The Pantagraph Bloomington, IL

State Agencies Making Job Easier for Identity Thieves

Numerous sources -- from newspapers to consumer groups to politicians -- have told people steps they should take to protect themselves from identity theft. But how do we protect ourselves from sloppy government workers who practically give away the information we are told to guard carefully?

No Reason for City to Ban All Single Beer-to-Go Sales

It's not really worth hours of discussion and frustration for Bloomington to revisit whether there should be a citywide ban on the sale of single beers to go. If there is a problem, resolve it. If not, don't create one.

Free Throws Pay Off for Iwu in Victory

BLOOMINGTON -- The charity stripe paid big rewards for the Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team in a win over Wisconsin- Stevens Point Saturday. The Titans (3-2) went 24-of-27 at the free-throw line while handing nationally ranked Stevens Point its first loss of the season with a 80-63 victory.

Grant Named Best On Defense

BLOOMINGTON -- Normal Community High School junior Kirkland Grant has been chosen as the Illinois Coaches Association Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Grant, a defensive lineman, helped the Ironmen to second-place in the Class 6A state playoffs with a 12-2 record and a share of the league title.

Top-Ranked Iwu Seeking Quicker Starts ; St. Xavier Rides Five Straight Wins Into Shirk Center

BLOOMINGTON -- At 3-0, the Illinois Wesleyan basketball team isn't complaining about how its season has started. Yet how the Titans have started each of those games has Coach Scott Trost and his players seeking improvement.

Six More Join Ranks of Nominees

BLOOMINGTON -- The Pantagraph's 22nd annual Student of the Year college scholarship competition has nominated six students in its fourth week. The program, sponsored by The Pantagraph, includes 33 Central Illinois high schools. Each school will nominate candidates whose profiles will appear in The Pantagraph every Monday through the middle of January. The students are eligible to compete for one of two $5,000 Student of the Year awards.

Pontiac United Way Nearing $95,000

United Way of PontiacTo donate, call (815) 844-5131 or mail checks to P.O. Box 534, Pontiac, IL 61754 ---------

Daily Digest

News in brief Heyworth schedules holiday festivities

Government Glance

CHATSWORTH Annexation plan withdrawn

Flick Fact

Deaths

Helen Virginia Applegate ATLANTA -- Helen Virginia Applegate, 85, of Atlanta died at 5 p.m. Friday (Nov. 25, 2005) at Hopedate Nursing Home, Hopedale.

Deaths

Lula E. Harris CLINTON -- Lula E. Harris, 87, passed away Thursday (Nov. 24, 2005) at the Medical Center of Southern Indiana in Charlestown, Ind.

Deaths

Hazel E. Hickey LINCOLN -- Hazel E. Hickey, 83, of Lincoln, formerly of Mason City, died at 3:10 a.m. Saturday (Nov. 26, 2005) at St. Clara's Manor Nursing Home.

Deaths

Bernice M. Yeadon BELLFLOWER -- Bernice M. Yeadon, 80, of Bellflower, died at 9:30 a.m. Saturday (Nov. 26, 2005) at Jackson Heights Nursing Home, Farmer City.

Intelligence Failure Lies with Bush, Voters

Bad intelligence may not necessarily mean Bush lied, as you imply ("Bad intelligence about Iraq doesn't mean Bush lied," OurViews, Nov. 21), but apologists for this administration cannot erase the fact that U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix and his team, the only outside group on the ground inside of Iraq, did not uncover any WMDs at the very sites the CIA told them they would be. One would have thought this to be of significant importance to an administration claiming to use war "as a last re...

Health Digest

ANNOUNCEMENTS Free AIDS testing

Isu Women Can't Dwell On Fast Start ; South Alabama Presents Next Hurdle for Redbirds

NORMAL -- After beating Northern Illinois 60-50 Saturday, the Illinois State women's basketball team celebrated its first 3-0 start since 1983. Make that a mild celebration.

Ibca Hall of Fame to Honor Hutchison

TOLUCA -- Former Illinois State women's basketball coach Jill Hutchison will be awarded the Buzzy O'Connor award at the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame banquet April 29 in Normal. Hutchison was chosen for the award, given in honor of the late Buzzy O'Connor, to recognize her years of service, loyalty, dedication and support of basketball in the state.

Mahomet-Seymour Captures Topper Title

Mahomet-Seymour High School's basketball team won both of its games Saturday to win the Topper Classic title at Danville. The Bulldogs (4-1) beat host Danville Schlarman, 79-43, then downed Chrisman, 47-42.

Telling War Stories ; War Museum Helps Add Faces to Tales

War Museum and Education CenterWhere: 321 N. Main St., PontiacHours: 10a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through SaturdayCost: Free, but donations acceptedDisplays: Artifacts and memorabilia from all the armed services and wars since World War l ----------- PONTIAC -- Stories of war come alive when the visitors venture in the Livingston County War Museum and Education Center.