Region

300 million

Did you wake up Tuesday and feel a little claustrophobic? According to U.S. Census Bureau estimations, our population passed the 300 million mark Tuesday at 7:46 a.m. There wasn't a big fanfare for this milestone as there was in 1967 when we hit 200 million. At that time the achievement was overwhelmingly positive, a signal of our rise to global power. This time, census officials expected nothing more than cake and punch to commemorate the "populometer" rolling over to eight zeroes once again.

Blunt argument

If I weren't severely asthmatic, I would totally be a pothead. It's unfortunate, really -- being robbed of such a glorious, mind-freeing drug by a physical handicap. It's by the same token Christopher Reeve didn't smoke pot -- his dealer lived on the second floor.

French fuming

AIX-EN-PROVENCE, France -- OK, so the French don't actually smoke that much. I mean, really. According to World Health Organization figures, 34.5 percent of the population smokes. Compare that to Indiana, where 27 percent of adults and 39 percent of high school seniors smoke, and the stereotypical Frenchman with baguette in hand and cigarette in mouth seems more archaic.

Ferreting out the truth

Missing your pet? Looking for a loophole? We have just the solution! For those of you who can't believe your pet -- be it a chinchilla, rabbit, aardvark or alien -- isn't accepted as warmly by Residential Programs and Services or your professors as it is by your loving arms, read these three words very carefully: psychiatric service animal.

Witnesses in Saddam trial recall massacres of Kurdish detainees

A Kurdish witness at Saddam Hussein's genocide trial testified Wednesday that he survived a massacre by running and falling into a ditch full of bodies as troops fired on his group of detainees. A second Kurd told of a separate massacre in which 35 detainees, knowing they were about to die, decided to attack their guards in the hope that if they struck first, at least one would live to tell the tale.

Rice pledges 'full range' defense of Japan against North Korea

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Wednesday the United States is ready to use the "full range" of its military might to defend Japan in light of North Korea's nuclear weapons test, and her Japanese counterpart drew a firm line against developing a Japanese bomb.

U.S. poet laureates set to speak at IU

Two former U.S. poets laureates Robert Pinsky and W. S. Merwin will come to campus as part of a series sponsored by the College Arts and Humanities Institute and the Institute for Advanced Study.

Behrman trial update

MARTINSVILLE -- The parents of slain IU student Jill Behrman were called to the stand to testify in the third day of the trial of John R. Myers II, accused of killing the IU student.

Faculty wants open search

Faculty members expressed concerns about the confidentiality surrounding the search for IU's next president Tuesday.

Behrman jury sees forensic evidence

MARTINSVILLE — Prosecutors presented photos of the remains of murdered IU student Jill Behrman in court Tuesday, as part of the second day of the murder trial of John R. Myers II. The evidence included graphic photos of her bones scattered across a wooded area in rural Morgan County and the reconstruction of her skull, which sustained a single gunshot wound from behind. Forensic specialist Stephen Nawrocki presented evidence that Behrman was shot in the location her body was found and that her bones showed no signs of being hit by a vehicle, which was previously one of the police theories about her May 2000 disappearance.

IU to host largest law fair in the country

The IU Health Professions and Prelaw Center is bringing the future to prospective law students at the Indiana Memorial Union today. IU's Law Day has become the largest university-sponsored law fair in the country, said Rachel Tolen, the center's assistant director.

Jiffy Treet on Kirkwood set to close in months

Kirkwood Avenue has long been a Bloomington landmark, hosting local restaurants, bars, clothing shops and, of course, ice cream. But Jiffy Treet won't be part of Kirkwood's scene for much longer. Jiffy Treet, which has been serving ice cream on Kirkwood for 19 years, is set to close its doors at the beginning of December, Jiffy Treet owner Hartzell Martel said. The shop's lease has ended, and renewing it is not an option, Martel said, because the building is going to be torn down by Tartan Realty Group of Chicago, who bought the building and land this year. Martel has been Kirkwood Jiffy Treet's owner for 14 years and prides his shop on "good customer service and good ice cream," he said. The pin-striped '50s style ice cream parlor has long been a part of Kirkwood's landscape and was previously a Baskin-Robbins, Martel said. Other Bloomington Jiffy Treets will remain open, and Martell hopes to relocate his store as soon as they find a new location somewhere downtown.

Fassel fired as Ravens' offensive coordinator

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Jim Fassel was fired as offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens on Tuesday, a move designed by coach Brian Billick to get more firepower from the league's 28th-ranked attack.

Miami extends suspension, FIU dismisses 2 in wake of brawl melee

MIAMI -- Amid the pushing, punching and posturing during the sideline-clearing brawl between University of Miami and Florida International University, some actions were deemed worse than others. The punishments reflected the differences in severity.

Lidle remembered at service

COVINA, Calif. -- Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle was remembered as "a loving husband and an awesome father" Tuesday at a memorial attended by family, friends and teammates of the avid yet inexperienced pilot who was killed during an aerial tour of New York City.

Hoosier Hysteria: From a player's perspective

Hoosiers play to two ties against U. of Kentucky

Moms always say to play by the rules, but rules change. The new hockey rule change which enforces stricter obstruction penalties was a huge factor in the IU men's hockey games this Friday and Saturday.

IU is red hot (for real)

Have you ever had one of those stretches where everything seems to be breaking your way? Those times when you hit every green light driving south on State Road 37 to campus from Indianapolis; those days when you find $20 in your laundry; those weeks where even your mistakes make you look golden?

Hoosiers finish with win, two losses in weekend tourney at Southern Indiana

This weekend, while most baseball fans watched the Detroit Tigers sweep the Oakland A's, the IU club baseball team competed at Southern Indiana in a tournament made up of the 10 top club teams from the Great Lakes Region conference.

Piniella says 'urgency is important' on North Side

CHICAGO-- Lou Piniella vows to make a winner of the Chicago Cubs, whose last World Series appearance came in 1945.