KPR wins awards

Kansas Public Radio recently received four awards from the Kansas City Associated Press Broadcasters.

“Morning Edition” host Laura Lorson was honored for best newscast.

Reporter Bryan Thompson and editor J. Schafer won second place for enterprise story for a report about food allergies. It was part of Thompson’s series, “Kansas Kids: A Prescription for Change.”

Schafer also won second place in the category of spot news for a feature story about the candlelight vigil KU at after Sept. 11.

And reporter Peter Hancock received an honorable mention for an enterprise story about the damage caused by the tornado that hit Hoisington.

Suspects try to return stolen ‘hobby’ items

Three people were arrested Saturday by Lawrence Police after they allegedly tried to pass off stolen property for merchandise and get money from a store.

The suspects two women and a man from Tulsa, Okla., were caught with more than $3,000 worth of “hobby merchandise” similar to items found in Hobby Lobby stores, police said.

One of the women allegedly used a fake purchase receipt and attempted to return some items to Hobby Lobby, 1801 W. 23rd St., police said. A store manager became suspicious and called police.

Officers stopped a vehicle the suspects were driving in the area of 19th Street and Stewart Avenue. The suspects were taken to the Douglas County Jail. No information was available on charges late Monday.

Police believe the merchandise the suspects were caught with were stolen from Kansas City-area Hobby Lobby stores, Police Sgt. Mike Pattrick said.

Patients to get checks in drug settlement

More than 1,700 Kansans will receive refund checks following a settlement in a lawsuit concerning Lorazepam and Clorazepate, the Kansas Attorney General’s Office announced Monday.

The $497,093 in refunds comes after the attorneys general of 50 states, the District of Columbia and the Federal Trade Commission sued drug-makers Mylan Laboratories, Cambrex Corporation, Profarmaco, Gyma Laboratories of America and SST Corporation.

The suit claimed the companies violated trade laws that led to inflated prices for the drugs, which are used to treat anxiety disorders. More than $42.8 million is being paid to consumers across the country.

The Kansas checks were scheduled to be mailed Monday and today, according to the Attorney General’s Office. Consumers will receive out-of-pocket expenses for the drug between Jan. 1, 1998, and Dec. 31, 1999.