Former congressman to speak today at KU

Former U.S. Rep. Bill Roy will speak today at the Kansas Union as the last installment of the Dole Institute of Politics’ “Pizza and Politics” series.

Roy, a retired physician who served in Congress from 1971 to 1975, ran twice for U.S. Senate.

Roy now lives in Topeka and is a columnist for the Topeka Capital-Journal.

The event is at noon in the Centennial Room of the Kansas Union.

KU receives $500,000 gift

The former director of the Kansas Masonic Cancer Research Institute and his wife have donated $500,000 to a professorship in his name, Kansas University officials announced Tuesday.

The gift from William R. Jewell, who was director of the institute from 1996 until earlier this year, and his wife, Sheila, will double the amount of money available to attract a full-time director. Roy Jensen was hired for the position earlier this year.

The professorship was created in 2003 through a gift from the Kansas Masonic Foundation.

KU officials are working to secure a Comprehensive Cancer Center designation from the National Cancer Institute, which would draw more federal research funds and clinical trials to KU’s Lawrence and medical center campuses.

City establishes toy-collection sites

Seven Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department facilities will be collection points for the Marine Corps League’s Toys for Tots program.

Officials with the Parks and Recreation Department are asking people to bring in a new, unused toy to selected recreation centers across town. The toys will be distributed to children in need during late December.

Toys will be collected at the following locations: the Community Building, 115 W. 11th St.; East Lawrence Center, 1245 E. 15th St.; Holcom Park Recreation Center, 2700 W. 27th St.; Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center, 4706 Overland Drive; Prairie Park Nature Center, 2370 Harper St.; South Park Recreation Center, 1141 Mass.; and the department’s administrative office at 947 N.H.

Toys need to be donated by Dec. 17 to allow for enough time for distribution to area children.