WRITER: Chad Lawhorn

Wiretapped phone call of KU coach may become part of NCAA inquiry; AD confirms NCAA hasn't started on De Sousa review

University of Kansas Athletic Director Jeff Long said Thursday that a wiretapped phone conversation where a KU coach and an Adidas representative discussed the possibility of paying a recruit may be part of a future “inquiry” with the NCAA. But Long left unclear whether he has done anything to already ascertain what the intentions were of KU assistant basketball coach Kurtis Townsend when he was caught on ...

KU now refuses to share info with public on $1.5M in Adidas payments; last week it said lack of personnel was reason for delay

KU accepted $1.5 million in extra payments from the shoe company at the center of a college basketball corruption case, but now KU is refusing to release documents detailing the conditions attached to the money. An attorney for Kansas Athletics Inc. on Monday evening denied the Journal-World’s open records request seeking documents related to $1.5 million in extra royalty payments the department received ...

Regional chain plans to open 2 breakfast restaurants in Lawrence, one of them downtown

It has been hard to be an egghead in Lawrence lately. In the age-old question of what came first, the chicken or the egg, the answer in Lawrence seemed to be the fried chicken. But now, fans of the egg can take heart. The regional chain Jimmy’s Egg has confirmed it is opening not one but two Lawrence breakfast restaurants. I reported in July about speculation that Jimmy’s Egg had reached a deal to locate ...

How deeply will NCAA dig into KU's recruiting? That question and others still loom after trial

The trial is over but the questions aren’t for the University of Kansas and its involvement in a college basketball recruiting scandal that may well send some former KU partners to prison. Former Adidas employee James Gatto, former Adidas consultant Merl Code and aspiring NBA agent Christian Dawkins all were convicted of various fraud charges by a federal jury in New York on Wednesday. Various media outlets ...

New ownership for one of Lawrence's longtime Italian restaurants

Justin Wilk has eaten more pasta in the last month than at any other time in his life. For some of us that would be saying a lot since my motto once was “I put the uh-oh in Spaghetti O's.” But don’t worry, Wilk is not eating that low-brow fare. Instead, he’s become the owner of one of Lawrence’s longtime Italian restaurants. Wilk last month took over ownership of the The Basil Leaf Cafe at 616 W. ...

KU cites lack of personnel for delay in providing records related to unexplained $1.5M in Adidas payments

Update - In statement following verdicts, KU says it is evaluating options on Adidas contract As former Adidas executives face a federal jury, KU continues to delay the release of documents that could shed light on the university’s financial relationship with the now controversial apparel company. The Journal-World reported on Oct. 12 that the board of directors of Kansas Athletics Inc. had been told ...