Archive for Thursday, February 5, 2009 / LJWorld.com

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Also from February 5

Births

Kelli Carbaugh and Damian Dillon, Lawrence, a girl.

Blog entries

Obituaries

On the street

What question have you asked KU Info?

Photos

Ten-year-old Michael Douglas is wheeled out to the playground at Wellsville Elementary School by his classmates Gavin Wilson, 11, and Dylan Leckner, 11. Michael suffers from interstitial lung disease and has been on oxygen since he was 1 year old

Michael Douglas has been hooked up to oxygen since age 1, so he says he is used to it and doesn’t let it get in his way. Like other typical fifth-graders, he enjoys watching sports and playing “Rock Band

Wellsville elementary school fifth-grader Michael Douglas listens during class. Michael is an honor roll student despite a rare lung disease that has kept him out of school for weeks here and there since kindergarten

Michael's mother, Lisa Douglas, says that despite her son's condition, he doesn't complain. "He is so strong willed," she said. "He still has such a great attitude about things

Oxygen tubes are strewn across the carpet of the Douglas' living room as Michael watches television with his father on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2008 in Wellsville, Kan

A West Memphis, Ark., police detective surveys the damage after a car owned by Dr. Trent Pierce, chairman of the Arkansas State Medical Board, exploded as he was leaving home for work early Wednesday morning

KU Info worker Jack Connor, a KU senior from Overland Park, helps KU freshman Erica Keefer, of Dallas, on Wednesday at the newly renovated KU Info booth on Jayhawk Boulevard

State Reps. Kevin Yoder, R-Overland Park, left, and Bill Feuerborn, D-Garnett, debate a budget bill Wednesday in the Kansas House of Representatives

Channing Hunter, second from right, twin sister of Chucky Hunter, second from left, leans in to get a photograph with her brother after Hunter and eight other Free State High School football players signed college letter of intent Wednesday at FSHS

Nine Free State High School football players who signed college letters of intent Wednesday get a group photograph taken after the signing. Six of the nine will attend Coffeyville Community College

Colter Scott, foreground left, and Jack Caywood, foreground right, sign college football letters of intent with Baker University. Nine Free State High School football players signed letters of intent Wednesday at Free State High School

Chebon Dawes, seated at left, gets a hug and a kiss from his cousin Hanah Watan, holding her 9-month-old daughter Cayden, left and his sister Chelsea Anglin, in back

Six Lawrence High School football players signed college letter of intent Wednesday at LHS. From left are Wes Henning, St

Dirk Wedd, Lawrence High School football coach, introduces players prior to their signing college letters of intent Wednesday at LHS

Kansas University recruit and former Plano East fullback Toben Opurum makes a move against a defender in this contributed file photo in Plano, Texas

View all of this day's photos (30)

Photo galleries

The day in photos, Feb. 5, 2009

KU women vs. Colorado

The day in photos, Feb. 4, 2009

FSHS football players sign letters of intent

LHS football players sign letters of intent

Podcasts

Polls

Does Lawrence need a director of sustainability, who would be responsible for making sure city government is being efficient with its use of natural resources?

Poll results

Response	Percent
No.		73%
Yes.		21%
Not sure.		4%
Total	761

Videos

Lead stories

12:00 a.m.

Extended-stay hotels faring better than traditional ones: By Aly Van Dyke; February 3, 2009 in print edition on 3A; A new product in the hotel industry, extended-stay hotels enjoyed a better fate than the rest of the hotel industry last year.

Video: Extended-stay hotels faring better than traditional ones

6:00 a.m.

At your service: KU Info sets up shop in heart of campus: By Andy Hyland; February 5, 2009 in print edition on 1A; Jack Connor admits he gets weird stares from his friends who see him encased in a small booth off Jayhawk Boulevard between Stauffer-Flint and Bailey halls. The Overland Park senior works for KU Info and has been assigned to a new on-campus location twice a week since the question-and-answer service expanded its options this semester. “I don’t think most people realize it’s here,” he said.

