Governor creates position of special assistant

Topeka — Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has named Jim McLean as her special assistant, a new position in the administration.

McLean had been special assistant to Kansas Department of Transportation Secretary Deb Miller. Before that he had been a reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal.

In his new position, McLean will work on internal communications between Sebelius, cabinet secretaries and senior staff.

“This is to make sure we are working smarter and to help us operate better together,” said Nicole Corcoran, a spokeswoman for Sebelius.

McLean’s salary will be $65,000 yearly, the same he was being paid at KDOT, Corcoran said.

Police

Second gunpoint robbery reported in two days

A 23-year-old Lawrence man reported being robbed at gunpoint just two days after a Kansas University senior reported a similar incident.

The 23-year-old said he was robbed at gunpoint early Tuesday morning as he walked in the 2200 block of Iowa Street.

The man told police that a man he didn’t know approached him between midnight and 1:40 a.m., produced a black handgun, demanded money and made off with $40.

Police had no suspects Tuesday.

KU senior Taylor Russell, 22, reported being robbed at gunpoint early Sunday in the 1300 block of Ohio. He said he lost $45 in the incident.

Planning Commission

Sixth and Wakarusa rezoning talks allowed

The Lawrence Douglas County Planning Commission will be allowed to discuss rezoning the corner of Sixth Street and Wakarusa Drive after a judge ruled he had no jurisdiction to issue a restraining order.

District Court Judge Michael Malone met with attorneys for Lawrence developers Doug Compton and Bill Newsome and the city of Lawrence Tuesday in a closed-door hearing. Newsome and Compton have been denied a building permit for a Wal-Mart and a restaurant on the northwest corner of Sixth and Wakarusa.

The developers have an appeal pending before the Board of Zoning Appeals. They wanted the judge to stop the city from making any long-term decisions on the property’s zoning until the legal issues surrounding the two building permits were resolved.

The Planning Commission will meet tonight; the Board of Zoning Appeals will hear Compton and Newsome’s appeal Oct. 2.

Gasoline prices

Pump Patrol seeks deals

The Journal-World has found Lawrence-area gasoline prices as low as $1.42 at Citgo, 2005 W. Ninth St., and Zarco 66, 900 Iowa.

If you find a lower price, call Pump Patrol at 832-7154.