Oil leak temporarily shuts down Mass. Street

What appeared to be a leak from a vehicle, most likely a truck, caused Massachusetts Street to be blocked off from the mid-900 block to the north end of the Kansas River Bridge for about an hour Monday afternoon, Lawrence Police said.

The liquid appeared to be hydraulic fuel, Sgt. Mike Pattrick said, and caused the street to be slippery for motorists. Lawrence Police, Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical and the city street department barricaded Massachusetts Street about 4 p.m. Monday. Officials applied a drying agent to soak up the liquid. Roads were open to traffic by 5 p.m.

The drying agent will remain on the street until this morning when street workers will sweep it off the road.

Politics: Former mayor appointed to planning commission

Mayor Sue Hack will appoint former Mayor Ernie Angino to the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission, she said Monday.

“I think he’s excellent, he’s smart, and he’ll do a good job,” she said.

Angino served on the Lawrence City Commission between 1983 and 1987. He was mayor for a year in 1984-85. He served on the city’s Tax Abatement Task Force last year.

He said Monday he’ll bring a “fair and honest appraisal” of the issues to the planning commission.

“I’m not afraid of my opinions,” Angino said, “and I’m not afraid of stating them.”

City commissioners will be asked to approve the appointment at their May 28 meeting.

Education: Final votes due today on DeSoto school bond

The final votes in a $91.2 million DeSoto School District bond issue will trickle in and be counted beginning at noon today. The ballots received before noon are expected to be tallied by 4 p.m. today.

DeSoto residents have been voting on the bond issue through a mail-in ballot since May 1. If passed, the bond issue will provide for new and remodeled facilities, land acquisition, updated technology, athletic fields and a library media center collection. New buildings will include four new elementary schools and a middle school.

Supt. Marilyn Layman said the district began promoting the bond issue a year ago through several meetings and civic organizations.

“We have 1,500 zero- to 4-year-olds waiting to come to school,” she said. “That and with a 15 to 18 percent growth of students, we need the facilities desperately.”

County Commission: Jones seeks re-election

Charles Jones, elected in 1998 to represent the first district on the Douglas County Commission, said Monday he would file this morning for re-election to another four-year term.

The Democrat said he wanted to continue his efforts to preserve open space and bring jobs to the county.

Jones has a better start on his war chest this time. He started his last race with about $400 in donations and a handful of volunteers. This time he has $4,000 in the bank, at least another $1,000 in commitments and a steering committee more than a dozen people strong.

“There are still things I want to work on,” Jones said.

Jones, Lawrence, is a former director of environment for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

The general election is Nov. 5. Jones is the only commissioner for election this year.

Gasoline prices: Pump Patrol seeks best deal

The Journal-World has found a gasoline price as low as $1.26 at several Lawrence stations.

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.