Video: At your service: KU Info sets up shop in heart of campus
On the street: What question have you asked KU Info?

10:00 a.m.

House moves forward on deficit reduction plan: By Scott Rothschild; February 4, 2009 in print edition on 1A; House Republicans on Wednesday pushed through budget cuts that they described as tough but fair, but Democrats called the reductions too drastic, especially to public schools. “We’re taking a step backwards,” said House Democratic Leader Paul Davis of Lawrence.

2:00 p.m.

Attendance is sparse at forum kicking off election season: By Chad Lawhorn; February 5, 2009 in print edition on 3A; Local election season is off and running, but voters may still be on hiatus after a marathon presidential election. A sparse crowd showed up Wednesday at Free State High School for the first of five candidate events sponsored by the Douglas County Voter Education Coalition. Although the crowd was a bit light — about 50 people, with many of those being candidates, campaign volunteers or event organizers — those in attendance said they had heavy issues on their minds.

6:00 p.m.

Rooms without rules: Interior designer Jack Collins is all about individuality: By Jennifer Oldridge; February 5, 2009 in print edition on 1C; Rule No. 1 in interior design: Stop purchasing matching sets of anything!

All stories

Cardinals trounce Wildcats in Eudora: February 5, 2009; The Eudora High Girls defeated the Louisburg Wildcats, 50-33.
Check: Does chess make you smarter?: By Mark Boyle; February 5, 2009; Chess aficionados argue that the age-old game trains you to think in a certain way.
Buffalo Bob’s Smokehouse awaits remodeling: By Mark Boyle; February 5, 2009; A prominent building in downtown Lawrence will soon get a much-needed facelift.
LHS students prepare for engineering competition: By Lindsey Slater; February 5, 2009 in print edition on A3; Some Lawrence High students will be heading to Kansas City this weekend to compete in something they’ve never done before.
KU tries new tactics in getting scalpers to stop selling basketball tickets: Selling tickets — any tickets — on state property is illegal; By George Diepenbrock; February 5, 2009 in print edition on A1; As Robert Miller was trying to get the attention of other fans outside the entrance to the Booth Family Hall of Athletics, KU Public Safety officers approached him. They gave him a warning about soliciting the sale of tickets on KU property, which is prohibited.
Lawrence police arrest man on suspicion of animal cruelty, sodomy: By Mike Belt; February 5, 2009 in print edition on A3; A 20-year-old man was arrested by Lawrence police Wednesday for suspicion of animal cruelty and criminal sodomy of an animal.
The day in photos: February 5, 2009; Images from the past 24 hours.
Lawrence Memorial Hospital to host Healthy Hearts Fair on Valentine’s Day: By Karrey Britt; February 5, 2009 in print edition on B3; Lawrence Memorial Hospital encourages people to celebrate Valentine’s Day by getting their hearts checked and by learning about what makes them tick.
Lawrence police investigate report of gunshots at 23rd and Louisiana; find no evidence it happened: 02:53 p.m., February 5, 2009 Updated 03:36 p.m.; Lawrence police spent the better part of an hour Thursday afternoon combing the area of 23rd and Louisiana for information related to a report of gunshots at 2:15 p.m. in the Louisiana Purchase shopping center
Sierra Club comes under fire during hearing on energy bill: By Scott Rothschild; February 5, 2009 in print edition on A5; The Sierra Club came under fire Thursday during a hearing on a bill backed by Sunflower Electric Power Corp. that is aimed at building two coal-fired electric power plants in southwestern Kansas.
Sims officially announced as new KU defensive line coach: J-W Staff Reports; February 5, 2009; Tom Sims has officially been hired as the defensive line coach of the Kansas football team, the university announced Thursday.
KU’s Collins named Cousy Award finalist: J-W Staff Reports; February 5, 2009; Kansas junior guard Sherron Collins has been chosen as one of 17 finalists for the Bob Cousy Award, which is presented annually to the nation’s top point guard.
Kansas House approves budget reduction bill: Associated Press; 12:16 p.m., February 5, 2009 Updated 05:42 p.m. in print edition on A5; The House has finished its work on a bill to cut spending in the current state budget.
