Lawrence Journal-World 03-29-13

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CONFLICT OF INTEREST?

‘PLAY MY GAME’

Many law profs here attended Michigan, KU’s foe Lawrence & State 3A

McLemore hopes to improve performance Sports 1B

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HOPING FOR SWEET SUCCESS Police ready for boisterous crowds if KU wins games

For local businesses, tourney like extra holiday

By Ian Cummings icummings@ljworld.com

By Giles Bruce gbruce@ljworld.com

Besides Kansas University fans and students, there’s another group hoping the men’s basketball team does well in this year’s NCAA tournament: local businesses. Lawrence sports bars, liquor stores and sports merchandisers are rooting for the Jayhawks to win for what it will mean to the university and the city, but also to their bottom line. “It’s like having another holiday,” said Matt Easley, operations director for On The Rocks, 1818 Massachusetts St. “There’s a pretty big buildup before the game, and if they win and we’re still open, it can have a good impact because people are reveling in the wins.” The liquor store sells a lot of beer, particularly of the Free State variety, since many people have house parties to watch the games, he added. A surprise run in the tournament can potentially bring in more money than when the team is expected to do well. “It was great for business last year, especially the last Richard Gwin/Journal-World Photo two games,” said Michael CHRIS EVERETT, of Lawrence, shops Thursday at Jock’s Nitch, 837 Massachusetts St., Myers, owner of Neighborfor some Jayhawk gear before heading to Dallas for tonight’s game between Kansas and Please see BUSINESS, page 2A Michigan in the Sweet 16 round of the men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament.

City officials certainly hope the Jayhawks win this weekend, but some worry about what will happen if they do. It’s called March Madness for a reason, and the unruly crowds swarming Massachusetts Street and other neighborhoods during past college basketball tournaments have cost the city hundreds of thousands of dollars. If the Kansas University men’s basketball team wins on today and Sunday, a similar scene is expected as the team advances to the NCAA Final Four next weekend. Based on previous years’ experience, the party would get started after a victory on Sunday. Please see POLICE, page 2A

Some restaurants charging for tables during tournament By Sara Shepherd sshepherd@ljworld.com

When March Madness hits Lawrence, they’ve been known to commandeer tables for half a day, ordering water and free chip refills to secure a good seat for the big game. These so-called campers are the target of a new policy some Lawrence sports bars are enforcing for big tournament games: paying for tables. It’s basically asking customers to order a minimum in food and drink to secure their tables — not unlike Please see TABLES, page 2A

Governor says his sales tax plan fits with ‘budget reality’ By John Hanna Associated Press

TOPEKA — Gov. Sam Brownback said Thursday that Kansas’ “budget reality” will push lawmakers toward approving his proposal to cancel a scheduled

decrease in the state sales tax. The Republican governor said he’ll consider “anybody’s proposal” as the GOP-dominated House and Senate negotiate the final version of tax legislation. But Brownback also said legislators have limited options

Business Classified Comics Deaths

Low: 45

Today’s forecast, page 12A

al income tax rates. Last year’s cuts created a budget shortfall, and Brownback has promised to protect important programs such as education funding and social services. Meanwhile, the state’s 6.3 percent sales tax is scheduled

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for stabilizing the budget while seeking further cuts in individual income taxes. Brownback and most Republican legislators want to follow up on massive income tax cuts enacted last year with another round of reductions in person-

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by law to drop to 5.7 percent in July, the result of a budgetbalancing agreement in 2010 that temporarily boosted the tax to its current level. Legislators in both parties don’t want to

N. Korea escalates rhetoric North Korean leader Kim Jong Un says his country is prepared to “settle accounts” after the U.S. took part in military drills with South Korea on Thursday. Page 9A

Please see TAXES, page 2A

Vol.155/No.88 32 pages


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Lawrence Journal-World 03-29-13 by Lawrence Journal-World - Issuu