The president of Culture Farms of Lawrence and 11 other people were indicted by a federal grand jury. Each were charged with 63 counts of mail fraud and one count of conspiracy in connection with the cash-for-cultures scheme that brought in more than $80 million of investors’ money. U.S. Atty. Benjamin Burgess said that the 12 had “diverted an amount in excess of $10 million of investors’ money to their own benefit.” Conviction on all counts could result in a maximum fine of $73,000 for each defendant and up to five years imprisonment, Burgess said.

Big Bob’s Used Carpets was allowed to keep its big controversial red-white-and-blue sign, according to a recent Lawrence Municipal Court decision. The ruling stated that a portion of the city’s sign ordinance was unconstitutional in that it was “impermissibly vague and over-broad” and violated the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment of the Constitution.