KU Stop Day today

Kansas University students won’t have any classes today, but they might be studying for finals.

Today is Stop Day, the day between the end of the semester and finals week.

Finals for KU students run Monday through Friday.

Several KU schools still have fall graduation ceremonies planned. The School of Business will honor graduates at 10 a.m. Saturday, and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences will honor graduates at 2 p.m. Sunday. Both events are at the Lied Center.

The School of Law will hold its graduation ceremony at 7 p.m. Dec. 20 at Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union.

Driver injured when car strikes city transit bus

A Lawrence city transit bus and a passenger car collided about 3 p.m. Thursday at the intersection of Fifth and Michigan streets, Lawrence Police said.

Esther Mervine, 77, Lawrence, was identified by police as the driver of a 1998 Buick Century that was eastbound on Fifth Street when it went through a stop sign and caused the collision, Sgt. Paul Fellers said. Mervine was cited for failure to stop.

A Police report says Mervine was taken by Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical ambulance to Lawrence Memorial Hospital. Hospital officials, however, said they didn’t have any information about her.

The driver of the bus, Kathleen Riley, 39, Lawrence, was not injured, police said. The bus was traveling south on Michigan when the accident occurred.

‘Kansas Nutcracker’ receives grant

The Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation presented a $15,000 grant to the Lawrence Arts Center for its holiday ballet, “A Kansas Nutcracker.”

The performances, which continue today and Dec. 19-21, put a different spin on the classic Tchaikovsky piece. It takes place in the 1850s in the Lawrence community in the Kansas Territory.

The grant will be used to pay for the music, script, professionals, choreography, costumes, sets and lighting.

The Muriel McBrien Foundation was established in 1987 to support organizations and programs that enhance the arts in the Kansas City area.

Baked goods sale to help families in need

The Ronald McDonald House will have its eighth annual Cookie Walk from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the house, 825 S.W. Buchanan, Topeka.

Businesses and individuals donated cookies, candies and breads, which will be displayed on tables around the house. Guests can fill boxes with whatever treats they want for $5 a pound. Pecans by the pound, sugar-free items and some crafts also will be for sale. The fund-raising event also features a raffle for gift certificates, sports tickets, an autographed Kansas City Wizards poster and other prizes.

All money raised will benefit the Topeka Ronald McDonald House, which provides a temporary home for families with critically ill children. For more information or to make a donation, call (785) 235-6852.