Couple set up bequest to geographical library

A Lawrence couple announced that they will bequeath more than $1 million to the American Geographical Society Library at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Robert McColl, a retired Kansas University professor of geography and East Asian studies, and his wife, Suzanne Ecke McColl, will make the donation. No exact dollar amount was announced.

“Essentially, the AGS library is a national treasure,” said Robert McColl, who has already donated his collection of Chinese geographic materials to the library.

The library contains more than a million items, including maps, atlases, books, journals, pamphlets, photos and Landsat images.

The bequest will be used for fellowship programs, symposia, published materials and to bring in scholars from around the world to the library.

KU professor featured in school finance talk

Kansas University associate professor Bruce Baker will be featured today on “Up to Date” on public radio station KCUR FM 89.3. The one-hour talk show begins at 11 a.m.

Baker, who teaches courses in school finance policy, will share his views on the Legislature’s likely reaction to the Kansas Supreme Court last month declaring the state’s school finance formula inadequate.

Rep. Ed O’Malley, R-Roeland Park, also will be on the program.

United Way to offer 211 referral service

Wichita (ap) – Kansans in need of social services will soon be able to dial 211 for a referral to community resources.

The United Way announced plans Tuesday for a new service to help Kansans get and give help in their local communities by dialing the new statewide, toll-free number.

Millions of people in 32 states already have a 211 service, the agency said.

The United Way 211 call center will use its database of nonprofits, government agencies and community organizations to provide referrals to human services across Kansas.

Horse kick sends victim to hospital

A Lawrence woman was injured Tuesday evening after she was kicked by a horse, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

The 50-year-old woman, whose identity wasn’t released, was taken by Life Star helicopter to University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, Kan. Her condition wasn’t available.

The incident occurred about 6 p.m. in the 1600 section of East 800 Road northwest of Lawrence.

First West Nile case in U.S. confirmed by CDC

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday a 51-year-old Douglas County resident is the nation’s first probable victim of West Nile virus.

Numerous other states have reported cases of the virus in birds and horses. The Kansas case first was reported Thursday by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

KDHE spokeswoman Sharon Watson said lab tests have not confirmed the case, but that the doctor who treated the person reported finding symptoms in mid-May consistent with a new case of the virus.

Last year, Kansas reported 37 confirmed cases of West Nile virus and two deaths. Nationally, there were 2,535 human cases and 98 deaths reported to CDC.

This is the fourth year the virus has been found in Kansas, and the sixth in the United States.

Kansas City, Mo.

Pharmacist loses appeal

A Kansas City pharmacist convicted of diluting chemotherapy medications lost his appeal of his 30-year prison sentence.

Robert Courtney, 52, was sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2002 after pleading guilty to diluting pharmaceutical drugs for seriously ill patients and keeping the profits. Prosecutors have said his dilutions could have affected 4,200 patients and about 98,000 prescriptions.

On Monday, a three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld its previous order in favor of the sentence.

The U.S. Supreme Court returned Courtney’s case in January to the St. Louis-based 8th Circuit for reconsideration of his sentence. It was part of a larger ruling that invalidated sentences for 450 defendants who claimed the federal guidelines under which they were sentenced are unconstitutional.

Courtney is serving his sentence at a federal prison in Cumberland, Md