Lawrence Journal-World 08-09-14

Page 1

2014 Ford Focus

Over 175 vehicles to choose from in Cars, Section B

L A W R E NC E

Journal-World

75 cents

LJWorld.com

SATURDAY • AUGUST 9 • 2014

Budget shortfall by 2016 Latest projections from nonpartisan research staff put gap at $238 million By John Hanna Associated Press

Topeka — Kansas will face a budget shortfall of $238 million by the end of July 2016, the Legislature’s nonpartisan research staff said Friday in a new forecast predicting that the gap will emerge a year sooner than it had anticipated.

The Legislative million compared Research Departwith nearly $435 ment’s new budget million. The deforecast also showed partment made its a lower figure for routine adjustment the state’s cash reof the cash figserves on June 30 ure to account for than the cash-on- LEGISLATURE bills pending but hand figure reportnot paid as of that ed last month by Republi- date, the end of the 2014 can Gov. Sam Brownback’s budget year. administration — $380 The department provid-

ed the figures to The Associated Press after releasing them to legislators. The projections are likely to become part of a contentious public debate about whether personal income tax cuts engineered by Brownback are wrecking the state’s finances.

SPORTS, 1C

Ready to fly Quarterback Montell Cozart and the rest of the Jayhawks had their first football practice of the season Friday at Memorial Stadium.

Please see BUDGET, page 2A

SOUTH HASKELL EXCHANGE TAKES SHAPE

State plans to appeal overturned death cases Attorney general will ask U.S. Supreme Court to review Carr, Gleason judgments By Peter Hancock Twitter: @LJWpqhancock

Mike Yoder/Journal-World Photo

TRAFFIC TRAILS ALONG THE RECENTLY OPENED SECTION OF HASKELL AVENUE between 23rd and 31st streets Friday. This view looks south toward 31st Street. A new curve in Haskell, seen at center left, eventually will allow traffic to connect with 31st to the east and then feed into the South Lawrence Trafficway interchange.

Topeka man faces murder charge in March homicide By Caitlin Doornbos Twitter: @CaitlinDoornbos

A 29-year-old Topeka man was booked Thursday into the Douglas County Jail on suspicion of first-degree murder and aggravated burglary in connection with a March homicide in Lawrence. Archie Lamont Robinson was transferred from the Robinson Lansing Correctional Facility to face charges in Douglas County District Court in connection with the shooting death Please see HOMICIDE, page 2A l Marci Cully, of Lawrence, was

sentenced to five years in prison Friday in a Christmas stabbing death. 3A

l Lawrence police are seeking the

public’s help in the investigation of a recent death on New York Street. 3A

SALES TAX

If we vote for an increase, then what?

I

INSIDE

Thunderstorms Business Classified Comics Deaths

High: 88

Low: 67

Today’s forecast, page 10A

Town Talk

f you already would last for nine have begun years or until the your studypolice headquarters ing on a likely is paid for, whichever sales tax ballot comes first. City staff question in Novemalso notes that a 0.25 ber, hopefully you percent sales tax rate have an eraser on would likely pay for that pencil. As you the project in eight know, a sales tax years. But based on increase likely will Chad Lawhorn what I’ve heard from be put to voters in city commissionclawhorn@ljworld.com November to fund ers, they like the 0.2 a police headquarters building. percent and nine-year option. But the details on the proThey like the idea of being able posed increase are changing just to present a lower rate to vota bit. At their Tuesday evening ers. Indeed, that does work out meeting, commissioners will mathematically to be a better consider placing a 0.2 percent deal for consumers. For example, sales tax increase on the Novem- assume the average fellow makes ber ballot. Previously, commis$20,000 a year in taxable pursioners had been considering chases in Lawrence. (That figure a 0.25 percent sales tax on the Please see TAX, page 2A ballot. The 0.2 percent increase

2A 1D-8D 6C 2A

Events listings Horoscope Opinion Puzzles

5A, 2C Society 7D Sports 9A Television 7D

Join us at Facebook.com/LJWorld and Twitter.com/LJWorld

8A 1C-4C 10A, 2C

Topeka — Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said Friday he will appeal last month’s Kansas Supreme Court decision vacating the death sentences of convicted murderers Jonathan and Reginald Carr, along with another capital punishment case overturned by the state’s high court. Schmidt said he will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review all three cases, saying he believes the Kansas court misapplied federal constitutional requirements. “We are not convinced that the Kansas court’s application of federal constitutional requirements is J. Carr correct, so we are requesting review of all three cases by the U.S. Supreme Court,” Schmidt said. “In each case, we doubt the U.S. Constitution compelled the Kansas court to set aside the death sentences that were recommended by juries of the defendants’ peers.” R. Carr The Carr brothers had been convicted of multiple murders stemming from a crime spree in December 2000 when they broke into a home, abducted five people, robbed them and subjected them to sexual assaults, then stripped them naked and shot them executionstyle, leaving them for dead Gleason on a frozen field on the outskirts of Wichita. One of the victims survived the attack. In a 6-1 ruling July 25, the court vacated their death sentences, saying in part that Please see APPEAL, page 2A

Student wellness As Lawrence schools look to enhance the effectiveness of counseling and mental health services for students, a Monday report will help set the goalposts. Page 3A

Vol.156/No.221 28 pages


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.