Senate committee hears plea to allow Supreme Court to increase docket fees to make up budget shortfalls: Associated Press; February 5, 2009; The Senate Judiciary Committee is urged to let the Kansas Supreme Court temporarily increase docket fees to offset anticipated budget cuts this year.
Death penalty opponents introduce bill to abolish executions based on cost: By Scott Rothschild; February 5, 2009 in print edition on A5; Death penalty opponents in Kansas have criticized capital punishment, saying it is unfair and pointing to instances around the country where innocent people were wrongly sentenced to death. On Thursday, they took a different strategy.
Supreme Court justice undergoes surgery for cancer: Associated Press; February 5, 2009; Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has undergone surgery for pancreatic cancer, apparently at an early stage.
Completed chat with KU signee Toben Opurum: By Jesse Newell; 08:56 a.m., February 5, 2009 Updated 08:55 a.m.; Four-star running back/fullback Toben Opurum took questions from KUSports.com readers at 6 p.m. Wednesday, national signing day.
Census finds number of farms in Kansas grew for first time since WWII: Associated Press; 08:31 a.m., February 5, 2009 Updated 10:33 a.m.; A five-year agriculture census finds that the number of Kansas farms rose for the first time since World War II.
Salazar scraps sale of oil-and-gas leases: February 5, 2009 in print edition on A2; In a high-profile reversal of the Bush administration, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said Wednesday the government is scrapping the leases of 77 parcels of federal land for oil and gas drilling in Utah’s redrock country.“In the last weeks in office, the Bush administration rushed ahead to sell oil and gas leases near some of our nation’s most precious landscapes in Utah,” Salazar said from Washington in a teleconference call with reporters.
County receives study on Eudora traffic issues: By David Oakes; February 5, 2009 in print edition on B8; The Douglas County Commission, Eudora City Council and the Eudora Planning Commission heard Wednesday from a consulting firm about the results of a study on Douglas County Road 1061 and Eudora’s Main Street.The study by BG Consultants was conducted to find possible solutions to the influx of traffic that the area could see after the Interstate 70 interchange at Tonganoxie is completed in November.
Dugan Arnett’s KU football notebook: By Dugan Arnett; February 5, 2009 in print edition on B4; Tom Sims, formerly an assistant at Illinois, is expected to be named the Kansas University football team’s defensive line coach as early as today, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.
KU remains steady in up-and-down Big 12 Conference: By Gary Bedore; February 5, 2009 in print edition on B1; Things can change quickly in Big 12 Conference men’s basketball.
Congress delays digital TV transition: By Joelle Tessler - Associated Press Writer; February 5, 2009 in print edition on B7; After weeks of debate, Congress is giving consumers four more months to prepare for the upcoming transition from analog to digital television broadcasting. The House voted 264-158 on Wednesday to postpone the shutdown of analog TV signals to June 12, to address growing concerns that too many Americans won’t be ready by the Feb. 17 deadline that Congress set three years ago.
Not so surprising: February 5, 2009 in print edition on A7; To the editor: I am very surprised that in the discussion of budget cuts, we are talking about slashing crossing guards and other programs for children and the disadvantaged, while there is no mention of eliminating subsidies for a golf course and the Chamber of Commerce.
Online job postings see major decline: The Associated Press; February 5, 2009 in print edition on A1; More than 1 million fewer job advertisements were posted online in January than were displayed only two months earlier, according to a private research group. Michele Sarin, manager of database analysis for the Conference Board, says the two-month decline is the sharpest drop since the group began tracking online help wanted data in 2005.
Road signs warn of zombies ahead: Authorities upset that pranks may distract motorists; By Jim Suhr - Associated Press Writer; February 5, 2009 in print edition on C8; Pranksters in at least three states are messing with electronic road signs meant to warn motorists of possible traffic problems by putting drivers on notice about Nazi zombies and raptors. And highway safety officials aren’t amused.
