Lawrence Journal-World 04-30-2016

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SATURDAY • APRIL 30 • 2016

House rejects bill to repeal tax cuts By Peter Hancock Twitter: @LJWpqhancock

Topeka — The Kansas House on Friday rejected a bill to reinstate income taxes on more

than 330,000 farmers and business owners after many of the Democrats and moderate Republicans who have complained most about that exemption for the last five years joined with a

number of conservative Republicans and voted against repealing it. The bill failed on a 45-74 vote. Fourteen Democrats joined 31 Republicans in voting for the repeal. Twelve

Democrats, including House Minority Leader Tom Burroughs of Kansas City, joined 62 Republicans in voting against it. Two Democrats and four Republicans were absent. Lawrence Reps. Barbara

Ballard and Boog Highberger, both Democrats, and Republican Tom Sloan all voted in favor of repealing the tax exemption.

More inside

• Bill reducing marijuana penalties goes to governor. Page 4A • Grocery stores offer plan for liquor sales. Page 4A

Please see TAX, page 4A

Report explains why KU faces diversity ‘crisis’

LOOKING TO THE PAST

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Task force recommends ways to improve inclusion By Sara Shepherd Twitter: @saramarieshep

A work group tasked with suggesting ways to improve diversity and inclusion at Kansas University has released its report, including more than 30 suggestions for change at KU. The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Group report takes aim at the status quo at KU, including the Student Senate, the University Honors Program, required

curriculum, KU’s international student recruitment efforts and current methods for recruiting and developing students, faculty and staff from underrepresented domestic groups. Reaching beyond KU, the report criticizes recently enacted or proposed Kansas legislation and national level politics and news events as contributors to a negative climate for diversity on campus. Please see DIVERSITY, page 2A

Richard Gwin/Journal-World Photo

PRAIRIE PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THIRD-GRADER SAVANNAH LEWIS, 9, gets a history lesson on the people and issues that have shaped the growth of Douglas County on Friday at the Watkins Museum of History, 1047 Massachusetts St. It is the museum’s core exhibit.

School district steers away from outright flag ban

Man gets life sentence for 2014 killing By Conrad Swanson Twitter: @Conrad_Swanson

Dustin Walker, who after three trials was found guilty of fatally shooting a 39-year-old Lawrence man in 2014, was sentenced Friday to life imprisonment. Walker, 31, was found guilty of first-degree felony murder, which is a killing committed during the commission of a felony, on March 11. He was found guilty of ag-

gravated burglary in a previous trial a year earlier. In all, Walker was sentenced by Douglas County District Court Judge Paula Martin to life imprisonment with the Walker eligibility of parole after 20 years for the felony murder charge, and an additional 130 months in prison for the aggravated burglary charge, Cheryl Wright-Kunard, assistant to the Douglas County

Business Classified Comics Deaths

Low: 45

Today’s forecast, page 10A

guilty of both first-degree murder and aggravated burglary in March 2015. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 20 years for the murder charge and 57 months in prison for the burglary charge. If released from prison, both Walker and Robinson will have to register as violent offenders for 15 years, the release said. — Public safety reporter Conrad Swanson can be reached at 832-7284 or cswanson@ljworld.com.

By Rochelle Valverde Twitter: @RochelleVerde

After a student petition gathered hundreds of signatures supporting a district policy banning the display of the Confederate flag, Lawrence school district leaders told students leading the effort that such a ban isn’t likely. Instead, members of the school board’s policy advisory committee said they SCHOOLS would focus on making existing discrimination polices more encompassing. “We need to take a stab at crafting the language of a policy that broadens our language to Please see FLAG, page 2A

INSIDE

Rain

High: 69

District Attorney, said in a release. The two sentences will run consecutively. Walker was accused of breaking into the duplex of Patrick Roberts in the early morning hours of March 8, 2014, with another man — Archie Robinson — to steal money and marijuana. During the incident, Walker shot and killed Roberts. Robinson was found

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