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TUESDAY • JANUARY 11 • 2011
City expected to tighten policy on overtime Workers displeased with changes By Chad Lawhorn clawhorn@ljworld.com
Lawrence city employees may punch the time clock with a little bit more frustration in
Corliss
Bitter cold
High: 18
Low: -1
Today’s forecast, page 8A
INSIDE KU’s Mario Little reinstated to team Kansas basketball coach Bill Self on Monday announced that Mario Little, who missed the last six games while on indefinite suspension, has been reinstated for competition. Little was arrested in December on misdemeanor battery and other charges, but has met the requirements of the court and of the team to be allowed to resume play. Page 1B ARTS
Wichita writer wins Newbery medal Top awards for children’s literature were announced Monday, and Clare Vanderpool of Wichita collected the John Newbery Medal for the “most distinguished contribution to American literature for children” for her debut book, “Moon Over Manifest.” Page 4A
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QUOTABLE
We are convinced it’s an emerging industry.” — Dennis Randall, who is the executive vice president of Schuff Steel’s Midwest Division, on wind energy. The company plans to build a 200,000-square-foot wind tower manufacturing plant in Ottawa. Page 3A
COMING WEDNESDAY Local baristas are kind enough to share some of the most popular ways to enjoy warm winter beverages.
the coming days. City commissioners at their meeting this evening are expected to approve a host of changes that will make it more difficult for most city employ-
ees to accrue overtime. The reaction has been clear for managers to read. “Well, they don’t like it, and I understand that,” City Manager David Corliss said of how employees have taken the news. “They don’t like a lot of the economic choices we have
By Scott Rothschild srothschild@ljworld.com
ONLINE: Video and more at LJWorld.com
T O P E K A — Gov. Sam Brownback was sworn into office Monday, saying he wanted to focus on improving the economy and education, but his fellow conservative Republicans indicated they wanted to deal with additional issues, such as abortion and immigration. Brownback, 54, became the 46th governor of the state in an inaugural ceremony that was chased inside the Capitol by a snowstorm. Just hours after taking the oath of office, Brownback convened his Cabinet and urged his appointees to focus on five goals. The goals are to increase Kansans’ net personal income, private sector employment, the percentage of fourth-graders reading at grade level, the percentage of high school graduates who are collegeready, and decrease the percentage of Kansas children living in poverty. These were the same goals he announced during his campaign. Brownback had the goals printed on laminated cards and handed them to
Richard Gwin/Journal-World Photo
REPUBLICAN SAM BROWNBACK is sworn in as the state’s 46th governor by Chief Justice Lawton Nuss as Brownback’s wife, Mary, holds the Bible Monday at the Capitol in Topeka. his Cabinet secretaries. “I’m not asking you to tie it around your neck,” Brownback told Cabinet members, but, he added, “All of our jobs are dependent on these five measurables moving in the right direction.” But Brownback’s fellow conservatives quickly showed they had additional goals as the 2011 Legislature started. They filed bills to repeal in-state tuition for children of illegal immigrants and further restrict late-term abortions. The proposals have for the past several
years been turned back by a coalition of moderate Republicans and Democrats. That coalition, however, was destroyed in the last election. But most of the day was devoted to tradition and ceremony. After being sworn into office, Brownback gave a short speech in the House chamber, saying Kansas will rise above current economic and societal problems. But Brownback provided no details on his plan to balance the budget in the face of a growing $550 million revenue shortfall.
“Our administration will focus on the basics,” he said. Brownback will give his State of the State address on Wednesday and is expected to unveil his proposed budget on Thursday. His speech focused on Kansas’ place in history, saying it was the land of hope, freedom and opportunity. A two-term U.S. senator, and former presidential candidate, Brownback has long touted anti-tax, small government and anti-abortion positions. Republicans swept all
statewide and congressional races in November’s election, the first time since 1964. Secretary of State Kris Kobach is known nationally for pushing laws aimed at illegal immigration. And new Attorney General Derek Schmidt has said he will file a legal challenge to the federal health care reform act. In addition, Republicans hold a 92-33 advantage over Democrats in the House and a 32-8 advantage in the Senate. — Statehouse reporter Scott Rothschild can be reached at 785-423-0668.
Superintendent drives before calling off school By Mark Fagan
nant conditions that figure into his decision, he said. When it snows, Rick Doll is the “Cold is a factor, guy who determines whether but only as it 11,000 kids and 1,600 teachers and relates to whether other licensed personnel need to it’s combined with show up for school. moisture,” Doll said. He doesn’t leave much to chance. He knows his Doll “From 4 till about 4:45 or 5, I decisions can trigdrive the streets,” said Doll, superinger parental fury. tendent of Lawrence public schools. “For working parents who don’t “I don’t like to call it off unless I have child care, it’s a tremendous have personal, firsthand knowlburden on our families when we call edge.” off school,” Doll said. “You have to He gets plenty of advice. Officials keep that in mind. That’s one way to from the district and its transporta- keep it reasonable. tion contractor, First Student, also “It’s one of the most difficult drive the district’s most troubledecisions I make all year.” some routes, reporting signs of difBut sometimes there’s no doubt ficult passage. that school will be canceled. On In the end, it is Doll who deterMonday night, as snow continued mines whether kids can get safely to fall, along with the temperatures, to and from school. Snow and ice it was announced that Lawrence — not subfreezing temperatures students would get another day off and blustery wind — are the domitoday. mfagan@ljworld.com
INDEX
Mike Yoder/Journal-World Photo
CREWS WORK TO OVERTURN a Douglas County snowplow Monday that flipped over on U.S. Highway 56 about four miles west of U.S. Highway 59. Snow-packed roads throughout the county made for difficult driving conditions early Monday.
Snow bedevils drivers but cheers many students ————
Most local, area schools will be closed again today Energy smart: The Journal-World makes the most of renewable resources. www.b-e-f.org
Please see CITY, page 2A
New governor reiterates 5 goals
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5A 4B-8B 7A 2A 8A 7B 4A 6A 2A 7B 1B-3B 5A, 7B 16 pages
eight hours in a day, regardless of whether they worked 40 hours in the week. ● Employees won’t be able to count vacation or sick leave in the calculation of whether they have worked 40 hours in a week.
Brownback takes state reins
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had to make lately.” The new policy includes two major changes: ● City workers won’t be paid overtime unless they work more than 40 hours in a week. Currently, some city employees — though not all — get paid overtime if they work more than
By George Diepenbrock gdiepenbrock@ljworld.com
ONLINE: See video, a photo gallery, a list of closings and more at LJWorld.com
Monday’s winter storm dropped several inches of snow on Lawrence. Now weather forecasters are warning Lawrence residents to brace for a cold week as a northwesterly wind is expected to bring brutal wind chill temperatures through Thursday.
“It’s winter in Kansas. It’s the middle of January. It’s going to be cold,” said Matt Wolters, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Topeka. “We just need to be cautious and take extra precautions.” The snow caused some issues for commuters, but as of Monday night no major injury accidents were reported. Douglas County Undersheriff Please see BITTER, page 2A
SHOVEL YOUR WALK Property owners are required to clear sidewalks within 48 hours of a winter storm. People can call in a complaint at 832-7700 or submit one online at lawrenceks.org. Fines of $20 per day can be assessed, plus violators must pay Municipal Court costs of $52.
GINNY BESSON, 2, slides down a hill near Memorial Stadium Monday. Ginny was with her twin sister, Sidra, and their mother, Erin Besson. Mike Yoder/Journal-World Photo