The day in photos, April 8, 2011

photo by: Joe Preiner

Charles Shields, author of the New York Times bestseller "Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee" spoke to a crowd at the Lawrence Public Library Thursday night. The event kicked off the annual Read Across Lawrence community reading event for 2011.

photo by: Kevin Anderson

Joe Solar, left, a freshman from Shawnee, had the outside corner in one race heat. The Kansas Student Union Activities hosted the first ever Kansas Kart races Thursday at the Viistor's Center parking lot on Daisy Hill. The event is based on the "Mario Kart" classic video game.

photo by: Richard Gwin

Sean Sinclair 20, kneeling, works against Justin Barstow, 22, during an afternoon practice at an MMA club in a garage in Eudora Thursday, April 7, 2011.

photo by: Richard Gwin

In this photo taken in Fall 2010, Kitty Glass of Whispering Cedars Farms lines up her mums in the early morning light at the Lawrence Farmers' Market. On Saturday, the market will open for its 35th year. Producers will be selling goods in the 800 block of New Hampshire from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.

photo by: Brenna Hawley

Representatives from Junior Achievement, Cooper's Cause Foundation and Imagine Drop-In Childcare each receive $22,000 from Debi Drummet, co-chair of the St. Patrick's Day Parade committee. The organization set a record for fundraising this year, beating out last year's total of $52,500 by raising $66,000.

photo by: AP Photo | Tokyo Electric Power Co.

In this photo released by Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), gray smoke rises from Unit 3 of the tsunami-stricken Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant in Okumamachi, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, Monday, March 21, 2011. Official says the TEPCO temporarily evacuated its workers from the site. At left is Unit 2 and at right is Unit 4.

photo by: www.ericwhitacre.com.

The Virtual Choir launched a year ago with 185 people singing "Lux Aurumque" — with words written by Lawrence's Tony Silvestri. The Virtual Choir 2.0 will debut a performance of another of Silvestri's songs, "Sleep," Thursday night.

photo by: Contributed photo

Scott Bowers of Webb City, Mo., — winner of the 2011 KUsports.com bracket contest, sponsored by Kief's Audio/Video in Lawrence.

photo by: Christine Metz

Shortly after coming to office, Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback opened up his own home, the governor's mansion in Topeka, to talk about energy efficiency upgrades people can make at home. Brownback will kickoff the KU Energy Conference on April 14.