Lawrence Journal-World 10-20-11

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WILD AND WOOLLY

JAYHAWKS CRUMBLE

Nation 7A

Sports 1B

Animals run amok in Ohio after suicide of owner

KU starts strong, but falls to K-State, 3-1

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SRS chief says he will request 2012 funding for Lawrence

Picking the perfect pumpkin

OCCUPY LAWRENCE

Despite warnings, protesters plan to stay put ——

City, police officials say group must leave park by tonight

By Scott Rothschild srothschild@ljworld.com

By Chad Lawhorn clawhorn@ljworld.com

ONLINE: See the video at LJWorld.com

They’re staying. At least some of them are. About 20 members of the Occupy Lawrence group indicated Wednesday evening that they plan to continue camping in South Park, even though Lawrence’s chief of police and other city officials warned them the city would begin enforcing a law that prohibits camping in city parks. After a meeting of more than three hours — which featured protesters huddled in a circle around donated propane heaters, speechmakers standing on a stump and a voting system that involves several types of hand signals — many members said the Occupy Lawrence movement needed to move into a new phase of civil disobedience. “Lawrence residents shouldn’t only expect civil disobedience but they should participate in it,” said camper David HughesPfeifer. At various times in the evening, about 50 protesters participated in the discussion — or the “general assembly” as the Occupy Lawrence group labels its nightly meeting. Not all group members agreed to camp at the park and risk fines or arrests from the city. But the group did unanimously agree to formally support those members who choose to keep camping in the park. Several group members said that camping in the park was an important part of the protests, not only for the visibility it provides the organization, but also because of the message it sends. “I have a nice house just a few blocks from this park that I could be sleeping in right now,” said Chelsea Donoho. “It is ridiculous that I’m sleeping in this park. But the reason it is important that we continue sleeping in this park is because it shows how damn serious we are.”

TOPEKA — Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services Secretary Robert Siedlecki Jr. said Wednesday that he would ask Gov. Sam Brownback and the Legislature to fund office expenses for the SRS Lawrence in the next fiscal year, which starts July 1, 2012. “I am happy that an effort to restore our SRS office funding is under way,” said Lawrence Mayor Aron Cromwell. “The funding help given by the city and county could only be a temporary stop-gap, and the continuous operation of the SRS office here in Lawrence is We vital to the most intend to vulnerable of our actively citizens.” Douglas Coun- support ty Commissioner this budget Jim Flory said, “We intend to request actively support in order this budget re- to eliminate any financial quest in order to eliminate any obligation of the city or financial obliga- county after July 1, 2012.” tion of the city or county after July — County Commissioner Jim Flory 1, 2012.” Last summer, Siedlecki proposed closing nine SRS offices, including the one in Lawrence. He said the closures were needed to comply with a mandated budget cut. But Lawrence officials protested, saying the closure would disrupt necessary services to thousands of people and create havoc in the community. The city and county agreed to pay SRS $450,000 over two years — which equals the amount of rent and overhead expenses — to keep the office open. Four other cities approved similar agreements. Under those agreements, Siedlecki vowed to make a good-faith effort to get adequate state funding in fiscal years after July 1, 2013. In a committee meeting last week, Siedlecki said he would be glad to work with the Legislature to start the process of getting that funding. But when asked if he had requested that funding in his budget proposal submitted to his boss, Brownback, Siedlecki said he hadn’t. But apparently that has changed. Siedlecki said in his final budget recommendation to Brownback, he would include a request for funds to operate the five locally financed SRS offices. Those other offices are in Fort Scott, McPherson, Pratt and Marysville. “During the course of negotiations over this agreement, we have developed a good working relationship with Douglas County and city of Lawrence officials that should stand us in good stead going forward,” Siedlecki said. The announcement was made shortly after the formal signing of the payment agreement with Lawrence officials.

Richard Gwin/Journal-World Photos

ELIZA WYSONG, 5, HELPS HER BROTHER, JUDE WYSONG, 3, carry his pumpkin Tuesday at Schaake’s Pumpkin Patch east of Lawrence on North 1500 Road. See the video at LJWorld.com.

VICTORIA PATRICK, 16, above left, and her mother, Claudia Patrick, both of Topeka, cradle their big finds, while Alex Driver, of Overland Park, LEFT, poses for a photo as Washington Irving’s Headless Horseman.

Please see OCCUPY, page 2A

— Statehouse reporter Scott Rothschild can be reached at 785-423-0668.

Regents put off budget request for KU medical education building By Scott Rothschild srothschild@ljworld.com

TOPEKA — The Kansas Board of Regents on Wednesday agreed that expansion of the Kansas University Medical Center was a top priority, but put off asking Gov. Sam Brownback and the Legislature for funding next session to help build a new medical education building. Regent Christine Downey-

Schmidt of Inman urged her colleagues to “accept the request from KU for a little bit more time to develop the complexity of their offer and bring it back to us when they are ready.” Earlier, KU had sought a new $5 million appropriation to help pay off a potential bond issue for the proposed $78 million medical education building. KU also expects to fund the project

cal schools and increase the size of each year’s medical school class by 50 students to about 240, KU officials said. “The Medical Education Building is the anchor component of the new master plan for KUMC,” said KU Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little. Last month, however, regents told KU officials that Brownback’s office wants the funding of the project to

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through a $10 million FICA refund, tuition dollars and private donations. The current building, constructed in 1976, is “obsolete,” said Barbara Atkinson, executive vice chancellor of the KU Medical Center. She also said the current building won’t meet accreditation standards. The proposed new building will help KU climb up in national rankings of medi-

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be nailed down further. They recommended KU continue discussions with Brownback about financing questions surrounding the project. Atkinson said she was confident that the project will be recommended for approval in next year’s budget request by the regents to the governor. In another budgetary move, the regents did approve forwarding a budget request for

a $5 million annual appropriation for improvements to the Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. The improvements will increase research and train the workforce needed to fill positions associated with growth of the animal health industry in the state and country, officials said. — Statehouse reporter Scott Rothschild can be reached at 785-423-0668.

COMING FRIDAY We’ll catch up with Fang Wong, national commander of the American Legion.

Vol.153/No.293 24 pages

Energy smart: The Journal-World makes the most of renewable resources. www.b-e-f.org


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