Kansas senator appears on ‘River City Weekly’

Dealing with terrorism today lacks the “honor” of a Marshall Matt Dillon battling the bad guy on Dodge City’s main street in television’s “Gunsmoke,” according to Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan.

Brownback discusses the war with Iraq and the cost and time frame of building a peace with host Greg Hurd on “River City Weekly.”

Brownback’s interview may be seen on “River City Weekly” at 6:30 p.m. today on Sunflower Broadband Channel 6 with encore presentations at 7:30 weeknights through April 29 and 9 a.m. Saturday.

City to come up short, finance director predicts

Lawrence city expenditures will exceed revenues by more than $3.4 million this year, early financial projections show.

Tuesday night City Finance Director Ed Mullins gave that news to Lawrence city commissioners during his first-quarter finance report.

Sales taxes are expected to be down at the end of the year because of the economy, Mullins said. The city is likely to lose $1.2 million in state transfer funds because they probably won’t be renewed in 2004.

In the past five years the city has averaged nearly a 9 percent increase in assessed valuation. The increase dropped to 5 percent in 2002, Mullins said.

AAA collects batteries

AAA encourages residents to turn in used vehicle batteries through Saturday during the Great Battery Round-up.

Dead vehicle batteries can pose health threats by discharging lead and sulfuric acid into the environment or exploding in a fire. While 95 percent of battery lead is recycled, last year more than 5 million stray batteries were not turned in to recycling plants.

Those with stray batteries can drop them off at any participating AAA Approved Auto Repair shop. For a complete listing, call AAA at 843-1600 or visit the Web site at www.aaakansas.com.

University sets exams

Kansas University announces the following final examinations:

Beverly Anne Joyce, history of art, “‘Sighing After the Infinite’: Masculinity, Androgyny and Femininity in the Art of Edward Burne-Jones,” noon Friday, 212 Spencer Museum of Art.

Phan Hong Giang, business, “Decision Theory for Non-probabilistic Uncertainty and its Applications,” 2 p.m. Friday, 124 Summerfield Hall.

Hong Jin, molecular bioscience, “Regulation of Gamma-Amino Butyric Acid (GABA) Biosynthesis and Transport into Synaptic Vesicles in the Brain,” 3:30 p.m. April 30, 6031 Haworth Hall.

Concert to feature Lawrence composer

The Lawrence Civic Choir’s spring concert, directed by Steve Eubank, will be at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Free State High School auditorium. The concert will feature Geoff Wilcken’s “Mass for the Modern Age.”

Wilcken, who completed his master’s degree in music at Kansas University in 1998, completed this work in 2001 to explore the conflict between modern culture and ancient thought. He is the music director at Immanuel Lutheran Church, accompanist for the choir and an adjunct assistant professor at Johnson County Community College.

The program also includes Scarlatti’s “Exultate Deo,” Victoria’s “Ave Maria,” Knut Nystedt’s “Cry Out and Shout,” Egil Hovland’s “Saul” and other selections. Tickets are $10 general admission, $8 for seniors and students and $5 for children 12 and younger. For more information, visit www.lawren cecivicchoir.org.