Witness in murder trial dies of cancer

A witness in an upcoming murder trial in Douglas County District Court has died of cancer, a court hearing on Wednesday revealed.

Michael Reece was supposed to be a witness in the murder trial of Michael Kesselring, which is scheduled to begin Monday morning. Kesselring is charged with killing Topeka resident Dale Miller, whose body was found buried in northwest Douglas County in April 2001.

According to testimony in prior hearings, Kesselring, Miller, Reece and two other men — Curtis D. Callarman and Gary F. Holmes — operated a drug ring. Miller came under suspicion and was killed after a stash of drugs was found missing, according to testimony.

Missouri judge to speak at KU law event

Judge Jon Gray will be the keynote speaker today at the Kansas University School of Law’s seventh annual Thurgood Marshall Law Day.

Gray, from the 16th Judicial Circuit Court of Jackson County, Mo., will speak during the event, which runs from 8 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. at Green Hall.

The Law Day, organized by the Black Law Students Assn., will involve students from area high schools and colleges. They will attend workshops on affirmative action and diversity, the Fourth and Fifth amendments and student violence.

Day to honor, inform Hispanics in Kansas

Topeka — Hispanics from across Kansas will meet Friday in the Capitol with elected state officials.

The annual “Hispanic Day on the Hill” will include a town hall meeting with Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, news conferences on issues affecting the Hispanic community, brainstorming sessions and entertainment.

All events are free and open to the public.

DeSoto drum group to perform in Wichita

DeSoto — A percussion ensemble from DeSoto’s Mize School will perform with Bobby McFerrin Thursday in Wichita. The Beat Keepers ensemble is one of six Kansas musical groups performing with the jazz vocalist, best known for his song “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.”

McFerrin is coming to Kansas to speak on behalf of the National Standards for Music Education.

DeSoto students participating in the concert are Ashley Bowman, Trevor Boyer, Hannah Reynolds, Chloe Stacy, Emma Umbarger, Matthew Acree, Dillon Cox, Alaina Fairbanks, Maddy Frehe, Joey Kuhn and Matthew Kemple.

KU law school celebrates diversity

Kansas University law students, faculty and alumni will gather this weekend for Diversity in Law Weekend.

The events, organized by the Hispanic-American Law Student Assn., raise money for the school’s minority scholarships.

A round-table discussion on diversity at the law school will be from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday in the Walnut Room of the Kansas Union.

Janet Murguia, KU executive vice chancellor for university relations, will be the speaker during a banquet from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday at the Adams Alumni Center. Tickets are $35 per person or $15 for law students.