Region

Conjoined twins to be born

By Alyson Brodsy · Monday, Jan. 12,2004 11:46 p.m.

FORT WAYNE -- April McCray faces an uncertain future after finishing her senior year at Snider High School. It's not the ailing job market or questions about further education or training. Eighteen-year-old April is 7 1/2 months pregnant with conjoined twins.

Kernan prepares for annual State of the State address

By Alyson Brodsy and Deanna Wrenn · Monday, Jan. 12,2004 11:45 p.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Gov. Joe Kernan will give the State of the State address to the General Assembly on Tuesday night, exactly four months after the death of his predecessor and friend, Frank O'Bannon.

U.S. troops to stay longer than scheduled

By Alyson Brodsy and Robert Burns · Monday, Jan. 12,2004 11:31 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- The Pentagon is extending tours of duty in Iraq for about 1,500 soldiers, mainly helicopter and other transportation support personnel, defense officials said Monday. It is the latest in a series of adjustments to a plan for replacing the approximately 125,000 troops who have served in Iraq nearly a year with a slightly smaller, more mobile force. In this case, commanders determined that allowing the 1,500 soldiers to leave as originally scheduled would create an unacceptable gap in capability. So they will remain in place -- some for as few as five extra days, others for as much as 60 more days, officials said.

'Drunk bus' adds route on east side, changes hours

By John Rodgers · Monday, Jan. 12,2004 1:35 a.m.

IU students living on Bloomington's east side will have a new option for getting home during the late-night weekend hours this semester. IU Transportation Services, working in conjunction with Bloomington Shuttle, announced the expansion of the late-night bus service to a third route that would encompass the east side of town. The Midnight Special, also known as the "drunk bus," already provides north and south routes to IU students. The new east route will service students living on the east side of campus, including Eigenmann Hall, Tulip Tree Apartments and around the College Mall, including University Commons Apartments, Fields Apartments and Sterling University Glen Apartments.

Around The NFL Playoffs

By Alyson Brodsy · Monday, Jan. 12,2004 1:04 a.m.

Panthers take 2 OT's for win over Rams ST. LOUIS -- Nothing comes easy for the Carolina Panthers -- not even their biggest victory. After blowing an 11-point lead in the final 2:39, the Panthers beat the St. Louis Rams 29-23 in double overtime Saturday on Steve Smith's 69-yard touchdown reception. In one of the wildest, most thrilling finishes in NFL history, Carolina advanced to the NFC championship game against Philadelphia.

Vincennes upset with Ivy Tech

By Alyson Brodsy · Monday, Jan. 12,2004 1:02 a.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- A new two-year Ivy Tech State College history degree program has been approved by state officials over the objections of the interim president of Vincennes University. Indiana Commission for Higher Education members on Friday unanimously granted the liberal arts degree for Ivy Tech on a two-year trial basis.

Around The Game

By Alyson Brodsy · Monday, Jan. 12,2004 1 a.m.

Hoosiers face top competition on road The Hoosier Hockey squad returned from winter break after a tough road trip against Division I foe Arizona. IU dropped its first meeting against the Wildcats 4-2 and tied the second 1-1. In the first game, IU was down 3-2 in the waning seconds when Arizona scored an empty-netter, putting the Hoosiers in a hole with not enough time to catch up.

Director, actors seek to fill Shakespeare void

By Jaime Cohen and Jaimie Cohen · Monday, Jan. 12,2004 12:56 a.m.

The debut of Tavern Shakespeare in December at Bear's Place was an opportunity to "hang out with a big drunken fat man and his friends," said show director Phil Kasper. The fat man he refers to was Falstaff of Shakespeare's "Henry IV."

Is Leach the difference?

By Alex Hickey · Monday, Jan. 12,2004 12:56 a.m.

Sometimes I wonder if Mike Davis carries a few bottles of antacid in his pockets. If Lloyd Bridges' character in "Airplane!" were a basketball coach, he would probably be Davis. Every IU game is an adventure in ulceration. Sunday's 59-57 victory at Michigan was no exception, as the Hoosiers very nearly let a game that was easily in hand slip from their grasp. But as the old adage goes, a win is a win. And if that win should come on the road for a team that has struggled mightily away from home over the past two years, it's even better.

Driving the late night 'drunk bus' an unforgiving position

By John Rodgers · Monday, Jan. 12,2004 12:55 a.m.

Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night, Bloomington Shuttle buses slow to a stop on 7th Street in front of the Indiana Memorial Union. From there, the buses loop around the bars and campus, picking up students and returning them home. For driver Jim Seitz, an empty jar with the word "tips" on pink paper greets students as they enter the affectionately nicknamed "drunk bus."