Our town sports: February 5, 2009 in print edition on B4; KV Force U-10 Champs: Kaw Valley Force U-10 girls were champions of their age division in the Kansas City Super F Futsal League. Team members are Skylar Drum, Olivia Lemus, Sabrea Platz, April Hodges, Carson Drake, Abi Hummel, Aubin Murphy, Rachel Schuck, Margaret Lockwood, Natalie Clark and Eyerusalem Zicker. Riny de Boer is the coach.
Trying to understand the complex tax code: By Michell Singletary - The Washington Post; February 5, 2009 in print edition on B7; What lessons can we learn from the high-profile tax cases of newly installed Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and now Thomas Daschle, who withdrew Tuesday as President Barack Obama’s pick for secretary of health and human services?
Who gets what: Billions available for taxpayers: By Stephen Ohlemacher - Associated Press Writer; February 5, 2009 in print edition on A6; Sending a kid to college, purchasing a new car, buying a first home or making the one you own more energy efficient. Those are a few of the ways Americans might cut their tax bills under the economic stimulus package Congress is crafting.
Senate OKs $15K tax break for homebuyers to revitalize market: By David Espo - Associated Press Writer; February 5, 2009 in print edition on A2; The Senate voted Wednesday night to give a tax break of up to $15,000 to homebuyers in hopes of revitalizing the housing industry, a victory for Republicans eager to leave their mark on a mammoth economic stimulus bill at the heart of President Barack Obama’s recovery plan.
Sales consultant joins K.C. auto center: February 5, 2009 in print edition on B7; Julie B. Langton, Lawrence, joins Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City, 1011 W. 103rd St., in Kansas City, Mo., as a sales consultant. Langton previously worked two years as a salesperson with Laird Noller in Lawrence. She is a native of Manhattan and attended Kansas State University.
Justice Department sues Westar over coal-plant pollution: The Associated Press; February 5, 2009 in print edition on A5; The federal government has filed a lawsuit accusing Westar Energy Inc. of violating federal air quality laws at one of its coal-fired power plants. The federal lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Kansas City, Kan., says Westar made major modifications to the Jeffrey Energy Center in St. Marys over the past decade but didn’t update the plant’s pollution control equipment.
Obama caps executive pay tied to forthcoming bailout money: By Ben Feller - Associated Press Writer; February 5, 2009 in print edition on A2; Assailing out-of-touch corporate pay and perks, President Barack Obama on Wednesday slammed a salary cap on top executives from companies that want bailouts — but it’s a limit that could end up thinning the wallets of only a small number of people.
Peoples Bank joins Lewallen Mortgage: February 5, 2009 in print edition on B7; Peoples Bank-Albuquerque and Lewallen Mortgage have announced that they have joined forces. The agreement became effective Sunday.
Engineering manager completes program: February 5, 2009 in print edition on B7; Christopher M. Storm, a registered professional engineer, has completed the American Council of Engineering Companies of Kansas Emerging Leaders Program. The program exposes participants to specific skills and competencies identified by top ACEC/KS principals as critical for leadership success.
L.J. says he wants out of K.C.: The Associated Press; February 5, 2009 in print edition on B2; Chiefs running back Larry Johnson, fresh off a problem-plagued season, said he wants to leave Kansas City.
Vatican: Holocaust denier must recant: February 5, 2009 in print edition on A8; The Vatican, bowing to the growing furor over Pope Benedict XVI’s decision to accept a return to the church of a prelate who denied the Holocaust, made a dramatic turnaround Wednesday and demanded the bishop recant.
On the record: February 5, 2009 in print edition on A4; Police are investigating a Lawrence High School student accused of bringing a knife to school. School officials said the student, who is a junior, brought the weapon to school on Tuesday; however, no incident was reported with the knife. The school resource officer filed a police report, and the school began taking disciplinary action against the boy.
City urged to create sustainability post: Task force recommends increase in fees to pay for new position; By Chad Lawhorn; February 5, 2009 in print edition on A3; City residents could be asked to start paying a little extra each month on their city utility bills to battle global warming. The Mayor’s Task Force on Climate Protection decided Wednesday to make such a recommendation when it delivers its final report to Lawrence city commissioners sometime in March.
