Region

Educators react to recent cutback

By Alyson Brodsy and Shannon Dininny · Thursday, March 28,2002 11:55 p.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- School officials had mixed reactions to Gov. Frank O'Bannon's latest round of spending cuts Thursday, unsure whether to breathe a sigh of relief or express frustration at again being a target. The cuts eliminated nearly $35.4 million in grants for K-12 schools -- money that funds programs such as full-day kindergarten, summer school and gifted programs.

Ameritech ordered to lower switching fee

By Alyson Brodsy and Mark Jewell · Thursday, March 28,2002 11:54 p.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- State regulators ordered Ameritech Indiana Thursday to slash the one-time switching fee it charges competitors to use its phone network from $102.50 to 37 cents. Rival companies have said the fee amount was an obstacle to opening up the state's local phone service market. They say the order should go a long way toward eroding Ameritech's dominance in local phone service.

Council approves annexation

By Jesse Laffen · Thursday, March 28,2002 11:54 p.m.

The Bloomington City Council passed two resolutions Wednesday that will continue cooperation between the planning and building departments of the city and county. Interlocal agreements are passed by governments to ensure efficiency and cooperation in areas where those governments share mutual interest. The renewed agreements will facilitate smooth transitions between the city and county in future expansions of city limits.

New shelter planned

By Ryan Hildebrandt · Thursday, March 28,2002 11:54 p.m.

Proposed plans for a new animal shelter were announced Thursday night at the Monroe County Humane Association's kick-off for Campaign Humane. The campaign aims to raise $2.5 million to build a new animal shelter and education center, as well as launch an aggressive spay and neuter program.

Bars boast booming business

By Elise LeBlanc · Thursday, March 28,2002 11:52 p.m.

The cash register clangs shut, breaking into the dull hum of conversation made by the seven customers sitting at the bar of Nick's on a weekday afternoon. Rows of unused glasses are tucked away behind the counter, gleaming against the dim overhead lights. Business is slow, but anything would seem slow after having to deal with the crowd Nick's had for last Saturday's basketball game.

Boston plane halted at takeoff

By Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, March 28,2002 11:34 p.m.

BOSTON -- A Delta Air Lines flight from Boston to Florida was aborted before takeoff Thursday after a passenger demanded to be let out and allegedly made a threat. The plane was on the runway and was supposed to head to Orlando, Fla. Instead, it taxied back to the terminal area and its 118 passengers were taken off the plane.

Arafat announces cease-fire support

By Alyson Brodsy and Steve Weizman · Thursday, March 28,2002 11:33 p.m.

JERUSALEM -- Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said Thursday he was ready to work for an immediate, unconditional cease-fire with Israel, but he stopped short of declaring a truce in the Mideast conflict. More violence erupted Thursday night when suspected Palestinian gunmen opened fire at Eilon Moreh, a Jewish settlement near the West Bank town of Nablus, killing three people and wounding two, the Israeli military said.

U.S. to seek the death penalty

By Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, March 28,2002 11:33 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- The Justice Department told a court Thursday it will seek the death penalty against Zacarias Moussaoui, the only person charged in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks against New York and Washington. Moussaoui deserves to die because he helped plot "the largest loss of life resulting from a criminal act in the history of the United States," prosecutors said in a filing with the trial judge in suburban Alexandria, Va.

Illinois match follows Purdue loss

By Zack Eldridge · Thursday, March 28,2002 11:29 p.m.

The IU men's tennis team's chance of ending a five-game losing skid were foiled by Purdue yesterday. The Hoosiers lost 6-1 in West Lafayette. One IU player did all he could to ensure the Hoosiers would not lose to the No. 48 Boilermakers. That player, senior Ari Widlansky, beat Purdue's Sounak Chatterjee at the No. 6 singles position 6-4, 7-5. He improved to 8-8 this season, including a 1-1 mark in Big Ten contests.

Titan Series point up for grabs

By Allison Murphy · Thursday, March 28,2002 11:29 p.m.

The IU women's tennis team returns home this weekend to resume conference play and compete for a Titan Series point against the Purdue Boilermakers. In the Titan Series, IU competes against Purdue to win as many of the 18 eligible points as possible to achieve the overall championship. Each sport is worth one point in the series. The school who wins the regular season head-to-head match will receive the point. If a tie should occur, the point is split between the two teams. IU leads the series 7-5.

Team begins Big Ten competition

By Colin Nowling · Thursday, March 28,2002 11:27 p.m.

