Mark Fagan / LJWorld.com

Staff

Mark Fagan (Transportation reporter)

I’ve been a reporter and editor at the Journal-World since 1992, and have been turning stories and other content for 6News and LJWorld.com since before media convergence was considered cool.

While I now concentrate on transportation news, I’ve been known to dip into matters ranging from business to bioscience to Kansas University basketball.

For a story, I once drove a former Winston Cup car for 10 laps around Kansas Speedway, apparently at speeds reaching 165 mph (that’s what they told me; the car had no speedometer, not that I would have chanced looking at it anyway).

I say roundabouts make sense both on paper and in practice, although I have many friends who constantly try to convince me otherwise. And bacon is the greatest meat on Earth.

I also drive a Honda Odyssey minivan, and am darned happy about that — I figure its well earned family-wagon appearance has helped me avoid at least a few tickets, compared with the citation-magnet red Civic I used to drive.

Recent stories

Don’t underestimate your p’s and q’s, Lawrence professionals say: By Mark Fagan; November 22, 2009; Micah Kimball hid in the kitchen. Mark Woodward went to school. And Evan Ice?
Wheel Genius: Road work set for this week: By Mark Fagan; November 22, 2009; A rundown of road work set for this week around the Lawrence area.
Farmers’ Turnpike reopens after four months of construction: By Mark Fagan; November 20, 2009; The Farmers’ Turnpike will be open for traffic Friday, more than four months after a major section of the road at the northwestern edge of Lawrence closed for reconstruction.
One bridge spectator will really have a blast: By Mark Fagan; 12:00 a.m., November 18, 2009 Updated 02:29 p.m.; One of the Kansas Turnpike Authority’s 100 or so invited guests will get a chance to blast a 250-ton section of steel with the push of a button.
Documents show what it looks like when Mangino loses his temper: Coach accused of berating student parking employee in 2007, has not had a ticket since; By Mark Fagan; November 17, 2009; The summer before Kansas football would embark on its most successful season in history, the team’s coach would be accused of verbally berating a KU student who had issued him the latest of nearly two dozen tickets for illegally parking in a loading zone near his office.
Bridge no match for explosives: By Mark Fagan; November 16, 2009; Turns out 250 tons of riveted, reinforced steel doesn’t stand a chance against 6 pounds of copper-encased explosives.
Section of the Turnpike bridge comes down with a concussion and then a cloud of dust: By Mark Fagan; 11:10 a.m., November 15, 2009 Updated 03:24 p.m.; Today’s successful dropping of a 250-ton section of original Kansas River bridge along the Kansas Turnpike now has officials turning their attention to 10 a.m. Thursday, the anticipated time for detonating another 6 pounds of explosives to cut through the rusted steel structure.
Going out with a bang: Today’s explosions first of 3 to remove original spans; By Mark Fagan; November 15, 2009; The Kansas Turnpike Authority’s ongoing $130 million reconstruction project takes an explosive turn this week, with scheduled demolition of two portions of original bridges that cross the Kansas River.
Wheel Genius: Road work this week: By Mark Fagan; November 15, 2009; Road work for the week of November 15, 2009.
First blast on section of Kansas Turnpike river bridge scheduled for early Sunday afternoon: First phase of demolition will be at 12:30 p.m. Sunday; By Mark Fagan; 03:29 p.m., November 10, 2009 Updated 04:48 p.m.; Part of an original Kansas River bridge along the Kansas Turnpike is scheduled to be blasted at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, marking the first of three explosive events connected to a $130 million reconstruction project.

Full story list

Recent photos

Messages for Mother's Day are rising on the fronts and sides of some KU on Wheels buses.

Some KU on Wheels drivers are using their bus message windows to alert students to what's important: Calling home to wish mom a happy Mother's Day, which is Sunday.

Underground Kansas main picture.

Visitors view displays in the Kansas Underground Salt Museum in Hutchinson.

Arnold Schwarzenegger's wardrobe from his role as Mr. Freeze in the movie "Batman & Robin" is on display in the Kansas Underground Salt Museum in Hutchinson.

Full photo list