Lawrence Journal-World 04-17-13

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Obama cancels KU trip, will be in Boston instead By Ian Cummings icummings@ljworld.com

In the wake of Monday’s bombing in Boston, President Barack Obama has canceled plans for an appearance at Kansas University on Friday. The White House an-

Kansas University officials said the cancellation was unfortunate, but the reasons for it were understandable. “Our hearts and prayers are with the victims of this horrible tragedy. While we are disappointed that President Obama will not be on campus, a catastrophe of

this type clearly takes precedence,” said Kansas University Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little in a news release. “It was an honor to have been chosen to host the president, and we hope to do so another time.” Most others who were looking forward to the visit,

including KU’s Young Democrats group, agreed. “We’re definitely disappointed,” said senior Evan Gates, who just stepped down as the group’s president as she prepares to graduate. “But he’s going where he needs to be.” Please see OBAMA, page 2A Obama

Internet provider to install super-fast service in Lawrence

Benefit run a tribute to Boston

Storms

High: 60

nounced the cancellation of the trip Tuesday afternoon in a news release. The president will instead travel to Boston to speak at an interfaith service dedicated to those who were gravely wounded or killed in Monday’s bombing near the finish line of the Boston Marathon.

Low: 48

Today’s forecast, page 10A

INSIDE

By Chad Lawhorn clawhorn@ljworld.com

Decorator may take the cake at event Kelli Coleman, a cake decorator for Dillons, will take her talent to Orlando to compete in the International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association’s 18th annual Cake Decorating Challenge in June. Page 10A STATE

Gov. seeks study of higher education Gov. Sam Brownback on Tuesday said he would favor the Legislature conducting an in-depth study of higher education in Kansas later this year, with an eye toward funding. Page 3A

Free State softball has 5-win streak Olathe Northwest became the fifth team in a row to lose to the Free State Firebirds, who improved their record to 8-1 on Tuesday. Page 1B

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INDEX Business 2A Classified 1C-8C Comics 9A Deaths 2A Events listings 10A, 2B Horoscope 7C Movies 4A Opinion 8A Puzzles 7C Sports 1B-7B Television 10A, 2B, 7C Vol.155/No.107 28 pages

physician, were sworn into their terms on the commission. Aron Cromwell and Hugh Carter both left the commission after neither sought reelection this year. On a night mainly filled with ceremony and reflection, commissioners looked back on a year that included votes to move ahead on a $25 million recreation center, a $64 million sewage treatment plant, construction work on a $19 million library expansion, and creation of a new cityPlease see CITY, page 2A

Please see INTERNET, page 2A

Nick Krug/Journal-World Photo

LAWRENCE RESIDENT BOB ETZEL, RIGHT OF CENTER, wears his Boston University sweatshirt in support of those affected by Monday’s bombings at the Boston Marathon, as he and other local runners lower their heads in prayer prior to Tuesday night’s Run for Boston at South Park. About 150 participants ran or walked the three-mile downtown route as a show of unity against terrorism. Donations were collected to benefit the Lawrence Police Foundation; run organizer Jon King said that he chose the foundation after being inspired by the heroism of first responders at the scene in Boston. See the latest news from Boston on page 7A.

‘Financially secure’ city handed to Dever By Chad Lawhorn

SPORTS

It is being billed as Lawrence’s version of Google Fiber — without the Google. Lawrence-based Wicked Broadband on Tuesday announced that it is launching a pilot project to install in a Lawrence neighborhood the same super-fast 1 gigabit per second Internet service that is garnering national attention for Kansas City and Google. Wicked Broadband coowner Joshua Montgomery told a crowd gathered at a Tuesday afternoon announcement party that Lawrence needed to upgrade its Internet infrastructure if it wants to compete for new businesses in the future. “We’re now right next door to the fastest network in the country,” Montgomery said. “If a startup company is going to choose between Lawrence and Olathe, they are going to choose Olathe because it has the infrastructure.” Montgomery said Wicked — which has operated under the names Lawrence Freenet and Community Wireless Communications Corp., at various times — will run a contest to determine which Lawrence neighborhood will become the first to have the high-speed service installed.

clawhorn@ljworld.com

It has been a year of big projects at Lawrence City Hall but one that hasn’t stretched the city’s checkbook, outgoing Mayor Bob Schumm said in his State of the City address Tuesday. “I want to reiterate that the city of Lawrence has a strong financial ability to carry out and fund projects that other cities cannot,” Schumm said. “Our city has saved and invested over many years to create reserves

that place us in a financially secure position.” Schumm on Tuesday ended his one-year term as mayor — he’ll stay on the governing body as a commissioner. As expected, Vice-Mayor Mike Dever unanimously was elected by his fellow commissioners to serve a one-year term as mayor. Tradition at Lawrence City Hall holds that the vice-mayor will be elevated to the mayoral position. Also sticking with tradition, Commissioner Mike Amyx — a down-

town barbershop o w n e r who was the top vote winner in this month’s citywide Dever election — was elected as vice-mayor. That puts the five-term commissioner in line to serve as mayor in 2014. Newly elected commissioners Jeremy Farmer, the director of a local food bank, and Terry Riordan, a Lawrence

Athletic complex under way; 2014 relays the goal By Chad Lawhorn clawhorn@ljworld.com

The race is on to finish by the relays. Kansas University officials on Tuesday officially broke ground on the multimillion-dollar Rock Chalk Park athletic complex in northwest Lawrence, with the hope of unveiling a worldclass track and field stadium in time for the 2014 Kansas Relays. In other words, a rib-

bon-cutting should be on tap for the complex near Sixth Street and the South Lawrence Trafficway about this time next year. “I’m still feeling good about (the timeline),” said Thomas Fritzel, the Lawrence businessman who is the lead donor for the park and the chief contractor for the project. Feeling good was the Please see PARK, page 2A

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HEAVY MACHINERY breaks ground Tuesday on the $40 million Rock Chalk Park athletic complex near Sixth Street and the South Lawrence Trafficway. Richard Gwin/JournalWorld Photo


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