KU projects OK’d

Three Kansas University building projects received the go-ahead Thursday by the Kansas Board of Regents.

Regents approved:

¢ A $3.78 million storage and recycling facility for facilities operations staff on west campus. The 35,000-square-foot building will be constructed with funds from the KU Endowment Association.

¢ A $2.04 million renovation to the animal care unit space in Malott Hall, which will house mice used for genetic experiments involving neuroscience and cancer research. The project will be funded with $635,000 from the National Institutes of Health and $1.405 million from the KU Center for Research.

¢ A $1.25 million clubhouse at Hoglund Ballpark, home of the Jayhawk baseball team. The 5,000-square-foot clubhouse, located on the third-base side of the field, will be funded with donations to the KU Endowment Association. It will include locker rooms, shower and restroom facilities, player lounge, study workstations, coach work space, laundry room and training room.

Pulitzer winner in town today

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Marilynne Robinson will give a talk and book signing at 7 p.m. today at Plymouth Congregational Church, 925 Vt.

Robinson’s latest novel, “Gilead,” snagged the 2005 Pulitzer in fiction.

The book is narrated by John Ames, a 76-year-old preacher from Gilead, Iowa, who is writing a letter to his 6-year-old son in the face of his failing health. He records his inner and outer selves, chronicling the lives of his father, a lifelong pacifist; his grandfather, who went to Kansas to march for abolition; and his childhood friend Jack Boughton.

Robinson’s other titles include “Housekeeping,” a novel, and “Mother Country” and “The Death of Adam,” both works of nonfiction.

Crime

Defendant in knife case denied bond reduction

A Johnson County judge Thursday decided against reducing Jeremiah Creswell’s bond.

Creswell, 24, was arrested June 12 in Olathe after he was accused of threatening his mother and uncle with a steak knife. He remains in the Johnson County Adult Detention Facility on $50,000 bond.

In an unrelated incident, Creswell is suspected of stabbing Kansas University basketball player J.R. Giddens and four other men last month during an early morning brawl outside the Moon Bar, 821 Iowa.

Lawrence police last week completed their investigation of that fight.

A decision whether charges will be filed against any or all of those involved in the Moon Bar fight “won’t be made anytime soon,” said a spokeswoman for Douglas County Dist. Atty. Charles Branson.

Creswell’s preliminary hearing in the Johnson County case is set for July 27.

Courts

Two charged with rape, aggravated kidnapping

Douglas County Dist. Atty. Charles Branson on Thursday charged Eduardo G. Gonzalez, 22, and Ricardo S. Velazquez, 20, each with one count of rape and one count of aggravated kidnapping.

The alleged attack happened around 3 a.m. Wednesday in the 2400 block of Alabama Street.

Lawrence Police Sgt. Dan Ward said a Eudora woman was walking to a friend’s house when she came across the two men and asked to use a phone.

The woman followed the men into an apartment and once inside, police said the men began grabbing and groping her.

Ward said the woman was able to escape to a balcony where she screamed for help.

A neighbor heard the cries and called police.

Officers arrived and arrested the two men. Both suspects made their first court appearances Thursday afternoon in Douglas County District Court.

Shank elected chair

Donna Shank has been elected chair of the Kansas Board of Regents during the 2005-2006 school year.

Shank, of Liberal, was appointed to the board in 2002. She served as vice-chair during the 2004-2005 year.

Shank is vice-president and co-owner of Al Shank Insurance in Liberal. She has degrees from Seward County Community College and Wichita State University.

Nelson Galle of Manhattan was named vice-chairman of the nine-member board. He was appointed by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius in 2003.