Lawrence Journal-World 10-01-13

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FAMILIAR FACE

FIGHT OF HER LIFE

KU to square off against Weis’ former pupil Sports 1B

Expectant mother battled cancer WellCommons 5A

L A W R E NC E

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U.S. federal government shuts down ———

Congress fails to pass spending bill By Peter Hancock and Scott Rothschild phancock@ljworld.com; srothschild@ljworld.com

Mike Yoder/Journal-World Photo

ROSILYN WELLS, RIGHT, DISCUSSES THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT with Lawrence Memorial Hospital personal care assistants Barbara Harris, left, and Debra Pacheco, during a recent LMH Health Fair. Wells will be the only full-time ACA navigator in Lawrence and will work out of Heartland Community Health Center.

What does it mean for you? Some answers on Obamacare By Giles Bruce gbruce@ljworld.com

Obamacare is here. A major piece of the 2010 Affordable Care Act will be rolled out today. But what does that mean for you, the Lawrence consumer? Here are answers to basic questions about the nation’s new health care law.

What is the Affordable Care Act? The 2010 health care law often called Obamacare, even by the president himself, aims to pro-

vide coverage to many of currently have insurance the estimated 48 million through a job or governAmericans without health ment program (Medicare, insurance. It tries to ac- Medicaid, Indian Health Service, Veterans Afcomplish that goal by fairs). For instance, expanding the Medmany of the 350,000 icaid program for the uninsured Kansans, poor, removing reincluding 15,200 in strictions from who Douglas County, will can buy insurance now be eligible for and requiring that HEALTH tax credits to use toall Americans carry some form of health cover- ward purchasing coverage. age while subsidizing it for What starts today? those who can’t afford it. Beginning today, any Who will be affected? Kansan, regardless of preThe law will mainly af- existing medical condifect people who don’t tions, can obtain coverage

on the insurance marketplace, at HealthCare.gov or by calling 800-318-2596. The open enrollment period lasts through March 31. The next open enrollment period is from Oct. 15, 2014, to Dec. 7, 2014. People can get insurance during closed enrollment only if they have a certain life-changing event, such as a marriage, Please see HEALTH, page 2A

WASHINGTON — Congress has missed the deadline for averting the first partial government shutdown in 17 years. As the clock struck midnight Monday in Washington, House Republicans were demanding that the Senate negotiate their demand for a one-year delay in making millions of people buy health insurance under President Barack Obama’s 2010 health care law. Minutes before midnight, the White House ordered a shutdown. The Democratic Senate twice rejected GOP demands to delay key portions of what has become to known as Obamacare as a condition for keeping the government open. State agencies on Monday were reviewing what effect a federal government shutdown would have, according to Gov. Sam Brownback’s office. Brownback, a former U.S. senator, and vocal opponent of the Affordable Care Act, declined to weigh in on the battle in Washington over the budget and the health reform law. “That’s their problem. I’ve got my set of problems. I’ve got my own,� he said. Some critical services such as patrolling the borders, inspecting meat and controlling air traffic will continue. Social Security benefits will be sent, and the Medicare and Medicaid health care programs for the elderly and poor will continue to pay doctors and Please see SHUTDOWN, page 9A

Kansas insurance

commissioner criticizes attempts to delay health care act. Page 2A

Thousands of Americans are being

forced onto furloughs after the federal government shut down. Page 9A

District says church group entitled to meet at public school “

By Peter Hancock

It’s a temporary sign. We put it up with bands and ropes 45 minutes before the Most days, people driving service and take it down about 15 minutes past Liberty Memorial Central Middle School at 14th and Mas- after.� phancock@ljworld.com

sachusetts Street would easily recognize the building as a public school. But on Sunday mornings, a large banner is tethered to the pillars of the school building to advertise that, on that day, it is also a place of worship for a local congregation called the Vin-

— Deacon Godsey, lead pastor of Vintage Church tage Church, and at least one local resident has questioned whether that’s constitutional. “It seems wrong that a church

INSIDE

Mostly sunny Business Classified Comics Deaths

High: 87

is holding service at a taxpayerfunded, public school,� Tandis Bidgoli, an east Lawrence resident, said in an email to the

Journal-World. “I don’t have a problem with churches, just not in our public schools.� But school district officials say there is nothing unconstitutional about it, and they cite at least two federal court cases from the 1980s that say it’s not about the government establishing a religion, but about allowing free speech. “If the school board allows outside community groups to use school buildings, and it does, the district cannot dis-

Low: 61

Today’s forecast, page 12A

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criminate against a particular group’s use of a facility because of its philosophies, ideas or opinions,� district spokeswoman Julie Boyle said. “The First Amendment prohibits discrimination against a group based on the content of its speech.� One of the cases the district cited was a 1983 case involving the Shawnee Mission school district in which a federal court in Kansas said that allowing a Please see CHURCH, page 2A

Rethinking 2020

Vol.155/No.274 24 pages

The Douglas County Commission and Lawrence City Commission are being asked to start the process of amending the local comprehensive plan known as Horizon 2020. Page 3A

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