Assessing talent taxing: By Tom Keegan; February 5, 2009 in print edition on B1; The process of evaluating high school football players off of tape sometimes stretches a coach’s patience. After all, modern technology hasn’t reached every talented football player’s town.
Attendance is sparse at forum kicking off election season: By Chad Lawhorn; February 5, 2009 in print edition on A3; Local election season is off and running, but voters may still be on hiatus after a marathon presidential election. A sparse crowd showed up Wednesday at Free State High School for the first of five candidate events sponsored by the Douglas County Voter Education Coalition. Although the crowd was a bit light — about 50 people, with many of those being candidates, campaign volunteers or event organizers — those in attendance said they had heavy issues on their minds.
Lawmakers push for food safety reforms: February 5, 2009 in print edition on A2; Lawmakers vowed Wednesday to press for stronger food safety laws and more money for inspections as the list of recalled peanut products surpassed 1,000 in an ongoing national salmonella outbreak. “There is an openness to putting together the strongest legislation possible,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., who introduced a bill to reorganize federal food safety enforcement and make it more accountable.
K.C. police name man killed by officer: February 5, 2009 in print edition on B8; Kansas City, Kan., police have released the name of a man shot and killed by an officer. Police identified the man Wednesday as 25-year-old Ian Doherty, of Kansas City, Kan.
County Spelling Bee set for Saturday: February 5, 2009 in print edition on A3; The 2009 Douglas County Spelling Bee is set for Saturday morning at Southwest Junior High School, 2511 Inverness Drive. Students from 27 public and private schools in Baldwin City, Eudora and Lawrence will compete in the bee, sponsored by the Lawrence Journal-World. The winner of the bee will move on to the regional competition — if their school has registered with the Scripps National Spelling Bee organization.
Reports: Most-wanted Nazi died in 1992: By David Rising and Maggie Michael - Associated Press Writers; February 5, 2009 in print edition on A8; Documents have surfaced in Egypt showing the world’s most-wanted Nazi war criminal, concentration camp doctor Aribert Heim, died in Cairo in 1992, Germany’s ZDF television and The New York Times reported Wednesday.
Study: 9/11 lung problems persist: February 5, 2009 in print edition on A2; Researchers tracking Sept. 11 responders who became ill after working at the World Trade Center site found many had lung problems years later in a study the authors said proves persistent illness in people exposed to toxic dust caused by the twin towers’ collapse.
Tax cuts on new cars are added to stimulus: By Stephen Ohlemacher - Associated Press Writer; February 5, 2009 in print edition on B7; Maybe a tax break cutting the cost of a new car by $1,500 or more will lure customers into showrooms. The Senate hopes so, adding the plan to a $900 billion package of tax cuts, benefit increases and government projects aimed at finding jobs for Americans and getting them to start spending again.
Legacy tuition?: Just because university students come to Kansas doesn’t mean they’ll stay here.; J-W Editorials; February 5, 2009 in print edition on B7; Why would one assume that out-of-state students who follow their parents to Kansas University won’t leave Kansas after graduation? That’s what their parents did. The assumption that KU students who have some family ties to the state are more likely to stay here after they graduate and contribute to the Kansas economy is one of the primary selling points KU administrators are using for legislation that would clear the way for a “legacy tuition” program.
FSHS places third: J-W Staff Reports; February 5, 2009 in print edition on B4; Free State High’s girls bowling team placed third of six teams in the Turner Invite on Wednesday.
KU Opera takes fresh look at ‘Patience’: By Terry Rombeck; February 5, 2009 in print edition on C1; An opera that is nearly 130 years old is getting a fresh coat of paint starting this weekend at Kansas University.
