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Jordan River Forum

Fixing animals a humane practice Step over stereotypes

Sex and the City 101

We live in a new America, a veritable war zone, with intimidating players on every New York street. What we need is a new group of heroes. Soldiers of fortune who take no prisoners. We've got to get tough, Yo Gio!

'Pledge' ruled unconstitutional

For the first time ever, a federal appeals court declared the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional Wednesday because of the words "under God" added by Congress in 1954.

The death of American steel

A few weeks ago, I got up at 5 a.m. to go to a local steel mill. Even though I live in the largest steel producing region in the country, I had never been inside a mill before. As I drove around the mill, I felt like I was on a movie set. It was foggy, dreary and lifeless until I entered the plants and saw the hundreds of workers who had spent their lives in the mill. Then it hit me. These men and women come from various backgrounds but have one thing in common: They are all working hard to provide for their families. They are the face of the American steel industry.

Special session ends in compromise

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana House of Representatives passed House Bill 1001 in a 51-45 vote on Saturday, sending the bill to Gov. Frank O'Bannon, who has said that he will sign it. Passage of the tax bill that will go a long way to balancing the state's budget came after a week of intense discussion between Senate Republicans and House Democrats. The House met to debate the bill on Saturday. After one unsuccessful vote, the bill passed Saturday night ending the historic special session.

Uncle may face death penalty in murder

Since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976, no Monroe County prosecutor has pursued the capital punishment of a defendant in a murder trial. In fact, no one has been sentenced to death by a Monroe County court in the past century. This precedent will be weighing heavy on the minds of prosecutor Carl Salzmann and deputy prosecutor Mary Ellen Diekhoff as they consider whether to seek the death penalty in the trial of Robert S. Stewart.

Israeli troops escalate invasion

JERUSALEM -- Israeli troops are keeping at least 400,000 Palestinians under effective house arrest with round-the-clock curfews and largely barring the media from covering its escalating invasion of the West Bank -- an operation that has faced minimal Palestinian resistance and limited international criticism.

Mini University ends with commencement

Friday, 415 students attended commencement ceremonies at the Indiana Memorial Union. But these people were not IU students receiving degrees. They were participants in the 31st annual Mini University, a program in which alumni and non-alumni attend classes taught by IU professors.

Yahoo! changes 'most wired' survey criteria

With controversy surrounding the methodology of Yahoo! Internet Life magazine's "most wired" survey, 88 universities refused to participate last year. Despite the protests, Yahoo! placed such schools on its 2001 "most wired" list, sparking controversy. For the upcoming 2002 list, Yahoo! has changed its criteria so that no school officials will be involved.

Around The Region

Experts worry talk of earthquake danger will fade quickly Trooper's presence at casino party under investigation Maker of low-budget film say they want to repay investors

Syndicated columnist dies from multiple myeloma Saturday

CHICAGO -- Ann Landers' advice column resonated with readers for nearly five decades because she wrote about topics that others often shied away from while dispensing advice that was never stale, her daughter said Sunday.

16 agencies to be funded

More than $100,000 of taxpayer money was allocated to various social services groups Wednesday night. The Bloomington City Council approved 16 agencies to receive funds from the Jack Hopkins Social Services Funding Program.

Bin Laden alive, promises attacks

BEIRUT, Lebanon -- Osama bin Laden and his No. 2 man are both alive and well and their al-Qaida network is ready to attack new U.S. targets, bin Laden's spokesman said in audiotaped remarks aired Sunday.

British troops storm Afghan compound

BAGRAM, Afghanistan -- British marines broke into a suspicious village compound and chanced upon one of the largest weapons caches uncovered in southeastern Afghanistan -- rooms stacked high with hundreds of mortars, rockets and heavy weapons.

Bush prepares new Mideast plan

WASHINGTON -- Members of Congress and Palestinian leaders today questioned President Bush's plan for an interim Palestinian state and urged stepped-up U.S. peacemaking efforts as Bush prepares to announce his Mideast blueprint.

States wrestle with definition of mentally retarded

The tricky question of what makes a person mentally retarded now falls before state lawmakers, judges and prosecutors, following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that found executing such people unconstitutional.

Recruits practice in 2002 Barnstorm tour

The facts of college life

Tis the season, again. No, not for stockings, presents and mistletoe, but instead for pre-freshman and parents with their red and white orientation bags. Once again campus is being invaded by mass hordes of confused parents and their oblivious offspring. You know who I'm talking about -- legions of 'will-be' students who follow five feet behind by their parents.

Acknowledging evil

Evil exists in the world. As blatant of a fact as this is, liberals tend to deny it, calling evil 'culture' instead and labeling those who oppose this evil-minded 'culture' as imperialistic, racist and intolerant.

Why are kids so violent?

Working with the Children's Reading Program at a local library has taught me three important life lessons. One: I look like Harry Potter. Two: Kids will kill, cheat and say they like broccoli to win a paper bag filled with almost worthless coupons. Three: If I die and come back reincarnated as a three-foot-tall stuffed replica of Barney the purple dinosaur, I will know without a doubt that I must have done something terrible in this life.