Archive for Monday, December 21, 2009 / LJWorld.com

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Also from December 21

Births

Blog entries

Operation 100 News blog: Two men shot multiple times early this morning in Lawrence

Obituaries

On the street

Photos

View all of this day's photos (35)

Photo galleries

The day in photos, December 21, 2009

KU vs. UC Riverside

Polls

Have you dropped any money in a Salvation Army bell ringer's pot this season?

Poll results

Response	Percent
Yes		61%
No		38%
Total	1117

Have you finished your Christmas shopping?

Poll results

Response	Percent
Yes		38%
No, I have just a few items left.		33%
I don’t buy gifts.		10%
No, I haven’t begun.		9%
No, I’ve barely started.		8%
Total	858

Videos

Lead stories

12:00 a.m.

Buffalo’s Gill: Witnesses of UB turnaround have utmost confidence in coach: By Dugan Arnett; December 20, 2009 in print edition on 1A; Perhaps the best way to understand the impact Gill, the recently named head coach of the Kansas University football team, has had on the city of Buffalo is to see it up-close — board a plane, rent a car, hop onto I-90 and head toward the University at Buffalo.

Videos: Turner Gill: A new era
Photo gallery: KU meets Turner Gill

6:00 a.m.

Cancer Center gets $10M gift: By Andy Hyland; December 21, 2009 in print edition on 1A; A $10 million gift to the Kansas University Cancer Center will support a new endowed faculty chair and continues an aggressive effort to help the center achieve National Cancer Institute designation.

10:00 a.m.

KU cuts have ripple effect: By Andy Hyland; December 21, 2009 in print edition on 1A; When Lawrence Chamber of Commerce President Tom Kern hears of another faculty position being held open at Kansas University, he thinks well beyond the students who won’t be educated that semester.

2:00 p.m.

Collector goes to town on Santas: By George Diepenbrock; December 21, 2009 in print edition on 3A; When Nancy Rumsey pulls out her Christmas decorations every December, she sets out her Santa Claus collection. This year, it’s 67 Santas strong.

6:00 p.m.

Night-shift parenting: By Richard Gintowt; December 21, 2009; Imagine that you clock in to work at 11 every night in a sleep-deprived state. Now imagine that your job is to administer postmortem care to the dead. “Finding dead people doesn’t bother me as much anymore,” says Reneé Mellenbruch, a 19-year-old single mom in Lawrence …

