Politics

Clark to participate in Kansas caucuses

Retired general and presidential candidate Wesley Clark added his name to the growing list of Democrats participating in the Kansas caucuses, scheduled for March 13.

Though political pundits predict the Democratic nomination for president will be decided by early March, Kansas Democratic Party Executive Director Patrick Murray said the race still was undecided, and Kansans could be important in determining which Democrat runs for the presidency.

Clark, an Arizona Democrat, joined U.S. Sens. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.) and John Kerry (D-Mass.) on the state’s caucus list.

Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean is looking to gain access in Kansas as well.

Education

Buhler bill requests sales tax referendum

Sen. Mark Buhler, a Lawrence Republican, introduced a bill Wednesday that would permit a referendum on a proposed half-cent increase in Douglas County’s sales tax.

Revenue from an increase in the sales tax would be earmarked for Lawrence, Baldwin, Eudora, Perry-Lecompton, Wellsville, Santa Fe Trail, West Franklin and Shawnee Heights school districts.

The 2004 Legislature must pass the bill and Gov. Kathleen Sebelius would have to sign the measure before the Douglas County Commission could put the proposal on a ballot.

Lawrence would receive more than $4 million annually from the sales tax increase, with the other districts sharing more than $1 million.

Government

U.S. Attorney wants city to know Patriot Act facts

The state’s highest-ranking federal law enforcement official says he wants to talk to the Lawrence City Commission before it decides whether to oppose the USA Patriot Act.

“There is widespread misunderstanding over what the act does, and just as importantly, what it does not do,” U.S. Atty. Eric Melgren said in a Monday letter to Mayor David Dunfield.

He said if the commission did consider a resolution to oppose the act, “I would appreciate an opportunity to first be heard by the City Commission and make you aware of the facts regarding the Patriot Act.”

The Kansas Bill of Rights Defense Committee, a Lawrence group, has said it planned to ask the City Commission to pass such a resolution within the next month.

The act was passed soon after the Sept. 11 attacks, giving federal authorities broader powers to investigate and share information.

Entertainment

Area band students to perform at Lied Center

Seventy students from Lawrence will perform Saturday with a junior high school honor band.

The John Philip Sousa Kansas Junior Honor Band is composed of 180 students from more than 50 Kansas schools.

The concert will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Lied Center on the Kansas University campus. Admission is free.

Band members will work with John Lynch, director of bands at KU, and Robert Foster, former KU band director.

Students from Eudora, Lecompton, Perry, De Soto, Bonner Springs and about 30 other cities also were selected in November for the honor band.

The band will rehearse at 6 p.m. Friday at KU’s Murphy Hall and at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at the Lied Center.