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State board challenging innovative-districts law By Peter Hancock phancock@ljworld.com
The Kansas State Department of Education is questioning whether state lawmakers usurped the agency’s authority under the Kansas Constitution by passing a law known as the “Coalition
of Innovative Districts Act.” That law sets up a separate board that has authority to grant exemptions for as many as 29 school districts from having to comply with most state laws and regulations governing public schools. To qualify for an exemp-
tion, the districts have to submit a plan showing how they intend to use innovative measures to improve student achievement. The agency is now seeking an attorney general’s opinion about whether that law violates Article 6 of the Kansas Constitution, which gives
the State Board of Education authority over, “general supervision of public schools, educational institutions and all the educational interests of the state,” except functions delegated to the Board of Regents. The state board is the governing body over the
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Department of Education. The board hires the commissioner, who has day-to-day responsibility for managing the department. “It’s risky for us to do this,” Education Commissioner Diane DeBacker said Please see DISTRICTS, page 2A DeBacker
Store owner at heart of national gas dispute ———
Local merchant says Big Oil trying to regulate ethanol sellers out of energy market By Chad Lawhorn clawhorn@ljworld.com
John Young/Journal-World Photos
THE LAWRENCE CITY BAND played its first concert in South Park on Wednesday, the first agreeable weather of the season. AT LEFT, Bruce Remke, Lawrence, a 15-year veteran of the Lawrence City Band, plays music for the “Shall We Dance?” concert. AT RIGHT, Madeleine ZabuskyStockton, 5, of Lawrence, is happy to oblige. City Band concerts are at 8 p.m. Wednesdays at South Park, weather permitting.
A Lawrence convenience store owner has found himself in the middle of a national battle with the country’s largest oil companies over the future of ethanol. Thus far, Big Oil has scored the latest victory. Scott Zaremba, owner of the Lawrencebased Zarco convenience store chain, confirmed that his stations have stopped selling the relatively new E15 grade of gasoline, which is gasoline that contains 15 percent ethanol rather than the more standard blend of 10 percent ethanol. Zaremba gained national notice last Zaremba year by becoming the first gasoline station owner in the country to sell the product. But Zaremba on Wednesday said he stopped selling the E15 product last month after Phillips 66 created new regulations that would require the Zarco stores to undertake several hundred thousand dollars in modifications to their pumps in order to keep selling the product. Zaremba said he is looking for a way to continue selling the Please see ETHANOL, page 2A
County Commission action could pave way for Menards By Peter Hancock phancock@ljworld.com
Douglas County commissioners gave their approval Wednesday night to expanding a retail commercial zone east of 31st and Iowa streets.
That means if the Lawrence City Commission goes along, that change in the joint city-county comprehensive plan known as Horizon 2020 will open that area to more large-scale retail development, including
something we would want to consider.” Flory noted, however, that the county was only giving its consent to a change in the comprehensive plan. The specific proposal by Menards, including the site plan
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a proposed Menards home improvement store. “Even if this weren’t applicant-driven, I think it makes good sense,” said County Commissioner Jim Flory. “This proposal, if it came just from Planning, is
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A 42-year-old Lawrence man has been sentenced to life in prison for sexually assaulting a girl who is now 12 years old. Page 3A
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Please see COUNTY, page 2A
Life sentence for rapist
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Today’s forecast, page 12A
and zoning change, will have to be approved separately by the city of Lawrence. The comprehensive plan is a tool used by the city and county to guide development,
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Vol.155/No.164 24 pages