Northeast diocese greets its future bishop

Overland Park (ap) — With self-deprecating humor and a nod to such regional favorites as the Jayhawks, Royals and Chiefs, the Most Rev. Joseph F. Naumann was installed as the coadjutor archbishop of the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kan.

But the man who is now in line to follow Archbishop James P. Keleher as leader of 200,000 Roman Catholics in 21 northeast Kansas counties also struck serious themes at a welcoming Mass.

More than 100 priests and about 20 bishops from around the country took part in the service Friday at the Church of the Ascension where Naumann, 54, introduced himself as “brother Joseph.”

Missourian get 20 years for killing toddler

Independence, Mo. (ap) — An Independence, Mo., man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for beating his girlfriend’s young daughter to death.

Jackson County prosecutors said that Joseph Lloyd admitted kicking 21-month-old BreAnna Leonard because she was eating too much ravioli. The July 2002 beating left the toddler with bleeding in her brain, broken ribs and a lacerated liver, pancreas and kidney.

And at some point during the July 17, 2002, beating, prosecutors said, Lloyd bit the child. Lloyd, 20, was convicted on second-degree murder charges in January and sentenced Friday.

City commission takes spring break this week

The Lawrence City Commission will not have its regular weekly meeting Tuesday.

The commission traditionally takes off the week of spring break for Kansas University, Haskell Indian Nations University and Lawrence public schools.

The commission will resume regular meetings at 6:35 p.m. March 30 at City Hall, Sixth and Massachusetts streets.

Noted herpetologist to conduct S.D. survey

Joe Collins, an adjunct herpetologist with the Kansas Biological Survey at Kansas University, has received a $10,500 grant to study in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

The grant, from the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks, will allow Collins to conduct a survey of amphibians, reptiles and turtles in Custer State Park.