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Ian Cummings (Public safety reporter)

Ian began reporting police and courthouse stories at the Lawrence Journal-World in the winter of 2012. First, he tried many other kinds of work. Ian is an obtuse young man and failed to realize he was supposed to be a crime reporter. The Kansas City native studied anthropology at Kansas University in 2006 before disappearing into Central America for a stretch of years. He hitchhiked to El Salvador on a banana truck. He briefly worked as an amateur electrician before returning to Lawrence as a graduate student in journalism. At various times, he pretended to be a schoolteacher, an archeologist, and a bartender. He has small hands and a quick temper. Ian likes to say he shares those traits with great men: Napoleon, Houdini, and former Kansas City Royals manager Hal McRae. Others say McRae had normal-sized hands. Ian’s work has also appeared in The Kansas City Star. He served as editor of the University Daily Kansan student newspaper in the spring and fall of 2012. You can follow him at Twitter.com/iancummings4.

Recent stories

Former KU student sentenced to 30 days in jail, barred from social media, for attacking female student
June 18, 2013
A 21-year-old former Kansas University student was sentenced Tuesday to 30 days in jail and barred from using social media for a period of 18 months after being found guilty of attacking a local female college student in January. By Ian Cummings
Police investigate string of almost 20 auto burglaries in west Lawrence
June 18, 2013
Lawrence police investigated a string of at least 18 auto burglaries in west Lawrence early Tuesday morning, and asked the public to call police with any information about the crime. By Ian Cummings
Lawrence man arrested in alleged beating, robbery
June 18, 2013
A 27-year-old Lawrence man was arrested Monday afternoon in connection with the alleged beating and robbery of a female victim the day before. By Ian Cummings
Lawrence man sentenced to 52 months in prison for February bank robbery
June 18, 2013
A 55-year-old Lawrence man has been sentenced to 52 months in prison after being convicted of a Feb. 20 robbery at the Midwest Credit Union, 1015 W. Sixth St. By Ian Cummings
Blackmail charges dropped against Baldwin City woman
June 18, 2013
Douglas County prosecutors have dropped a blackmail charge filed last year against a 31-year-old Baldwin City woman accused of trying to blackmail a convicted Lawrence sex offender. By Ian Cummings
19-year-old Lawrence man found guilty of having sex with 14-year-old girl
June 17, 2013
A 19-year-old Lawrence man has been found guilty of one felony count of having sex with a child. By Ian Cummings
Ottawa El Mezcal restaurant closed by Immigration and Customs officials
June 14, 2013
The El Mezcal Mexican restaurant in Ottawa was closed Friday as part of a criminal investigation by federal immigration and customs authorities. By Ian Cummings
Hung jury in Valley Falls attempted murder case leads to second mistrial
June 14, 2013
A second mistrial was declared Friday in the attempted murder case against a 62-year-old Valley Falls man because the jury could not reach a verdict. By Ian Cummings
Three arrested, more charges filed, in alleged drug-related robbery at Lawrence McDonald’s
02:24 p.m., June 14, 2013 Updated 04:11 p.m.
Three Topeka men were arrested Thursday in connection with what police investigators are calling a drug-related robbery two weeks ago outside a Lawrence McDonald’s. With the arrests, four suspects are now in custody in the case. Two of them appeared in court Friday to face charges.
Former Franklin County Attorney resigns from Johnson County prosecutor’s office
June 14, 2013
Heather Jones, the former Franklin County attorney, has resigned from her post as a prosecutor in Johnson County in order to go into private practice. Allegations that Jones had been involved in a sexual affair with Jeff Curry, who at the time was Franklin County sheriff, and had bought methamphetamine from a confidential informant, surfaced in a criminal case against Curry in April. Attorneys representing both Curry and Jones strongly denied the drug allegations, and Jones has not been charged with any crimes.

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