebrity co-hosts, including Ed McMahon, Norm Crosby and Casey Kasem.

Indiana Prepares for 30th year of Mini University

The IU campus will experience a surge of student activity during the week of June 17-22. More than 400 alumni, friends and family members will attend one week of classes called Mini University. The classes, taught voluntarily by nearly 100 of the University's most distinguished faculty, range from a study of American Ballet Theatre to "How the New Tax Laws Will Affect You in 2001."

Art in everyday life

After the Thomas Hart Benton murals were displayed at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair, they sat forgotten in a barn until Herman B Wells rescued them. They now adorn the walls of several campus buildings, including the IU Auditorium.

Investors look for rate cut

Investors will be analyzing this week's economic data in an attempt to predict the actions of the Federal Reserve. Today, consumer confidence for March will be released. Economists are calling for confidence to slip to 104.2 from a reading of 106.8 in February. Wall Street will also look at the personal income and spending report for February. The report, scheduled for release Thursday, gives investors a sign of how much consumers are spending. If the report shows a positive number, it is a sign that consumption is increasing.

'Sunday Hoosier Times' a new morning staple

There's a new kid on the newspaper block. The Sunday Hoosier Times made its debut Jan. 7, and so far the reaction has been mixed.