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THURSDAY • FEBRUARY 10 • 2011
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Bill requiring disclosure for ads angers Chamber, NRA
Supporters say Kansans should know who’s behind messages ical forces in the state. The Kansas Chamber of Commerce, Americans for ProsperityKansas and National Rifle Association called the proposed legislation an attack on free speech. “This bill is a blatant violation of
By Scott Rothschild srothschild@ljworld.com
TOPEKA — A bill to require disclosure of who funds “issue ads” was blasted on Wednesday by some of the most active and powerful polit-
mittee that the legislation is designed to let Kansas voters know who is behind anonymously funded ads that blanket the state around election time and try to influence the election’s outcome. Carol Jacobson, of Lawrence, who
Please see BILL, page 2A
Manhattan approves sexual orientation ordinance
Taking the plunge into ice-cold water
Mostly sunny
High: 28
the personal privacy rights of all members of our organization and the citizens of the United States of America,” said Jordan Austin, a lobbyist for the NRA. But supporters of the bill told the Senate Ethics and Elections Com-
is co-chair for voter services for the League of Women Voters, said the measure would give voters “accurate, reliable information” so that they can judge the validity of the ads and the motivation behind them. Under current law, independent advocacy groups that are set up as
Low: 14
Today’s forecast, page 8A
INSIDE
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Measure also adds new definition of gender identity Staff and Wire Reports
KU women take down Iowa State in OT
MANHATTAN — The Manhattan City Commission has approved an ordinance that adds sexual orientation and a new definition of gender identity to its anti-discrimination policy. Manhattan joins Lawrence as the only two cities in the state that have local ordinances that prohibit landlords, employers and others from discriminating against people based on their sexual orientation. Tuesday’s vote in Manhattan came after several resi- Manhattan dents testified in favor joins and in oppo- Lawrence as sition to the the only two ordinance, which has cities in the drawn con- state that siderable have such an comment and ordinance. controversy since it was introduced. KMAN reported the commission passed the ordinance on a 32 vote. The Manhattan ordinance also includes a new definition for gender identity. In Lawrence, the local chapter of the Kansas Equality Coalition has lobbied city commissioners over the last two years to add gender identity as a class protected from discrimination. But the city’s Human Relations Commission has declined to recommend the change, and the City Commission has never taken a formal vote on the issue. State law provides protection from discrimination in matters of employment, housing and public accommodations when it comes to race, sex, religion, color, national origin, age, ancestry, or disability. But the state law does not provide protection based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
With 31 points and 8 rebounds, sophomore Carolyn Davis helped KU get its 86-85 overtime victory against No. 22 Iowa State at Allen Fieldhouse. Page 1B
$2M sought from ticket scammers Prosecutors have filed motions for Charlette Blubaugh, Tom Blubaugh and Rodney Jones to forfeit the money illegally gained in the Kansas Athletics ticket scandal. Page 5A
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I am a firm believer that climate change is real. It is happening. The physics are fundamentally sound and the data record is enough that we can see things happening.” — Jack Kaye, associate director for research in NASA’s earth science division speaking at the Dole Institute of Politics on Wednesday. Page 3A
COMING FRIDAY We’ll tell you what members of the public think of the four candidates for Lawrence police chief.
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DIVER ADAM HEFFLEY, LEFT, GETS PULLED FROM A FROZEN POND by members of the Douglas County Underwater Search and Rescue Team as diver Earl Barns, right, gets ready to take his turn. The team practiced rescue dives on Kansas University's West Campus on Wednesday. BELOW, Heffley takes a10-minute dive. The divers in the nine-member team wore dry suits on Wednesday because the water was too cold for wet suits. See a video at LJWorld.com.
Underwater Search and Rescue Team practices emergency dives By Brenna Hawley bhawley@ljworld.com
Four pulls mean send help. Always cut the hole in the shape of a triangle so it’s easier to get out. Don’t breathe into the air tank before going under because moisture can freeze the tank in the open position. If you’re a member of the Douglas County Underwater Search and Recovery Team, these are rules to live by. Wednesday morning, the nine-member team ventured onto a frozen pond for practice dives under 7 inches of ice on Kansas University’s West Campus. The recovery team is called on in all kinds of weather. “It’s dangerous stuff around here,” said Dean Ohman, a member of the multi-agency team from
the sheriff’s office. Ohman said the team, which comprises f ive police officers, one firefighter and three sheriff’s off icers, operates as a recovery team, not a rescue team. Often, they’re called to recover evidence. The county does have a rescue team that responds immediately to emergencies. “We can’t operate that way. We don’t have the people that are sitting there 24/7,” Ohman said. To start the day, the team located a spot on the pond where the water was deep enough to dive in. From there, the team shoveled snow in concentric circles around the location and shoveled lines pointing toward the hole, arrows included. Removing the snow was important so divers would have an indication of where the hole
was, in case they became disoriented. “The deeper you go, the blacker it gets,” Ohman said. Then out came the chainsaw, which was used to cut a triangle-shaped hole. The shape is important, so divers have a corner to back into to get out of the water. Divers donned dry suits, which don’t let any water
in. Terry Haak, a diver with the police department, said the team was moving more toward that type of suit rather than a wet suit. In some dives, for example, water could be contaminated by chemicals. On this one, the water was too cold for a wet suit, and the team took extra precautions. One member Please see DIVERS, page 2A
More employers turn out as job-seeking Jayhawks flock to career fair By Andy Hyland ahyland@ljworld.com
Organizers for the Kansas University Career Center were pleased to see a more diverse and bigger
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group of employers for the university’s annual career fair on Wednesday. Overall, 88 companies signed up for the event, up from a figure in the high 70s last year, organizers
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said. A few manufacturing companies came back this year, along with members of the financial, telecommunications and retail sectors. Though the weather forced a few
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companies to cancel, that didn’t stop a horde of job-seeking Jayhawks, who converged on the Kansas Union to meet and greet their potential employers. Here are a few of their reactions:
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I’ve talked to the FDIC and the Federal Reserve in Kansas City. Both of them seem to be interested in hiring, although the FDIC is in a hiring freeze for right now, so they have to figure out a way to hire people.”
I’m interested in internships in anything involving marketing, sales and media. ... So far, I’ve talked with two companies. One of them was Kraft Foods, and I’ve already got a follow-up interview tomorrow.”
I’m an architecture student. ... This isn’t an architecture fair, but I figured I’d come and try to find something in case the architecture thing doesn’t pan out.”
A lot of companies want people for sales and cold calling. I’m not necessarily looking for that. ... It’s been pretty nice, and hopefully I’ll be getting a call back sometime soon.”
I’ve talked to a few people. They’ve been nice. ... This is the first step for me. Fingers crossed, I’d really kind of like to be an actuary.”
— Eric Degenhardt, senior from Great Bend
— Libby Sauerland, senior from Chicago
— Marla Schleuder, graduate student from Eudora
— Jordan Leboyer, senior from Chicago
— Robert Sharp, senior from Victoria, Texas