Barbecue cook-off today

The Lawrence Sertoma Club’s sixth annual state championship barbecue cook-off and fund-raiser will be today at Broken Arrow Park, 29th and Louisiana streets.

The public can attend and taste samples from the teams for $5 per person. Sampling will begin at 11 a.m. and end at 2 p.m. The public can vote for its favorite team.

About 50 barbecue teams from throughout the Midwest will compete in 48 categories with cash prizes totaling $4,800.

The winning team will compete later in the year at the American Royal in Kansas City, Mo. Money raised from the Sertoma event will be used for civic projects in Douglas County.

Fifteen teams competed in a separate event Friday evening, the club’s second annual Corporate Cookoff and Chamber mixer. Minuteman Press took home the trophy for best food, while Peridian Group won best booth for its pirate theme.

The Lawrence Sertoma Club is a branch of an international organization that focuses on communication disorders.

Crime

21-year-old accused of rape posts bond

A 21-year-old Lawrence man arrested earlier this week on a rape warrant is out of jail after posting a $10,000 bond.

Sheriff’s deputies arrested the man Thursday and booked him into the Douglas County Jail on a warrant alleging one count of rape that stems from an April 6 incident. Dist. Atty. Christine Kenney declined comment on further details of the case Friday except to say the alleged victim in the case was an adult.

The man’s next court date is May 20.

The Journal-World’s policy is to not report the names of suspects in sex crimes unless they’ve been convicted.

Health

KU student upgraded in meningitis case

The Kansas University senior diagnosed with bacterial meningitis was upgraded to serious condition Friday, according to a hospital spokeswoman. He had been in critical condition nine days.

Andy Marso, 22, St. Cloud, Minn., is recuperating at the University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, Kan.

His fever has dissipated, which means the meningitis has been largely controlled, according to Marso’s mother, Ginny, who posts daily updates online. Efforts now are focused on treating the disease’s effects on Marso’s skin.

A complication of the disease, which infects the lining of the brain, is often a skin rash that develops when small blood vessels throughout the body burst and cause inflammation.

Gasoline prices

Pump Patrol seeks deals

The Journal-World has found gasoline prices as low as $1.92 at Presta Phillips 66, 602 W. Ninth St., Citgo, 2005 W. Ninth St., and Conoco Food Mart, 955 E. 23rd St.

If you find a lower price, call the Pump Patrol at 832-7154.