¢ National sports commentator Jim Lampley has been arrested for domestic violence against a woman who was Miss California USA 2003 for an alleged incident that occurred in San Diego. But Linda Lee, a Kansas University journalism professor and the first of Lampley’s three former wives, told the Associated Press she can’t believe the charges._”He’s like nobody else. I adore him,” Lee said. “We’ve been friends since we were kids. We grew up together. We were married for a while. We’re still friends. When I heard this, it was just unimaginable.__”I know the man, I’ve known him for years. He’s not capable of striking a woman, in my opinion. I’ve never seen him strike anything or anyone. I’ve never seen him strike a pillow, that’s not his nature. He’s a very gentle man and very even-tempered.”_¢ A firefighter statue headed to Lawrence’s new fire station is the subject of a story in the Aberdeen (S.D.) American News today. Some in the artist’s home town are hoping to raise money to create a statue of their own for a fire station there._The 500-pound bronze statue was created over a seven-month period by (artist Ben) Victor, who won out the job over 100 competitors earlier this year. The statue, which features a firefighter in full gear ready to head back into a fire, earned Victor a commission of $65,510, which doesn’t include the cost of materials.__The statue was originally included in the budget of a new fire station that the City Council has approved building. However, the funds for it were cut. (Fire Chief Bill) Winter said he hopes with a little fundraising from the public the statue can still be a reality at the new station._¢ George O. McCalep Jr., a Lawrence native who helped reconcile racial issues in the Southern Baptist Convention, has died, the BPNews reports. McCalep, who was pastor of a church in Decatur, Ga., for 27 years, dealt with racial discrimination in the church._In 2003, McCalep recounted in an interview with The Journal-Constitution how he was received at his first SBC annual meeting in 1980.__”I felt very alienated and lonely,” he said. “People got up and changed their seat when I sat down.”_¢ David Perlmutter, professor and associate dean at the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications at KU, offers his career advice for professors in the Chronicle of Higher Education._There comes a time when every assistant professor, if he or she is to survive in academe, must learn how to “manage up.” By that, I mean learning how to negotiate the intricacies of a relationship with a dean or department head.__That skill seems to come naturally to some new Ph.D.’s; for others, like myself, not so much._¢ Burdett Loomis, political science professor at KU, tells the Boston Globe that the president of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, who was expected to plead guilty to a felony today, would probably have difficulty keeping his job._”Pleading guilty to a felony is kind of a problem for an interest-group leader,” said Burdett Loomis, a lobbying expert at the University of Kansas._¢ The Homeland Stupidity satire Web site posted a column today about the government monitoring what’s sent in the mail. It mentions a retired Kansas University professor’s letter from the Philippines that was opened by Customs and Border Protection. Read the original Journal-World story here.¢ Ed Kracz, a columnist for the PhillyBurbs.com, notes that all is well again in Lawrence because the Jayhawks have returned to the top 10 in the Associated Press basketball poll._You wake up in Lawrence, Kansas, pour yourself a bowl of corn flakes and begin unfolding the newspaper. Being an avid follower of the University of Kansas’ basketball team, the sports section is your first stop.__Ah, the Jayhawks won again, up to No. 9 in the AP poll. Nice._