Special education official meets with families

About 65 people met Saturday with a representative from the U.S. Department of Education to discuss concerns surrounding special education and services for children with emotional disabilities.

Robert Pasternack, assistant secretary for special education and rehabilitative services for the USDE, spoke with families from around the state at the Kansas State Grange and Conference Center.

Topics included the recent No Child Left Behind legislation and the upcoming reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Act.

As many as 60,000 Kansas children have serious emotional disabilities, according to a statement from Keys for Networking, Inc., the Kansas Parent Information and Resource Center and one of the groups that helped organize the event.

“Nationally and in Kansas, children with emotional problems are the least likely to graduate, remain in school or find employment or post-school opportunities,” said Jane Adams, executive director of Keys for Networking.

Police search for evidence of possible drive-by shooting

Lawrence Police searched an eastern Lawrence neighborhood Saturday night after receiving reports of a possible drive-by shooting.

No evidence of a shooting was found, Sgt. Dave Hubbel said.

Shortly before 9 p.m. two people told police they thought they heard popping noises and saw gun muzzle flashes coming from a car that was eastbound on 15th Street between Connecticut Street and Learnard Avenue, Hubbel said.

The car was described as a boxy, white four-door sedan. Police did not find the car, Hubbel said. Officers blocked off part of 15th Street and searched the area.

Although some residents in the area said they thought they heard possible gunshots or a car backfiring, officers didn’t find any shell casings or damage to the houses, Hubbel said.