Costa Rica slaying: Indictment expected in Shannon Martin case

Kansas University officials returning from Costa Rica say they expect new developments by next week in the slaying investigation of Shannon Martin, the KU student who was killed while visiting the country in May 2001.

Jeff Weinberg, special assistant to the chancellor, and Diana Carlin, dean of international programs and the Graduate School, met last week with Costa Rican officials.

They said prosecutor Erik Martinez planned to file an indictment on three suspects by March 20. If a judge rules in favor of Martinez, the suspects would face a trial before a tribunal of three judges within the year.

Weinberg and Carlin were briefed by Vice President Lineth Soborio and Jorge Rojas, director of the Organization of Judicial Investigation, among others. KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway requested the briefings in a letter last month to Costa Rican President Abel Pacheco.

Severe weather: Storm sirens tested today

Expect storm warning sirens today in Lawrence and throughout Douglas County as well as at several Kansas University buildings.

In conjunction with Kansas Severe Weather Awareness Week, siren testing will occur during the day and possibly again in the evening, Douglas County Emergency Management officials said.

In addition to the sirens, National Weather Service radio will sound alarms and the Emergency Alert System will be activated. If there is bad weather, the tests will be postponed until Thursday.

A free weather workshop for the public will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds, Building 21, 2110 Harper St. Mike Akulow, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Topeka, will discuss severe weather and safety tips.

Planning: Engineers, officials to tour Farmland plant

Douglas County commissioners are investing at least $1,500 to find out just what it would take to acquire an idled fertilizer plant and then use government funds to help transform it into a new business park.

Two engineers from MACTEC Inc., of Alpharetta, Ga., will be in Lawrence on Wednesday morning to join Commissioner Charles Jones and other officials for a tour of Farmland Industries’ nitrogen fertilizer plant at the southeastern edge of Lawrence.

Jones lined up the engineers to help officials from Lawrence and Douglas County governments understand the process for possibly acquiring the plant. The engineers will earn a total of $1,500 for their insights.

Commissioners are scheduled to discuss the prospects during a closed-door meeting Wednesday.

Gasoline: Pump Patrol tracks down lowest prices in Lawrence

The Journal-World has found a Lawrence-area gasoline price as low as $1.57 a gallon at Citgo, Ninth and Iowa streets, and Dillons, 3000 W. Sixth St.

If you find a lower price, please call us at 832-7154. Be prepared to leave the business, the address and the price. Or go to www.ljworld.com/section/gasoline.