A BARREL FULL OF MONKEYS New Zealand theater troupe bringing unusual play to Lied Center Going Out, 6A
L A W R E NC E
Journal-World
®
75 cents
LJWorld.com
THURSDAY • JANUARY 22 • 2015
Obama arrives
Spike in flu cases leads to hospital mask order By Elliot Hughes Twitter: @elliothughes12
John Young/Journal-World Photo
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SALUTES MEMBERS OF THE KANSAS AIR NATIONAL GUARD as he steps down from Air Force One after arriving Wednesday night at Forbes Field in Topeka. Pictured in foreground, from left, with their backs to the camera are Col. Ronald Krueger, Gov. Sam Brownback and Topeka Mayor Larry Wolgast, who were there to greet the president. Obama is giving a speech today on the Kansas University campus.
President to deliver speech at KU today By Peter Hancock Twitter: @LJWpqhancock
Topeka — President Barack Obama arrived in Lawrence on Wednesday night in advance of a speech he will deliver on the Kansas University campus today. Air Force One touched down at 7:30 p.m. at Forbes Field in Topeka, and the president was greeted on the tarmac by Gov. Sam Brownback, Topeka Mayor Larry Wolgast and Col. Ronald Krueger, wing commander of Kansas Air National Guard’s 190th Air Refueling Group, which is based out of Forbes. The men appeared to have a
brief but friendly and animated conversation before the president got into his motorcade and headed to a Lawrence hotel, where he arrived about 8:30 p.m. “I’m delighted to have the president in Kansas,” Brownback said after the greeting. “It’s an honor anytime the president travels to your state.” Obama is scheduled to speak at Anschutz Sports Pavilion on the KU campus around 11:20 a.m. It will be his second public appearance since delivering his sixth State of the Union address Tuesday. He also spoke Wednesday in Boise, Idaho. Please see OBAMA, page 5A
Watch the speech You can see President Obama’s speech streamed live at LJWorld.com. The speech is scheduled to start at 11:20 a.m. Kansas University Libraries will host an Obama watch party at Watson Library. The library plans to show a live feed of Obama’s remarks, scheduled to begin at 11:20 a.m. The Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont St., is also showing the speech on its auditorium big screen.
Twitter: @saramarieshep
Securing a ticket just to be in the same — giant — room with President Barack Obama had thousands of Kansas University students
giddy on Tuesday. Imagine the excitement of a select number getting a special spot. “I couldn’t even breathe,” junior Ramiro Sarmiento said of receiving a message he was selected to stand in a group
Business Classified Comics Deaths
Low: 18
Today’s forecast, page 8A
2A 4B-7B 9B 2A
Events listings Horoscope Opinion Puzzles
Man convicted in beer-bottle death is free pending appeal Twitter: @CaitlinDoornbos
various departments at KU and 11 students from Haskell Indian Nations University chosen for preferred seating during Obama’s remarks. The president is scheduled to
A 23-year-old man sentenced in August to 32 months in prison for involuntary manslaughter in the 2012 death of Nicholas Sardina is free pending his appeal — a development that came as a surprise to the prosecutor in the case. Justin Gonzalez, who was Gonzalez convicted in June, filed a notice to appeal both his conviction and his sentence the day after his sentencing hearing. The state appellate court added Gonzalez’s appeal to its docket in November and he was granted a $50,000 appeal bond in December, according to Kansas Court of
Please see STUDENTS, page 5A
Please see APPEAL, page 2A
INSIDE
Lots of sun
High: 41
behind Obama when he delivers remarks at KU. “I can’t wait. I saw the State of the Union yesterday and got really excited ... for everything that’s to come in the future.” Sarmiento is one of about 200 students across
Please see FLU, page 2A
By Caitlin Doornbos
Select KU, Haskell students to have special place at event By Sara Shepherd
A sudden spike in influenza cases is forcing Lawrence Memorial Hospital to require that anyone visiting patient areas wear a mask, and the hospital is discouraging children from visiting patients altogether. LMH officials reported as recently as Jan. 15 that it had not been hit hard by the flu. But Janice Early, a spokeswoman for the hospital, said Wednesday that 24 cases have been confirmed at LMH HEALTH over the last three days. She said eight people are currently hospitalized with the flu. “We’re definitely experiencing a peak right now,” she said. Early said that LMH had required that anyone who had not received a flu shot to a wear a mask. But this year’s requirement goes for everyone — visitors, caregivers and other staff — regardless of whether they’ve been vaccinated. The requirement is effective immediately
8A, 2B Sports 8B Television 7A 8B
1B-3B, 7B 8A, 2B, 8B
Residents honored Lawrence’s chamber of commerce is recognizing two local women for their contributions to the community. Page 4A
Join us at Facebook.com/LJWorld and Twitter.com/LJWorld
Wheat State Pizza 1/2 off 2 Medium Pizzas with 2 Toppings!
50% Off Redeem Online
Only
15
$
(Originally $30)
This Print advertisement is not redeemable for advertised deal. Get your deals voucher online at Lawrencedeals.com
Vol.157/No.22 18 pages