Visual display at Capitol ties underage drinking to death
Sen. Jim Barnett had a gray coffin bearing an empty beer keg displayed Thursday in the Capitol's second-floor rotunda.
Barnett, R-Emporia, is the sponsor of legislation that would require liquor stores to register the purchasers of beer kegs. The measure could receive Senate debate next week.
Liquor store owners, beer wholesalers and other vendors oppose the bill as unnecessary, but Barnett contends it would reduce underage drinking and the associated injuries and deaths. Thus, he arranged for the coffin display, above. It drew some complaints Thursday from some legislators and was quickly removed.
Barnett has also sponsored a bill to increase taxes on alcoholic beverages to raise money for public schools.
Crime
Pizza parlor robbed at gunpoint; no arrest made
No arrests were made after a robbery at a Lawrence restaurant in which an armed suspect made off with cash, police said Thursday.
The robbery occurred shortly before 11:30 p.m. Wednesday at Pizza Hut, 600 W. 23rd St. A clerk had been working inside the store when he heard the back door open and saw a man wearing a red raincoat and a cloth over his face walk inside, police said.
The employee at first thought the man was another employee playing a prank, but the suspect pointed a handgun at the employee and ordered him to hand over money from the cash register, police said. The suspect then fled on foot in an unknown direction.
No shots were fired and the employee wasn't injured during the robbery, police said. The suspect was described as a white man in his early 20s, about 6 feet tall and about 175 pounds.
Police continued to investigate how the robber gained entry into the restaurant, adding that the back door usually is locked.
Election 2001
Republican women's club to sponsor candidate forum
The Douglas County Republican Women will play host to a candidate forum Sunday afternoon.
Hopefuls for Lawrence school board will be the first to discuss their views, at 2 p.m. at the Lawrence Municipal Airport, 2500 Airport Road.
They will be followed immediately by candidates for the Lawrence City Commission.
Deadline to register to vote is Tuesday. The general election is April 3. The top three vote-getters in each race will take office.
Higher education
Four students clear Truman scholar hurdle
Four Kansas University students have advanced to the final round in the national competition for Truman scholarships, which provide up to $30,000 for graduate study.
KU's finalists are:
Karrigan Bork, Lawrence
Robert M. Chamberlain, Topeka
Shawna N. Smith, Hays
Holly Worthen, McPherson.
Established by Congress in 1975, Truman scholarships are awarded on the basis of candidates' leadership potential, intellectual ability and the likelihood of their "making a difference."
Candidates must be planning careers in public service and must propose a solution to a public policy issue as part of their application.
Winners will be announced March 23 and April 6. Since 1981, 13 KU students have become Truman scholars.
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