Professor joins study of radioactive waste

A Kansas university professor and administrator has been chosen for a panel examining radioactive waste stored at three federal nuclear facilities.

Don Steeples, professor of geophysics and vice provost for scholarly support, will be one of 20 scholars participating in the study, which was commissioned by the National Academy of Sciences.

The group is charged with reviewing and evaluating U.S. Department of Energy plans for radioactive waste management.

Specifically, the group will examine the Bush administration’s plan to pump out most nuclear material from a site in Savannah River, S.C., and move it to a facility near Yucca Mountain in Nevada. Officials plan to seal the remaining sludge inside the tanks and leave them in place at the Savannah River site.

The group also will examine a plan to manage leftover waste at sites in Idaho and Washington state.

Police arrest suspect in kidnapping, beating

Lawrence Police have arrested an 18-year-old Lawrence man suspected of kidnapping and beating a 16-year-old acquaintance earlier this year in North Lawrence.

The beating happened Feb. 4 after the victim was grabbed and pulled into a vehicle in the 400 block of Lyon Street.

The victim, a Baldwin resident, told police he thought the attack was in retaliation for his talking to police about a 2003 assault at Free State High School, said Sgt. Dan Ward, a Lawrence Police spokesman.

The suspect, Michael D. Landsness, was arrested late Wednesday on a warrant. He’s charged in Douglas County District Court with aggravated kidnapping, aggravated battery and aggravated intimidation of a witness.

Community

Volunteer Fair to offer service opportunities

Lawrence residents looking for a place to volunteer will have plenty of options at the Community Volunteer Fair from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vt.

The event will feature 38 non-profit agencies with volunteer coordinators available to describe the charities.

Both adults and youth are encouraged to attend, and there are several organizations with special volunteer opportunities for teens.

The event is sponsored by the Roger Hill Volunteer Center and Lawrence Public Library as a local kick-off for National Volunteer Week. Volunteer coordinators at the event will receive a special “goodie bag” in recognition of their service.

KU students select new leadership

A junior from Shawnee has been selected to lead the Kansas University student body for the 2005-2006 year.

Nick Sterner, a candidate representing the KUnited coalition, was elected student body president this week. His running mate was Marynell Jones, a junior from Dallas.

They garnered 55 percent of the vote. Delta Force candidates received 36 percent of the vote. Student Voice received 6 percent.

The new leadership will take office April 27.