DONATIONS

Merry Maids to help domestic abuse victims

Merry Maids cleaning franchises across the country, including the Lawrence location at 2201 W. 25th St., are collecting products to help women and children who have fled from an abusive relationship. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence also is a partner in this nationwide drive.

Through January, Merry Maids cleaning teams will provide donation bags to all their clients, who are asked to donate personal items such as shampoo, toothpaste, soap and toys for children. The bags will be retrieved during regularly scheduled cleaning visits. The items will then be sent to area shelters for families escaping domestic abuse.

COURTS

State given extension to respond to lawsuit

The Kansas Supreme Court has given the state an extension until Jan. 20 to respond to a lawsuit brought by cities and counties across the state.

The Kansas Association of Counties and the League of Kansas Municipalities, along with more than 200 local governments, filed suit against the state challenging Gov. Bill Graves’ decision in November to withhold $48 million state aid payments to city and county governments.

The plaintiffs say Graves doesn’t have the legal authority to make the cuts. Graves claims he does, but the state has not yet filed a formal response to the suit.

EDUCATION

School board plans budget study session

The familiar sounds of budget cutting will begin to be heard next week in the Lawrence public school district.

A budget study session is set for 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday at district headquarters, 110 McDonald Drive. It’s open to the public.

School Board President Scott Morgan said the goal would be to set ground rules for cuts necessary to draft a balanced 2003-2004 budget.

The 2002-2003 budget was balanced after the board approved $3.2 million in student fee increases and spending reductions.

Rising operating costs and declining education financing from the state will again require the district to make internal cuts, Morgan said.

A district budget committee, which includes teachers and administrators, will be asked to help the board identify options for saving money.

STATE

Many children’s deaths preventable, report says

Atty. Gen. Carla Stovall said the newest annual report on the causes of death of Kansas children showed that many lives could have been saved.

The report, which covers 2000, showed that 521 children 17 years old and younger died. Of those, 295 died of natural causes, and 136 died from unnatural causes, which include vehicle fatalities, drownings, suffocations, fire deaths and shootings.

In addition, 19 children were murdered, 41 died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, 17 committed suicide, and 13 deaths were categorized as undetermined.

“Especially during the winter season when road conditions can be dangerous, it is imperative that we restrain our children in safety seats, booster seats and seatbelts. Buckling our kids up takes only moments, but can literally mean the difference between life and death,” Stovall said.