The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 1

Sports: Pike gymnasts embrace diversity, unity. Page Dl rm HE MBIANAPOL nemsstcuid price State Edition Cool Low 22, high 43. PageB8 "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty" II cor. 3:17 I WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2002 Bills live, die in witching-hour frenzy ly-vX ASSEMBLY HIl to boost oconioniiijf sit tatlfs dew iF t. Hi Build Indiana Fund rules, motto proposal are among measures that will advance from their house of origin.

By Michele McNeil Solida and Mary Beth Schneider michele.mcneil.solidaindystar.com Patriotism, God and the Build Indiana Fund. Lawmakers promoted these issues and dealt with dozens more as they considered nearly 200 bills in the hours leading up to a Cinderella-like Tuesday deadline. Legislation needed to pass either the wake of public scrutiny of the controversial grant program. The fund, financed through lottery and riverboat profits, was designed to pay for public construction projects in local communities. But an investigation by The Star found that millions have gone to nonprofit groups that are rarely audited, some of which used the money for projects that were never built, personally benefited lawmakers or served religious purposes.

Rep. Win Moses, D-Fort Wayne, See Bills, Page A9 the House or Senate to continue the legislative dance toward becoming law or face elimination. Among legislation that cleared this crucial legislative hurdle was House Bill 1360, which would create new accountability measures for the Build Indiana Fund. The changes, approved 91 to 5 by the House, replace guidelines implemented by Gov. Frank O'Bannon in Karen Ducey staff photo Speaker John Gregg (above) says he won't run again.

Page B1 Bill Watch lists many of the measures that have advanced. Page B7 Neither Republicans nor Democrats in Senate can muster enough votes to Budget front: President Bush touts his plan, while Democrats question details. Page A4 2002 Feb. 8-24 Salt Lake City, Utah TODAY'S STAR A sip at a time Not-so-smooth road to Games -v. I pass their own versions.

By James Kuhnhenn Knight Ridder Newspapers WASHINGTON Legislation that would have tried to stimulate America's sluggish economy was given up for dead Tuesday, the victim of partisan gridlock. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, said he would probably set the stimulus legislation aside for good today because neither party can muster the 60 votes necessary under Senate rules to push their version to victory. Daschle's version of the bill Included an extension of unemployment insurance for laid-off workers, tax breaks for business and tax rebates for low-income workers. The pending death of the long-fought stimulus bill prompted a new round of partisan recriminations as Democrats and Republicans skirmished on President Bush's new budget. Each side has eyes fixed on November's congressional elections, when partisan control of the House and Senate hangs In the balance.

Daschle accused Republicans of trying to "score political points" by insisting on bigger tax cuts like those in the stimulus measure approved last year by the GOP-led 1 Star power fW House of Representatives. Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott, accused "Daschle Democrats" of firing "a direct shot into a limping economy by killing the economic stimulus package." Failure to pass any legislation to stimulate the economy could alter the emerging congressional debate about Bush's federal budget. Bush's $77 billion stimulus package of tax cuts and help for the unemployed equals practically the entire $80 billion deficit in his 2003 budget. Democrats, struggling to find a line of attack against Bush's war budget, escalated their complaint that the return to fiscal deficits will undermine Social Security just as baby boomers enter retirement. Under Bush's budget, the deficits would be financed from Social Security taxes, which will far exceed the cost of annual Social Security benefits for 10 more years.

For the past several years, surplus Social Security revenues have been spent on paying down federal debt. But because of the economic downturn and Bush's previous tax cut, most surplus Social Security revenues now must go to cover costs of general government. 4. w.t. 1 i 4 Wine enthusiasts find that tastings are a great way to learn about the beverage and socialize with others.

Page El (Behind Section H) Groomers wanted As demand grows for their services, job opportunities abound for pet groomers. Page C2 Race gets serious The Little 500 bicycling race at Indiana University, usually the centerpiece of a campuswide weekend frolic, will take on a more serious tone this year. Page B1 Grand openings Amtrak to cut routes unless funding rises 1 Inside Vital information: A special section brings you complete coverage of the Winter Games. Section Who's who: Some familiar faces and some names to watch. Page H4 Luge, anyone? A sport-by-sport guide to the Games.

Page H5 In Sports: Olympic Notebook offers a behind-the-scenes view as the Games prepare to open. D3 On TV The Games will be telecast on NBC, CNBC and MSNBC. The four-man bobsled-ding competition will air Feb. 22 and Feb. 23 on NBC.

A complete TV schedule is on Page H6. Online OlndyStar.com: Look for the latest reports from Salt Lake City on the Olympics page. You will also find schedules, results and stories from Star staffers. Steve C. Wilson Associated Press On the run: Doug Sharp (top, leaning out of sled) of Jeffersonville, is the No.

3 pusher on the USA II bobsled team. The driver is five-time Olympian Brian Shimer. Lone Hoosier at Olympics was pole vaulter at Purdue, but a string of events led to competing in the bobsled. Home Depot is opening four stores in the Indianapolis area, fl Flail agency promises to drop 18 unprofitable lines, including 2 to Indianapolis, if its budget isn't doubled. By Dan McFeely dan.mcfeelyindystar.com Amtrak has threatened to end Its service to Indianapolis and several other major cities served by unprofitable routes unless Congress comes through with a billion-dollar bailout.

Critics of the nation's passenger-rail service say ending these long-distance routes and breaking up Amtrak would be the best thing for passenger rail in America. The only two routes that pass through Indianapolis, the Cardinal and the Kentucky Cardinal, would be eliminated. According to the most recent statistics, 20,000 people a year pass through the Amtrak gates at Union Station. Amtrak threatened Tuesday to discontinue 18 routes unless it receives $1.2 billion in the 2003 budget. President Bush has proposed $521 million, the same amount as in the past three years.