Old Home Town - 100 years ago: February 5, 2009 in print edition on A7; From the Lawrence Daily World for Feb. 5, 1909: “Egg prices soared to 35 cents a dozen here yesterday and one retail price tag of 40 cents is the highest ever asked in the county. The recent cold spells are being blamed for upsetting the chickens and making eggs scarcer. … At a joint meeting of the university staff and faculty today, it was decided to invite all the Kansas legislators for a good look at KU.
Do you know where your children are? Google does: By Michael Liedtke - Associated Press Writer; February 5, 2009 in print edition on C8; With an upgrade to its mobile maps, Google Inc. hopes to prove it can track people on the go as effectively as it searches for information on the Internet. The new software released Wednesday will enable people with mobile phones and other wireless devices to automatically share their whereabouts with family and friends.
Child control: February 5, 2009 in print edition on A7; To the editor: Mothers who allow their children to scream uncontrollably in the store should be banned from shopping with children. I was shopping for groceries recently then waiting in line (a total of 20 minutes). There was a child screaming its lungs out. The entire store could hear it. What mother in her right mind allows this?
Tax plan: February 5, 2009 in print edition on A7; To the editor: It is becoming more evident that President Obama has hit on a pretty good idea for fixing our Congress-created financial problems. It seems that more and more of his nominations of people who are going through the approval process for their new federal jobs are “discovering” their small hiccups and “honest” mistakes and are actually paying big bucks to the United States Treasury in the form of back taxes and interest.
Out of touch: February 5, 2009 in print edition on A7; To the editor: “Job loss numbers surprise city leaders” (Journal-World, Jan. 30). Leaders should know what is really happening under their watch and not just with Kansas University and the local downtown. The so-called leaders over the past 15 years created a bedroom community out of what once was a well-grounded community with real local jobs.
Amish help neighbors weather ice storm without electricity: By Roger Alford - Associated Press Writer; February 5, 2009 in print edition on C8; When the wind died down and the ice storm had passed, Joe Stutzman gathered his spare lanterns and stepped out of his Amish farmhouse to lend them to his modern-living neighbors. “I feel sorry for my neighbors who were used to electricity and all of a sudden didn’t have it,” Stutzman said. “I know that must be hard for them.”
‘Mad’ man shows up on ‘30 Rock’: By Kevin McDonough; February 5, 2009 in print edition on B6; Like self-anointed cool kids clustering around their own table at the high-school cafeteria, the stars of “Mad Men” and “30 Rock” (8:30 p.m., NBC) have joined forces. Both shows have won critical raves and a shelf full of awards that seem to stand in inverse proportion to their popularity. And despite meager ratings, both shows were renewed for third seasons.
Old Home Town - 40 years ago: February 5, 2009 in print edition on A7; The City Commission gave final approval to an expanded summer recreation program jointly sponsored by the city and school district. Target areas were set up to benefit underprivileged youngsters as much as possible.
FAA audio reveals pilot’s calm: February 5, 2009 in print edition on C8; The last communication to air traffic controllers from the pilot of US Airways 1549 was direct and to the point. “We’re gonna be in the Hudson,” Capt. Chesley Sullenberger calmly says to controllers. To which a disbelieving New York TRACON controller handling LaGuardia Airport departures calls to the Airbus A320, a flight given the call sign Cactus 1549.
Fossil of super snake found in Colombia: February 5, 2009 in print edition on A2; It was the mother of all snakes, a behemoth as long as a school bus and as heavy as a Volkswagen Beetle, that ruled the Amazon rainforest for 2 million years before slithering into nonexistence. Now this 43-foot-long monster has resurfaced in fossils taken from an open-pit coal mine in Colombia.
2009 Kansas Football Signees: J-W Staff Reports; February 5, 2009; The following is a list of the 2009 Kansas football signees.
Kansas women repel Buffs, 65-54: By Chuck Woodling; February 5, 2009 in print edition on B3; Danielle McCray scored 24 points, leading the Kansas women’s basketball team to a 65-54 victory over the Colorado Buffaloes Wednesday night at Allen Fieldhouse.
