Balance sheet

Turkish Coffee

Building on a local affinity for coffee and coffee houses dating to the 16th century and a successful branch in Istanbul opened last year, Starbucks Coffee opens in Ankara, with plans for stores across Turkey.

Fertile Canal

A follow-up to one of the first environmental impact studies ever, the Smithsonian Institution's 1910 Panama Biological Survey, finds the Panama Canal did not destroy ecosystems. In fact, diversity has increased and none of the fish species cataloged decades ago have disappeared.

Cell Unblocked

Scientists based at Britain's Newcastle's Center for Life receive permission to research stem cells using unfertilized human eggs, a U.K. first.

Swap Meet

The file sharing programs Grokster and StreamCast Networks are not liable for the copyrighted songs and movies swapped by users, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit rules.

Death Spin

The 9th Circuit also turns down a Justice Department request to rehear a challenge to Oregon's physician-assisted-suicide law. Attorney General John Ashcroft can still ask the Supreme Court to hear his claim that the Death With Dignity Act violates the Controlled Substance Act of 1970.

Fighting Upstream

Colorado officials stand up to the Environmental Protection Agency's attempts to determine the water level of rivers and streams. The EPA blames bad water in the Dolores River on too little water and suggests the state find ways to put more in. But water rights are privately held in the state, Colorado officials note.

Class Clowns

The Justice Department finds that a guns-drawn and dogs-loosed police raid at Goose Creek High School did not violate the civil rights of students at the South Carolina school. No drugs or weapons were found after the November 5 raid, in which 130 students were ordered to the floor and 18 were handcuffed.

Flopping List

Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) is allowed to continue flying despite being fingered by the nation's wacky no-fly lists as a potential terrorist. Airline officials interceded on Kennedy's behalf, but getting off the list remains trickier for those of us who aren't senators.

Flu Bugs

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declare last year's flu shot panic a success. The shot only worked about half the time, but the CDC says that was better than nothing. And so is chicken soup.

String Theory

Los Angeles springs into action to stop Silly String. City councilmen say the stuff must be banned on Halloween because it is hard to clean up.

Color Bind

Officials in Lauderhill, Florida, adopt a government-approved color palate to stave off tacky, property value--sapping paint jobs. Combos like purple and gold are out, as everyone knows nearby color-regulating burgs like Coral Springs, Boca Raton, and Coral Gables have achieved aesthetic perfection.

Machete Control

Boston area police worry that machetes have become the weapons of choice among Hispanic gang members. The concern has led to municipal bans on the tools--which, ominously, can be found at garden centers.

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