Lawrence Journal-World 042914

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TUESDAY • APRIL 29 • 2014

Governor’s former chief of staff being examined by FBI

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL

Crowd floods board meeting to protest LHS coach’s firing

By John Hanna Associated Press

Topeka — The FBI is examining whether Gov. Sam Brownback’s former chief of staff and a lobbying and consulting firm he helped found are trading on their ties to the governor to benefit themselves and others financially, a person familiar with the inquiry told The Associated Press on Monday. The person said the Brownback agency has been looking for several months into the activities of Please see FBI, page 2A

LEGISLATURE

Many issues unresolved as wrap-up session nears

Richard Gwin/Journal-World Photo

LAWRENCE HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL TEAM MEMBERS attend the Lawrence school board meeting Monday to show their support for basketball coach Mike Lewis, who was recently fired from his coaching position. The boys all gave speeches in Lewis’ favor. From left, they are Noah Hogan, Jackson Mallory, Ben Rajewski, Fred Brou, Kaustubh Nimkar (partially hidden), Anthony Harvey, Kyle Hoffman and Price Morgan.

Players, parents speak in support of Lewis; officials refuse to discuss

By Scott Rothschild srothschild@ljworld.com

Topeka — The Kansas Legislature got a major piece of business finished before leaving town for a three-week break, but many issues remain unresolved as members return Wednesday for what is called the wrap-up session. From lesser prairie chickens to prison funding, legislators will cast votes on a wide range of subjects. During the regular session that ended April 6, Republi- LEGISLATURE cans crafted a school bill that they said would address a Kansas Supreme Court order to increase funding to poor districts. Whether that bill satisfies the judicial branch will be determined later this spring or summer by a three-judge panel.

‘We’re really, really devastated by the dismissal’ By Peter Hancock phancock@ljworld.com

It was standing room only at the Lawrence school board meeting Monday night as hundreds of people packed into the board meeting room and the hallway outside to protest the recent firing of Lawrence High School men’s basketball coach Mike Lewis. “We’re really, really devastated by the dismissal of coach Lewis,” said Toni Brou, whose three sons have been involved in basketball programs at Lawrence High. “And we’re alarmed

at the brazenly insensitive context in which it happened two months after we lost a JV coach to cancer.” Brou was referring to junior varsity coach Kermit Aldridge, who died March 8. Lewis, who remains a teacher at Southwest Middle School, was informed April 21 that his supplemental contract as the Please see LEWIS, page 5A l Sports editor Tom Keegan

weighs in on meeting. Page 1C

l Board member vacancy

procedure outlined. Page 3A

Mike Lewis, right, was fired last week from his coaching job at Lawrence High School by Athletic Director Bill DeWitt. Lewis did not appear at the school board meeting Monday. Nor did any of the administrators at Lawrence High who were responsible for the decision.

Please see WRAP-UP, page 2A

INSIDE

Cooler, showers Business Classified Comics Deaths

High: 55

Coach terminated

Low: 37

Today’s forecast, page 10A

2A 6C-10C 4B 2A

Events listings Horoscope Opinion Puzzles

8A, 2C Sports 3B Television 9A WellCommons 3B

1C-5C 10A, 2C 1B-2B

Check this out

Vol.156/No.118 24 pages

When the Lawrence Public Library opens in its new, expanded building in July, all books will be checked out by library patrons on self-service machines. Page 3A

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