Lawrence Journal-World 09-15-11 v2

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KU seeks additional funding for med school, profs By Scott Rothschild srothschild@ljworld.com

TOPEKA — The Kansas Board of Regents next week will consider a general 2.6 percent increase in higher education funding, plus a number of targeted increases including funds for Kansas Uni-

BOARD OF REGENTS

Chilly

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2012, will then be forwarded to Gov. Sam Brownback’s budget office for consideration. Brownback and the Legislature will work on a state spending plan when the legislative session starts in January. The proposal before the regents would increase general

higher education spending by 2.6 percent or $18.9 million. This would cover inflation that is specific to higher education, which includes such things as professional and non-professional salaries, contracted services, and utility costs, according to a regents memo.

Low: 45

INSIDE LHS football player can do it all It’s hard to define Lawrence High School junior Brad Strauss by just one role. He plays quarterback, safety, kick returner, punt returner and extra-point holder — something his coach calls ‘a throwback to the olden days.’ Page 1B EDUCATION

KU unveils its vision for the near future Kansas University officials reveal their new strategic plan, “Bold Aspirations,” which charts a fiveyear path for KU to follow. Page 3A

QUOTABLE

The ones with the least to give were often the ones who helped me the most when I first got here.” — Joe Moon, a resident of the Lawrence Community Shelter, on Kansas University student-athletes’ willingness to help as they donated about 200 pairs of shoes to the shelter Wednesday. Page 3A

State Fair full of drama By Mike Yoder myoder@ljworld.com

By Mark Fagan mfagan@ljworld.com

ONLINE: See the video at LJWorld.com

HUTCHINSON — On the first day of the Kansas State Fair, Chris Berg, 19, Lawrence, has already picked up four girls. He says it’s tradition. “We did it at the county fair and so we did it at the state fair,” Berg says. Yes, he literally picked them up last Friday, as he’s done numerous times before. The girls were fellow Douglas County 4-H’ers, all competing in the market lamb show. One of them, Taylor Stanley, 17, Baldwin City, could have used a lift after finishing second in a Hampshire lamb class. “Waaaaaaaa,” moans Stanley after the close competition. “It was rough. I don’t know, it just put me down.” Stanley took three lambs to the fair. “I have one more left

Mike Yoder/Journal-World Photos

DOUGLAS COUNTY 4-H’ERS, all competing with sheep Friday, the first day of the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson, carry on a tradition of sorts by getting a lift from Chris Berg, 19, of Lawrence, center. From left are Taylor Stanley, 17, Baldwin City; Reilly Stewart, 11, Baldwin Please see FAIR, page 2A City; Holly Swearingen, 13, Eudora; and Emma Stewart, 14, Baldwin City. LEFT PHOTO: Fair attendees view the 700-pound butter sculpture of a monkey riding a sheep. RIGHT PHOTO: Holly Swearingen, 13, Eudora, in green, keeps her eye on the judge and sets her Hampshire lamb during competition at the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson.

Sports editor Tom Keegan gives you his take on Kansas University football’s offensive line.

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INDEX 7A 4B-10B 9A 2A 10A, 2B 9B 5A 8A 2A 9B 1B-3B, 10B 5A, 2B, 9B 20 pages

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

Local economy grew at exceptionally slow rate in 2010, according to one recent analysis By Chad Lawhorn clawhorn@ljworld.com

Somebody forgot to tell us to bounce. There are new numbers out showing that while the economies of many cities across the country were experiencing a bounce-back year in 2010, Lawrence’s did not. In fact by one measure, Lawrence’s overall economy grew by one of the slowest rates in the entire country in 2010, according to new numbers from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Here’s what we’re talking about: The Bureau of Economic Analysis each year

Please see REGENTS, page 2A

County OKs $100K theater request

COMING FRIDAY

Business Classified Comics Deaths Events listings Horoscope Movies Opinion Poll Puzzles Sports Television Vol.153/No.258

In addition, the plan also calls for a $2.2 million increase in need-based student financial assistance programs, which would return that assistance to 2009 levels. The proposal also includes

‘MAN, OH MAN!’

Today’s forecast, page 10A

versity for a new medical school building and the hiring of “foundation professors.” The board is scheduled to discuss the postsecondary budget proposal on Wednesday and take action on it Thursday. The recommended budget for the fiscal year starting July 1,

measures the Gross Domestic Product of every metro area in the country. That’s just a fancy way of saying they measure the market value of all the goods and services produced in a metro area. In 2010, Lawrence’s GDP grew by 0.1 percent. That ranked Lawrence 300th out of 366 metro areas in the country. What does it all mean? Well, it depends. There are certainly other measures of an economy, such as the unemployment rate and per capita income, that probably affect residents more on a daily basis. But government number-crunchers do tout GDP as the broadest mea-

sure of an economy. So, if nothing else, the numbers provide a big, wide snapshot of Lawrence’s economy. Here’s a look: !" We were slow in 2010. Lawrence’s GDP grew by 0.1 percent for the year. The average growth rate for metro areas in 2010 was 2.5 percent. !" We’re still small. Lawrence had a GDP of $3.75 billion in 2010. That ranked us 326 out of 366 metro areas. Here’s how we compared with some other metro areas nearby: Topeka, $9.3 billion (189th); Wichita, $26.2 billion (84th); Kansas City, $105.9 billion (26th); Manhattan, $5.9 billion (240th).

!" 2010 was rough in several areas. Of the 13 sectors of the Lawrence economy that were measured, eight of them showed declines for the year. They were natural resources and mining; nondurable goods manufacturing, transportation and utilities; financial activities; professional and business services; education and health services; leisure services; and the category of other services. !" Three areas bucked the trend in 2010. Trade, as in wholesale and retail trade, was the top growth area for the economy. The information

Please see ECONOMY, page 2A

All property owners in Douglas County will be giving Theatre Lawrence a financial push to help the organization reach its goal for building a new theater, office and classroom project in northwestern Lawrence. Douglas County commissioners agreed unanimously Wednesday evening to give the organization $20,000 next year and to pledge another $20,000 a year for the next four to reach a total of $100,000. Commissioners decided the money would come out of the $350,000 they reserve each year for economicdevelopment projects. That puts the theater project on the same financial stage as the $433,000 commissioners have committed to infrastructure for a Berry Plastics warehouse expansion and the $100,000 a year commissioners likely COUNTY will be asked COMMISSION to pump into an anticipated expansion of a bioscience and technology business incubator on Kansas University’s West Campus. The total $100,000 commitment for the theater project is being added to another $100,000 pledged by the Lawrence City Commission — money intended to move Theatre Lawrence closer to securing a $1 million “challenge” grant offered by the estate of Mabel Woodyard, who has relatives who have been involved in the organization. To get the grant, Theatre Lawrence needs total donations and pledges of $6.2 million by the organization’s Sept. 30 deadline. With the county’s contribution and future pledges, the organization remains $323,000 short. Organizers actually need to generate another $423,000 in private donations if they want to hang onto a $500,000 challenge grant offered by the Mabee Foundation of Oklahoma. That grant also is being counted in the $6.2 million total. Hanging in the balance: whether the organization can move out of its cramped quarters inside a former church at 1501 N.H. and into a new home that can accommodate its performances, youth programs and other operations that have been growing for 35 years. “We’re making such a positive difference in this community, and we’re asking for so little in return,” said Bobby Patton, a board member for Theatre Lawrence. “If we do not raise this money, our dream will vanish. We will never have another chance. Please see THEATER, page 5A


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