State ordered to respond to cities/counties lawsuit

The Kansas Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the state to respond to a lawsuit from cities and counties by Jan. 6.

The League of Kansas Municipalities, the Kansas Association of Counties and more than 200 local governments are suing the state over Gov. Bill Graves’ decision last month to cut $48 million in aid to cities and counties. The plaintiffs say Graves lacked legal authority to make the cuts.

Lawrence officials say the city will lose as much as $1.38 million in aid in 2003 and have joined the suit. Douglas County will lose $1.8 million, but did not join the suit.

Budget

Weseman, KU professor to discuss school funding

The business of financing the Lawrence public school district will come into focus next month at a public forum featuring Supt. Randy Weseman.

Weseman and Bruce Baker, a Kansas University associate professor, will speak on “School Funding and Mandates: The Lawrence Response” at 7 p.m. Jan. 7 at the Black Box Theatre at Free State High School, 4700 Overland Drive.

The superintendent and professor will discuss state and national education policy and budget issues that influence the Lawrence district.

A question-and-answer session will follow the presentations.

The forum is sponsored by the Lawrence Business/Education Partnership.

Jayhawks

KU women visit LMH

Patients at Lawrence Memorial Hospital received visits — and Kansas University merchandise — from members of the Jayhawk women’s basketball team Thursday.

Coach Marian Washington, her staff and players and Chancellor Robert Hemenway walked the halls of LMH to distribute hundreds of items donated by the 425 companies licensed to carry the KU and Jayhawk emblems.

This was the 10th year for the LMH visit. Some of the approximately 1,200 items donated go to Toys for Tots.