Sneak preview

Kevin Willmott, filmmaker and associate professor at Kansas University, testified last week before the House Economic Development Committee on ways to get more movies filmed in the state.

But some committee members wanted to talk more about the movie business in general and Willmott’s upcoming projects, including a movie about Wilt Chamberlain’s career at KU.

State Rep. Valdenia Winn, D-Kansas City, told Willmott that she hoped the movie would accurately depict the problems of racism in Lawrence when Chamberlain was a student-athlete at KU in the 1950s.

Willmott said it would show the segregation in existence at the time in Lawrence but also would be about relationships and friendships that Chamberlain made during his KU career. He said it would be an “uplifting tale.”

Tafanelli running?

Add state Rep. Lee Tafanelli, of Ozawkie, to the list of Republicans thinking about running for the 2nd Congressional District seat in 2008. Tafanelli says he’s considering the contest.

Jim Ryun, of Lawrence, who held the seat for 10 years until he was defeated in November by Democrat Nancy Boyda, has indicated he may try to recapture the seat. In addition, State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins, of Topeka, has said she is keeping her options open.

Health care for all

In her State of the State speech last month, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius surprised many by calling for a plan to have all Kansans covered by health insurance.

The heavy lifting starts Friday with the first meeting of Health for All Kansans Steering Committee.

“By building a consensus of civic leaders, community members and those in the health industry, we will craft a unified vision for bringing health care to every Kansan,” Sebelius said.

The 12-member committee includes two high-profile officials from Lawrence, Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger and Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Roderick Bremby.

What’s next

10 a.m. today: U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., speaks to joint session of Legislature on proposed National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility.

9:30 a.m. Tuesday: hearing on SCR 1601, a proposed constitutional amendment that would prohibit the Kansas Supreme Court from telling lawmakers how much to fund public schools, before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Room 123-South, Capitol.

10:30 a.m. Tuesday: hearing on SB 163, which would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, before Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee, Room 231-North, Capitol.

1:30 p.m. Wednesday:hearing on HB 2227, which would require sixth-grade girls to get a shot for the human papilloma virus, before House Health and Human Services Committee, Room 526-South, Capitol.