Legislature for seniors seeking candidates: February 5, 2009 in print edition on A3; The Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging Inc. and the Kansas Department on Aging announced that the deadline for filing to become a candidate for the Kansas Silver Haired Legislature is Wednesday. The Silver Haired Legislature informs the public and the Kansas Legislature on concerns of the elderly.
Rooms without rules: Interior designer Jack Collins is all about individuality: By Jennifer Oldridge; February 5, 2009 in print edition on C1; Rule No. 1 in interior design: Stop purchasing matching sets of anything!
Pump patrol: February 5, 2009 in print edition on A3; The Journal-World found gas prices as low as $1.77 at several locations.
At your service: KU Info sets up shop in heart of campus: By Andy Hyland; February 5, 2009 in print edition on A1; Jack Connor admits he gets weird stares from his friends who see him encased in a small booth off Jayhawk Boulevard between Stauffer-Flint and Bailey halls. The Overland Park senior works for KU Info and has been assigned to a new on-campus location twice a week since the question-and-answer service expanded its options this semester. “I don’t think most people realize it’s here,” he said.
Nine city football players joining Coffeyville: By Matt Tait; February 5, 2009 in print edition on B1; When Darian Dulin took over the head coaching job at Coffeyville Community College before the 2008 season, he spoke of a desire to incorporate Lawrence into the school’s recruiting range. He wasn’t kidding.
Daschle loss overshadows Gregg gain: By David Broder; February 5, 2009 in print edition on B7; In a striking repetition of the up-and-down pattern of the Democratic primaries a year ago, President Obama filled one Cabinet vacancy on Tuesday but saw another one embarrassingly come open. I had just begun a column congratulating him on recruiting Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire as Commerce secretary when news broke that Tom Daschle, the former Senate majority leader who left lots of taxes unpaid, was withdrawing as the nominee for secretary of Health and Human Services.
Virtual tours offer garden inspiration: By Dean Fosdick - Associated Press Writer; February 5, 2009 in print edition on C2; Travel is a great way to top off an education, especially for gardeners, who can pick up landscape and planting ideas and advice by seeing others’ gardens.
Gregg ex-staffer caught up in corruption probe: By Devlin Barrett and Erica Werner - Associated Press Writers; February 5, 2009 in print edition on A6; An ex-aide to Commerce Secretary nominee Judd Gregg is under investigation for allegedly taking baseball and hockey tickets from a lobbyist in exchange for legislative favors. The revelation comes at a particularly bad time for President Barack Obama’s administration, a day after he had to defend his selection process because two high-profile nominees withdrew due to tax problems.
People in the news: February 5, 2009 in print edition on B6; • Emmys to add 10 nominations• Franco wins Harvard Hasty Pudding award• Springsteen ‘furious’ with Ticketmaster• Blagojevich says he’s misunderstood• ABC to air Bob Saget sitcom after ‘Dancing’• Mandrell, Clark, McCoy join Country Hall of Fame• ‘Fringe’ co-stars Anna Torv, Mark Valley wed
Feast or famine?: Mangino’s recruiting class arguably best yet — on paper; By Dugan Arnett; February 5, 2009 in print edition on B1; On Wednesday afternoon, a little after 3, Kansas University football coach Mark Mangino released his 2009 recruiting class, a 24-member group that, in the eyes of many, is a very promising class of players.
Horoscopes: February 5, 2009 in print edition on B6; This year, the unexpected rides in from out of left field. You’ll learn to deal with unpredictability well if you keep your eye on the big picture. Creativity fills in when you cannot find a solution. If you are single, you’ll meet people with ease. If you are attached, the two of you could become much closer with secluded getaways and nurturing.
In colon cancer drug study, more wasn’t better: By Stephanie Nano - Associated Press Writer; February 5, 2009 in print edition on C8; Doctors thought that combining two newer drugs that more precisely attack cancer would help people with advanced colon cancer. Instead, it made the cancer worse and made the patients more miserable, a study found.
Force shrubs into bloom for earlier spring color: By Jennifer Smith; February 5, 2009 in print edition on C1; The forsythia and quince will be blooming a little earlier this year at the Douglas County Extension Office.

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