All stories

Gill adds Mitchell to KU football staff: By Dugan Arnett; December 21, 2009 in print edition on B1; Reggie Mitchell, a former Kansas University football assistant and current Illinois aide, will be named to new KU coach Turner Gill’s staff in the coming days, the Journal-World has learned.
KU Medical Center changes policies, adds staff, improves facilities to address USDA complaints about animal handling: KU Medical Center undertakes measures to program after USDA findings; By Andy Hyland; 05:51 p.m., December 21, 2009 Updated 06:27 p.m. in print edition on A3; Kansas University Medical Center will make changes to its animal research program after a government oversight agency found violations in inspection reports.
Wintry weather for later this week could make holiday travel tricky: Snow, blowing snow, rain, possible across wide swath of Kansas; By George Diepenbrock; December 21, 2009 in print edition on A1; If your holiday plans include traveling to the western two-thirds of Kansas, wintry weather in the form of snow, blowing snow, rain and cold temperatures could cause problems beginning tonight and into Wednesday.
27-year-old northeast Kansas woman dies from H1N1 virus: December 21, 2009; A 27-year-old woman from northeast Kansas has died from the H1N1 virus.
21 veteran teachers already committed to retiring from Lawrence Public Schools: Retirees taking bonuses; some going to other districts to teach; By Lindsey Slater; December 21, 2009 in print edition on A1; Barb Thompson tried to resist it. She wouldn’t follow three grandparents and her parents into the teaching field.
More than 1,300 KU students benefit from $1,000 grants: By Andy Hyland; 02:02 p.m., December 21, 2009 Updated 05:11 p.m. in print edition on A3; More than 1,300 students on Kansas University’s Lawrence campus will be getting a $1,000 holiday gift from KU for the spring semester.
KU men’s basketball team remains as No. 1 in both polls: J-W Staff Reports; 01:55 p.m., December 21, 2009 Updated 02:32 p.m.; Kansas remained No. 1 in both the Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN Coaches polls following Saturday’s 75-64 victory over Michigan.
Douglas County Community Foundation selected for health initiative: By Karrey Britt; December 21, 2009; The Douglas County Community Foundation has been selected to participate in an initiative to raise funds for local health.
Another piece of turnpike bridge dismantled, readied for recycling; next blast scheduled for week of Jan. 11: By Mark Fagan; 12:30 p.m., December 21, 2009 Updated 05:03 p.m. in print edition on A5; Another hunk of original Kansas River bridge is down on the ground, already split into pieces for future recycling. Next up: the last remaining stretch of steel — now more than 50 years old — that spans the river, expected to be removed by blasting soon after Jan. 11.
Secret donors at Ballard Center help remaining families get adopted for the holidays: By Lindsey Slater; December 21, 2009 in print edition on A4; The 600 families asking for help from the Ballard Center have all been adopted for this holiday season.
Donors step up to ensure enough food for Lawrence’s annual Community Christmas Dinner: By George Diepenbrock; December 21, 2009 in print edition on A3; A surplus of donors stepped up on Saturday to ensure organizers would have what they need for the annual Community Christmas Dinner in Lawrence this Friday.
Police investigating armed robbery at 23rd Street Taco Bell: By Jesse Fray; 09:59 a.m., December 21, 2009 Updated 12:56 p.m. in print edition on A4; Police spokesman Sgt. Bill Cory said officers were looking for a heavy-set white man in connection with the incident, which was reported about 7:45 a.m.
KU, Baker cited for developing programs that work for members of the military: Fort Hays State, K-State also cited; Associated Press; December 21, 2009; Four Kansas universities have been recognized by Military Advanced Education magazine for their efforts to support military education.
The art of the mix: Tips on tunes for a rockin’ New Year’s Eve: By Tom King; December 21, 2009; One song you can count on hearing at nearly every New Year celebration in the English-speaking world is Robert Burns’ “Auld Lang Syne.” But that’s only one song, a mere four minutes. How does the exacting host sculpt a soundtrack for an entire party?
The family that plays together …: Do you know what games your children buy? Here are some guidelines for choosing age-appropriate gifts.; By Phil Cauthon; December 21, 2009; Sex. Drugs. F-bombs. Terrorism and sadistic murder. It’s not the stuff of most parents’ holiday gift lists. But if your kids are asking for video games this season, you’ll need to do a little research to make sure you aren’t inadvertently giving them those very things.
10 Great Games for Kids and Parents: By Luke Walters; December 21, 2009; Here’s a list of 10 great, recent games you can have fun playing with anyone in your family without worrying about questionable content. They make great gifts (hint, hint) …
The Edge: December 21, 2009; • The Kinetics (Music) • ‘Nanny Returns’ (Books) • ‘Too Much Money’ (Books)
Health care reform bill clears key Senate test: By David Espo - Associated Press Writer; December 21, 2009 in print edition on A2; Landmark health care legislation backed by President Barack Obama passed its sternest Senate test in the pre-dawn hours early today, overcoming Republican delaying tactics on a 60-40 vote that all but assures its passage by Christmas.
