Attempted murder case to go to trial Sept. 8

After several delays, trial is scheduled to start next month for a Lawrence man accused of shooting a woman inside her East Lawrence home.

Antonio Floyd, 20, appeared Friday morning in Douglas County District Court, where both sides agreed they were ready to proceed to trial Sept. 8.

Floyd faces charges of attempted first-degree murder, criminal possession of a firearm, sexual battery and aggravated intimidation of a witness in connection with the Nov. 5, 2002, incident.

He’s accused of shooting a woman who he thought was set to testify against him in a federal drug case. Floyd is serving a 17-year sentence stemming from the drug case.

Lawrencian to lead Young Democrats

A Lawrence resident is the new leader of the Young Democrats of America.

Chris Gallaway, 26, was unanimously elected president of the 43,00-member organization Aug. 16 during its national convention in Buffalo, N.Y.

Twenty-one Young Democrats from Kansas were among the 800 delegates to the national convention.

Gallaway, elected the group’s treasurer in 2001, will serve a two-year term as president. During that time he will work to attract young voters to the polls.

“If you talk to enough people and get people excited, they are going to turn out,” he said.

Gallaway has lived in Lawrence since 1995, when he moved from his hometown, Dwight, to attend Kansas University. He got involved in the Young Democrats there, and he served as KU chapter president from 1997-98 and state president from 1998 to 2001.

Young Democrats of America is open to party members under age 36.

Riders for charity visit Kansas City

Thousands of Harley-Davidson motorcycle riders from across the country will stop today and Monday in Kansas City, Mo., on the way to Harley- Davidson’s 100th birthday celebration in Milwaukee.

Riders began the trip Aug. 17 in Las Vegas. Area Harley riders’ chapters, Muscular Dystrophy Assn. volunteers and the Worth North Harley-Davidson dealership will sponsor Kansas City events.

The birthday benefit culminates in a motorcycle parade with more than 10,000 riders through Milwaukee.

MDA Heroes, Harley-Davidson riders who have each earned thousands of dollars for the association, will lead the parade.