WEEKEND
USA TODAY Rising refugee numbers worry Europe leaders. 1B
GUIDE Eagles Day, ballet and a play. 3A
Section BB • HometownLawrence.com
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FRIDAY • JANUARY 22 • 2016
House approves measure to keep courts open Abortion proposals also among Thursday’s legislative developments
By John Hanna and Melissa Hellmann Associated Press
Topeka — A bill aimed at keeping Kansas’ courts open following a legal dispute involving their budget was approved Thursday by the state House of Representatives. The measure passed by a 119-0 vote and goes next to the Senate. It would repeal a 2015
law threatening the court system’s budget. LEGISLATURE Abortion rights legislators also said they’ll pursue measures to repeal several anti-abortion laws enacted since Republican Gov. Sam Brownback took office in January 2011.
The 2015 law the HouseHere is a look at legislative passed bill would repeal said developments Thursday. the judiciary’s entire budget Judicial budget dispute through June 2017 would be Legislators are moving nullified if the courts struck quickly to avoid a shutdown of down another law enacted by all state courts from a push by Republicans in 2014. some Republicans to curb the The 2014 law stripped the SuKansas Supreme Court’s ad- preme Court of its power to apministrative power. point chief judges in the state’s
31 judicial districts and gave that power to local judges instead. Supporters of the change said they wanted to give local judges more say in how their courts are Please see HOUSE, page 2A l Dems propose package of
government reforms. 2A
Snowin’ in the wind Vet, police officials voice marijuana bill concerns Associated Press
Several opponents said the bill did not encompass their Topeka — Navy veteran Raymond ailments, which ranged from Schwab started treating symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder with a chronic pain to depression. slew of prescription medications that he said nearly ruined his life. But he found relief in cannabis therapy that helped him to get a degree and be a more effective parent, Schwab told a panel of Kansas senators on a second day of hearings. Thursday, the Kansas Senate’s Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee heard Schwab — who was deployed during the Bosnian War in the 1990s — and other opponents testify about a bill
that would soften criminal penalties for marijuana possession, allow for hemp oil to treat seizures and promote industrial hemp research. State senators heard testimony from proponents of the measure on Wednesday. Please see MARIJUANA, page 2A
Downtown sees increase in retail space vacancies ——
But city’s rate still under KC’s, national average By Nikki Wentling Twitter: @nikkiwentling
Mike Yoder/Journal-World Photo
A KANSAS UNIVERSITY STUDENT WALKS INTO LIGHT, BLOWING SNOW on the campus Thursday morning.
Lawrence saw increased vacancies in retail spaces in 2015, especially downtown, but the city’s vacancy rate still remained well below the Kansas City metro area’s rate and the national average, according to an annual study of such data. A new commercial real estate report by the Lawrence office of real estate organization Colliers International found the city’s retail vacancy rate was 4.3 percent at the end of 2015 — up from 3.9 percent the year prior. Kansas City’s vacancy was reported at more than 7.5 percent, and the national average is about 5.5 percent. “Retail remained strong and consistent with vacancy increasing ever so slightly,” said Allison Vance Moore, a senior vice president with Colliers. “Overall, 2015 was a very healthy and
Journal-World File Photo
THE OLD BORDERS BUILDING AT SEVENTH AND NEW HAMPSHIRE STREETS is one of the largest vacant sites downtown. strong year in commercial real estate, and that momentum is continuing as we start 2016.” Please see VACANCIES, page 2A
Plans filed for new Dollar General at 19th and Haskell
Town Talk
Chad Lawhorn clawhorn@ljworld.com
A
mong the many things that I’m famous for at Super Bowl parties — and that my lawyer advises me I can talk about — is bringing extremely off-brand chips that I have bought from one of those dollar discount stores. Well, get a bigger chip bowl, because
convenience store. There has been much talk over the years about a major redevelopment for the 19th and Haskell shopping center, which has begun to show its age. The Dollar General proposal certainly is the most significant redevelopment plan for the center in a long time.
INSIDE
Cold Business Classified Comics Deaths
High: 28
plans have been filed for a Dollar General store in eastern Lawrence. Dollar General has filed plans to build in the shopping center on the southeast corner of 19th and Haskell. The plans show the 9,100-squarefoot store will be constructed in the parking lot just south of the existing
Low: 15
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According to the documents on file with City Hall, an Overland Park development group called Colby Capital LLC is involved with the project. I don’t have any word on whether that development group has other plans for the rest of the shopping center or is only involved in the
Dollar General portion. Lawrence commercial real estate agent Lance Johnson has been marketing the property for redevelopment and previously told me the site was receiving good interest. I’ll ask around and let you know if I find out anything.
Admissions report 6A 1C-4C 8A, 2C 1B-8B
A Board of Regents report shows that state universities admitted hundreds of students in 2015 who didn’t meet minimum admission standards. 3A
Please see DOLLAR, page 2A
Vol.158/No.22 34 pages