Kansas gets $16.6 million: in tobacco settlement funds
More than $16.6 million in tobacco settlement money was recently deposited in the Kansas Endowment for Youth fund, Atty. Gen. Carla Stovall has announced.
The money comes from tobacco company payments to the state in December 2001 and January 2002. The payments stem from the settlement of Stovall's lawsuit against major tobacco companies, which will bring more than $1.6 billion to the state in coming decades.
The companies have paid Kansas more than $137 million since December 1999. The next payment is expected in April 2002.
Tobacco money continues to be used to fund programs for smoking cessation and prevention, at-risk children and teen-agers, and early childhood development.
The Children's Cabinet, of which Stovall is a member, makes recommendations each fiscal year about programs to be funded. The Kansas Legislature has final approval.
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Baker University: King celebration kicks off Black History Month
Baldwin Baker University will celebrate the life and work of Martin Luther King Jr. with a special service Thursday.
Baker traditionally honors King in late January when students return for the spring semester, which begins today. The event also kicks off the university's February celebration of Black History Month.
The Rev. Saundra McFadden Weaver, pastor of Community Fellowship Church of Jesus Christ in Kansas City, Mo., will present the keynote address at the 11 a.m. service at Osborne Memorial Chapel.
The Rev. Ira DeSpain, the university's pastor, said the celebration will include music, poetry and dramatic readings presented by Baker students. The event is open to the public.
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Entertainment: Civic choir to commence spring rehearsals today
The Lawrence Civic Choir will begin rehearsals today for its spring semester.
The choir, which has more than 100 singers, will have registration at 7 p.m., with a $25 registration fee. Rehearsals are at 7:30 p.m. Mondays.
Steve Eubank, director of choral activities at Topeka High School, will be interim director. He replaces Rob Reid, who moved to Minnesota.
The choir's spring concert which will be April 27 at Central Junior High School will feature Leonard Bernstein's "Chichester Psalms."
For more information, call Martin Miller, civic choir board president, at 841-8462.
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Kansas University: Rock Chalk Ball planned
More than 1,000 Kansas University alumni and friends are expected to attend the seventh annual Rock Chalk Ball Feb. 1 at the Marriott Downtown in Kansas City, Mo.
The black-tie event's theme is "Shake Your Tail Feathers," and masters of ceremonies will be Al Bohl, KU athletics director, and KU alumna Sally Moore, NBC 41 news anchor.
The ball, sponsored by the KU Alumni Association, raises money for National Merit scholarships. Nearly $700,000 has been raised in the event's tenure.
For information about tickets, which run from $100 to $150 each, call 1-800-584-2957.
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