Longform

Around The Region

Indiana homeowners to see drop in heating bill expenses this year State behind in payments to social organizations aiding disabled Cummins Inc. reports $3 million in profits

Texas festival highlights upcoming bands

Talk of Lakers dynasty overrated

Well, the NBA Finals are over and done with, and one more season is down the drain in the sports world, leaving only baseball for our summer enjoyment.

Looking on the sunny side

The police are pulling a body out of the bay right now. Can you run down to the pier to check that out?" That was the idea of a message from my editor that flashed across my screen one day this summer. I was interning at a Florida newspaper as a reporter on the city desk. My mission was to find out who died -- and how.

Critics skeptic of Bush oil plan

Electricity shortages in California have raised awareness of energy supply and conservation, and inflated gas prices are raising public concern over crude oil supplies. But some experts say that the real energy supply situation in America is hardly worthy of the title of an energy 'crisis', and that compared to the oil embargoes, supply cutoffs and long fuel lines of the '70s, this summer's perceived supply shortages are minor and short term. "(There is) no comparison between what happened in the '70s and what is going on today," said IU business professor Bruce Jaffee. "The concerns raised about energy are similar, but the policy and the causes are different. The '70s issue was perceived supply shortages. Price caps were implemented. Most importantly, there was an Arab oil embargo.Today there are no broad shortages. The Bush administration will not tolerate price controls or supply cutoffs from third parties. Most importantly, there is no embargo by a third party."

Getting outside

For students with no plans for spring break and a little extra cash burning in their pockets, there is an alternative to the traditional spring break locations. IU's Outdoor Adventures is sponsoring trips over break as far away as Utah and Arizona and as exotic as the Virgin Islands.

'Men in Black' sequel a cosmic failure

Men in Black II -- PG-13Starring: Will Smith, Tommy Lee JonesDirected by: Barry SonnenfeldShowing: Showplace West 12

Student trustee election process proves flawed

Every two years, the state Governor gets to select from 10 finalists a student trustee who will represent the students of all Indiana University campuses throughout the state. Last Monday, Gov. Frank O'Bannon nominated 32-year-old graduate student Sasha Wilsey from here at the Bloomington campus as the student trustee. That's right, a 32-year-old graduate student.

Henna tattoos catching on

Alma Molina works quickly, squeezing the brown henna paste onto the hand of the young woman sitting across from her like an artist painting on a canvas. About 13 people are watching with awe, pining for their turn as she expertly crafts a freehand dragonfly design on freshman Stacee Griffith's hand and wrist. Once the paste is dry, it will leave a red stained design that will last between three and 15 days.

Roadrunners sit in first, greek teams follow

The front row for the 14th women's Little 500 has 14 riders who are capable of competing. But only 12 are eligible to get on the bike on race day. When the Roadrunners and Delta Zeta took the top two spots in qualifications March 24, they had five riders on the team's rosters. Come race day, one person from each team must be cut to meet the required maximum of four. With three veteran riders, Phi Mu isn't faced with that problem and will be starting from the third spot on the outside of Row 1.

United Nations reports executions in Mazar-e-Sharif

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- There have been reports of summary executions and abductions of civilians in Mazar-e-Sharif since opposition fighters seized the northern city from the Taliban, U.N. officials said Monday.

Everybody's a member

There is something the directors of Union Board want students to know: Every student is a member. By paying activity fees, students become members of Union Board, one of IU's largest student activity programming boards. All members of Union Board are eligible to be on committees and to become directors. Director of marketing Scott Dittmer said getting involved with Union Board is a great social activity. "(Union Board) is a way to make the campus smaller, to meet people and to influence how (activity fee) money is spent," he said.

Mid-nineties pop rock revisited

'Royal' is a DVD treat

The Royal Tenenbaums" was one of the finest movies of last year, and the Criterion Collection two-disc DVD set does incredible justice to this unique film.

Scott May says son Sean has open mind while looking at schools

Former Hoosier basketball great Scott May is hoping a college coach will make a commitment to his son -- Bloomington High School North star Sean May -- similar to the one his mother received from Bob Knight on a recruiting visit nearly 30 years ago.

West leaders deserve respect

Last summer, the Portland Trailblazers acquired musclemen Dale Davis and Shawn Kemp with one thing in mind -- a postseason matchup with Shaquille O'Neal and the Lakers.

Working for the trees

Last April, Mary Demkovich was the first person to climb into a platform overlooking the floor of Indiana's Yellowwood State Forest. For the next eight months, a group of about 20 would take turns spending their lives in a tree named Prometheus.

Powell arrives; India strikes in Kashmir

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Secretary of State Colin's Powell's South Asia visit got off to a rocky start Monday as Indian troops opened fire on Pakistani positions in the Kashmir region just hours after Powell appealed for restraint.

Art's intention is education

Artwork displayed in Woodburn Hall and the Health, Physical Education and Recreation building have provoked some debate on campus. The Black Student Union held a town hall meeting last week to discuss the artwork, including murals in Woodburn 100 depicting Ku Klux Klansmen and swastikas adorning the tiling of the HPER building. Students expressed concern over the possibly offensive material.

Tridelphia avoids Phishy sound of jam bands

To hear guitarist Dave Miller say that his band's big mainstream influence is Phish might cause many to roll their eyes. Being a "Phish-influenced" band conjures up connotations of a typical college rock band. But to make that assumption would be selling Tridelphia short. The influence of Phish is not subtle, but neither is it primary to the sound of the band. Where other college jam-bands try mightily to sound as much like Phish as they can, Tridelphia uses the name as a reference point for those who have not heard their focused take on jazz and rock and roll.