AG threatens to sue over Sunflower plant

Topeka — Atty. Gen. Phill Kline is threatening to sue the federal government over a dispute involving the former Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant property near De Soto in Johnson County.

The federal General Services Administration is considering changing the status of the property for possible use by the Shawnee Indian tribe.

In a letter to the GSA, Kline said reclassification of the land “would be an abuse of discretion and contrary to law,” adding that he would seek “legal redress” if the agency sought to reclassify the property.

Kline said that the state of Kansas wanted to use the land for local development.

He said proof of the state’s commitment was new legislation that recently had been passed to establish a redevelopment board to oversee plans for the property.

The board also could issue bonds and other development incentives, he said.

Schools

LHS student suspended for carrying pocketknife

A 10th-grader at Lawrence High School has been suspended for three days after bringing a weapon to school, officials said Thursday.

The male student had a pocketknife Wednesday at LHS, said Julie Boyle, the district’s director of communications.

She said that no incident occurred involving the knife, but that district policy prohibited students from carrying weapons of any kind on campus.

Kansas University

Olympic gold medalist to receive service award

Billy Mills, an Olympic gold medalist, will be in Lawrence this weekend to receive the Kansas University School of Education Alumni Distinguished Service Award.

Mills, who graduated from KU in 1962 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education, will be honored during the school’s commencement ceremony at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Lied Center.

Mills won the 10,000-meter race at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo. He now is spokesman for Running Strong for American Indian Youth, a nonprofit organization that aims to strengthen American Indian communities by creating opportunities for self-sufficiency and self-esteem.

Mills is the first American Indian to receive the service award.

Tornado aftermath

Douglas County eligible for disaster assistance

Douglas County has been added to the list of Kansas counties eligible for disaster assistance, state and federal officials announced Thursday.

The assistance will help, among others, those who suffered damage after a tornado touched down May 8 in southwest Lawrence.

The Individual Assistance declaration means that residents of the county are eligible to apply for a variety of programs, which may include the Individuals and Households Program and low interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

To start the application process, call (800) 621-FEMA (3362). Hearing- and speech-impaired people may call TTY at (800) 462-7585. Telephone lines are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week.

The number of Kansas counties eligible for aid now stands at 11. Others are Anderson, Cherokee, Crawford, Labette, Leavenworth, Miami, Neosho, Osage, Woodson and Wyandotte.