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Drought threatens butterflies
J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo
FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA addresses the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday in Charlotte, N.C.
First lady says ‘we can trust’ Obama
City pushes back vote on proposal By Chad Lawhorn clawhorn@ljworld.com
Associated Press
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — First lady Michelle Obama lovingly praised her husband Tuesday night in a primetime Democratic Convention speech as a devoted spouse and caring father at home and a “man we can trust” to revive the nation’s weak economy as president, beckoning the country to return him to the White House despite agonizingly slow recovery from recession. “He reminds me that we are playing a long game here ... and that change is hard, and change is slow and it never happens all at once,” she told a nation impatient with slow economic progress and persistently high unemployment of 8.3 percent. “But eventually, we get there, we always do,” she said in a speech that roused Democrats packed into their convention arena and blended scenes from almost 20 years of marriage with the Obamas’ time in the White House. Mrs. Obama, given a huge ovation and emotionally describing herself as the “mom in chief,” made no mention of Republican challenger Mitt Romney. But those who preceded her to the podium on the first night of the president’s convention were scathing. “If Mitt was Santa Claus, he’d fire the reindeer and outsource the elves,” declared former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland in one biting speech.
Richard Gwin/Journal-World Photo
MONARCH BUTTERFLIES ALIGHT on a flower Monday in Lawrence. The butterflies are heading south to their winter habitat in Mexico. They stop in the Lawrence area, most notably in the wetlands, to refuel for their journey.
Monarch numbers expected to decline by 50% as other factors also take a toll By Chad Lawhorn clawhorn@ljworld.com
Prime monarch watching season is almost upon the Lawrence area. The problem is, the monarch butterflies probably won’t be in their prime.
“Everything just does poorly in a drought,” said Chip Taylor, director of the Kansas University-based Monarch Watch conservation group. Population totals in Mexico, where the monarchs winter for the season, are expected to be about 50 percent less than their
historical average, Taylor said. But area residents hoping to get a glimpse of the colorful butterflies still will have their chances this season. Taylor is estimating the monarchs will start arriving in the Douglas County Please see MONARCHS, page 2A
Butterfly open house and tagging events planned Monarch butterflies will be featured at two upcoming Lawrence events. Kansas University’s Monarch Watch conservation program will host its fall open house from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Foley Hall on KU’s West Campus. The event will include tours of a butterfly garden that is expected to attract about 20 different varieties of butterflies. A honey bee
observation hive, insect displays and monarch tagging demonstrations also are scheduled. Children attending the event will receive a Monarch pupa — the cocoon that eventually hatches a butterfly — while supplies last. Monarch Watch and the Jayhawk Audubon Society will sponsor a field day from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Sept. 15 at the Baker Wetlands near 31st and Haskell.
Volunteers will be shown how to safely net monarch butterflies and tag them for further study. The event is open to all ages. Nets will be provided, but organizers ask people who have butterfly nets to bring them. The event is organized so participants can check in or leave anytime during the 7:30 to 11:30 time period.
Please see OBAMA, page 6A
INSIDE Business Classified Comics Deaths
Low: 57
At least one point about a proposed sports complex in northwest Lawrence became clearer Tuesday: The public is divided about the wisdom of the plan. As for most of the other details about the proposal CITY to locate a $24 million city COMMISSION recreation center and a KU track and soccer complex at the northwest corner of Sixth Street and the South Lawrence Trafficway? Well, it likely will be another two weeks before those are cleared up. Commissioners at their weekly meeting deferred all votes on the proposal, and instead said they wanted to have more time to negotiate key agreements with private development groups led by Lawrence businessmen Duane Schwada and Thomas Fritzel. Members of the public, though, didn’t wait to deliver their opinions. Commissioners took more than an hour’s worth of public comment, with significant numbers of people speaking for and against the project. “I can honestly say I have never felt frightened by any of your decisions, until now,” said Melinda Henderson, a Lawrence resident. “This project scares the bejesus out of me.” Several speakers said they worried the city would commit to the $24 million recreation center and then Please see CITY, page 2A
Cooler, a storm
Today’s forecast, page 8A
Public split on plans for new rec center ——
By David Espo and Matthew Daly
High: 88
LJWorld.com
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911 system overhaul
Vol.154/No.249 26 pages
Douglas County is moving forward with a $6.6 million plan to completely revamp the system that manages 911 calls. Page 3A
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