Longform

Agassi greeted warmly in 20th Open

By Steve Wilstein · Tuesday, Aug. 30,2005 1:32 a.m.

Like an ageless rock star, Andre Agassi took the court for his 20th straight U.S. Open to roars that drowned out his introduction. He gave his adoring fans one more memory Monday night in a match that was little more than a practice session, and he left, as always, blowing kisses in all directions. No one, not even Agassi, knows if this will be his last U.S. Open, but if it is he started it out in fine fashion with a tidy 69-minute, 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 romp over an overwhelmed and thoroughly outclassed Romanian, Razvan Sabau.

Slumping Palmeiro loses starting job to rookie Freire

By David Ginsburg · Tuesday, Aug. 30,2005 1:30 a.m.

Rafael Palmeiro has lost his job as the Baltimore Orioles' regular first baseman, the result of a prolonged slump that began after he returned from a 10-day suspension for testing positive for steroids. Mired in a 2-for-22 skid in which he has gone hitless in his last 14 at-bats, the left-handed hitting Palmeiro did not start Monday against Oakland right-hander Kirk Saarloos.

Fashion designer directs Graffiti fest in New York

By Alyson Brodsy and Verena Dobnik · Tuesday, Aug. 30,2005 1:30 a.m.

NEW YORK -- It was a high-tech, pricey setting for what was once considered low-tech vandalism: Mackie speakers blasting rap while artists spray-painted graffiti on fake subway cars.

$2.69: Gas in your tank or ...

By Alyson Brodsy and Hannah Schroder · Tuesday, Aug. 30,2005 1:28 a.m.

The effects of Hurricane Katrina can be felt as far north as Indiana as gas prices continue to rise, causing consumers to dig deeper and deeper into their pockets to fill up their tanks. Shelling out $2.69 as of Monday for a gallon of gas -- the price Sunday at the BP at 17th Street and College Avenue -- is no small feat for most college students.

No joke - NFL teams need to lighten up

By Kevin Dwire · Tuesday, Aug. 30,2005 1:27 a.m.

The National Football League has a huge problem that doesn't appear to be getting any smaller. For the last couple of decades, the weight of NFL linemen has been steadily increasing to a point of rampant obesity. Only three teams, the Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, had offensive linemen who averaged under 300 pounds in 2003, according to www.nfl.com. The team with the highest average lineman weight was Oakland -- a Raiders trench player averaged 322.8 pounds.

Crowded party provides little help in attack on rap mogul

By Alyson Brodsy and Curt Anderson · Tuesday, Aug. 30,2005 1:27 a.m.

MIAMI -- Police had no suspects Sunday in the shooting of rap mogul Suge Knight at an MTV awards party - a typical development in the street-justice world of rap.

Brando's book published ldished

By Alyson Brodsy and Bob Thomas · Tuesday, Aug. 30,2005 1:24 a.m.

LOS ANGELES -- Marlon Brando makes a posthumous appearance not in movie theaters, but in the nation's bookstores this month as co-author of "Fan-Tan," an adventure about a dashing, early 20th-century pirate.

Manning not expected to miss playing time

By Michael Marot · Tuesday, Aug. 30,2005 1:23 a.m.

Coach Tony Dungy can breathe easier now that Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts offense appear to be fine. Dungy said Monday that Manning's bruised left shoulder isn't serious enough to keep him out of games or practices and that the two-time MVP should be ready when the Colts open the regular season at Baltimore. "He has been examined, and he's fine," Dungy said.

Governor commutes death sentence of convicted murderer

By Mike Smith · Tuesday, Aug. 30,2005 1:15 a.m.

Gov. Mitch Daniels on Monday commuted the death sentence of Arthur Baird II, who was scheduled to be executed this week for killing his parents in 1985.

Storms caused by Hurricane Katrina could hit Indiana

By Ashley M. Heher · Tuesday, Aug. 30,2005 1:14 a.m.

Indiana could begin to see heavy rains and thunderstorms from Hurricane Katrina as early as this afternoon, especially in southern and central areas of the state. "We don't know what's going to happen -- the thing is just barely on shore," said Mike Shartran, a manager at the National Weather Service's Indianapolis office.

Russia apologizes to senators after delay at airport

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, Aug. 30,2005 1:12 a.m.

KIEV, Ukraine -- Russia apologized Monday for keeping two U.S. senators waiting for three hours in a Russian airport after border guards expressed concerns about letting the U.S. military flight depart without an inspection of the plane.

Room TBAs foil 1st day of classes

By Kate FitzGerald · Tuesday, Aug. 30,2005 1:09 a.m.

IU Guides stationed at high-traffic areas of campus were met with a startling question from new students on their way to class yesterday.

Calif. takes aim at 'cancerous' french fries, potato chips

Tuesday, Aug. 30,2005 12:53 a.m.

Potato chips and french fries could soon come with a warning label in California if the state's top attorney prevails in a lawsuit filed Friday against nine fast food chains and snack-food makers.

Study says coffee high in antioxidants

By Associated Press · Tuesday, Aug. 30,2005 12:51 a.m.

Coffee not only helps clear the mind and boost energy, it also provides more healthful antioxidants than any other food or beverage in the American diet, according to a study released Sunday.

IU scientists debate alien existence

By Hannah Schroder · Tuesday, Aug. 30,2005 12:48 a.m.

Ten years ago, senior Adam Pollard thought he encountered aliens. He was camping, and one night he walked down to a lake. When he looked up in the sky, he saw lights moving from side to side. "It looked like something was floating around in the sky," he said. "I thought they were aliens because I'd formed an opinion of how it would look after I'd seen it on TV and read books about alien encounters." Most likely, Pollard didn't encounter aliens, but the mysterious lights in the sky made him wonder, "Do aliens really exist?"

Welcome Week arrests total 60, down fom 2004

Tuesday, Aug. 30,2005 12:48 a.m.

IU Police Department reports show Welcome Week arrests decreased slightly from last year.

Official warns of terror attack in Philippine city

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, Aug. 30,2005 12:48 a.m.

MANILA, Philippines -- Police installed more closed-circuit cameras in Manila malls, sent out guards with dogs and set up checkpoints on roads Monday as a senior official warned of a possible major attack in the capital following a ferry bombing that injured 30 people. The military said an initial investigation concluded that Abu Sayyaf, an al-Qaida linked terror group, was behind Sunday's attack. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo promised to hunt down "and cripple, if not decimate," those responsible.

Sharon: Not all settlements stay

By Alyson Brodsy and Mark Lavie · Tuesday, Aug. 30,2005 12:47 a.m.

JERUSALEM -- Not all Israeli settlements in the West Bank will remain in place in a final peace accord with the Palestinians, but there will be no pullbacks comparable to this month's evacuations, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Monday.

Sigma Alpha Mu chapter picks up national award

By Michelle Manchir · Tuesday, Aug. 30,2005 12:46 a.m.

IU's Sigma Zeta chapter of the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity recently placed its biggest prize yet in its already-impressive trophy case.

Violence erupts following Israel's Gaza withdrawal

By Alyson Brodsy and Steven Gutkin · Tuesday, Aug. 30,2005 12:46 a.m.

JERUSALEM -- A lethal arrest raid, a suicide bombing, fresh land expropriations, a threatening Hamas video: So far, that's the follow-up to Israel's historic Gaza pullout. Rather than seize the moment to jump-start negotiations, Israelis and Palestinians appear to be falling into a familiar pattern of violence and rhetoric. Still, the withdrawal from Jewish settlements in Gaza is of such significance that even the latest spasms are unlikely to torpedo all momentum for peace.