KU CLINCHES SHARE OF BIG 12 TITLE ON SENIOR NIGHT Sports 1B
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THURSDAY • MARCH 3 • 2011
Probation, restitution expected for 2 in tickets scam By Mark Fagan mfagan@ljworld.com
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Jeffries
Simmons
Two former Kansas Athletics Inc. employees are in line to spend two years on probation and pay thousands of dollars in restitution for their roles in a ticket-skimming
scheme that cost the department at least $2 million. Jason Jeffries and Brandon Simmons are scheduled to receive their sentences Monday during separate hearings before U.S. District Judge Wesley Brown, in U.S. District Court in Wichita. On Wednesday, Brown filed a “ten-
tative” ruling that calls for Jeffries and Simmons to spend two years on probation on their convictions. Both have pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony — failing to inform authorities about their knowledge of the tickets scheme at KU. Brown intends to order the two to pay restitution: Simmons would be
Health report reveals weaknesses, strengths
responsible for $157,480, and Jeffries would be responsible for $56,000. Federal sentencing guidelines, Brown said, would recommend prison sentences of eight to 14 months, with an option for home detention. But Brown has opted for Please see TICKETS, page 2A
FIRST AMENDMENT
Funeral picketing protected, court says ————
8-1 decision upholds free speech rights of Westboro Baptist Church By Mark Sherman Associated Press
Mike Yoder/Journal-World Photo
MADISON VAUGHN, 12, LAWRENCE, picks out some kumquats Wednesday at The Merc, 901 Iowa, while shopping for groceries with her mother, Laura Vaughn. A new community health assessment released Wednesday by the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department says, among other things, that we are not eating enough fruits and vegetables.
Doctor’s orders: fruits, veggies, exercise By Karrey Britt kbritt@ljworld.com
We are not eating enough fruits and veggies or getting adequate exercise. That’s according to a new community health assessment released Wednesday by the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department. Eighty-one percent of county residents do not eat the recommended five fruits and vegetables per day. When asked about physical activity during the past 30 days, half of the population hadn’t done anything to get their heart rate up, like running, aerobics, or heavy yard work, and 16 percent hadn’t
done leisure exercise like brisk walking or bicycling. Dan Partridge, health department director, said these likely contributed to the rise in diabetes, which now affects nearly 8 percent of the population. On the flip side, we are breathing better. Our smoking rates — teen, smoking during pregnancy, current smokers — have declined. The biggest decline was in the number of residents who allow smoking in their home. It
went from 23 percent of the population in 2005 to 8 percent in 2008, compared with 20 percent statewide. The health department paid the Kansas Health Institute $7,400 to help compile the report, which looks at d e m o g ra p h i c s , h e a l t h fa c to rs l i ke behavior and income, and health outcomes. “We hope this report will spur not only discussion but action among Douglas County residents, organizations, community coalitions and policymakers to make the changes necessary to have a healthier community,” Partridge said.
W A S H I N G T O N — The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that a grieving father’s pain over mocking protests at his Marine son’s funeral must yield to First Amendment protections for free speech. All but one justice sided with a fundamentalist church that has stirred outrage with raucous demonstrations contending God is punishing the military for the nation’s tolerance of homosexuality. The 8-1 decision in favor of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., was the latest in a line of court rulings that, as Chief Justice John Roberts said in his opinion for the court, protects “even hurtful speech on public Albert Snyder issues to ensure that we do not had sued church stifle public debate.” members for the The decision ended a lawsuit emotional pain by Albert Snyder, who sued church members for the emotion- they caused by al pain they caused by showing up showing up at his at his son Matthew’s funeral. As son Matthew’s they have at hundreds of other funeral with funerals, the Westboro members provocative held signs with provocative mes- signs. sages, including “Thank God for dead soldiers,” ‘’You’re Going to Hell,” “God Hates the USA/Thank God for 9/11,” and one that combined the U.S. Marine Corps motto, Semper Fi, with a slur against gay men. Justice Samuel Alito, the lone dissenter, said Snyder wanted only to “bury his son in peace.” Instead, Alito said, the protesters “brutally attacked” Matthew Snyder to attract public attention. “Our profound national commitment to free and open debate is not a license for the vicious
● See the report highlights, page 7A.
Please see COURT, page 7A
Proposed legislation provides financial incentive for early graduation By Scott Rothschild srothschild@ljworld.com
TOPEKA — Kansas students who complete high school a year early would be eligible for up to $3,000 in scholarships from the state to attend college under a bill considered Wednesday. Rep. Jim Howell, R-Derby, said the proposal “creates an incentive for students to strive hard for a goal.” Howell told the House Educa-
tion Budget Committee that some high school seniors are unchallenged and lose momentum in their studies. He said it would be up to students and their families whether to try to graduate early. House Bill 2234 would set up the Early High School Graduation Scholarship Program. The bill would provide scholarships of up to $1,500 per semester for tuition and fees at a post-secondary school for a maximum of two
of about $265,000, according to a state fiscal note. But Rep. Ward Cassidy, R-St. Francis, said in his 40 years as a teacher, principal and school counselor, he knew personally of only one success story of a student who graduated early and went straight to college. He said he knew of more than 20 instances where it didn’t work out. “Many students are not socially ready,” he said.
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— Statehouse reporter Scott Rothschild can be reached at 785-423-0668.
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Rep. Sheryl Spalding, R-Overland Park, however, said she has read studies that say some students, especially gifted ones, who graduate early from high school do well in college. Rep. Lana Gordon, R-Topeka, who is chair of the committee, said she didn’t know yet if the panel would continue working on the bill.
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semesters for students who graduate from high school one year early. The Kansas Department of Education estimates that about 340 students per year would participate in the program. There would also be a reduction of general state aid payments to school districts. By 2012, the program would generate a savings
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