Body found on trail at nature center

The body of a man who had committed suicide was found Wednesday afternoon along a walking trail at Prairie Park Nature Center in southeast Lawrence, police said.

Some people walking along the trail called police after making the discovery shortly after 2 p.m. The body was found a few feet off the trail about halfway between the trail entrance at 28th Terrace and Harper Street and Mary’s Lake, police said.

The body was that of a 53-year-old Overland Park man, Lt. David Cobb said. An autopsy will be conducted, but investigators believe the man committed suicide.

Conference planned for history teachers

History teachers from across Kansas will gather this weekend for a conference at Kansas University.

The 76th annual Kansas History Teachers Conference will run Friday and Saturday at the Kansas Union.

Three student papers — on conscientious objectors during World War II, the use of the atomic bomb and crusades — will be presented from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Saturday in the Regionalist Room of the Kansas Union.

Bill Tuttle, KU professor of American studies, will speak on “Age, Culture and History: Children’s History as a Gateway to American History” during a 6 p.m. dinner Friday. Sherrie Tucker, assistant professor of American studies, will speak on “Working the Swing Shift: ‘All-Girl’ Bands of the 1940s” during a 12:30 p.m. luncheon Saturday.

Authors of dog book speak at library

Jane and Barbara Brackman will speak about their book, “The Dog in the Picture,” at 7 p.m. today at the Lawrence Public Library. The book looks at the history of interaction between people and dogs through pictures and first-hand accounts.

Barbara Brackman, Lawrence, is a history writer, specializing in telling American stories through antiques such as quilts, photographs and cowboy boots. Her sister, Jane, now lives in Los Angeles but was formerly a teacher in Johnson County. The Kansas University graduate is a cultural historian focusing on the domestic dog.

Christine Mercer Kraft, of Lawrence, designed the book, which will be on sale during a book signing after the speech.

Star, MU settle lawsuit over open records

Kansas City, Mo. — The University of Missouri has settled a long-running open-records lawsuit filed by The Kansas City Star, allowing the newspaper access to 10 years of internal audits.

Under the settlement, signed Tuesday morning by Boone County Circuit Judge Frank Conley, the university concedes that it is a public agency and that its internal records are subject to Missouri’s Sunshine Law, which covers public access to government documents. The settlement also requires the university to pay the Star $77,806 in legal costs, the largest known award against a state agency under the Sunshine Law.

“We’re delighted that the university has finally conceded it is a public institution and as such must answer to taxpayers about how it spends their money,” Star editor Mark Zieman said.

‘River City’ previews health fair, art auction

More than 200 works of art are featured in this year’s Art Auction Preview at the Lawrence Arts Center. Ric Mitchell, LAC Gallery Director, discusses some of the preview highlights this week on “River City Weekly.”

The Art Auction Preview Exhibition runs through auction night, Saturday, April 12, at LAC.

Lawrence Memorial Hospital’s Women’s Health Education Day is featured on “Better Health.”

Aynsley Anderson, LMH Community Education Coordinator, talks about the day’s breakout sessions on heart disease, breast cancer, menopause, hormone replacement therapy, stress-management, osteoporosis and nutrition. For more information or to register for the event, call ConnectCare at 749-5800.

“River City Weekly” airs at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays with encore presentations at 7:30 weeknights and 9 a.m. Saturdays on Sunflower Broadband Channel 6.

KU math department features activities

The Kansas University Department of Mathematics has scheduled a series of public events during April to celebrate Mathematics Awareness Month. This year’s theme is “Mathematics and Art.”

The events:

• Math competition for grades five through 12, 2 p.m. Saturday, 306 Snow Hall.
• “Mathematics in Music” presentation, 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, 306 Snow Hall.
• Math workshop for fifth- and sixth-graders at East Heights School, 9:30 a.m. April 9, 306 Snow Hall.
• “Mathematics and Movie Magic,” 5:30 p.m. April 10, location to be announced.
• Math workshop for fifth- and sixth-graders at New York School, 9:30 a.m. April 16, 306 Snow Hall.
• Russell Bradt Memorial Undergraduate Mathematics Colloquium, 4:30 p.m. April 16, 120 Snow Hall.
• “Mathematics and Music” presentation, 9:30 a.m. April 18, 306 Snow Hall.

Big bands help raise money for housing

Area musicians from Lawrence, Tonganoxie and Baldwin will join for Swing Time and Coffee from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at First United Methodist Church. The concert will benefit Lawrence Habitat for Humanity.

Don Mueller and Friends, Clyde Bysom’s Big Band and The Maple Trio are a few of the acts scheduled to perform. Songs will have a rain and springtime theme. No tickets are required, but donations to Habitat will be accepted.