The Daily Vidette

Demand for small cars on the rise

Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Rising gas prices have caused people around the world to alter their daily lives in any way possible to save a bit of money. For many Americans, this means replacing their car with a more economical model.

Demand for smaller cars and crossover models has skyrocketed in the past few years while the demand for previously popular cars, such as SUVs and trucks, has sharply declined.

$1 million reward for safe factory farming

Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

With advances in laboratory bioscience moving forward, animal rights group, PETA, has proposed that they be used to stop the inhumane treatment of animals in the factory farming industry.

The group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, will give $1 million to any scientist or researcher that is able to grow meat in a lab that is both commercially viable and realistically tasting.

Panel urges clearer warnings for Lasik

Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Tiger Woods, Michael Bolton, Cindy Crawford, 'Weird Al' Yankovic, Nicole Kidman and Greg Maddux. These A-listers have something in common aside from their fortune and fame.

Each of these celebrities has undergone some form of laser eye surgery, a procedure that is becoming more and more popular throughout the United States.

Beetle-ravaged forests prompt closures

Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - Vacationers will have fewer places to pitch their tents this summer in Colorado and Wyoming, and they can place the blame on bugs.

The U.S. Forest Service has closed some popular campgrounds in the two states because of concern that trees killed by the bark beetles that are ravaging forests across the West could topple onto unsuspecting visitors.

Amtrak to celebrate National Train Day

Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP)- Amtrak is hoping live entertainment, exhibits and a national TV personality will lure people who don't normally take the train into its stations, and then inspire them to return to ride the rails another day.

Dubbed "National Train Day," the May 10 effort includes a performance by singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles in Washington's Union Station.

Retailers, consumers anticipate rising cost of rice

Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Costco and Sam's Club, the two largest warehouse retail chains in the United States, are limiting the quantity of rice available for purchase by American consumers.

Sam's Club is restricting customers to a maximum of four 20-pound bags of basmati, jasmine, and long grain white rice.

Mississippi mill explosion kills one worker, injures 17

Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - An explosion tore through a paper mill Saturday after a boiler was inspected, killing a contract worker and injuring 17 others, the company said.

The explosion occurred as a boiler at the International Paper mill was being started after an annual maintenance shutdown in Redwood, about 30 miles west of Jackson, company spokeswoman Amy J.

Cyclone kills at least 351 in Myanmar

Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) -A powerful cyclone killed more than 350 people and destroyed thousands of homes, state-run media said Sunday. Some dissident groups worried that the military junta running Myanmar would be reluctant to ask for international help.

Tropical Cyclone Nargis hit at a delicate time for the junta, less than a week ahead of a crucial referendum on a new constitution.

Two Georgian spy planes shot down

Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

SUKHUMI, Georgia (AP) - Forces from Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia shot down two unmanned Georgian spy planes over the territory on Sunday, an Abkhazian official said.

Georgia denied the claim and traded accusations with Russia, which is struggling with the West for influence in the country strategically located on the Caspian Sea.

Motorcade carrying Iraq's first lady bombed

Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

BAGHDAD (AP) - Iraq's first lady escaped unharmed Sunday from a bomb attack in downtown Baghdad that struck her motorcade, injuring four body guards.

President Jalal Talabani's wife, Hiro Ibrahim Ahmed, was headed to the city's central National Theater to attend a cultural festival when her motorcade was hit in the Karrada district, according to the president's office.

Trial nears for accused student

Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - For more than eight months, Youssef Samir Megahed has been in jail, a wild detour from the seemingly innocuous road trip to see Atlantic Coast beaches that he says he and a friend were enjoying.

The U.S. government views the trip differently, accusing Megahed and Ahmed Abdellatif Sherif Mohamed of transporting explosives materials in the trunk of their car as they traveled through South Carolina.

Electric grid could be key to saving power

Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

MILTON, Ontario (AP) - The glowing amber dot on a light switch in the entryway of George Tsapoitis' house offers a clue about the future of electricity.

A few times this summer, when millions of air conditioners strain the Toronto region's power grid, that pencil-tip-sized amber dot will blink.

This Week in History

Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

One year ago:
A nine-foot balcony platform leading to a second floor SAMI apartment collapsed, injuring eight and sending five people to the hospital.

