Candles snuffed on presidents’ birthdays

Topeka — The state of Kansas is up to date — at least its calendar is.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius on Tuesday signed into law a bill that will update the state law that establishes legal public holidays.

The statute had listed Presidents Lincoln and Washington’s birthdays, Feb. 12 and Feb. 22, as legal holidays, even though they were no longer observed. Presidents Day — officially still Washington’s Birthday — replaced those holidays more than 30 years ago.

The new law deletes the original birthday observances and sets Presidents Day as a legal holiday on the third Monday in February. It also designates Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a legal holiday on the third Monday in January. The state has observed MLK Day as a holiday for years.

The law takes effect Jan. 1.

Courts

Lower bond denied in hit-and-run fatality

A Douglas County District Court judge on Tuesday refused to lower bond for a suspect in a hit-and-run accident that killed a 25-year-old Olathe woman early Saturday.

Adan Santos Cruz, 23, made his second court appearance since the incident outside the Cadillac Ranch, 2515 W. Sixth St., that claimed the life of Jodie Hatzenbihler.

Prosecutors told the judge it would not be appropriate for Cruz to be out in the community. His bond remains set at $75,000.

Cruz is charged with involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence, DUI and leaving the scene of an injury accident. Judge Robert Fairchild set a preliminary hearing for May 23.

Hatzenbihler was struck as she was crossing Sixth Street after leaving the bar just before closing. Police later arrested Cruz at the Boardwalk Apartments, 524 Frontier Road, after locating his car, which had significant front end damage.

Lecture

Fine arts advocate to speak on economy

Daniel Pink, an author who claims a master of fine arts degree will be more valuable in the future than a master’s of business administration, will speak Thursday at Kansas University.

The lecture, “Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future,” will be at 6:30 p.m. at the Spahr Engineering Classroom in Eaton Hall.

Pink is the author of “A Whole New Mind: Moving from the Information Age to the Conceptual Age,” which says the economy is shifting to favor the more artistic right-brain thinkers who earn master of fine arts degrees instead of business degrees.

A book signing will follow the speech, which is free to the public.

Prevention

Event encourages women’s heart health

The American Heart Assn. is sponsoring a “Go Red for Women Luncheon” at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Lawrence Holidome, 200 McDonald Drive.

Stephanie Lawhorn, a cardiologist, will be the keynote speaker. There will be a panel discussion where women can explore what they should do to reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke.

Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at the door.