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State shuts down Kansas Main Street program
Apartment fire linked to smoking
By Scott Rothschild srothschild@ljworld.com
Richard Gwin/Journal-World Photo
LAWRENCE-DOUGLAS COUNTY FIRE MEDICAL CREWS look over one of the apartments Thursday at Berkeley Flats near 11th and Mississippi streets. An overnight fire at the complex displaced residents, but did not cause injuries.
Damage estimated at $400,000 By Shaun Hittle and Matt Erickson sdhittle@ljworld.com, merickson@ljworld.com
Thursday morning, Kansas University junior Andie McKenzie — among 14 residents displaced by a Wednesday night fire at Berkeley Flats apartment complex — was still waiting to inspect the damage in her first-floor apartment. Since the fire, which began about 10:15 p.m. Wednesday and affected 12 apartments at 1100 and 1104 Miss., McKenzie had been confined to peeking in
the window, as fire crews cleared out debris. The fire was ruled accidental, caused by “improper discardment of smoking material,” according to a news release from Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical. No injuries were reported, but damages were estimated at $400,000. McKenzie stayed Wednesday night with friends who live nearby, stuck with the only things she had with her before the fire — her cellphone, its charger and a calculus textbook. Both KU officials and
the complex’s management company, Nolan Real Estate Services, had been helpful in the aftermath of the fire, she said. A professor excused her from a test scheduled for Thursday, and the management company is offering residents spots in its other properties in Lawrence, she said. Some other residents stayed in a hotel Wednesday night courtesy of the Douglas County chapter of the American Red Cross, said Jane Blocher, executive director. Displaced residents — all of whom had renter’s insurance as
a requirement of the management company — also received a debit card with money to buy food, clothes or other necessities. The residents had impressed Blocher with their attitude during and after the fire. “I cannot believe the poise and the calm and the gratitude,” Blocher said. The Journal-World was unable to contact a representative from Nolan Real Estate on Thursday, and it’s unclear whether residents of any of the affected apartments will be able to move back in.
TOPEKA — Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration is discontinuing the Kansas Main Street program, which has, for nearly three decades, been used to help revitalize downtowns across the state. Kansas Department of Commerce Secretary Pat George on Thursday cited “smaller state and federal budgets moving forward” for the decision to shut down the Main Street program, lay off employees and do other restructuring. He said 18 positions are affected throughout the Commerce Department. “The decision to eliminate positions is never an easy one, especially with associates that have dedicated considerable time, energy and passion to the department and to serving the people of Kansas. I hope that this restructuring eliminates the need for further staff reductions in the future,” George said. George said he made the decision to restructure in consultation with the administration. The Kansas Main Street program, which is under the Commerce Department, has been a popular one since its inception in 1985. The program provides management training, consultation and dollars to small towns to revitalize downtown areas. The Commerce Department’s website says the 2012 Kansas Main Street conference scheduled for October in Emporia has been canceled. In addition to shutting down the Kansas Main Street Program, George said, several other divisions will be downsized or merged. “The department must restructure in order to meet expected smaller state and federal budgets moving forward,” he said. “In addition, the department also must focus on core functions that will provide the greatest opportunities to develop the best business environment and to increase private-sector job growth for Kansas.”
Enrollment in Lawrence public schools increases by 214 students By Alex Garrison acgarrison@ljworld.com
ONLINE: Read more about enrollment and other school happenings in Alex Garrison’s First Bell blog at LJWorld.com.
Enrollment in the Lawrence public schools is up by 214 students with increases at the virtual schools — often areas of growth — and at several el-
ementary schools. But nications director for both high schools saw the district. Base state enrollment go down. aid is $3,838 per year, Thursday was the per pupil. That’s up district’s official enfrom the previous rate rollment head-count of $3,780 per student, day. A state-audited but down from the SCHOOLS version of the num2008-09 school year bers, likely not done rate of $4,400. until spring, determines the According to the headcount, amount of funding each school enrollment across all schools gets, said Julie Boyle, commu- is 11,490. It was 11,276 last year.
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Lawrence High School had the biggest loss with 1,488 students compared with last year’s 1,525. (Free State High School went to 1,481 from 1,510, a 29-student loss.) The second-highest decrease was at Sunflower School, which went down 34 students to 457 total enrollment. Lawrence Virtual School had the biggest increase — 76 students to 1,177 — and Lawrence
Low: 47
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Virtual High School had the second-biggest with an additional 55 students and 301 total. The third-biggest increase was 33 students, at Schwegler School, which had a total of 414. The unofficial first-day-ofschool attendance numbers put the district up by 198 students. — Reporter Alex Garrison can be reached at 8326314. Follow her at Twitter.com/alex_garrison.
Budget recommendations The Board of Regents recommend a $47.1 million increase for higher education, while Gov. Brownback’s budget office has instructed state agencies to prepare for cuts. Page 3A
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Vol.154/No.265 28 pages