Police seek suspect in stolen-check case

A man suspected of breaking into a house and passing stolen checks is being sought by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

The public is being asked to help locate the suspect whose picture was taken by security cameras at stores where the checks were cashed. The burglary occurred April 11 at a Vinland-area residence.

Checks stolen from the home have turned up at Rex TV, 2800 Iowa; SuperTarget, 3201 Iowa, and other Target stores in the area, as well as a Wal-Mart store in Shawnee, Lt. Kathy Tate said.

The suspect is a white man in his 30s, 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall. He weighs from 200 to 220 pounds. He has been seen at some of the stores wearing a white baseball cap with a KU logo. Investigators think he drives a black Ford Ranger extended-cab stepside pickup with a toolbox in the back.

Anyone with information is asked to call Lawrence-Douglas County Crime Stoppers at 843-TIPS. Callers remain anonymous. Calls also can be taken by Sheriff’s Det. Scott Bonham at 832-5205.

Court upholds dismissal of Kansas smokers’ case

A class-action suit by smokers to collect part of Kansas’ $1.77 billion settlement with Big Tobacco companies was rejected Tuesday by a federal appeals court.

Three Kansans brought the suit in 2000 John Puleo, a disabled worker from Topeka who has a heart condition, a lung condition and pneumonia; Judith Clark, a Johnson County woman who has a lung disorder; and Tammy Thomas, a Johnson County woman with emphysema.

They sued the state, saying it couldn’t keep more money than it spent on Medicaid to treat smoking-related illnesses. A federal district court disagreed and dismissed the case in March 2001 before it went to trial.

The Denver-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit upheld the dismissal Tuesday.

Ceramics students have annual spring sale

Just in time for Mother’s Day, Kansas University’s ceramics department will have its annual spring sale Thursday.

Ceramic items both functional and sculptural created by students in the department will be sold from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. in room 315 of KU’s Art & Design Building. Parking is available at parking garages next to the Kansas Union and Allen Fieldhouse.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale will benefit the KU Ceramic Club Award Fund, which provides scholarships to ceramics students.

The club has a sale each spring and fall.

Sandcastle-building contest scheduled at Wescoe Beach

Kansas University students will actually have sand to play with today at Wescoe Beach.

Student Union Activities is host to its annual sandcastle-building contest from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. today. Students, on a first-come, first-served basis, can build their castles from sand in plastic swimming pools.

Prizes include coolers and beach towels. Judging takes place at 3:30 p.m.

For more information, contact SUA at 864-SHOW.

Maintenance outage finished at Wolf Creek station

A refueling and maintenance outage at the Wolf Creek Generating Station ended at 8:22 p.m. Sunday.

The nuclear facility undergoes refueling and maintenance every 18 months, during the spring or fall when power demands are typically lower.

Plant officials will increase power at the rate of 3 percent an hour until the plant is at full power. Wolf Creek can produce more than 1,200 megawatts, enough to supply about 800,000 customers, and should reach full power later this week.