KU sorts data from alcohol survey: Results to be reviewed next semester; By Andy Hyland; December 21, 2009 in print edition on A3; As Kansas University officials and other community members plan their next move in the ongoing fight against alcohol abuse, KU will sift through a voluminous amount of new data on the subject.
Pump patrol: LJWorld.com staff reports; December 21, 2009 in print edition on A3; The Journal-World found gas prices as low as $2.42 at several stations.
Natural gas could be a solution in global warming fight: By Mark Williams - Associated Press Writer; December 21, 2009 in print edition on B10; An unlikely source of energy has emerged to meet international demands that the United States do more to fight global warming: It’s cleaner than coal, cheaper than oil and a 90-year supply is under our feet.
Night-shift parenting: On the shortest day of the year, we ask Lawrence parents how they cope with managing family from the third shift; By Richard Gintowt; December 21, 2009; Imagine that you clock in to work at 11 every night in a sleep-deprived state. Now imagine that your job is to administer postmortem care to the dead. “Finding dead people doesn’t bother me as much anymore,” says Reneé Mellenbruch, a 19-year-old single mom in Lawrence …
Sorry, KU; UT No. 1: By Tom Keegan; December 21, 2009 in print edition on B1; For the first time all season, I bumped Kansas to second on my Associated Press ballot.
Jayhawks flustered by zone: By Gary Bedore; 12:00 a.m., December 21, 2009 Updated 05:22 p.m. in print edition on B1; Kansas University’s basketball team produced its usual assortment of highlight-reel plays during Saturday’s 75-64 victory over Michigan in Allen Fieldhouse. It’s just that most all of them came in the first 161⁄2 minutes — before Michigan went to its unconventional yet highly effective 1-3-1 zone defense.
Kansas aide Bowen interviews with K-State: By Dugan Arnett; December 21, 2009 in print edition on B1; Former Kansas University defensive coordinator Clint Bowen interviewed last week with Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder for a possible position on the K-State staff, the Journal-World has learned.
KU cuts have ripple effect: Budget reductions take money out of area economy; By Andy Hyland; December 21, 2009 in print edition on A1; When Lawrence Chamber of Commerce President Tom Kern hears of another faculty position being held open at Kansas University, he thinks well beyond the students who won’t be educated that semester.
Storm cuts into sales, may bring strong week: Associated Press; December 21, 2009 in print edition on A2; The snowstorm that blanketed the East Coast, closing malls and snowing in shoppers, spelled trouble for retailers, but elsewhere in the country stores saw a strong turnout on the last weekend before Christmas.
Police find damaged Auschwitz gate sign: Associated Press; December 21, 2009 in print edition on A2; Polish police found the infamous “Arbeit Macht Frei” sign that was stolen from the gate of the former Nazi death camp of Auschwitz after an intensive three-day hunt, and arrested five suspects, police said early today. The sign was found cut into three pieces.
Citadel Broadcasting files for bankruptcy: Associated Press; December 21, 2009 in print edition on A2; Citadel Broadcasting Corp., the nation’s third-largest radio broadcasting company, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Sunday in an effort to restructure its hefty debt load as it continues to face declining advertising revenue.
Man stuck stepson with needles as revenge: Associated Press; December 21, 2009 in print edition on A2; A Brazilian man publicly confessed to pushing dozens of needles into his 2-year-old stepson, saying Sunday in a jail cell interview that he intended to kill the boy out of spite for his wife and didn’t think he would be discovered.
Macy’s flagship store reopens after fire: Associated Press; December 21, 2009 in print edition on A2; Hundreds of holiday shoppers were evacuated from the flagship Macy’s store at Herald Square on Sunday after a fire in an escalator spread smoke through the building.
Phone, cancer warning to be weighed: By Glenn Adams - Associated Press Writer; December 21, 2009 in print edition on A2; A Maine legislator wants to make the state the first to require cell phones to carry warnings that they can cause brain cancer, although there is no consensus among scientists that they do and industry leaders dispute the claim.
Cancer Center gets $10M gift: Texas couple’s donation is second-largest to fund; By Andy Hyland; December 21, 2009 in print edition on A1; A $10 million gift to the Kansas University Cancer Center will support a new endowed faculty chair and continues an aggressive effort to help the center achieve National Cancer Institute designation.
Astronauts begin trip to space station: Associated Press; December 21, 2009 in print edition on A10; A Russian rocket blasted off from a cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, lighting up the frigid Central Asian steppe today and shuttling an American, a Russian and a Japanese to the International Space Station.
