SEABURY SQUAD’S LEADERS LEAN ON EACH OTHER. 1C BRITISH POP SINGER GEORGE MICHAEL DIES AT 53.
PAGE 1B
L A W R E NC E
Journal-World
®
$1.00 / LJWorld.com
Monday • December 26 • 2016
PUBLISHED SINCE 1891
Rep. Tom Sloan will be at center of water policy fight By Peter Hancock phancock@ljworld.com
There are many issues in the Kansas Statehouse that divide politicians and the public along partisan and ideological lines. But there is one issue upon which nearly everyone
Sloan
agrees: the threat that Kansas faces in the decades to come from its fragile and dwindling water supplies. From underground aquifers in western Kansas that are rapidly being depleted from irrigation to the large reservoirs in eastern Kansas
that are silting up from soil erosion upstream, and even to major rivers like the Kansas River that are vulnerable to prolonged drought, nearly everyone agrees that Kansas faces enormous challenges in making sure cities, farms and industries have reliable
and sustainable sources of water. Unfortunately, the bipartisan agreement ends there. Beyond that, there is very little consensus on what, exactly, state government should do about it or how to pay for it.
But Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration and Republican leaders in the Kansas House have decided to make water policy a high priority in the upcoming session.
> SLOAN, 2A
EAT
& BE MERRY ——
Hundreds gather for 23rd annual free holiday meal By Peter Hancock lll
F
phancock@ljworld.com
Peter Hancock/Journal-World Photos
or the 23rd consecutive year, hundreds of people gathered at the First United Methodist Church on Christmas Day to share in the free, traditional Community Christmas Dinner, while hundreds more who weren’t able to come there had dinners delivered to their homes. “There’s no place else in Lawrence, ever, where you’re going to find a judge, a former city manager and homeless people sitting down at the same table and eating together,” said Deb Engstrom, one of the lead organizers. “It crosses all income, racial and socio-economic lines. It
ABOVE: GREG PELLIGREEN OF THE AMERICANA MUSIC ACADEMY IN LAWRENCE entertains guests at the 23rd annual Community Christmas Dinner, including Zoella Julian, dressed as Supergirl, and her sister EilySkye Julian. BELOW LEFT: Monika Goodwin, right, tends to a table full of crocheted hats of all colors. The hats were donated and available to all at the dinner. BELOW RIGHT: Guests line up to be served.
> MEAL, 2A
LMH: Former nurse’s suit is abuse of judicial process By Conrad Swanson cswanson@ljworld.com
Attorneys representing Lawrence Memorial Hospital say in new court filings the former nurse accusing the hospital of fraud is abusing the judicial process in an attempt to force a settlement.
In May 2015, Megen Duffy, a former emergency room nurse at LMH, filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kan., claiming the hospital’s Emergency Department falsified the arrival times of patients with chest pains. Duffy’s suit claims the falsification began in 2007 and is
Cooler
L A W R E NC E
Journal-World
®
LJWorld.com | KUSports.com
VOL. 158 / NO. 361 / 18 PAGES
CLASSIFIED.............. 5C-6C COMICS...........................4A
intended to maximize financial reimbursements from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. However, in recent court filings LMH representatives argue Duffy has no actual knowledge of any fraudulent activity and instead means to “make sweeping, unsupported allegations of
|
High: 47
|
Low: 23
DEATHS...........................6B EVENTS...........................6B
+ FREE ALIGNMENT CHECK
in filings they do not dispute some of Duffy’s claims about their registration process. In 2010, the hospital’s Emergency Department began administering EKGs as soon as possible to patients with chest pains or suspected cardiac issues.
> SUIT, 2A
Forecast, 6A
HOROSCOPE....................5B OPINION..........................5A
BUY 3 TIRES GET 1 FREE ON A SET OF 4 SELECT IN-STOCK TIRES WITH INSTALLATION PURCHASE
|
fraud” as a way of turning the case into a “burdensome ‘fishing expedition’ to continue to harass and burden LMH.” In the process, the documents say Duffy has “caused extreme stress and embarrassment for numerous hard-working and decent people.” Attorneys for LMH note
PUZZLES..........................5B SPORTS.....................1C-4C
www.bigotires.com SPECIAL FINANCING AVAILABLE^ ^See store for details Valid at participating locations on in-stock sets of four Aspen Touring A/S, Mesa A/P2, Sumitomo Tour Plus LS & LX brand tires. Installation charges extra; required on all four tires. Up to 10% shop fee based on nondiscounted retail price, not to exceed $35. Disposal fees extra, where permitted. Not valid with other offers. See store for pricing. Expires 1/15/17. No cash value.
4661 W. 6TH LAWRENCE, KS 785.830.9090 2735 SW WANAMAKER TOPEKA, KS 785.271.0194
Mon- Fri 7am-6pm Sat 7am-5pm Sun 9am-4pm ( in Lawrence) Closed on 1/1/17 for the Holiday