Help for Mom Vote today Breastfeeding support in WellCommons. 1B
Polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 3A
L A W R E NC E
Journal-World
®
75 cents
LJWorld.com
TUESDAY • AUGUST 5 • 2014
Medical firm denies doing wrong
KU Hospital says it’s ready to treat Ebola
Feels like August
——
National Guard contractor expects to be cleared in probe
——
But pathologist doesn’t expect to see any cases
By Peter Hancock
Topeka — A spokesman for a medical company that contracts with the Kansas Army National Guard says a federal investigation into that contract is about to wrap up, and he said he fully expects the company to be cleared of any wrongdoing. Ernest Baynard, spokesman for Dentrust Optimized Care Solutions, responded last week to a Journal-World article which said the company’s contract with the Kansas Army National Guard was part of the focus of an investigation by at least three federal agencies. According to people who spoke to the JournalWorld, the investigations focused on allegations that a Guard officer who administers the contract had received improper gifts, including ski tickets, from the company. Investigators also looked into concerns that the officer may have acted improperly in handling reports of Please see GUARD, page 2A
By Giles Bruce Twitter: @GilesBruce
Richard Gwin/Journal-World Photo
RACHAEL PALMER COOLS OFF HER DAUGHTER, Serenity Winter, 3, at their Lawrence home as temperatures climbed into the 90s Monday. Today is also expected to be in the mid-90s. For the complete forecast, see page 8A.
If the Ebola virus reaches Lawrence, an area hospital is prepared to treat it. Since the recent Ebola outbreak in West Africa, Kansas University Hospital in Kansas City, Kan., has been making sure its staff is ready to care for patients stricken with the deadly disease. “Everybody is interested in Ebola right now, and it’s just to remind nurses and physicians to be on the lookout for HEALTH it,” said KU Hospital pathologist James Fishback. “It’s not like we’re expecting a huge influx of patients. But we could handle Ebola if one showed up.” Two American aid workers were recently infected with the virus while treating people in Liberia, one of three West African countries where a recent Ebola outbreak has killed nearly 1,000 people. One of the Americans was flown to the U.S. for treatment on Saturday; another is expected back Please see EBOLA, page 2A
City budget delays road project for growing northwest Lawrence By Chad Lawhorn
“
There are more wants than wallets A growing city budget doesn’t quite at budget time.” @clawhorn_ljw
have enough money to fund a road improvement for an area of Lawrence that is expected to add hundreds of new homes soon. At least that is how it stands as city commissioners plan to give final approval today to the 2015 city budget, which calls for a property tax rate increase of 1.47 mills, or about $28 on a $170,000 home.
— City Manager David Corliss As currently proposed, a project to rebuild Queens Road in northwest Lawrence is being delayed one year so the city can make nearly $3 million
INSIDE
Partly cloudy Business Classified Comics Deaths
High: 95
in improvements to a portion of Ninth Street. The improvements are needed to comply with a national art grant received by the Lawrence Arts Center. City commissioners have been enthusiastic in their support for the $500,000 ArtPlace America grant, which aims to make Ninth Street east of Massachusetts into an arts corridor. But it will come at a cost to an area of town that commissioners hope will become the city’s next major growth area. “There are more wants than wal-
Low: 67
Today’s forecast, page 8A
2A 6C-10C 4B 2A
Events listings Horoscope Health Opinion
4A, 2C Puzzles 3B Sports 1B-2B Television 7A
3B 1C-5C 8A, 2C
lets at budget time,” City Manager David Corliss said of the exclusion of the Queens Road project. The city’s capital improvement plan previously called for beginning design work for Queens Road in 2015 and making the $3.8 million worth of improvements in 2016. But now that timeline will be pushed back a year. That’s despite a host of proposed development near the road, basically gravel with thin coats of pavement in Please see CITY, page 2A
Today’s key races A rundown of political contests to watch in today’s primary election. Page 3A
Vol.156/No.217 22 pages
ELECTION
2014
Join us at Facebook.com/LJWorld and Twitter.com/LJWorld
SIGN UP TODAY!
This Print advertisement is not redeemable for advertised deal. Get your deals voucher online at Lawrencedeals.com
up to 70% off!