"I think this is a step in the wrong direction," said Josh Har-ber of Indianapolis, a rail advocate who had plans of taking the train to Chicago this summer for a work-related seminar. "It's unfortunate this never had the interest of the people or the support from the government." On the heels of losing $1.1 billion in fiscal 2001, Amtrak is at a major turning point. The Amtrak Reform Council, a task force established by Congress five years ago, is expected to recommend Thursday that Congress break up Amtrak and open passenger-rail service to competition. Amtrak critic Joseph Vranich, who wrote the book Derailed: What went wrong and what to do about America's passenger trains, says the truth is that passenger numbers on long-distance routes are plummeting. He urges the routes be discontinued by Amtrak's board of directors, which is headed by former Mas-See Amtrak, Page A7 dent for nearly eight years, qualified for Salt Lake City as a push athlete in four-man bobsled.

The USA II sled driven by Brian Shimer will compete Feb. 22-23 at Park City, Utah. The 5-foot-10-inch, 205-pound Sharp is not one of the biggest bobsledders, but he is among the fastest and fiercest. At his first summer training camp, he was so animated in the start house throwing things and screaming that coaches asked him not to scare the children who were watching. "He is on fire just about 247, which is typically one of the per- See Games, Page A8 By David Woods david.woodsindystar.com Sherry Sharp was uneasy about permitting activities such as hockey.

She stressed safety. Her son wanted action. Mothers everywhere know who wins those conflicts. If there was danger involved, there was Doug Sharp. "When he was a toddler, he was the climber," his mother said.

"We should have know then." Known that her son would take up a new sport at age 28 and become Indiana's lone athlete at the Olympic Winter Games? No one could have known, even if destiny did seem to play a part. Sharp, 32, a Jeffersonville resi but don't expect increased competition to drive prices way down. Page CI Hoosiers win big Indiana's defense gave Luke Recker a cool reception, and Kyle Horns-by scored 15 points to lead the Hoosiers past Iowa 79-51. Page 01 The 5-10, 205-pound Sharp is not one of the biggest bobsled-ders, but he is among the fastest and fiercest. The Purdue alumnus can bench press 440 pounds.

Columnist Lynn Ford remembered for community involvement Advice 7 Comics 4, 6 Editorials A10 For the Record B7 Billy Graham 7 Lotteries B2 Movies 5 Obituaries J36 Public notices 5, 6 Puzzles 6 Scoreboard D7 Star Autos Star Classified 1-6 Stocks Television 9 ing to write about black issues for The Star. "Lynn was a voice, the conscience of all of us," said the Rev. Charles Williams, president of Indiana Black Expo. "Lynn, through his column, was able to say what a lot of us thought, both black and white, and he was able to express it in a way that provoked thought and understanding." Ford's role as a columnist and leader In the black community developed after years of covering police and schools for The Star. The Indianapolis native Joined the newspaper in 1984 after working at the Indianapolis Recorder.

In hiring Ford, The Star had to make adjustments in the way it viewed the city, said Amos See Legacy, Page A8 one of the "kindest, gentlest" men he'd ever met. "He was well loved by the community and by his peers at the newspaper," Eberle said. "As you'd imagine, he's going to be missed." Ford was seriously injured in the knife attack last year. In September, he testified against his assailant, who was sentenced to 40 years in prison. Ford joined The Star in 1984 and covered the police beat, education and minority affairs and wrote features before becoming an assistant arts and entertainment editor.

Before coming to The Star, Ford worked at the Indianapolis Recorder for eight years. He graduated from Northwest High School in 1976. Call Tom Spalding at 1-317-327-7939. missing at The Star because he had taken a few days off work. Officials are unsure whether Ford's death was the result of complications from a stabbing he suffered Feb.

11,2001. An autopsy at the Indiana University Medical Center is pending, but foul play has been ruled out by authorities, who gathered inside his apartment in the 6200 block of Newberry Road. "All of them think the autopsy will show it was some medical complication," said Marion County Sheriffs Department Col. Scott Minier. Ford was well known in Indianapolis for his columns, which were published every other Saturday in The Star.

Terry Eberle, The Star's editor and vice president for news, said he'd come to know Ford as Legacy: Black leaders say Ford's newspaper work reflected concerns. By Mike Ellis mike.ellis indystar.com One of Lynn Ford's last columns, about a small Indianapolis diner, recently gave Indianapolis Urban League President Sam Jones a taste for soul food. "I said, "We have to find Mary's Kitchen, because I bet you we'll find Lynn Ford Jones recalled. Many who knew Ford, who was found dead in his apartment Tuesday, said he didn't just write about black life in Indianapolis, he immersed himself in it. That sort of involvement is what friends and colleagues believe gave Ford, 43, the stand No foul play: Star writer found dead in apartment; natural causes suspected.

By Tom Spalding tom.spaldlng indystar.com Authorities hope to learn today what killed Star columnist Lynn Ford, whose body was found Tuesday. So far, they suspect natural causes. Ford was found on the bedroom floor of his Northeastside apartment about 11 a.m. His brother, Jeffrey Ford, and sister-in-law checked on him after hearing nothing from tiie columnist for two days. Lawrence Township paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene, and Marion County Deputy Coroner Keith Conaway said Ford likely had died over the weekend.

He wasn't reported "Lynn was a voice, the conscience of all of us." $0.50 Rev. Charles Williams, president of Indiana Black Expo Copyright 2002 The Star.