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NYC Marathon cancellation surprises runners By Alex Parker aparker@ljworld.com
Lawrence residents Jay Jenkins and Grant Catloth were confident they’d be able to lace up their sneakers and run the New York City Marathon when they left Kansas City on Thursday. But Friday’s announcement that
Sunday’s marathon was canceled, less than two days before more than 40,000 people would participate in the 26.2-mile run, left the pair without a plan. “It seemed like there was no way they were going to cancel it,” said Catloth, 24. “I never had any doubt in my mind.” But New York Mayor Michael
Please see RUNNERS, page 2A
More on the aftermath of
Superstorm Sandy. Page 8A
“
We cannot allow a controversy over an athletic event — even one as meaningful as this — to distract attention away from all the critically important work that is being done to recover from the storm and get our city back on track.” — New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Getting a jump at the polls
Chilly
High: 58
Bloomberg made the decision to cancel the race amid stretched police resources and a growing public outcry against the marathon, which was scheduled to start in
Low: 31
Today’s forecast, page 12A
INSIDE Obama, Romney hone closing lines Heading into the final weekend before Election Day, GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama sharpened their final attacks on one another while trying to stay in the mainstream middle ground. Page 6A
Solid job growth before election In the final snapshot of the economy before the presidential election, the United States added a solid 171,000 jobs in October, and more than a halfmillion Americans joined the work force. Page 9A
Violent crime rates drop in Lawrence Violent crime dropped in Lawrence in 2011 by nearly 19 percent, according to official FBI numbers released this week. Property crime also dipped slightly. Page 3A
“
QUOTABLE
They did a great job. It’s an example of communities coming together and really concentrating on student achievement.” — Lawrence Superintendent Rick Doll, commenting on two Lawrence elementary schools receiving Challenge state Awards for significant achievement in student performance. Page 3A
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INDEX Business 9A Classified 1C-6C Comics 11A Deaths 2A Events listings 12A, 2B Horoscope 5C Movies 4A Opinion 10A Puzzles 5C Sports 1B-10B Television 12A, 2B, 5C Vol.154/No.308 30 pages
Mike Yoder/Journal-World Photo
TRICIA VENTERS, OF LAWRENCE, INSTRUCTS HER SON, ZACH VENTERS, 10, on how to fill out her ballot Friday as she participated in advance voting at the Douglas County Courthouse. Zach, a student at Quail Run School, will participate in Kids Vote at school Tuesday. Advance voting will continue at the courthouse today from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on Monday from 8 a.m. to noon.
Early voting trails 2008 pace in county By Scott Rothschild srothschild@ljworld.com
Heading into the final stage of early voting, Douglas County voter participation trails the last presidential election in 2008. In 2008, a total of 17,156 advance ballots were cast both
in-person and by mail, according to Douglas County Clerk Jamie Shew. As of Thursday night, 9,578 ballots voted. Shew said he has found that precincts with lots of college students are far below the early voting turnout of 2008, while other precincts are having a large turnout.
Shew said he remains confident for a solid turnout on Election Day on Tuesday when polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Here’s the remaining schedule for advance voting:
Douglas County Courthouse, 11th and Massachusetts streets: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today.
Lecompton residents protest reduced hours at post office By Scott Rothschild srothschild@ljworld.com
LECOMPTON — A U.S. Postal Service official on Friday gave Lecompton the bad news: The town’s post office may face reduced operating hours. Residents of Lecompton weren’t happy. About 75 of them packed historic Constitution Hall at high noon, arguing that growth in the community and the historic background of Lecompton warranted a full-time post office. But Kevin Billings, post office operations manager for most of eastern Kansas, said that based on workload and revenue, the Lecompton Post Office fell into the category of needing to be open four hours per day on weekdays.
The last time for advance voting at the courthouse is 8 a.m. to noon Monday.
Lecompton City Hall, Eudora Recreation Center and Baldwin City Fire Department: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. today. — Statehouse reporter Scott Rothschild can be reached at 785-423-0668.
Brownback brochures called ‘gross misuse of taxpayer dollars’ ———
Governor defends pre-election mailings that cost $52,000 By Scott Rothschild srothschild@ljworld.com
Richard Gwin/Journal-World Photo
AMANDA HUNT, OF LECOMPTON, leaves the Lecompton post office after getting her mail Friday. The post office is facing a reduction in hours, which hasn’t pleased many Lecompton residents. A survey of local residents found that if the hours were reduced, most favored 8 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Saturday. Currently, the Lecompton Post Office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30
a.m. and then 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Saturday. The proposed reduction would shorten the number of weekday Please see POST, page 2A
Gov. Sam Brownback, a conservative Republican, earlier this year delivered a massive tax cut to business owners, and now his administration is using tax dollars to tell them about it right before the election. Democrats, who have made opposition to the Brownback tax cuts the centerpiece of their campaigns, on Friday cried foul. House Minority Leader Paul Davis, D-Lawrence, described the mass mailing of brochures to 146,000 business owners as a “gross misuse of taxpayer dollars.” He called on Brown-
Davis
back to reimburse the state from his campaign coffers the $52,000 it cost in printing and postage to mail
the brochures. “I think this is a campaign mailer that should be paid for by campaign funds,” Davis said. But Brownback defended the mailers. In a written statement, Brownback said, “The tax mailer was sent to educate business owners affected by the change in tax policy Please see MAILERS, page 2A