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Another spirited debate on evolution expected By Scott Rothschild srothschild@ljworld.com
TOPEKA — A State Board of Education member who is troubled by science standards being developed that treat evolution as a core concept said Tuesday that he expected a vigorous de-
bate on the issue again. Just not yet. Kenneth Willard, a Republican from Hutchinson, earlier this month questioned proposed Next Generation Science standards. During the board’s update Tuesday on those standards,
Willard said those comments were blown out of proportion and he was hammered for being a “crackpot” or “kook.” But, he said, he also heard from many people who also are troubled by teaching evolution.
“It’s not a bunch of Kansas crazies that has brought this up,” Willard said. “It’s broader.” To his critics, Willard said, “Many are worried Kansas will be embarrassed” by another debate over evolution. He said he couldn’t imagine
why anyone would be embarrassed “by trying to get to the truth.” From 1999 to 2007, evolution was almost a constant source of contention on the 10-member board until standards were adopted that Please see BOARD, page 2A Willard
A few clouds
High: 84
Low: 67
Today’s forecast, page 10A
Not your typical twisted balloons
INSIDE
Trash carts get a push By Chad Lawhorn clawhorn@ljworld.com
Bartenders create cool summer drinks We asked a handful of Lawrence bartenders to concoct some cold libations that would be perfect for patio sipping. See what they’ve come up with. Page 10B
Obama picks LHS grad for court Nick Krug/Journal-World Photos
President Barack Obama has nominated 1985 Lawrence High School graduate Sri Srinivasan to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Page 3A
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VISITORS TO THE LAWRENCE ARTS CENTER, 940 N.H., watch as Chicago artist Willy Chyr works on a balloon installation Tuesday in the lobby. The Chyr installation, which he estimates will consist of 1,200 balloons, will be on display Thursday evening for the INSIGHT Art Talk Series, which starts at 7 p.m.
Artist creating giant installation
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We are concerned about the latest information we have that there are attack helicopters on the way from Russia to Syria, which will escalate the conflict quite dramatically.” — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who on Tuesday accused Moscow of helping arm the embattled regime of Syrian President Bashar alAssad. Page 7A
INDEX Business Classified Comics Deaths Events listings Food Horoscope Movies Opinion Puzzles Sports Television Vol.154/No.165
7A 1C-8C 9A 2A 10A, 2B 10B 7C 4A 8A 7C 1B-7B 4A, 2B, 7C 28 pages
twisting balloons into animals for events during his college years, the artwork he creates is larger and more abstract than any balloon creatures requested at children’s parties. As a physics and economics major at the University of Chicago, Chyr was a member of Le Vorris & Vox Circus, the university’s student circus. He was a juggler, magician and unicyclist. He received an email asking for a balloon twister, and, although he didn’t know how, he replied yes. From then on, he began working part time as a balloon twister at parties and other events. After learning about an architect who uses science to create images in buildings based on where the sun is, Chyr realized
By Meagan Thomas mthomas@ljworld.com
Willy Chyr puts plugs in his ears and covers his fingers with Band-Aids. “They keep my fingers from wearing from tying the balloons,” Chyr said. He opens a suitcase filled with bags of different-colored balloons, chooses a bag of blue and begins to fill them with air. His fingers intricately twist and tie the latex together, creating a big balloon ball. The ball isn’t the finished product, though; it is just a small part of a large aerial installation that will be on display at the Lawrence Arts Center by Thursday. Chyr is a balloon artist, and although he began his career
he, too, could combine art and science. He began creating balloon sculptures using lights to mimic bioluminescence, which is the biochemical emission of light by living organisms. “I thought, maybe I can try to merge these two, and after a while the balloon aspect of the idea took off,” Chyr said. After being featured in an article on the university’s website in spring 2009, Chyr’s art career expanded. He was commissioned to create a balloon sculpture for the Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry’s LabFest! finale at Millennium Park that summer. He has since been sought after for exhibits, commissions and Please see ARTIST, page 2A
Please see TRASH, page 6A
Doctors see increase in hand, foot and mouth disease By Karrey Britt kbritt@ljworld.com
Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine in Lawrence has seen more than 125 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease since May 1. Dr. Charles Loveland, a pediatrician in the clinic, said doctors were seeing slightly more cases than usual, and the season is just getting started. Outbreaks most often occur in summer and fall. Hand, foot and mouth disease
is a common viral illness that usually affects infants and children younger than 5, but it can occur in adults. It has no relationship to foot-and-mouth disease, which affects hoofed animals. Loveland said the disease is contagious and it’s difficult to prevent spread of infection because it can take three to six days for symptoms to appear. Symp-
toms can include:
A fever.
Small sores in the mouth that often become ulcers. They tend to be in the back of the mouth.
Rash on palms of hands, soles of feet and on the webs between fingers and toes. The rash has flat or raised red spots sometimes with blisters. The rash also can appear on knees, elbows and buttocks. Loveland said fever and discomfort are usually gone in three or four days. It takes the mouth ulcers about one week to heal
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Maybe a trash cart will be the newest look for Halloween in Lawrence. City commissioners on Tuesday took their largest step yet to create a trash system that mandates the use of city-issued carts instead of standard trash cans or bags. Commissioners unanimously agreed to seek bids to purchase more than 20,000 trash carts, and said that if all goes well, the CITY carts could be COMMISSION in place by the end of October. But commissioners still have one major issue left to answer before finalizing the program: cost. City staff members are recommending a system where trash rates stay the same for most residents and are reduced slightly for about 7,000 other households. But commissioners said they wanted to be presented with an option that would reduce rates for a larger number of customers, especially those customers who generate very little trash. “I think we want to encourage smaller amounts of trash to be put out,” said City Commissioner Mike Amyx. “But I think we really have to create an incentive to do that.” Commissioners at their weekly meeting said the cart system may allow them to create such an incentive. As proposed the cart system would offer three sizes
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and the rash about 10 days. There is no vaccine or specific treatment for hand, foot and mouth disease, but there are some things that can be done to relieve symptoms, such as:
Taking over-the-counter medications, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, to relieve pain and fever.
Consuming a soft diet and avoiding citrus, salty or spicy foods. Please see DISEASE, page 6A