Journal-World Web site wins national award

San Diego — The Lawrence Journal-World’s online entertainment site and a sister publication’s online real estate section won top awards Monday in the Newspaper Association of America’s 2004 Digital Edge Awards program.

Lawrence.com was named best entertainment site in the country. SteamboatHomefinder.com, built by developers for the Journal-World’s sister publication, the Steamboat Springs (Colo.) Pilot & Today, was named the top real estate site in the country.

World Online Web sites were finalists in five categories, more than any other newspaper in the country. The Journal-World competed in the category for newspapers with circulations of less than 75,000.

“Winning awards is fun, but working with the sort of people who are capable of building world-class Web sites is even more fun,” said Rob Curley, World Online general manager.

The company’s other finalists: LJWorld.com for best overall news site, KUSports.com for most innovative use of digital media-features/enterprise, and LJWorld.com’s 2003 election coverage for most innovative visitor participation.

Privacy

Library board to review response to Patriot Act

The Lawrence Public Library board of trustees will discuss the library’s response to the federal Patriot Act today.

Members of the Kansas Bill of Rights Defense Committee will explain their opposition to the law, which allows federal officials to obtain the checkout records of library patrons during anti-terror investigations.

Bruce Flanders, director of the Lawrence Public Library, has said checkout records were erased once materials were returned.

But Lawrence’s library, unlike many across the country, does not post signs warning patrons about the act. Flanders said the board might discuss that issue today.

The board meets at 4:30 p.m. today at the library, 707 Vt.

Government

County commissioners to discuss circus ban

A push to ban circuses from Douglas County is scheduled for consideration Wednesday night by Douglas County commissioners.

The proposal, from Animal Outreach of Kansas, would prohibit “wild and exotic animal acts.” The ban would affect circuses but not rodeos or 4-H events.

Commissioners are scheduled to discuss a resolution that would impose the ban. The commission’s meeting begins at 6:35 p.m. at the county courthouse, 1100 Mass.

Judy Carman, co-founder of Animal Outreach of Kansas, already has approached city commissioners about imposing a ban in Lawrence.

County commissioners also are scheduled to discuss a plan that would implement a phased approach to preservation of the courthouse, which opened in 1905.