Will a new lawsuit opposing the South Lawrence Trafficway be filed in 2005? Will officials finally figure out how they want to plan for the city’s growth? Will voters approve bonds to pay for the renovation and reconstruction of aging schools?

Maybe, maybe not.

There’s no telling what the new year will bring; next December’s list of top 10 Lawrence stories for the year should have more than a few surprises.

“I’d have to use a crystal ball,” said Austin Turney, Lawrence school board member.

But officials and observers tell the Journal-World there were plenty of issues boiling during 2004 that could come to fruition during the next 12 months. Growth, as always, will be one of the biggest issues facing Lawrence and Douglas County.

So will education. And so will debates about how to pay for it all.

“The older I get, the more I realize things don’t change that much each year,” said Douglas County Commissioner Bob Johnson. “It’s a continuing saga.”

Some of the likely top stories for 2005:

Education

Perhaps the biggest issue facing Lawrence — and the state of Kansas — is the future of school funding. And it’s an issue that will open the year.

The Kansas Supreme Court is expected to rule Monday on Shawnee County Judge Terry Bullock’s 2003 decision that the state’s school funding system is unconstitutional.

“I would say you’re obviously going to see the Legislature grappling with the school finance issue after the Supreme Court issues its ruling,” said Rep. Paul Davis, a Lawrence Democrat. “I would predict that would be a messy process. It’s uncertain the Legislature would even be able to come up with a solution that meets what the court would rule. You may see a Legislative meltdown.”

“From my perspective, it’s going to be very simple,” Turney added. “We’ll either get some relief or it will be a very painful budget.”

Closer to home, Lawrence voters will be asked in April to approve two bond issues: a $54 million effort for construction at six schools and replacing South Junior High, and a $9 million bond to upgrade technology around the district.

Growth

Two efforts aimed at planning and paying for Lawrence’s growth should be resolved in 2005. One is the “adequate public facilities” effort at City Hall, where officials want to transfer some costs of adding new neighborhoods from taxpayers to developers.

“That will affect lots of people’s pocketbooks,” said City Commissioner David Dunfield, who leaves office in April. “That will be pretty big.”

And a rural planning committee will give city and county commissioners recommendations on how to direct the future of areas outside the city.

“The good news is, we’re at least talking about trying to look a little farther into the future and make decisions that have a long-term beneficial effect,” said Douglas County Commissioner Bob Johnson.

Those efforts could affect — and be affected by — April’s Lawrence City Commission election, the first since “smart growth” candidates swept the field in 2003.

The top stories of 2004 6News video: 2004 Top 10 stories (12-31-04) 6News video: Liquor stores prepare for New Year’s Eve (12-31-04) 6News video: Children celebrate New Year’s Eve early (12-31-04) On the Street: What was the most memorable event of 2004? The top stories of 2004 (01-01-05) School funding ruling dominates state news (01-01-05) Bush’s election victory No. 1 story of ’04 (01-01-05) Winners and losers of 2004 (01-01-05)

Kansas University

KU’s biosciences and life-sciences research efforts should begin to grow quickly in 2005, a year after the Legislature approved funding for the Kansas Economic Growth Act, designed to make the state a center of scientific endeavors.

The act is sparking a flowering of cooperation among the university’s various research departments, said Paul Carttar, executive vice chancellor for external affairs.

“I’d say it’s pretty significant when you talk about our research efforts and graduate programs,” Carttar said. “It’s particularly significant when you think about those places within the university — not just the campus — that have the potential to work together to do profound stuff.”

The university will also, in January, announce the results of the KU First campaign, which had a goal of raising $600 million for the endowment. The balance stood at $588 million in September; funds will be targeted at scholarships and new building projects.

The environment

There’s always the SLT. Environmental attorneys are still sifting through documents as they consider a legal challenge to the Kansas Department of Transportation’s decision to build the long-delayed route along a 32nd Street alignment.

“I don’t know,” said Charles Benjamin, attorney for the Sierra Club. “We’re looking at files still. I wouldn’t want to say when that would be.”

If the issues sound mostly familiar, they should. As the songs says, nothing changes on New Year’s Day.

“That’s not a bad thing,” Johnson said. “We’re incredibly blessed in Douglas County that we have a good and steady economy. Generally speaking, we don’t have to deal with issues on a roller coaster basis. 2005 should be a good year.”

LJWorld.com’s look at 2004It was a year marked by local and national politics and the city’s 150th birthday. Top news and sports stories included a controversial smoking ban for Lawrence, a much ballyhooed visit by Vice Presidential candidate John Edwards and Kansas University’s basketball team making it to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament.Below you’ll find some of the top news, features, sports and images from 2004. 2004: The Year in Review A look back at the headlines of 2004 The past year saw some Lawrence residents dispatched to the war zones of Iraq. There were bitter divisions in a presidential election and a controversial ban on cigarette smoking in the city’s public spaces. A fiery grass-roots movement to unseat a Douglas County judge was noteworthy because it was so rare in state history. … Full story. Cup o’ Joel The most interesting Lawrencians of 2004 Excuse us, for a second, as we slip into our Barbara Walters mode. Walters a few weeks back made a splash by announcing her list of 10 Most Fascinating People of 2004 — and naming Paris Hilton one of the lucky few. … Full story. Journal-World – The top stories of 2004 Smoking ban tops list A ban on smoking in Lawrence’s indoor public places and the continuing fallout over the decision was voted the top Lawrence news story in a year that included slayings, visits by a former president and a presidential candidate, and successful seasons by Kansas University athletic teams. The ban was passed as a public health measure, to protect employees and patrons of businesses from the dangers of secondhand smoke. … Full story. 6News – Top 10 stories 2004 Top 10 stories The smoking ban, the season ticket point system for the Kansas men’s basketball games and the death of Mary Miller are just some of the stories chosen by the 6News staff as some of the important news events in Lawrence this year. … Full story. KUsports.com – The Year in Sports Woodling: ’04 was eventful at KU Such historical events as the retirement of longtime women’s basketball coach Marian Washington punctuated 2004 in Kansas University athletics. The calendar year also produced such trifles as the renaming of the ancient rivalry between Kansas and Missouri. … Full story. Photos of the Year Photo Gallery: 2004 in Focus Journal-World photographers gave us the images that brought the stories home … See the photos. Lawrence.com – Year in Review Top ‘stories’ of 2004 The year 2004 will likely go down as a year nobody can remember much about. After all, it’s overshadowed by 2001 and marred by events we’ll do our best to forget — a regrettable war, a confounding election, the rise of the machines, the complete disappearance of Ricky Martin, etc. … Full story. Best of local music 2004 Step aside, Mannheim Steamroller. Same to you, Bright Eyes. Lawrence music is where it’s at this Christmas season, and Omaha’s stale cookies are due for humiliation. … Full story. 6Sports — Top Stories 6Sports video: Top 10 KU Plays of the Year From the basketball team’s sweep of Missouri to the Big 12 soccer championship and the Sunflower Showdown against Kansas State, 2004 was one of the most memorable years in Jayhawk history. But what were the best plays of the year? … Full story. The Year in Film Best of Film: ‘Eternal Sunshine’ brightens 2004Worst of Film: ‘Alexander’ conquers list of worst films in 2004 Jon Niccum sorts through the year’s slate of movies to pick the ones that really rocked and the ones that, well, did not rock quite as much. … Full story. Links School funding ruling dominates state news (01-01-05) Bush’s election victory No. 1 story of ’04 (01-01-05)