Lawrence Journal-World 11-19-14

Page 1

C 1 , Y D IN IN T U O D N A N DOW L A W R E NC E

Journal-World

®

75 cents

LJWorld.com

WEDNESDAY • NOVEMBER 19 • 2014

City approves most of Rock Chalk Park payment By Chad Lawhorn Twitter: @clawhorn_ljw

Most of the check will be in the mail soon. Lawrence city commissioners, on a 3-1 vote, agreed Tuesday evening to pay the bulk of the $10.45 mil-

lion city taxpayers owe for shared infrastructure at the Rock Chalk Park sports complex. But the city plans to temporarily withhold payment from its private partner for about $1.3 million worth of professional fees, legal

costs, interest and other costs until the city has more time to study those expenses. “They have done the work and we owe them the money,” City Commissioner Bob Schumm said. “I know when I do work and it is

time to get paid, I want to get paid.” A private firm led by Lawrence businessman Thomas Fritzel built the infrastructure as part of a no-bid contract that was part of a unique public-private partnership related to

30

The percentage of Douglas County families that Just Food expects to have fed by the end of the year

By Caitlin Doornbos

By Sara Shepherd

Twitter: @CaitlinDoornbos

Twitter: @saramarieshep

Elizabeth O’Brien remembers a Christmas without anything. She and her five children were homeless at the time, falling to sleep on Christmas Eve in a hospital lobby. In the morning, there was no holiday feast. Her son, O’Brien recalled, had cut a branch off a pine tree and stuck it in a bucket of sand, a makeshift Christmas tree to lift the family’s spirit. O’Brien, 69, now works at Just Food, 1000 E. 11th St., where staff and volunteers are aiming to provide Thanksgiving dinners to those in need so they can have a more comfortable holiday than she had that year. Just Food is working to give

Kansas University officials this week underlined the severity of sexual assault allegations at a fraternity and said that members’ lack of cooperation was drawing out KU’s investigation. KU and police continue to withhold details — even from fraternity leaders — about what reportedly happened at the Kappa Sigma house over homecoming weekend, with KU describing it only as “allegations of multiple instances of sexual misconduct.” But Tim Caboni, KU’s vice chancellor of public affairs, reiterated Tuesday that KU considers the allegations both serious and organizational in nature. Caboni “There’s a reason the entire organization was put on suspension, not an individual,” he said. “When these allegations were made and the chapter was suspended, the chancellor said the allegations were both serious and disturbing. And nothing has changed about the allegations.” KU placed Kappa Sigma on interim suspension Sept. 30 and has said the fraternity should remain suspended because it poses a threat to campus. Members still live at the house but have ceased fraternity operations.

Please see FOOD, page 2A

Want to help? Donations toward holiday dinners can be made in person at Hy-Vee grocery store, 3504 Clinton Parkway, online at www.justfoodfund.org or by check to Just Food at 1000 E. 11th St., Lawrence, KS 66046.

Richard Gwin/Journal-World Photo

LUCILLE EGGENBERGER, OF LAWRENCE, a volunteer for Just Food, packs one of many Thanksgiving boxes that the agency is making available to the community. The agency is aiming to provide holiday meals to at least 1,200 families this year.

INSIDE

Sunny, cold Business Classified Comics Crave

High: 38

Low: 13

Today’s forecast, page 8A

Please see PAYMENT, page 8A Schumm

Frat leaders, KU at odds over assault investigation

Record food pantry preparations Agency aims to feed 500 more families than it did last year

the Rock Chalk Park complex. In recent days questions had arisen about several fees Fritzel’s firm has submitted for reimbursement. Previously the city was being asked to pay for a little

2A 1D-8D 7A 1B-7B

Deaths Events listings Horoscope Opinion

2A Puzzles 8A, 2C Sports 7D Television 6A

7D 1C-6C 8A, 2C

Please see KAPPA, page 2A

Gay marriage ruling

Vol.156/No.323 30 pages

The Kansas Supreme Court has cleared the way for more gay marriages by lifting its hold on marriage licenses in Johnson County. Page 3A

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

*Purchases and balance transfers that this lowered rate applies to will remain at this rate for the life of the balance. This promo is for new money only – any current balance that a cardholder already has will remain at their existing rate. Actual annual percentage rate (APR) is based on borrower’s creditworthiness; 4.99% APR, 7.49% APR, or 9.25% APR. New cardholders may also qualify for the limited time offer rate when they sign up for a new card. At the end of the promotional term, your regular rate (or the rate you would qualify for as a new cardholder) of 9.99% APR, 12.49% APR or 14.25% APR will apply to subsequent new purchases and balance transfers. Cash advances do not qualify for the rate reduction. Offer ends December 31, 2014.

Federally insured by NCUA

Free State • 1001 E. 23rd St. Free State Merc • 901 Iowa St. Local 785.842.5657 Toll Free 888.395.1010 Lenexa (Main Office) Bonner Springs Leavenworth Mission North Oak-KCMO Olathe Wyandotte

mainstreetcu.org


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.