Lawrence Journal-World 10-11-12

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ROCK STEADY

COACHING HONOR

Retired professor’s career recognized Lawrence & State 3A

Bill Self to receive John Wooden award Sports 1B

L A W R E NC E

JOURNAL-WORLD ®

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KANSAS UNIVERSITY

McCollum Hall may be razed

LJWorld.com

Governor ‘not opposed’ to extending sales tax rate By John Hanna Associated Press

Nick Krug/Journal-World Photo

THE DAISY HILL SKYLINE COULD CHANGE if the Kansas Board of Regents approves a request from Kansas University to demolish McCollum Hall. Two new residence halls and a parking lot would be built on Daisy Hill as part of the project, which would cost $48.7 million.

2 new residence halls would be built By Scott Rothschild srothschild@ljworld.com

ONLINE: Read more about the McCollum Hall plan at LJWorld.com/ heardonthehill.

TOPEKA — A major part of the Daisy Hill skyline will face the wrecking ball under a proposal by Kansas University. KU wants to raze the three-wing, 10-story McCollum Hall and replace it with two new residence halls, according to a request before the Kansas Board of Regents. The cost

of the total project would be $48.7 million and funded with bonds that would be paid off with housing and parking system revenues. The board will consider the request next Wednesday. Jill Jess, a KU spokeswoman, said that until the regents consider the request, she couldn’t divulge any more information than the written information that was provided to the board. The project is before the regents as “an amendment of fiscal year 2014 capital improvement request.” Fiscal year 2014 starts July 1, 2013.

Five residence halls, built between 1959 and 1965, line the hillside and house more than 2,400 students. McCollum, which opened in 1965, has a capacity for 910 students. On Daisy Hill, “All of the residence halls have been renovated recently with the exception of McCollum,” the regents memo said. “Even though McCollum has been well-maintained over the years, the space needs for the new housing model do not fit efficiently within the form of the building so renovation is not an

option,” the memo said. The two new residence halls will be built west of Hashinger Hall and west of Lewis Hall “in order to create a centralized common green space for all residents to use,” the memo said. Each new building would be five stories tall and house 350 students. “When the two halls are complete, McCollum Hall will be razed and the site converted to parking,” the memo said.

kbritt@ljworld.com

Bargain-hunting season for Medicare prescription drug plans begins Monday. In Kansas, there are more than 400,000 eligible shoppers, and they have until Dec. 7 to enroll in one of 31 plans or re-enroll in a different plan. Criss Tomlin, a Senior Health Insurance Counsel-

ing for Kansas coordinator, said it’s important for eligible residents to check their policies because they change from year to year. Prices could change, as well as the drugs they cover. “People often say, ‘I am pleased with the plan that I’ve got’ and I always try to

Tomlin said that last year many people enrolled in the Humana Walmart plan because it had the lowest monthly premium at $15.10. It will be going up to $18.50 next year. AARP will be offering a plan that’s $15 per month. But Tomlin emphasized that the lowest price may not be the right option

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School board association names own efficiency panel By Scott Rothschild

TOPEKA — Call it dueling efficiency efforts. In response to Gov. Sam Brownback’s school efficiency task force, which includes no school employees, the Kansas Association of School Boards announced Wednesday the formation of an efficiency committee made up entirely of SCHOOLS school employees and board members. “Kansas school leaders have already demonstrated a high degree of efficiency in district operations,” said Please see EFFICIENCY, page 2A

Please see MEDICARE, page 2A

INSIDE

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make it clear to them that it could change Jan. 1,” Tomlin said. “Sometimes, they don’t check and, sure enough, in the middle of January, I will get a call from them saying their premium went up or their this and that. So, people should always check them — every year.” In Kansas, the 2013 monthly premiums will range from $15 to $116.40.

Please see TAX, page 2A

srothschild@ljworld.com — Statehouse reporter Scott Rothschild can be reached at 785-423-0668.

Shopping season near for Medicare drug plans By Karrey Britt

TOPEKA — Gov. Sam Brownback hasn’t ruled out having Kansas balance its budget by keeping its sales tax at the same rate rather than letting it drop next year as planned. Brownback acknowledged Wednesday that he’s anticipating state revenues will dip temporarily because of massive income tax cuts he signed into law earlier this year. He said a sales tax proposal remains a possibility, but he won’t make a decision until he sees how the budget picture develops. The sales tax is 6.3 per- Brownback cent, but it’s scheduled to drop to 5.7 percent in July. The state boosted the tax in 2010 — before Brownback took office — to protect public schools and social services spending, but pledged that most of the increase would be temporary. Brownback pushed income tax cuts this year as a way to stimulate the state’s economy, but the conservative Republican governor has faced criticism from Democrats for months that the aggressive package he signed into law will force the state to slash its spending in the future. Democrats also have speculated that Brownback is preparing to ask legislators to extend the current sales tax rate. I’m not opposed to it,” Brownback said.

KU faculty honored Four Kansas University faculty members have won the state’s most prestigious research prize. The winners will each receive $10,000 to support their research. Page 3A

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Vol.154/No.285 20 pages


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