FSHS debate team qualifies for nationals

Free State High is sending students to a national debate tournament for the first time in school history.

Free State High juniors Hannah Robinson and Liz Lembeck qualified for the National Forensic League’s National Tournament in June in Philadelphia.

Lawrence High sent debaters to the national tournament three years ago.

Last weekend, teams from Lawrence High and Free State High competed in a debate tournament at Shawnee Mission East High School.

Free State tied for first place in the overall school competition with Shawnee Mission East, and Robinson and Lembeck qualified for the national tournament.

Senior Carol Liang and junior Nastassia Weber also medaled for Free State.

The Lawrence High team of senior Rahul Gogineni and senior Shylo Bundy finished as a runner-up in the national qualifier tournament.

Legislature

Francisco appointed to Senate committees

Topeka — Newly elected state Sen. Marci Francisco has been appointed ranking minority member to committees that deal with agriculture and natural resources.

Francisco, a Democrat from Lawrence, will be ranking minority member on the Senate Agriculture and Senate Natural Resources committees.

She also will serve on the Elections and Local Government Committee and the Utilities Committee.

Francisco also was appointed by Democratic leaders to the Joint Committee on Arts and Cultural Resources and the Legislative Education Planning Committee.