Longform

If money can't buy love

By Jim Litke · Wednesday, June 25,2003 9:05 p.m.

Have no illusion about whom LeBron James is playing for. He certainly won't. Last year, his mother took out a sizable loan and bought him an H2 Hummer for his 18th birthday. For months afterward, she was all he talked about. Last month, a shoe company gave James $90 million to wear its sneakers until 2010. All of a sudden he turns up on HBO and says, "Nike is my family."

Around The Region

Wednesday, June 25,2003 8:50 p.m.

Man dies in lawn tractor incident STILESVILLE, Ind. -- A lawn tractor overturned on top of a man who was spraying weeds Tuesday, crushing him to death. Brian Johnson, 46, was driving the tractor when it rolled backward on a steep hill near Stilesville, about 25 miles southwest of Indianapolis.

State orders changes in Madison County agency

Wednesday, June 25,2003 8:44 p.m.

ANDERSON -- The state welfare agency has ordered corrective measures in a county office where a caseworker was indicted in an 8-year-old boy's death from neglect. The Madison County Division of Family and Children Services scored lower than any other child protection office reviewed this year, officials said Tuesday.

Bush's environmental grade poor

By Alyson Brodsy and Jim Harper · Wednesday, June 25,2003 8:40 p.m.

This Tuesday, the League of Conservation Voters, a non-partisan environmental advocacy group, released a "report card" for President Bush on his environmental record. His predecessors, Republican and Democrat, frequently have received sub-par grades from the LCV, but President Bush's grade sets a new low: F.

Nothing new in decision

Wednesday, June 25,2003 8:37 p.m.

After years of debate, the Supreme Court finally announced its ruling Monday in Grutter vs. Bollinger. "The Law School's narrowly tailored use of race in admissions decisions to further a compelling interest in obtaining the educational benefits that flow from a diverse student body is not prohibited by the Equal Protection Clause," said the Honorable Justice Sandra Day O'Connor in her writing of the affirming decision.

Queen City has thrills, culture

By Liv Cole · Wednesday, June 25,2003 8:34 p.m.

At less than three hours away, Cincinnati -- the Queen City -- is the perfect destination of a summer road trip. It offers a plethora of museums, attractions, adventure and sports. If you just want to relax in the Ohio River Valley, then Eden Park is for you. It covers more than 5,000 acres of the city and offers fishing, biking, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, golfing, camping and horseback riding.

Why Café Pizzaria is a tradition

By Adam Steer · Wednesday, June 25,2003 8:32 p.m.

For most New Yorkers, having a slice of good pizza is akin to a religious experience. Nothing is quite like the feel of a slightly blistered pizza crust. The way the slice fits into your hand, folded and cracking on its edges; the way the cheese melts and harmonizes with the tangy sauce that dwells beneath it; the smell of the pizza, fresh and hot from the oven, all come together to form a thing of beauty.

Tattoos new escape route for draft-dodgers in South Korea

Wednesday, June 25,2003 8:32 p.m.

SEOUL, South Korea -- Koreans have a curse -- "You should be tattooed!" -- that reflects the ancient practice of using tattoos to brand thieves and slaves.

India, China agree to reopen Himalayan border

By Joe McDonald · Wednesday, June 25,2003 8:31 p.m.

BEIJING -- India and China have agreed to take a key step toward warmer ties by reopening a section of their Himalayan border where the Asian giants fought a 1962 war, India's foreign minister announced Tuesday.

Journalists released in Afghanistan face trial

By Todd Pitman · Wednesday, June 25,2003 8:30 p.m.

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Two journalists accused of publishing articles that defamed Islam were released Wednesday after a week in prison but will still face trial, President Hamid Karzai said. The weekly newspaper Aftab printed an article June 11 saying the Muslim world had not seen progress in 1,400 years and accused leaders in Afghanistan's north of building palaces with "bloody hands."

Officials question Irish cargo ship

By Theodora Tongas · Wednesday, June 25,2003 8:29 p.m.

MESSOLONGI, Greece -- A ship captain whose huge cargo of explosives raised fears of a terrorist plot claimed Wednesday he had expected to sail to Sudan, but the vessel's Irish owners ordered him to an obscure Greek port.

Jazz Fables to tribute Indy masters

By Brandon Morley · Wednesday, June 25,2003 8:29 p.m.

The Jazz Fables series takes the stage again this week Thursday at Bear's Place. This week's show makes a special tribute, in part, to Indianapolis jazz musicians, including IU Distinguished Professor of Music David Baker. Also appearing are Alonzo "Pookie" Johnson and Jimmy Coe, both on the sax. The show runs from 5:30 to 8 p.m. with ticket prices set at $7.

IUN Chancellor might move up

By Alyson Brodsy · Sunday, June 22,2003 9:51 p.m.

GARY -- The chancellor of Indiana University Northwest is a finalist for the presidency of Delta State University.

Learning their way around

By Carrie Capone · Sunday, June 22,2003 9:50 p.m.

Summer orientation begins today for incoming freshmen, and the campus is beginning to swell with new students and signs pointing out where to go next.

Bepko's presidency almost over

By Joe Grace · Sunday, June 22,2003 9:37 p.m.

Gerald Bepko is not completely sure of what is going to happen next -- heck, he's not even sure if he's gonna keep the 'stache. Bepko sat down gently into a very comfortable looking chair across from a table with a big picture-filled book called Lasting Legacies. He is a soft-spoken man with equally soft eyes and, of course, the mustache.

'Potter-mania' hits Bloomington

By Brittany Ausmus · Sunday, June 22,2003 9:37 p.m.

Witches, wizards and Muggles engulfed local bookstores Friday night in hopes of being the first to own the fifth installment in the popular Harry Potter series, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix." Borders, Barnes and Noble and Howard's Bookstore all stayed open to celebrate the release of the children's book, which officially was released Saturday at 12:01 a.m.

WFHB's Spanish program a success

By Michelle Ruth · Sunday, June 22,2003 9:37 p.m.

Bloomington radio station WFHB is producing the first Spanish radio program for the Bloomington community. The program, "Hola Bloomington," airs Sunday nights with the mission of providing entertainment, education and information to Spanish speakers in the area.

IU home to 'hottest' bachelor

By Jacquelyn Janowski · Sunday, June 22,2003 9:37 p.m.

IU junior Rahsaan Bahati is hot. At least, according to People magazine he is.People magazine recently chose Bahati as one of the top 25 hottest bachelors, placing him with prestigious company such as Prince William and Ashton Kutcher in an issue that came out Friday.

Federal Reserve ready to cut interest rates to all-time low

By Martin Crutsinger · Sunday, June 22,2003 9:35 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- The Federal Reserve is prepared this week to drop a key interest rate to its lowest level since President Eisenhower's second term. The central bank would be aiming to stave off an economic threat absent since the Great Depression -- deflation, a prolonged and widespread decline in prices.

Lennox Lewis wins bloody battle

By Tim Dahlberg · Sunday, June 22,2003 9:32 p.m.

LOS ANGELES -- His night in the ring was long since over, and Lennox Lewis and his people were still working hard. Vitali Klitschko was tough enough, but now there was some serious explaining to do. Lewis was still the heavyweight champion, but that and another $10 million or so in his bank account were the only things he could feel good about Saturday night.