HINU convocation today

Haskell Indian Nations University President Karen Swisher will present her State of the University address during spring convocation ceremonies at 4 p.m. today at Haskell Auditorium.

Spring semester classes at Haskell started last week. Convocation is open to the public.

Insurer’s settlement to go to KSU, Washburn

Topeka — Minority students in Kansas will benefit from a settlement with an insurance company that was accused of charging blacks more for insurance.

Monumental Life Insurance Co. of Baltimore reached a settlement with states that charged race-based pricing of life insurance policies.

Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger said she planned to donate the $13,000 that Kansas will receive under the settlement to Kansas State and Washburn universities.

Those two schools offer courses that prepare students for actuary science.

“By preparing more African-American students for a potential career in insurance regulation, we can better ensure fairness in the industry,” Praeger said.

Newton driver killed in accident with train

Halstead — A Newton woman was killed over the weekend when her minivan collided with a train a half-mile east of Halstead, authorities said.

Harvey County Sheriff’s Deputy Chuck Trimmell on Monday identified the woman killed in Sunday’s wreck as Marsha Thompson, 35.

Trimmell said Thompson apparently did not see the approaching train and drove into its path. The intersection is marked only with signs.

Farewell event planned for National Guardsmen

A farewell ceremony is planned this week for 350 Guardsmen of the 2nd Battalion, 130th Field Artillery, Kansas Army National Guard, as they prepare to deploy in support of war in Iraq.

The departure ceremony will be at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in McCain Auditorium at Kansas State University. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Kansas Adjutant General Col. Tod Bunting plan to attend.

The battalion is based in Hiawatha with units in Abilene, Atchison, Concordia, Horton, Marysville, Sabetha, Salina and Troy. Its primary weapon is the Multiple Launch Rocket System, which will be used in Iraq for force protection.

Insurance information available at Statehouse

Topeka — State insurance officials will have an informational booth in the Statehouse today and Wednesday to show consumers how they can save on insurance.

The booth will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the first floor of the Capitol.

The effort is part of “Get Smart About Insurance Week.”

KU sets final exams

Kansas University has announced the following final examinations:

• Brett A. Parmenter, psychology, “Impairment in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: Relationships to the APOE Epsilen 4 Allele and the -491 AA Genotype,” 10 a.m. Friday, 343 Fraser Hall.
• Nathan A. Lacher, pharmaceutical chemistry, “Development of Methodology and Miniaturized Instrumentation for Peptide Analysis,” 2 p.m. Jan. 29, 100 Simons Biosciences Research Laboratories.