Nearly 500 high school students from across Kansas will be in Lawrence today and Saturday for debate tournaments at Lawrence and Free State high schools.

“We’ll have 130 teams at Lawrence High; 118 will be at Free State,” LHS debate coach Jeff Plinsky said. Each team has two students.

The debates will focus on whether the federal government’s authority to detain or search individuals without probable cause should be reduced.

More than 250 Lawrence-area residents will serve as volunteer judges.

“The elimination rounds begin late Saturday afternoon at Lawrence High,” Plinsky said. “The public is more than welcome to attend.” Admission is free.

LHS organized its first debate team in the fall of 1928.

“As far as we know, the Lawrence tournament has been going on for at least 50 years,” Plinsky said. “It’s quite a tradition.”