State GOP director to visit KU today

Scott Poor, executive director of the Kansas Republican Party, will meet with members of Kansas University’s College Republicans today.

Poor will discuss his party’s direction, the role of young people in the GOP, and 2004 local and state elections.

The meeting, which is open to the public, will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Jayhawk Room of the Kansas Union.

Police hold suspects in downtown battery

A weekend fight outside a downtown Lawrence bar sent a Kansas University student to the hospital and landed two men in jail.

The 21-year-old student told police he was leaving the Jazzhaus, 926 1/2 Mass., around 1:30 a.m. Sunday when five or six people began chasing him down the street.

Police said the victim suffered a head injury when one of the suspects pushed him into a parked car on 10th Street.

The victim was taken by ambulance to Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

Police booked a 21-year-old Lawrence man and a 21-year-old Omaha, Neb., man into Douglas County Jail on suspicion of aggravated battery.

Police seize beer kegs at large weekend party

Two Lawrence residents face possible criminal charges after being accused by police of charging party-goers a fee to drink beer.

Police were called late Friday to the 3900 block of Overland Drive after reports of a large party in the area.

Officers discovered a 30-year-old woman and a 19-year-old man selling cups to people attending their party — a violation of Kansas liquor laws.

Police seized four kegs of beer.

The suspects, who could face charges of operating an open saloon and furnishing alcohol to minors, were not arrested. Police will forward the results of their investigation to the district attorney’s office.

Bike race readies to roll

The Lawrence Bicycle Club is accepting applications for the 34th annual Octoginta. Early registration for the Oct. 4-5 bicycling event is due Saturday.

Oct. 4 activities begin at 7 a.m. with registration for a timed trial. The 10-kilometer race will begin at Old Kansas Highway 10 and Noria Road, just east of Lawrence. Fees range from $10 to $20, depending on class. A 30-mile ride throughout Douglas County will depart at 9:30 a.m. from South Park, followed by lunch at Free State Brewing Co. The fee is $5, plus lunch money, and helmets are required. A 2 p.m. Swap Meet will also be in South Park.

Registration for the main event will be from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 4 and from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Oct. 5 in South Park. The 80-mile trip through northeast Kansas begins at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 5 from South Park. A 40-mile route also is available. The bicycle club will serve minestrone soup and sandwiches at the halfway point.

Registration is $18, or $25 after Saturday. Registration forms are available at area bicycle shops.

Hospital offers free prostate screenings

Topeka — Stormont-Vail HealthCare and area urology physicians will conduct a free prostate cancer screening clinic Monday through Sept. 26 in the radiation therapy department at Stormont-Vail Regional HealthCenter, 1500 S.W. 10th Ave.

The Topeka clinic is part of a national campaign for early prostate cancer detection.

The American Urological Assn. and American Cancer Society recommend annual prostate cancer screenings for men ages 50 to 70, or beginning at age 40 for men at high risk.

The screenings take about 10 minutes. For more information or to schedule a screening time, call (785) 354-5225.