Volcanic eruption feared within days: Associated Press; December 21, 2009 in print edition on A10; The Philippines’ most active volcano could have a huge eruption within days, officials warned Sunday after detecting a drastic surge in earthquakes and eerie rumbling sounds in surrounding foothills. Tens of thousands of villagers have been evacuated as a precaution.
Obama plan could limit records hidden from public: By Pete Yost - Associated Press Writer; December 21, 2009 in print edition on A10; President Barack Obama plans to deal with a Dec. 31 deadline that automatically would declassify secrets in more than 400 million pages of Cold War-era documents by ordering government-wide changes that could sharply curb the number of new and old government records hidden from the public.
Browns run over Chiefs, 41-34: The Associated Press; December 21, 2009; Jerome Harrison scored his third touchdown with 44 seconds left and rushed for a team-record 286 yards, and Joshua Cribbs returned two kickoffs for touchdowns to lift the Browns to a 41-34 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
Tiny town has 2nd lottery winner: Associated Press; December 21, 2009 in print edition on A5; The small southern Kansas town of Severy has another lottery winner.
10 arrested after K.C. crime spree: Associated Press; December 21, 2009 in print edition on A5; Ten people have been arrested after a crime spree that included an armed robbery, kidnapping, two carjackings and a standoff. One of the carjackings involved a U.S. Postal Service van.
How To Help: Agencies still requesting assistance for holidays: Staff reports; December 21, 2009 in print edition on A5; The Holiday Bureau is still accepting help in this week leading up to Christmas.
Buffalo taps Gill’s replacement: J-W Staff Reports; December 21, 2009; The University at Buffalo named Jeff Quinn the school’s new head football coach Sunday, just a week after Turner Gill left the program to take over at Kansas.
Marriage licenses issued: Staff reports; December 21, 2009 in print edition on A4; Marriage licenses issued by the Douglas County District Court.
Spiritual father of reform movement dies: By Ali Akbar Dareini and Jason Keyser - Associated Press Writers; December 21, 2009 in print edition on A6; The spiritual father of Iran’s reform movement died Sunday at the age of 87, prompting thousands of his followers to immediately head to the holy city where the dissident cleric is to be buried.
Storm crawls into New England, leaving mess: By Eric Tucker - Associated Press Writer; December 21, 2009 in print edition on A6; A fierce weekend storm dropped record snowfall and stranded travelers up the coast from Virginia to New England, but its timing helped minimize headache-inducing work commutes and left many with the prospect of a very white Christmas.
Collector goes to town on Santas: Figures have been acquired in 48 states, several countries; By George Diepenbrock; December 21, 2009 in print edition on A3; When Nancy Rumsey pulls out her Christmas decorations every December, she sets out her Santa Claus collection. This year, it’s 67 Santas strong.
New year brings blood drive: December 21, 2009 in print edition on A3; The American Red Cross will host a blood drive from noon to 6 p.m. Jan. 7 at First Christian Church, 1000 Ky.
Free State Social highlights media trend: Staff Reports; December 21, 2009 in print edition on A3; A lineup of social media experts will be in Lawrence this spring as part of a national social media conference.
Economy, Obama among top stories of 2009: By David Crary - Associated Press Writer; December 21, 2009 in print edition on B10; The convoluted American economy — restoring windfalls to a lucky few while leaving millions jobless and distraught — was the top news story of 2009, followed closely by the inauguration of President Barack Obama, according to U.S. editors and news directors voting in The Associated Press’ annual poll.
‘Avatar’ blasts off with $232.2 million worldwide: Associated Press; December 21, 2009; James Cameron launched his science-fiction epic “Avatar” into a safe orbit as the costly film soared to No. 1 with $73 million domestically and $159.2 million overseas, for a $232.2 million worldwide total.
Friend: Polanski finishing film under house arrest: Associated Press; December 21, 2009; Roman Polanski is finishing the edit of his latest movie, “Ghost,” from his house arrest in Switzerland, surrounded by family and bombarded by telephone calls of support, French philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy said in an interview Sunday.
Judge mulls pivotal issues in abortion trial: By Roxana Hegeman - Associated Press Writer; December 21, 2009 in print edition on A1; A judge is weighing a critical legal question in the case of a man who confessed to killing one of the nation’s few late-term abortion providers: Can the man claim at his trial that the slaying was justified to save the lives of unborn children?
Preventive care: By David Reber - Lawrence; December 21, 2009 in print edition on A7; To the editor: Under current economic conditions, one might consider putting off expenses such as routine auto maintenance.
Amazing people are all around: By Gene A. Budig; December 21, 2009 in print edition on A7; Life is often full of surprises, especially when you believe you know much about the people who operate in your sphere of activity. I must admit to a few real surprises.