After winning the Indiana Invitational, the IU softball team takes the field today to open Big Ten competition at No. 19 Iowa at 5 p.m. The Hoosiers and Hawkeyes are also scheduled to play at noon Saturday before IU travels to Northwestern for a doubleheader starting at noon Sunday.

Teams split up for meets

By Pat Crowell · Thursday, March 28,2002 11:25 p.m.

The men's and women's track and field teams have a busy weekend. While the sprinters, throwers and jumpers head to the sunshine state for the Florida Relays, the distance runners are going in different directions. The men's distance runners will participate in a meet in California, and the women's distance runners head upstate to the Purdue Invitational.

Teams ready for time trials

Thursday, March 28,2002 11:24 p.m.

With less than three weeks until the 52nd Little 500 and just one week after qualifications, the teams are ready to have some fun. Individual Time Trials (ITT), the first event of the Little 5 series, will be held April 3 to test riders' skills and strength. ITT has four riders on the track at the same time, each starting at one corner of the track. The riders race four laps against the clock, and the fastest overall time wins.

Artist's Row offers 'Unique' masks

By Colleen Star Koch · Thursday, March 28,2002 11:22 p.m.

"Uniqueness of Spirit: Disguises to Hide Behind" There's nothing like variety -- an axiom that is heartily observed by sculptor David Shipley. Shipley is the sculptor behind the diverse "Uniqueness of Spirit: Disguises to Hide Behind" exhibit that is currently on display at the Artist's Row Gallery. The exhibit ranges from original masks made from a variety of media to busts and partial body sculptures to more abstract sculptures -- every one an adventure in beautiful contemporary art.

Oscar winner Billy Wilder dies

By Alyson Brodsy and Anthony Breznican · Thursday, March 28,2002 11:22 p.m.

LOS ANGELES -- Oscar-winning filmmaker Billy Wilder, the Austrian-born cynic whose gifts for writing and directing led to such classics as "Sunset Boulevard," "Some Like it Hot" and "Double Indemnity," has died, a family friend said Thursday. He was 95. Wilder died Wednesday night at his home, producer and longtime friend George Schlatter said. Schlatter said Wilder's health had been failing in recent months.

Jordan River Forum

By Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, March 28,2002 11:17 p.m.

Kudos to Ryan Lengerich for the great article entitled, "Can you believe those Hoosiers?" I graduated from the School of Business in 1970, and while I have always been a big IU basketball fan, I must admit that my faith in "The General" left me about five years ago, when he began to think that he was above the game and his fellow coaches. Now comes Iron Mike Davis and his band of "Underdogs" to restore my belief in IU basketball! The IU-Duke game was unbelievable, only to be followed by the "rain of threes" on Kent State.

I'm richer than I thought

By Jeanne Wilson · Thursday, March 28,2002 11:15 p.m.

How was your spring break? Did you hit the beach? Head home for free laundry and balanced meals? Or, like me, did you do something more unusual, perhaps? While my friends headed to New Orleans, I headed to Central America with 25 other IU pre-med students. We traveled to Honduras with a team of doctors on a medical brigade. Although I tried to keep from forming expectations before the trip, I was still unprepared for what I encountered there. Honduras is poor. Honduras is hot. And Honduras is dusty. Picture any Clint Eastwood Western and you'll have an idea of the landscape. I've discovered that there's nothing like a week in a poor, hot and dusty third world country to make one appreciate all that American life has to offer.

A giant step for Americans

By Jim Harper · Thursday, March 28,2002 11:14 p.m.

Amidst little pomp and circumstance this weekend, President Bush promised to sign what is, in my view, the most important piece of legislation to come out of Congress in recent years. The legislation that Bush gave his endorsement to is the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002.

Professor remembers heritage

By Josh Sanburn · Thursday, March 28,2002 11:11 p.m.

Although IU professor of anthropology Wesley Thomas currently lives in Bloomington, he said he will never be able to call it home. "Every place I go to is just a place I reside, but it never is home," Thomas said. For Thomas, home is New Mexico Navajo Indian reservation, where he was born. "Home is very much based on family," he said. "Everyone of my family members is there."

Phi Sig philanthropy blitz continues

By Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, March 28,2002 11:11 p.m.

Phi Sigma Kappa will continue "Four Weeks of Phi Sig," a month-long philanthropy blitz, all day tomorrow at various locations throughout the Bloomington community.