Lawrence Journal-World 12-30-14

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L A W R E NC E

Journal-World

®

75 cents

LJWorld.com

TUESDAY • DECEMBER 30 • 2014

TOP STORIES of

2014

Brownback defeats Davis in governor’s race

By Peter Hancock Twitter: @LJWpqhancock

Topeka — Westar Energy and Kansas City Power & Light both plan to seek rate increases early next year, in part to finish recovering the $1.2 billion both companies have spent on environmental upgrades at their jointly owned LaCygne power plant in Linn County. The companies have been allowed to recover about half of those costs through earlier rate cases. But it’s possible they will try to recover the final half — about $300 million each — as quickly as possible because of new clean air rules pending at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that could force aging coal-fired power plants like the one at LaCygne to be retired soon. “We’re looking for the second half of our investment,” Westar spokeswoman Gina Penzig said. “There are other items we’ll also ask them to look at. We’re looking for a full review of the rates.” Niki Christopher, spokeswoman for the Citizens Utility Ratepayer Board, which represents consumers in cases before the Kansas Corporation Commission, said utilities are generally allowed to recover costs of such projects over the expected life of the plant. But in some circumstances, they’re

Marriage equality

Weis out, Beaty in as KU football coach

Roberts re-elected to Senate

South Lawrence Trafficway construction

Please see RATES, page 2A

Annual measure to keep tabs on groundwater in western Kansas

School funding ruled inadequate; teacher tenure repealed

Rock Chalk Park and Sports Pavilion Lawrence open

Sales tax for new police headquarters rejected

Teen accused of slaying ex-boss

Staff Report

Issue of sexual assault at KU

Politics, crime, sports dominated news this past year Staff Report

H

ere, in no particular order, are some of the news stories that captured our community’s attention in 2014.

U.S. Senate election Kansas voters saw one of the

wildest races for U.S. Senate in many decades when Republican Sen. Pat Roberts struggled to win re-election. After barely surviving a tea party challenge in the primary, he was faced with two challengers in the general. Turmoil erupted in Sep-

Business Classified Comics Deaths

High: 20

Low: 5

Today’s forecast, page 6A

tember when Democrat Chad Taylor withdrew, leaving Greg Orman, a wealthy independent businessman, as an unexpected frontrunner. Republicans sued at the Supreme Court to block Taylor’s withdrawal and again Please see STORIES, page 4A

INSIDE

Much colder 2A 5C-8C 4B 2A

Utilities seek rate increases for 2015

Events listings Horoscope Opinion Puzzles

4A, 2C Sports 1C-4C 3B Television 6A, 3B, 2C 5A WellCommons 1B-2B 3B

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As groundwater levels in western Kansas continue to decline, the Kansas Geological Survey’s upcoming annual measurement will help determine exactly how much water is being lost. The Kansas Geological Survey, based at Kansas University, plans to measure groundwater levels in 569 wells Jan. 2 through Jan. 6 across 15 western Kansas counties. Results will be posted online in late February. Combined with wells measured by the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Division of Water Resources, a total of 1,415 wells in 48 western and central Kansas counties are expected to be measured. The annual data collected by both agencies show that groundwater levels have dropped most substantially in KANSAS the portions of the High Plains UNIVERSITY aquifer with the lowest precipitation and the greatest rise in water usage, especially for irrigation, over the past 60 years, according to KU. January 2013 measurements showed that groundwater levels on the whole rose in south-central Kansas while levels in western Kansas continued to decline, although less sharply than in the previous year. The High Plains aquifer is a massive network of underground water-bearing rocks that is the primary source of irrigation, municipal and industrial water for much of western and central Kansas. It includes the extensive Ogallala aquifer, the ongoing depletion of which threatens agriculture and related businesses, manufacturing, recreation and the livelihood of towns, state officials have warned.

KU takes on Kent State Looking to rebound from last week’s “pitiful” 25-point loss to Temple, the No. 13-ranked Jayhawks take on the Golden Flashes at 7 p.m. today at Allen Fieldhouse. Page 1C

Vol.156/No.364 18 pages


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