Lawrence Journal-World 01-14-15

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JAYHAWKS OUTLAST OKLAHOMA STATE Home win over No. 24 Cowboys puts Kansas at 14-2. SPORTS, 1B

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WEDNESDAY • JANUARY 14 • 2015

In reversal, no Rock Chalk payment Serious accounting questions prompt commissioners to back off final check By Chad Lawhorn Twitter: @clawhorn_ljw

The Lawrence City Commission reversed itself Tuesday and unanimously agreed to withhold a final $1 million payment for the Rock Chalk Park project after new ques-

tions emerged regarding receipts and other documents related to the public-private partnership. One week after the commission approved the processing of the final payment, commissioners on Tuesday said they were no longer comfortable in sending the check to

the Kansas University Endowment Association, one of the partners on the sports complex. Instead, commissioners said the payment should be withheld until a “comprehensive audit� is conducted on the project. “At this point, let it sit until the audit is completed, and let the chips

fall where they may,� said City Commissioner Bob Schumm, who previously had urged the city to pay the bill. In November, the commission on a split vote paid about $11 million Please see PAYMENT, page 2A

CITY COMMISSION

Verizon sues city over cell tower

Archers put a bow on it

By Chad Lawhorn Twitter: @clawhorn_ljw

Verizon Wireless has filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking to force the city to approve construction of a controversial East Lawrence telecommunications phone tower that neighbors in the area have veheWe will mently opposed. defend the City Verizon filed the case last week in U.S. Commission’s District Court in Kan- decision.� sas City, Kan., and alleges that the City — City Attorney Commission violated Toni Wheeler federal telecommunications law when it unanimously denied a permit for the 120foot tower, which was proposed for 1725 Bullene Ave. on a piece of ground along the Burroughs Creek Trail. “The City Commission’s findings are based upon generalized and unsubstantiated

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Please see VERIZON, page 6A Mike Yoder/Journal-World Photo

SHELBY BUSH, OF EDWARDSVILLE, DRAWS DOWN ON A PAPER TARGET during some practice Tuesday at Overton’s Archery Center, 1025 N. Third St., Suite 119. With Bush, from left, are Jon Overton, owner; Brian Hoffman, bow tech at the center; customer Wendy Alexander; and Bush. The center has weekly league nights for bowing with both paper and 3D targets and is holding a target tournament 1 p.m. Sunday.

Kansas education board elects new leaders By Peter Hancock Twitter: @LJWpqhancock

Topeka — The Kansas State Board of Education on Tuesday selected new leaders whose jobs will be to steer the board through a potentially tumultuous year that will involve legislative battles over school funding. Wichita Republican Jim

Carolyn Campbell, whose district includes Lawrence, will serve as vice-chair of the 10-member elected body for the next two years. McNiece succeeds Jana Shaver, an Independence Republican who did not run for re-election in 2014. He is McNiece Campbell a former high school princiMcNiece was elected chair- pal in Wichita and is one of man, and Topeka Democrat the board’s representatives

INSIDE

Partly cloudy Business Classified Comics Deaths

High: 36

Low: 18

Today’s forecast, page 6B

on the National Association of State Boards of Education. The state board’s meeting this month coincides with the opening of the 2015 legislative session, where a pending lawsuit over school finance and the state’s mounting revContributed Rendering enue shortfall will dominate THIS PHOTO SIMULATION shows a proposed much of the debate. 120-foot-tall cell tower at 1725 Bullene Ave. Please see LEADERS, page 2A in East Lawrence.

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From UK to KU James Tracy, who was the University of Kentucky’s vice president of research, has been named Kansas University’s vice chancellor for research. Page 3A

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Vol.157/No.14 20 pages


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