Five years ago:
President George W. Bush used a homebound aircraft carrier to refocus the U.S. mission in Iraq from a combatant role to the tasks of reconstruction, policing and promotion of democracy.

Now Playing: Deal

Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

I have a feeling that it will take more time for me to write this review than it took the writers of "Deal" to write and finalize their script. This would make sense though, because this review is original in thought, and has never been written before, while "Deal" is a combination of every bad movie made about either gambling, sports or Las Vegas.

Now Playing: Stop-Loss

Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Stop-Loss is a movie that has the potential to be a fantastic movie, but in the end, does not end up capitalizing on what could have been a satisfying script.

The movie stars Ryan Phillippe, Channing Tatum and Abbie Cornish as its main cast and centers around a group of men who have served in the army and the repercussions it has on each one of them.

Now Playing: Deception

Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The movie begins with an almost fantasy-like plot that any man would dream of being a part of. Ewan McGregor and Hugh Jackman star in this exotic, psychological thriller that is filled with lies and deceit.

Jackman's character, Wyatt, befriends McGregor's character, Mike Cunnerary.

'Iron Man' debuts with $100M-plus debut Friday

Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) - "Iron Man" was pure gold at the box office.

The Marvel Comics adaptation, starring Robert Downey Jr. as the guy in the metal suit, hauled in $100.7 million during its opening weekend and $104.2 million since debuting Thursday night, the second-best premiere ever for a nonsequel, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Mozart performs publicly in Saudi Arabia, women attend

Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) - It's probably as revolutionary and groundbreaking as Mozart gets these days. A German-based quartet staged Saudi Arabia's first-ever performance of European classical music in a public venue before a mixed gender audience.

The concert, held at a government-run cultural center, broke many taboos in a country where public music is banned and the sexes are segregated even in lines at fast food outlets.

TV series commits copyright infringement

Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) - The owner of Norman Rockwell's "Bottom of the 6th" - showing three umpires looking skyward as first raindrops fall - is steaming over the use of the classic illustration in the television series "The Bronx is Burning."

Curtis Publishing Co.

Lohan mugshot used in liquor ad

Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A mugshot of the 21-year-old actress, who has been in and out of rehab after two arrests last year on drunken driving and cocaine charges, was prominently featured Friday in an advertisement attacking legislation for devices that measure a driver's blood alcohol level before their vehicle can start.

Breaking Ground

Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

(From left) Baseball coach Jim Brownlee, Representative Dan Brady, President Al Bowman, and Michael McCuskey, a member of the ISU's 1969 championship team, break ground on the new baseball stadium.

Softball closes MVC play

Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The Redbird softball team took two of three from Northern Iowa this weekend in their final series of regular season play. ISU will take a 17-7 conference record (28-19 overall) into the Valley tournament next weekend, as they finished second in the MVC for the second consecutive year.

Melissa Myers hired as new ISU volleyball coach

Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

After a 43-day search, the ISU volleyball team has a coach again.

Melissa Myers was introduced as the successor to Sharon Dingman at a press conference Friday afternoon at the Kaufman Football Building. Dingman, who coached the Redbirds for eight years, resigned last month to coach at Iowa.

ISU hosts Redbird Invitational

Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The ISU men's and women's track and field teams competed in their first home meet of the season at Redbird Track Saturday on an unseasonably chilly afternoon. The 'Birds tallied 22 first-place finishes to dominate the quadrangular meet.

Although very few athletes were able to garner personal-best showings due to the poor weather, Illinois State head track and field coach Elvis Forde was pleased with his team's performances.

'Birds win I-74 series

Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The ISU baseball team won Sunday's rubber match game against Bradley 5-1 to improve their record to 21-24 (5-13). Eric Theisen picked up the win, holding the Braves to five hits in over seven innings on the mound. Kyle Cherney hit his fourth homerun of the season and Kevin Dubler went 3-for-4 with two runs.

Chalk up a final "last" for the college years

Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

There have been a lot of lasts in the past week. Last college class. Last undergrad paper. Last time walking through the Quad and braving Central Illinois weather. And so comes another last for this girl: last days working at the Daily Vidette and writing this column.

A Final View

Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Kristen Kligis Despite any disagreements or harsh opposition that resulted from my columns, I stick by every word I wrote, and would not change any of them. When given the chance to express a passionate opinion, never back pedal-unless you realize you are completely wrong.