The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 1

UConn's 88-game winning streak ties record Sports MONDAY December 20 2010 vwvw.pan tara ph Bloomimjton-Normal i j- fif mm mm II I 1 I i TART (f-" Learning centers serve kids who need help early on i far. i S. Korea starts firing drills amid new threats U.N. diplomats fail to ease rising tensions By Hyung-Jin Kim and nYoung-Joon ASSOCIATED PRESS YEONPYEONG ISLAND, South Korea -South Korea fired live artillery early today in a drill from a front-line island where similar exercises sparked a deadly North Korean bombardment last month, pressing forward in defiance of the North's warnings to attack again. The South sent fighter jets to skies along the border to deter any new North Korean at -tack and evacuated island residents to underground bunkers, nearly a month after the North's shelling of Yeongpyeong island killed two marines and two civilians.

The North has said it would respond even more harshly to any new drills from the Yellow Sea island. U.N. diplomats meeting in New York failed to find any solution to ease fears of a SEES. KOREA PAGE A14 GOP leader in Senate pledges 'no' vote on pact By Donna Cassata ASSOC I AT PRESS WASHINGTON, D.C. The Senate's Republican leader said Sunday he would oppose a nuclear arms treaty with Russia, complicating President Barack Obama's drive to -V i I The PantagraphSTEVE SMEDLEY Above: Teacher Tammy Cave works with students using plastic Christmas tree ornaments during a crafts activity last week at Brigham Early Learning Center in Bloomington.

Prekindergarten students Jimmy Minton, 5, front right, and Joslyn Allen, 4, show off their work. Top: Michelle Lamboley, the principal and assistant director of special education at Brigham, visits with students. ft LA. school for 2Vi hours in the morning or afternoon. They have physical education, teacher-led activities, free play, a snack and door-to-door service.

Students get help from specialists such as speech pathologists and occupational and physical therapists. "There is no shortage of kids who would like to be in the program," said Sugar Creek Principal Scott Peters. The students on the waiting list are ready to be placed, said Leslie Hanson, early learning coordinator. The next screening SEE START PAGE A14 By Phyllis Coulter pcoulter pantagraph.com Oblivious of how lucky they were to have a spot at the pint-sized desks, the 3-to 5-year-olds in Tammy Cave's class made Christmas presents for their parents. Since opening its first early childhood learning centers this fall, the Unit 5 school district has a waiting list of more than 20 names for young children considered at-risk or who need special education.

Previously, children and staff were scattered among the district's elementary school buildings. "We are not able to serve as many kids as we would like because of funding," said Michelle Lamboley, the district's assistant director of special education. At Brigham Early Learning Center in Bloomington, where Cave teaches, there are 125 students in five classrooms. At Sugar Creek Elementary in Normal, there are 239 students in nine classrooms. The two locations, one north and one south, keep bus rides as short as possible.

The youngsters attend secure a foreign policy victory in the final days of the postelection Congress. Senior Democrats still expressed confidence the Senate would ratify the accord and pushed for a showdown vote early this week. The White House and Democrats are determined 1 JptX; Mitch McConnell Brigham Early Learning Center student Adrian Nunez, 5, plays on a new floor installed in the cafeteria. to win approval of the landmark treaty before January, when Republicans increase their numbers in the Senate, dimming its outlook. During a rare Sunday debate, Democrats beat back a GOP amendment to change the treaty, SEE PACT PAGE A14 INSIDE Early Christmas treat from the heavens )) )) i) )Q Capital investment The Normal City Council tonight will consider a proposed six-year capital investment plan that reflects a tight budget.

Local, A3 911 health bill Backers of a bill to help people sickened by dust created by the Sept. 11 attacks said Sunday they're optimistic it will get a Senate OK. NationWorld, A13 Back in action Total eclipse of moon on the way By Alicia Chang ASSOCIATEDPRESS LOS ANGELES 'Twill be nights before Christmas and high overhead, the moon will turn brown or maybe deep red. The Earth and the sun with celestial scripts will conspire to make a lunar eclipse. Weather permitting, sky gazers in North and Central America and a tiny sliver of South America will boast the best seats to this year's only total eclipse of the moon.

The eclipse will start at 1:41 AP file photoMARKO DR0BNJAK0VIC This five picture combination shows various stages of a total lunar eclipse from March 2007. Weather permitting, skygazers in North and Central America will have good seats this week to view this year's only total eclipse of the moon. The Redbirds returr to action after a nine-day layoff today. -ISU faces its second road test when it meets North Carolina Since the eclipse coincides with the winter solstice, the moon will appear high in the sky a boon for skywatchers. With recent volcanic eruptions around the globe SEE TREAT PAGE A14 total lunar eclipse, the full moon passes through the shadow created by the Earth blocking the sun's light.

Some indirect sunlight will still manage to pierce through and give the moon a ghostly color. a.m. Tuesday in the Midwest. Western Europe will only see the start of the spectacle while western Asia will catch the tail end. The moon is normally illuminated by the sun.

During a Wilmington at 6 p.m. at Trask Coliseum. Sports, Bl Light snow, freezing drizzle FIND tNT6RPPISe.S LOW Hi 75 cents Bloomington, III. Copyright 2010 The Pantagraph 2 sections, 28 pages Vol. 164.

Issue 354 Abby A12 Obituaries All Classified B8 Opinion A6 Comics B7 Peace Meal A12 Crossword B10 Scoreboard B4 Horoscope B7 Sudoku B10 Today's weather symbol was drawn by Will Warner, St. Mary's School. Bloomington. 1 1 i 1 Sunday lottery Pick 3 6-0-9 7-1-3 Pick 4 8-1-9-5 8-5-9-5 Little Lotto 1-18 21-26-31 JACKPOTS Lotto $4 million Mega Millions $145 million m-mimmi'wT 7 i. jW-WMipyfciirnri riiritifrn-'-MiwiMitiiiiiwilri-nrHilWii-iMiwiiiiiiirTit hittwim wamrniiTtur nrnm ini inriiir-riiiitfinii HflnffmiriTinffniftiw mmm iiirani 111 ii'ii-i' -ra mm tbbihii-.