KU MAKES A
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Reaction to the death of Antonin Scalia. 1B
in huge road win against OU, 76-72. SPORTS, 1C
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SUNDAY • FEBRUARY 14 • 2016
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Group seeks to raise age for tobacco purchases
Breaking down the school budget
By Nikki Wentling Twitter: @nikkiwentling
Mike Yoder/Journal-World Photo
KELLY HART, AN ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS TEACHER AT SOUTH MIDDLE SCHOOL, works with seventh-grader Marcell Green, center, during lessons Friday at the school.
the “I think thatthat’s How the district plans to spend mechanism being used for what amid the school funding debate determining dollars are getting
By Rochelle Valverde
Twitter: @RochelleVerde
As the Kansas Legislature works to meet the Supreme Court order calling for a new school funding formula, keep your ears open for one figure in particular: 65 percent. Some education policy
makers have said they would like to see districts spending a higher percent of their budgets on instruction, and a common suggestion is at least 65 percent of operating expenses. The Lawrence school district doesn’t quite meet that mark, but some school officials believe it is the
wrong target anyway. “I think that the mechanism that’s being used for determining what dollars are getting to students is asking the wrong question, honestly,” said Vanessa Sanburn, president of the Lawrence school board. Please see BUDGET, page 8A
to students is asking the wrong question, honestly.”
— Vanessa Sanburn, president of the Lawrence school board
The group behind a policy banning tobacco from Lawrence parks is now turning its efforts toward raising the tobaccopurchasing age to 21 in Lawrence and other Douglas County cities. The Tobacco-Free Living work group, part of the community health coalition LiveWell Lawrence, decided at its Feb. 1 meeting that establishing a city ordinance to raise the tobacco-purchasing age should be its highest priority. Charlie Bryan, a community health planner at the Lawrence-Douglas Richard Gwin/Journal World-Photo County Health Department, said the goal is to reduce youth tobacco use by “cutting off the social supply chain” and creating an age gap between high school students and those legally able to purchase tobacco. Please see TOBACCO, page 8A l Poll: Most readers support raising
tobacco-purchasing age. Page 3A
ELECTION 2016
Kansas voters prepare for caucuses as candidate field narrows By Peter Hancock Twitter: @LJWpqhancock
Republican and Democratic party officials in Douglas County are hoping for big turnouts in the March 5 caucuses, when Kansas voters will get to choose whom they want to be their party’s presidential nominees.
One of the biggest uncertainties for local officials in both political parties, though, is how many candidates will still be in the race by March 5, because that will have a lot to do with how many voters decide to show up. “I really have no way of knowing, but I expect a bigger turnout than last time,” said Douglas County Republican Chairwoman Kathleen Ammel.
INSIDE
Wintry mix/rain Arts&Entertainment 1D-6D Classified 1E-10E Deaths 2A Events listings 2C, 2D
High: 54
Low: 29
Today’s forecast, page 8C
“Last time (in 2012), I that point. think about 800 peo“Even if the race ple came through.” is decided, I think Sen. Marci Franthere’s a lot of intercisco, D-Lawrence, est in going to the who was in charge convention,” she of lining up caucus said. “It’s a convensites statewide for the tion, and if you go you Democrats, said she’s get to represent your (lohopeful for a big turnout cal) delegates.” too, even if the Democratic Between now and March 5, nomination is all but over by 14 other states will hold prima-
Home&Garden Horoscope Opinion Puzzles
6D Sports 4D Television 7A USA Today 4D, 5D
1C-8C 2C, 8C, 4D 1B-8B
ries and caucuses — they are different states for Republicans and Democrats — that could winnow the field of candidates in both parties. Most of those will be packed into the “Super Tuesday” primaries and caucuses on March 1, just four days before Kansas voters make their choice.
Court nominee
Please see CAUCUS, page 6A
Vol.158/No.45 44 pages
A federal judge with ties to Lawrence and KU is a prime candidate to be President Obama’s Supreme Court justice nominee. Page 3A
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