Wet weather continues with flooding possible

Rain that fell periodically on Lawrence Wednesday will continue today, and the area will remain in a flood watch until Friday morning, according to the National Weather Service in Topeka.

About a quarter of an inch of rain fell in Lawrence by 6 p.m. Wednesday, 6News weather forecaster Ross Janssen said. Skyhawk Ken Blair, who lives at West 19th Street near the Kansas University campus, reported receiving 0.21 inches of rain.

“We could have some heavy rains at times,” Janssen said of today’s forecast, adding that today’s high should be in the upper 40s.

Community

KU announces schedule for autumn events

Major Kansas University events for this fall have been set, officials announced Wednesday.

The annual Family Weekend will be the weekend of Sept. 11. Events will kick off Sept. 10 with the School of Fine Arts’ annual Collage Concert and include the university open house and Band Day Sept. 11. KU plays the University of Toledo in football that day.

Homecoming will be the week of Oct. 4-9, with the Homecoming football game Oct. 9 against Kansas State University.

“We worked with a variety of organizations to arrange a fall schedule that will work well for our students, their families, alumni and the whole community,” said Kevin Boatright, interim executive vice chancellor for university relations.

State government

House minority leader to engage in online chat

Kansas House Minority Leader Dennis McKinney, a Democrat from Greensburg, will respond to questions during a live online chat at 1:30 p.m. today on www.ljworld.com.

McKinney is the point man in the House for the Democrats, who are outnumbered by Republicans 80-45.

You can submit a question early or participate in the chat while it is live. A transcript will be posted online after the chat.

Other Capitol Chats have included Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, Senate President Dave Kerr and House Speaker Doug Mays. Those transcripts are online at legislature.ljworld.com.

Housing

Planning officials back 260-unit development

The Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission on Wednesday approved a new, 260-unit housing development for southeast Lawrence.

The development will be on 18 acres of property formerly owned by Farmland Industries, south across Kansas Highway 10 from the defunct plant and west of O’Connell Road.

Commissioners temporarily deferred action on a final plat for the property, which sets aside easements for public services, until questions about traffic access in and around the development can be resolved. That is expected at the commission’s March 17 meeting.

Gasoline prices

Pump Patrol seeks deals

The Journal-World has found Lawrence-area gasoline prices as low as $1.62 at Conoco, 955 E. 23rd St., and Site, 946 E. 23rd St.

If you find a lower price, call 832-7154.