Region

Cars and Coors

By Mike D’Avria and Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, Feb. 4,2003 11:59 p.m.

It's February, and that means a few things. It's time for love, presidential holidays and NASCAR. It's true, I am a NASCAR fan. You may be wondering, "His picture doesn't make him look like a hillbilly, beer-guzzling car junky!" Well, I am, other than the hillbilly car junky part. It all started when my older brother moved to Charlotte, N.C., the NASCAR capital of the world. My brother is easily influenced, and since he was surrounded by stock-car racing fans everywhere, he soon became one too. So I did the same thing you readers are probably doing now -- I made fun of him until he would cry.

Long Island Reflects

By Alyson Brodsy and Brandon Morley · Tuesday, Feb. 4,2003 11:58 p.m.

Long Island Expressway (LIE)," is a 2001 film directed by Michael Cuesta and stars film notable Brian Cox, most well known for being the first to portray Hannibal Lecter in "Manhunter." Also in the film is Paul Franklin Dano playing Howie Blitzer, the central character who deals with being gay, a bad time of losing a mother to the LIE, a father who pays little attention to his son and is corrupt in the likes of Ken Lay of Enron fame.

on the SIDELINES

Tuesday, Feb. 4,2003 11:57 p.m.

AKRON, Ohio -- LeBron James' attorney asked a court Tuesday to block a ruling that barred the basketball high school superstar from playing for the rest of the season. NEWARK, N.J. -- Jayson Williams' trial for Feb. 18 was called off Tuesday when an appeals court agreed to consider dismissing manslaughter charges against the former NBA star. The IU Table Tennis Club will host the National Collegiate Table Tennis Association Ohio Division Tournament on Feb. 9 in HPER 293 from noon to 4 p.m.

Schools need improvements

Tuesday, Feb. 4,2003 11:57 p.m.

The No Child Left Behind Act, signed by President Bush in January 2002, designated an accountability standard, requiring statewide exams to track the progress of students and teachers. What the president has done, essentially, is drive a stake into the weakening heart of American education. Today, that wound is exposed -- out of Indiana's 292 school districts, 270 do not meet federal standards.

People Soft

By Ryan Lengerich · Tuesday, Feb. 4,2003 11:56 p.m.

In May 1999, former IU President Myles Brand announced the University would completely overhaul its computer information systems and purchase software licensing from technology giant PeopleSoft. The massive implementation process, scheduled to last six years, began in the spring of 2000, and in the midst of the overhaul, IU administrators, academic advisers, faculty and staff are coping with or preparing for enormous change within the school's computing system.

Senior earns weekly honor for stellar play

Tuesday, Feb. 4,2003 11:54 p.m.

Senior Kristin Stanford has been a dominant scoring force all four years of her participation as a Hoosier. That showed after her performance at the Michigan Invitational last weekend. Against Hartwick on Saturday, Stanford had four goals on seven shots and three steals and was subsequently named player of the week for the Collegiate Water Polo Association's Southern Division.

Where's the intensity in ESPN?

By -Val Tsoutsouris · Tuesday, Feb. 4,2003 11:52 p.m.

f you are a sports fan and need your sports news fix, you have to watch ESPN's "SportsCenter" and its family of networks. CNN/SI is out of business. Fox Sports Net's "National Sports Net" was a total embarrassment before the network dropped it last February. Sadly, but perhaps as expected, this lack of competition is terrible for the sports fan. Nothing could have been more apparent than what happened Sunday night.

IUSF halts Mini 500 race tradition

By Gavin Lesnick · Tuesday, Feb. 4,2003 11:51 p.m.

After nearly a half century of races, the historical Mini 500 is just that -- history. A decline in competition and spectator interest as well as worn-down tricycles forced the IU Student Foundation to nix the event, director Jonathan Purvis said.

Faculty perspectives on North Korean crisis differ

By Christina Galoozis · Tuesday, Feb. 4,2003 11:50 p.m.

Military tension is rising on the Korean peninsula as the U.S. military reports it may order 2,900 soldiers to remain in South Korea an extra six months.Tension has been high between the U.S. and North Korea since October when North Korea announced possession of a second nuclear weapons program, which is in direct violation of the 1994 Nonproliferation Treaty.

Seniors prepare for last home meet

By Jeff Fuldauer · Tuesday, Feb. 4,2003 11:50 p.m.

