Police seek help locating suspect

Leo J. Johnston had drug-possession charges against him dropped recently because of a police officer’s firing.

That didn’t signal the end of his contact with law enforcement.

On Thursday, Douglas County Crime Stoppers offered a reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads police to Johnston, 19, of Eudora. He’s wanted for allegedly violating probation in an aggravated battery case.

People with information about Johnston’s whereabouts can call Crime Stoppers at 843-8477 (TIPS).

Johnston had charges of cocaine dealing, possession of marijuana and failure to pay a drug tax dismissed Feb. 18 after the firing of Lawrence Police Officer Stuart “Mike” Peck.

11 other universities vie for presidential debate

The committee hoping to bring a presidential debate to Lawrence now knows its competition.

The Commission on Presidential Debates on Thursday announced that 14 organizations have applied for the three debates. In addition to Kansas University and Lawrence, 11 other universities, National Public Radio and the Pittsburgh Convention and Visitors Bureau are vying for debates.

Those involved with the Lawrence nomination are expecting to hear in the next month if they’ll be selected for a site visit. The final selections will be announced by November, with debates scheduled for October 2004.

Other university nominees are Arizona State University in Tempe; Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn.; Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland; Centre College in Danville, Ky.; Columbus State University in Columbus, Ga.; Rochester Institute of Technology in New York; the University of Miami; the University of North Carolina at Charlotte; the University of South Carolina in Columbia; Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.; and Washington University in St. Louis.