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LJWorld.com
WEDNESDAY • MARCH 4 • 2015
Soden tops list of 6 moving on to city’s April election
Fire strikes downtown restaurant By Caitlin Doornbos Twitter: @CaitlinDoornbos
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Leslie Soden 3,559 votes
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Stan Rasmussen 2,858 votes
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Stuart Boley 2,794 votes
Terry Riordan 2,546 votes
2 incumbents advance to general, though not in leading positions
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By Chad Lawhorn Twitter: @clawhorn_ljw
Matthew Herbert 2,450 votes
A small-business owner who railed against Rock Chalk Park two years ago and is railing this year against tax breaks handed out by Lawrence City Hall cruised to an easy victory in Tuesday’s primary election. “Voters were really
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Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical crews battled flames at Bigg’s on Mass, 719 Massachusetts St., for most of the afternoon Tuesday. Thick smoke billowed from the back of the building, and flames in the barbecue restaurant’s kitchen area could be seen from the back alley. The fire climbed the wall to the ceiling, and large amounts of smoke permeated several offices on the top level of the building. Upon arrival, fire officials called an immediate second and third alarm, Division Chief Eve Tolefree said. Officials also requested help from Johnson County. A stretch of Massachusetts Street, from Seventh to Eighth streets, was blocked off throughout the afternoon. Bigg’s and two neighboring businesses, Lady Bird Diner and Sweet!, were evacuated safely, Tolefree said. No one was injured in the fire, Please see FIRE, page 2A
upset with how things have been handled the last couple of years,” said Leslie Soden, who finished in the top spot by more than 700 votes. “The public hasn’t liked the city’s budget priorities.”
ELECTION
2015
Please see CITY, page 2A
Bob Schumm 2,088 votes
Loveland, Harmon win school board primary By Elliot Hughes Twitter: elliothughes12
Loveland
Harmon
Mary Loveland and Marcel Harmon, the two candidates with experience serving on the Lawrence school board, beat out their two other opponents in Tuesday’s primary election for a two-year term on the dis-
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Today’s forecast, page 8A
Please see SCHOOL, page 5A
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trict’s governing body. Loveland, a 20-year board veteran who last had a seat in 2011, and Harmon, who was appointed to the board last summer after another member resigned, will go head to head in the April 7 election.
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Mike Yoder/Journal-World Photo
A LAWRENCE FIREFIGHTER emerges from a smoke-filled Bigg’s on Mass, 719 Massachusetts St., around 1 p.m. Tuesday as crews worked to control a fire at the restaurant.
Building plan unveiled Developer Doug Compton has filed plans with City Hall for his latest proposed development on New Hampshire Street. Page 3A
Vol.157/No.63 36 pages