After four years of grueling workouts and countless hours devoted to their sport, the seniors of the women's swimming and diving teams reach the end of their season. The seven swimmers and two divers look to capture one more win at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center before post-season competition begins.

Hoosiers hope to snap losing streak

By Sara Meinecke and Sarah Meinecke · Tuesday, Feb. 4,2003 11:48 p.m.

Just one more game, and then the IU men's basketball team gets to enjoy the comforts of home. And home has never looked better to the Hoosiers, who are struggling their way through four trying road games. Three of the games have gone the other way and have subsequently dropped IU from the rankings for the first time all season. Before home, however, the Hoosiers (14-6, 4-3 Big Ten) travel to Evanston, Ill., for the 9 p.m. game to take on the Northwestern Wildcats who are experiencing a disheartening streak of their own. The Wildcats are 8-10 for the season and have not picked up a victory since before the start of the Big Ten season, making them 0-7 in the conference.

NAACP complains about shop selling Confederate clothing

Tuesday, Feb. 4,2003 11:44 p.m.

EVANSVILLE -- A mall kiosk that sells Confederate-themed clothing with such statements as "The South Will Rise Again" has angered some southwestern Indiana residents and members of the NAACP. The Rev. Gerald Arnold of the Evansville chapter of the NAACP said the Confederate paraphernalia Blount Outdoors of Alabama is selling at Eastland Mall shop is offensive. "I feel the statements on these T-shirts have hidden agendas and are insensitive and very offensive," he said.

Schools face increased costs

By Shannon Dininny · Tuesday, Feb. 4,2003 11:44 p.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Public schools will need at least $164 million in new money next year to sustain present programs and meet salary increase obligations for teachers and staff, according to a statewide survey by three school lobbying organizations. The survey showed that schools face at least a 3.1 percent increase in unavoidable costs because of rising enrollments, incremental increases in salaries, and rising costs for utilities and health and property insurance.

City OKs skate park plan

By Lori Geller · Tuesday, Feb. 4,2003 11:43 p.m.

After being banned from downtown streets, campus areas and many business parking lots, skateboarders are now closer than ever to having a place where they can legally practice their sport.

Missing Raider diagnosed

By Janie McCauley · Tuesday, Feb. 4,2003 12:53 a.m.

Oakland, Calif -- The agent for Barret Robbins confirmed Monday that the Oakland Raiders' All-Pro center has bipolar disorder, and that he expressed "remorse and deep sadness" for missing the Super Bowl. Robbins remains hospitalized because of his condition, agent Drew Pittman said in a statement to ESPN.

Gas line rupture forces evacuation of Bloomington buildings

By Adam Van Osdol and Adam VanOsdol · Tuesday, Feb. 4,2003 12:53 a.m.

A construction crew digging at the parking garage on the corner of Sixth and Morton streets ruptured a natural gas line Monday afternoon, forcing the evacuation of area businesses and the Monroe County Justice building.

Comiskey becomes US Cellular Field

By Eric Fidler · Tuesday, Feb. 4,2003 12:52 a.m.

CHICAGO -- For more than 90 years, the Chicago White Sox have played in a South Side ballpark called Comiskey Park. Now that the stadium's name has been turned into an advertisement for U.S. Cellular, some are calling it "Sell-Your-Soul Field."

UConn basketball coach has cancer

By Donna Tommelleo · Tuesday, Feb. 4,2003 12:50 a.m.

STORRS, Conn. -- Connecticut men's coach Jim Calhoun has prostate cancer and is leaving the team for up to a month for surgery and treatment.

Hoosiers skating up the ranks

Tuesday, Feb. 4,2003 12:49 a.m.

The IU hockey team started the second semester knowing that it would have to be playing good hockey to make the most of its 9-6-1 start. The Hoosiers responded in a big way.

Sports' forecast: gloomy

By Kevin A Switaj · Tuesday, Feb. 4,2003 12:48 a.m.

It has been tough to think negatively about sports recently. After all, the NFL playoffs have been exciting and controversial. Underdog Ohio State shocked Miami in double overtime to win the Fiesta Bowl and the national championship. Mario Lemieux has battled back from hip surgery and cancer to lead the NHL in scoring. IU has started Big Ten play, and the Indiana Pacers sit atop the NBA's Eastern Conference, led by perhaps the best two-way player in the game -- Ron Artest .