10-year-old assaulted in Naismith Park

Police are looking for a man they believe tried to sexually assault a 10-year-old girl in a Lawrence park.

It’s the third such attack on a child in Naismith Park, 1400 W. 27th St., in less than a year.

Police said Tuesday that the suspect was able to get the child to follow him to a secluded area of the park around 4:30 p.m. last week. Once the two were alone, police spokesman Sgt. Mike Pattrick said, the man tried to coax the girl into exposing herself.

When the girl screamed, Pattrick said the suspect grabbed her and put his hand over her mouth. She was able to get away, run home, and her parents called the police.

Officers searched the park but did not find the suspect.

In May, a man attempted to molest a 10-year-old boy riding his bike through the park, and last July an 8-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by a man who lured her off the trail.

Police have not made any arrests in the cases.

Chancellor to address Wichita Urban League

Kansas University Chancellor Robert Hemenway will give the keynote address tonight at the annual meeting of the Urban League of Wichita.

Hemenway will speak about the resurgence of interest in black novelist Zora Neale Hurston, who is considered a pioneer in the study of African-American culture. Hemenway wrote a 1977 biography of Hurston.

The Urban League dinner is at 7 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Wichita.

Professor to discuss sex class on ‘River City’

Kansas University social welfare professor Dennis Dailey speaks out on the controversy about his class “Human Sexuality in Everyday Life” on “River City Weekly.”

Dailey shares his thoughts with host Greg Hurd on the purpose of the class, the accusations leveled at him and his treatment by the Legislature and the university community.

“River City Weekly” premieres on Sunflower Broadband Channel 6 at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays with encore presentations at 7:30 weeknights, 8:30 weekday mornings and 9 a.m. Saturdays.

KU police seek suspect in thefts at bookstore

A man suspected of stealing more than $3,500 in merchandise from the KU Bookstore in the Burge Union is being sought by Kansas University Public Safety Department officers.

Police have a suspect and are looking for him, Maj. Chris Keary said.

“He’s waiting until the clerks aren’t looking,” Keary said of the suspect’s method of stealing mainly backpacks and clothing items.

Police think the thefts began about April 1 and have continued, with the most recent incident occurring June 18.

No description of the suspect or other information is being released.