Drug lord finally captured

By Alyson Brodsy · Monday, Jan. 12,2004 12:55 a.m.

PANAMA CITY, Panama -- Panamanian police have captured a top Colombian drug kingpin believed responsible for "huge volumes" of narcotics entering the United States, and Colombian officials said Sunday they will seek his extradition.

on the SIDELINES

By Alyson Brodsy · Monday, Jan. 12,2004 12:54 a.m.

Soccer keeps netting awards The awards keep on piling up for the Hoosiers. Three weeks after winning their sixth national championship, four IU soccer players were honored by the College Soccer News for their efforts during the 2003 season. Seasoned veteran junior Ned Grabavoy was named to the publication's All-American second team, and freshman teammates Jed Zayner, Julian Dieterle and Jacob Peterson were all named to the CSN All-Freshman first, second and third teams respectively.

Hoosiers open Big Ten season at 1-2

By Dan Patrick · Monday, Jan. 12,2004 12:53 a.m.

IU lost a hard-fought game against Michigan 65-59 Saturday, falling to 8-6 overall and 1-2 in conference action. The Hoosiers could not keep the momentum from their 60-39 rout of Wisconsin just two days before the Michigan contest.

Leach's return equals defensive improvement; Wilmont provides offensive spark off the bench

By Tyler Hoeppner and Tyler V. Hoeppner · Monday, Jan. 12,2004 12:52 a.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The Hoosiers have senior George Leach back. The senior center made his return to the basketball court after injuring his knee in the Nov. 29 game against Xavier. Leach has spent the past month sitting out and rehabbing his knee in hopes of being able to play again this season. The return was needed, as he helped lead the Hoosiers to a 59-57 win over Michigan in Crisler Arena.

U.S. enacts new foreigner entry policy

By Rami Chami · Monday, Jan. 12,2004 12:52 a.m.

IU students returning to the United States after winter break were among some of the first people to be processed through the new U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology program, known as US-VISIT. US-VISIT was developed by the Department of Homeland Security and is designed to help immigration officials verify and track visitors to the United States through the collection of biometric identifiers, such as photographs and fingerprints.

Bloomington fans cheer, celebrate Colts' win

By Alex Hickey · Monday, Jan. 12,2004 12:52 a.m.

Not since 1996 have Indianapolis Colts fans had this much to cheer about in January. A crowd of boisterous Colts fans looked for the team's biggest win since it was led by "Captain Comeback" Jim Harbaugh to the 1996 AFC Championship game. Colts fans made a lively appearance at Yogi's Bar & Grill Sunday and cheered the Colts to a 38-31 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Junior Kyle Hollon, a fan since he "could watch TV," was one of those on hand to witness the event and revel in the long road the Colts have traveled since the days of players like Jeff George and Don Majikowski.

Gros Louis faces budget issues in 2004

By Brian Janosch · Monday, Jan. 12,2004 12:52 a.m.

The New Year always brings resolutions involving weight, exercise or quitting a nasty habit. For Ken Gros Louis, however, the resolution is to end the year with a balanced budget. As the New Year rang in, Gros Louis officially took over the role left by former IU-Bloomington Chancellor Sharon Brehm on an interim basis. Although the role as chancellor is not scheduled to be long-term for Gros Louis, that doesn't mean his short amount of time will be lacking crucial campus issues.

Manning Up

By Alyson Brodsy and Barry Wilner · Monday, Jan. 12,2004 12:52 a.m.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Peyton Manning is headed to his first championship game with visions of wide-open receivers and undefended real estate in his head. Making Kansas City's defense look like a sieve, Manning led the Indianapolis Colts past the Chiefs 38-31 Sunday for a spot in the AFC title game next weekend. The NFL co-MVP knows he can expect a much bigger challenge from the New England Patriots than the Chiefs presented.

IU rebounds to road win

By Natalie A. Trout · Monday, Jan. 12,2004 12:50 a.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich.-- IU sophomore guard Marshall Strickland said it's anybody's ballgame when you're talking about Big Ten basketball. While history shows that it's difficult to play on the road in the Big Ten, Sunday's game in Ann Arbor was clearly one for the Hoosiers. After a 34-point loss on the road to Wisconsin, IU bounced back from the loss and defeated the Michigan Wolverines, 59-57. IU made 42.9 percent of its field goals and made five of its six free throw attemps. "Anytime you get a road win in the Big Ten, it's like getting two wins," IU coach Mike Davis said.

Summit to discuss trade ties

By Alyson Brodsy · Monday, Jan. 12,2004 12:42 a.m.

MONTERREY, Mexico -- Latin American nations butted heads with the United States on Sunday as they prepared for a major regional summit, arguing over whether to isolate corrupt countries and whether to set a date for a contentious free trade accord.