Lawrence Journal-World 04-02-2016

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S P I T N E D R A G G N SPRI

S O R P E H T M O FR

Murders, shootings spike in Chicago. 1B

, 1C HOME & GARDEN

L A W R E NC E

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SATURDAY • APRIL 2 • 2016

Next mayor to be chosen

Treehouse hunting

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City leaders to decide between Amyx, Soden for unusually long term By Nikki Wentling Twitter: @nikkiwentling

Because of a statewide change in how city elections are scheduled, one Lawrence city commissioner could get a longer-than-normal mayoral term. On Tuesday, the commission will decide if it should be current Mayor Mike Amyx or Vice Mayor Leslie Soden. CITY The commis- COMMISSION sion has traditionally elected mayors in every April, meaning Amyx’s term would be nearly complete. But because the Kansas Legislature passed a bill in 2015 moving city elections from

Richard Gwin/Journal-World Photos

LAWRENCE RESIDENT HOLLY HANGAUER, RIGHT, HOLDS HER 20-MONTH-OLD SON, MICAH as daughter Amara, 6, plays in the family’s treehouse on a recent March morning. BELOW: Lisa Traver sits in a swing next to a two-story treehouse at 4500 Winged Foot Court.

5 of Lawrence’s most elaborate tree hangouts

By Rochelle Valverde • Twitter: @RochelleVerde

W

ith spring arriving, the sounds of hammers and saws building a new addition onto a home or a new deck in the backyard are plentiful. But there’s another home improvement project that has gained some popularity with the young and young atheart: treehouses. In neighborhoods throughout Lawrence, there’s usually a treehouse that adults and kids alike will point you toward if you ask. With Lawrence residents

ground, with the tree intersecting it. That unique design was partly due to his granddaughter’s request for a two-story treehouse, and part invention, Williams said. “The design came out of my head — I just made it up as I went along,” he said. l In North Lawrence, when Patrick and Holly Hangauer and their two children recently moved into the house at 544 N. Third St., the treehouse out front had been there about a decade.

ending their winter hibernations, the JournalWorld went on a search for some of the more elaborate or unique treehouses in the city. We are sure there are some we didn’t find, but here’s a sample of treehouses across the city. l In west Lawrence, neighbors will direct you to an unconventional treehouse at 4500 Winged Foot Court. Tom Williams built the two-story treehouse last summer for his five grandchildren. Please see TREEHOUSES, page 5A The house rests on the

Please see MAYOR, page 2A

Tax revenue comes close to estimates By Peter Hancock Twitter: @LJWpqhancock

Deal would soften impacts of property tax lid By Peter Hancock Twitter: @LJWpqhancock

Topeka — One of the first bills that Kansas lawmakers will deal with after they return to the Statehouse on April 27 could have a big impact on local property taxpayers, as well

as local governments tax lid that is currently that rely on property scheduled to take effect taxes to fund public in 2018. services. But a lobbyist for the House Bill 2088, Kansas real estate inwhich is now in a LEGISLATURE dustry said he thinks a House-Senate confercompromise has been ence committee, would reached that will satisfy move up by one year the ef- most of the concerns that lofective date of a property cal governments have had

Business Classified Comics Deaths

Low: 36

Today’s forecast, page 10A

Please see PROPERTY, page 2A

INSIDE

Warmer, breezy

High: 65

with the bill, and he hopes it will be acted upon quickly once lawmakers return. “We had a handshake agreement,” said Luke Bell, who lobbies for the Kansas Association of Realtors, the group that has been pushing hard for a new tax lid.

2A 4C-8C 6A 2A

Events listings Horoscope Opinion Puzzles

10A, 2D Society 7A Sports 9A Television 7A USA Today

Revenues flowing into the state’s coffers during the month of March fell $1.7 million short of the official estimates, a much better performance than the state has seen in several months, according to the Kansas Department of Revenue. That means the state’s financial situation did not become significantly worse during the month. But neither did it make progress toward closing a projected shortfall of roughly $30 million for the current fiscal year.

5A 1D-4D 7A, 10A, 2D 1B-6B

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Please see REVENUE, page 2A

Big man with a plan

Vol.158/No.93 30 pages

Incoming KU men’s basketball freshman Udoka Azubuike says he’s already planning on staying a Jayhawk for at least two years. Sports, 1D

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