The day in photos, March 18, 2011

photo by: Graham Gordon | Special to the Journal-World

Jessica Brack, of De Soto, and her husband, Lt. j.g. Ryan Brack, have been stationed at the Naval Air Facility Atsugi for the past year and experienced the devastating earthquake that hit Japan last week. Ryan, a helicopter pilot, is working with the naval relief efforts. Jessica will be returning to the U.S. with the rest of the military dependents in Japan as part of a mandatory evacuation.

photo by: Thad Allender

Rachelle Preston, a corrections officer at the Douglas County Jail, monitors activity from inside central control in this January 2007 photo. The Douglas County Commission approved the $187,270 purchase of a new security system for the jail Wednesday.

photo by: Javier Casella | Associated Press, Casa De Narino Press Office

Kansas University Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little presents an autographed basketball to Colombian President and KU alumnus Juan Manuel Santos during a visit at the Presidential Palace in Bogota, Colombia, Thursday March 17, 2011.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Elijah Johnson hands off one more autographed basketball before leaving the court following the Jayhawks' practice on Thursday, March 17, 2011 at the BOK Center.

photo by: Kevin Anderson

A green horse trots down Massachusetts Street during the annual Lawrence St. Patrick's Day Parade Thursday, March 17, 2011.

photo by: Whitney Mathews

Lawrence school board candidate Keith Diaz Moore chats with LJWorld.com users at the News Center, 645 N.H., Thursday, March 17.

photo by: Marilyn Hull

From left, Nancy O'Connor, Karen Schneck, Lily Siebert and Dan Phelps talk about the West Junior High School garden project during a community meeting Wednesday, March 16, 2011, at the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds.

photo by: Richard Gwin

In this December 2010 file photo, a sign warns drivers of construction on Kasold Drive.