Lawrence Journal-World 09-08-2014

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MONDAY • SEPTEMBER 8 • 2014

KU’s Baby Lab gives families a leg up

Joint project for police HQ, enlarged jail unlikely ———

Officials say no significant savings could be realized from combining the two By Chad Lawhorn clawhorn@ljworld.com

Mike Yoder/Journal-World Photo

RESEARCHER BRENDA SALLEY INTERACTS WITH 10-MONTH-OLD MAX LYON, while Max’s mother, Tricia Huntsman, of Blue Springs, Mo., completes some paperwork at the Infant and Early Cognition Program at the Kansas University Edwards Campus in Overland Park. The program studies early cognitive development of infants and young children.

Research center helps identify cognitive ‘red flags’ in children By Giles Bruce Twitter: @gilesbruce

Overland Park — Tenmonth-old Max Lyon smiled when a “Sesame Street” character appeared on a TV screen. He got startled when a jack popped out of a jack-in-the-box. He threw a toy penguin on the ground. He looked at a book. He burped. This might seem like a normal day in the life of a baby, but for Kansas University researchers it could hold the key to under-

standing childhood language development. At the KU Baby Lab at the university’s Edwards CamKANSAS researchers UNIVERSITY pus, are studying how early attention skills in social settings affect language development later in life. The results of the five-year study could eventually reveal early warning signs of autism.

To participate If you have a full-term infant between 6 and 12 months old and would like to participate in the Kansas University Infant and Early Cognition Program’s study on attention and language development, call 913-8978590 or email babylab@ku.edu. The study takes place at the KU Edwards Campus, 12600 Quivira Road in Overland Park. Each participating family receives $50.

A big number is on the horizon for Douglas County law enforcement. In November, Lawrence voters will go to the polls to decide whether to spend about $28 million to build a new police headquarters. Before the end of the year, Douglas County commis- Douglas County sioners may hire an archi- Administrator tect for what would be a Craig Weinmultimillion-dollar expan- aug says, “If I sion of the county’s jail. thought there County officials have been were any efcareful not to offer a cost ficiencies to be estimate yet, but if a head- gained from a quarters building costs $28 joint project, I million, it is a safe bet that promise you I a 140-bed expansion of the would be advocating for it.” jail will be significant. The two projects raise the possibility that Lawrence and Douglas County taxpayers may spend $40 million, $50 million or more on law enforcement buildings in the span of two or three years, although county officials haven’t yet given a timeline for the jail expansion. It seems unlikely, though, that the city and county will combine the projects in an

Please see LAB, page 2A

Please see PROJECTS, page 2A

Lax attitude about marijuana ignores violent element, officials say By Caitlin Doornbos Twitter: @CaitlinDoornbos

Since the legalization of marijuana in Colorado and Washington, a new dialogue has begun across the country concerning the drug still recognized as an illegal substance in Kansas. Many have adopted a nonchalant attitude about

marijuana, thinking that if it’s legal in some states it must be no big deal. But phrases like “it’s only pot” or “he just sells weed” are cringe-worthy to those in the criminal justice field, Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson said — not necessarily because of the drug itself, but because of the

Please see VIOLENCE, page 2A

No matter how you feel about drugs in this country and in this state, it is a problem of violent crime in our community that we have to try to resolve. We’ve had three people killed in the last five years in homeinvasion robberies for marijuana rip-offs.” — Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson

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Cloudy Business Classified Comics Events listings

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violent crimes that come with the black market. “No matter how you feel about drugs in this country and in this state, it is a problem of violent crime in our community that we have to try to resolve,” Branson said. “We’ve had three people killed in the

Low: 69

9A 8B-14B 11A 5A, 2B

Horoscope Opinion Puzzles Sports

14B Television 10A 14B 1B-7B

12A, 2B

Vol.156/No.251 26 pages

Baker exceeds goal This year’s freshman enrollment number coupled with last year’s indicates enrollment is recovering from a five-year recession-related slump. Page 3A

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Today’s forecast, page 12A

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