36-year-old charged in shooting incident

A 36-year-old Douglas County man faces charges that he fired a gun at a Journal-World newspaper carrier.

The incident happened about 2:23 a.m. April 30 in the driveway in front of All Seasons Tree Service, 1706 N. 1500 Road, according to a police report.

Allen Dale Davis was sitting in a vehicle in the driveway standing guard, said Lt. Ken Massey, a spokesman for the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. Massey said that when the carrier, a 48-year-old woman, approached, Davis fired six or seven shots from a 9 mm handgun toward the carrier’s vehicle.

Authorities arrested Davis at the scene and also found him carrying an illegal knife, Massey said. Prosecutors charged Davis Wednesday with criminal discharge of a firearm and criminal use of a weapon.

A woman who answered the phone at the business said Davis was standing guard that night because the business had been victimized by thefts and vandalism.

Baldwin ABC Group to discuss school cuts

Baldwin — A group of Baldwin school district parents concerned about budget cuts under consideration by the school board will meet Friday night to discuss alternatives.

Amy Albright and David Wismer, both of rural Baldwin, said the 7 p.m. meeting at Baldwin City Library, Seventh and High streets, was open to the public.

The contingent of parents is called “The ABC Group,” which stands for About Budget Cuts.

ABC Group’s goal is to formulate ideas for holding down costs in the district that don’t sacrifice valued staff and academic programs, Albright said.

She said group representatives were preparing for the Baldwin school board’s next meeting at 6:45 p.m. Monday at Vinland Elementary School.

Town meeting discusses sodomy laws

Topeka — Representatives of Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund and the Kansas Unity and Pride Alliance will have a town meeting to discuss laws prohibiting sodomy at 7 p.m. today in Room 120 at Washburn University Law School, Topeka.

The meeting will discuss issues surrounding these laws and update attendees on Lambda’s case challenging Texas’ homosexual conduct law in the U.S. Supreme Court. Two Texas men were arrested under the law when police caught them engaged in consensual sex while responding to a false report. They were charged a fine and are now considered convicted sex offenders.

KU awarded grants for language programs

The Department of Education has issued $547,000 in grants to Kansas University language programs. They are as follows:

• $255,000 to the Center for Russian and East European Studies for foreign language and area studies fellowships. The award, overseen by Maria Carlson, the center’s director, will promote the study of Slavic languages and literature with specialization tracks in Russian, Ukrainian, East European, Balkan and Central Asian speech.
• $168,000 to the Center for Research and Center for Latin American Studies for provide research fellowships. The grant will be overseen by Elizabeth Kuznesof, the Latin American center’s director.
• $124,000 to the Center for East Asian Studies for continuing academic language study by university instructors. The award will help fund teacher training in cultural background and international studies. Elaine Gerbert, the center’s director, will oversee the project.

Program offers seniors financial planning advice

Lawrence Memorial Hospital Senior Care Services will present a free educational program from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. today at LMH.

Walter Jamison, certified seniors financial planner, will present “Financial Planning for Seniors.”

He will discuss long-term-care insurance, division of assets related to Medicaid, financial planning in the later years and other related issues.

This program will also be presented from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Friday at Brandon Woods Retirement Center, 1501 Inverness Drive.

LMH Senior Care Services offers a monthly “Morning Matinee” presentation on mental health topics of interest to seniors.

For more information about these free programs or to enroll, call ConnectCare at 749-5800.