Officials investigating Saturday house fire

Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical’s investigation unit was looking through debris and conducting interviews Saturday after a house fire early Saturday morning, Deputy Chief Mark Bradford said.

About 5 a.m. Saturday, Fire & Medical responded to a fire at 1218 Miss. Upon arrival, the company found heavy fire coming from the roof of the house, which Bradford believed to be a rental property under renovation.

Property records list the home’s owner as Glenn R. Skulborstad. He could not be reached Saturday for comment.

The house was not occupied and no injuries were reported.

Bradford estimated the damage at $145,000.

The cause of the fire was unknown. Bradford said Fire & Medical should know more Monday or Tuesday.

State: KU professor appointed to Humanities Council

Gov. BIll Graves appointed Mike Kautsch, Lawrence, to the Kansas Humanities Council.

Kautsch has been a professor at Kansas University School of Law since 1997. He previously served as dean of the School of Journalism and director of the WIlliam Allen White Foundation at KU.

The council is a nonprofit organization that provides grants statewide to encourage understanding of history and heritage in Kansas. The governor appoints five members to the council.

Graves also reappointed Judith Carroll, Independence, and Morey Sullivan, Topeka, to the council.

Courts: Defense files for delay in serial murder case

Olathe Attorneys for John E. Robinson have asked for a delay in the start of his serial murder trial, saying it is necessary to ensure a fair trial for their client.

Robinson’s defense team filed a 14-page motion with the request late last week, saying they need more time to interview hundreds of witnesses and dig through a mountain of documents filed in the case.

The motion did not indicate how long they wanted to delay the trial, which is scheduled to start Sept. 16.

The issue is expected to be taken up at the next scheduled motion hearing Thursday.

Robinson, 58, is charged in Johnson County with killing three women: one who disappeared in 1985 and two whose bodies were found two years ago on his Linn County property.

Entertainment: ‘Atlantis’ to kick off Movies in the Park

Lawrence Parks and Recreation’s annual Movies in the Park series begins Thursday night on the lawn at the South Park Recreation Center, 11th and Massachusetts streets.

For the next three Thursdays, movies will be projected onto a big screen starting about 8:30 p.m.

The lineup: “Atlantis: The Lost Empire,” Thursday; “M.V.P.: Most Vertical Primate,” Aug. 1; and “Shrek,” Aug. 8.

The movies are free and open to the public. Bring blankets or chairs.

Gasoline Prices: Pump Patrol seeks deal

The Journal-World has found a gasoline price as low as $1.37 at several Lawrence locations.

If you find a lower price, call us at 832-7154. Be prepared to leave the name and address of the business and the price.