Film focuses on lives and livelihoods: By George Will - Washington Post Writers Group; December 21, 2009 in print edition on A7; “Last year,” Ryan Bingham says, “I spent 322 days on the road, which means that I had to spend 43 miserable days at home.” Home is an Omaha rental unit less furnished than a hotel room. He likes it that way.
Make it a race: J-W Editorials; December 21, 2009 in print edition on A7; Any Democrat entering the Kansas governor’s race will face an uphill battle, but rising to that challenge is important to the state.
Building bonds: Lawrence resident creates models sites with Lego: By Eileen Roddy; December 21, 2009; George Rennels’ passion for building was born on Christmas Day 1965. He’s built everything from battleships, airplanes and space shuttles, to the Lawrence High School music wing, then dismantled most of them. His latest building, the historic St. Luke’s AME church in East Lawrence, remains intact. Like his other creations, it’s built perfectly to scale with Lego.
Pure beauty: Lawrence shoppers look for natural care products: By Sarah Henning; December 21, 2009; For the past 10 years, April Sweany has been just as conscious about what she puts on her body as what she puts in it.
Powell Gardens perfect site for winter wonderland: By Lori Carson; December 21, 2009; If you’re dreaming of a white Christmas, you may want to visit the conservatory at Powell Gardens.
Door still sticks? You may want to plane it: By Linda Cottin; December 21, 2009; If you have a sticky wooden door and tightening the hinge screws or shimming the hinges has not solved the problem, it may be time to take more drastic measures. Planing a door is a relatively simple task. A manual plane works fine for most jobs, but if you need to remove more than half an inch from a door edge, an electric planer might be a better choice.
Take a peek at these pecan recipes: December 21, 2009; • Best Pecan Pie • Chocolate turtles
Let your legs do the talking with patterned pants: By Caitlin Donnelly; December 21, 2009; During the winter, I’m always a big baby about the cold. Although I did recently receive a Snuggie for my birthday, I’m quite sure my friends and family wouldn’t speak to me if I wore it out of the house for dinner or cocktails. As much as I love to dress up, I oftentimes find myself pulling on the same old pair of jeans — the warmest practical option during the freezing winter months.
Divorces granted: December 21, 2009 in print edition on A4; Divorces granted by the Douglas County District Court.
Conflict with nemesis simmers on ‘Closer’: December 21, 2009 in print edition on A9; While many networks seem to be slowing down to repeat mode for the holidays, TNT has been broadcasting new episodes of “The Closer” (8 p.m., TNT) in December. Tonight’s installment brings Kyra Sedgwick’s Deputy Police Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson in conflict with her departmental nemesis, Capt. Raydor (Mary McDonnell, “Dances With Wolves,” “Battlestar Galactica”).
Horoscopes: By Holiday Mathis; December 21, 2009; This is the week of the winter solstice, a magical time of focused power. The sun will move into Capricorn, the realm ruled by Saturn, aka Father Time.
A modern Christmas carol: By Julie Dunlap; December 21, 2009; I enjoy singing almost as much as I enjoy laughing. Usually my singing is cause for laughing, which is why I rarely sing in public. Outside of, say, an occasional round of “Copacabana” at karaoke night. (My apologies to anyone at Dos Hombres on any given Wednesday in the early ’90s.) But in the spirit of the season of sharing, I am offering this little ditty I wrote to a familiar tune.
Lawrence Public Library’s top 10: December 21, 2009; Here are the top-10 most-requested books at the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vt., as of Dec. 21.
Actress Brittany Murphy dies in L.A. at age 32: By Christopher Weber - Associated Press Writer; December 21, 2009 in print edition on A9; Brittany Murphy, the actress who got her start in the sleeper hit “Clueless” and rose to stardom in “8 Mile” before her movie roles declined in recent years, died Sunday in Los Angeles of what appeared to be natural causes, a Los Angeles County coroner’s official said. She was 32.
Horoscope for December 21, 2009: December 21, 2009 in print edition on A9; For Monday, Dec. 21: This year, you open doors and decide to walk through them. At times this process could be a little frightening. If you are single, you could be delighted by an intriguing person who pops into your life. If you are attached, the two of you might often opt to stay out of the limelight and spend more time in couple-type activities. Aquarius always presents another view.
Build your 2010 spending plan: By Josh McCleary; December 21, 2009; Many of the economic “green shoots” that have been reported in the media lately have been in the form of stronger-than-expected profits for many companies.
Perfect platters: Expand your spread beyond the usual cheese cubes: The Associated Press; December 21, 2009; Amid the canapes and delicate phyllo fingers hosts feel obligated to conjure during the holidays, a cheese platter may seem like a cop-out. After all, you didn’t make it. But a well constructed cheese board is a sure way to please your guests and show off your food savvy.

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