Lawrence Journal-World 05-14-11

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L A W R E N C E

JOURNAL-WORLD

®

75 CENTS

SATURDAY • MAY 14 • 2011

Cloudy and breezy

High: 58

Low: 41

Today’s forecast, page 10A

INSIDE

Engineering school receives $32 million Gift from Charles and Mary Jane Spahr is largest-ever estate contribution to KU By Andy Hyland ahyland@ljworld.com

Kansas University’s School of Engineering is the beneficiary of a $32 million gift from the estate of Charles E. and Mary Jane Bruckmiller Spahr, the largest estate gift received in the university’s history. “It’s a great time to celebrate the culmination of many years of working with Charlie and Janie Spahr,” said Dale Seuferling, KU Endowment Association president.

KU runner wants spot on Olympic team Had Kansas University runner Keron Toussaint stayed in New York, he says, he probably would have ended up dead or in jail. But before that could happen, his mother sent him to Lawrence to live with his aunt. Today, Toussaint will run for KU in the Big 12 championships, and he hopes to earn a spot on Grenada’s 2012 trackand-field Olympic team. Page 1B

The gift was announced Friday at a reception at the school. During their lifetime, the Spahrs donated $13 million to KU, Seuferling said, in addition to the $32 million estate gift, for a $45 million total contribution to KU. The money will be used to create an endowed fund designed to benefit the KU engineering school in perpetuity. The amount generated annually will grow over time, but will likely begin generating more than $1.5 million every year Please see GIFT, page 2A

Richard Gwin/Journal-World Photo

KANSAS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING DEAN STUART BELL, with the help of engineering students holding cards, announces the $32 million gift from the estate of Charles E. and Mary Jane Bruckmiller Spahr, the largest estate gift received in the university’s history. The students’ signs spell out $45 million, which is the total contribution the Spahrs have donated to KU.

Legislature approves $13.8 billion Kan. budget

Pomp and circum-dance ———

Haskell powwow celebrates graduation

HEALTH

Allergy symptoms hitting many hard

By John Milburn

As allergy sufferers may have suspected, this year has been worse for those with sensitive respiratory systems. Heavy snow and rain in some parts of the country have nourished a profusion of tree pollen, while a sudden shift to warm, sunny weather has made its release more robust. Page 7A

Associated Press Writer

QUOTABLE

I don’t expect them to get up there and start doing karaoke, but we need somebody with a little more spunk.” — William Johnson, an Ohio Republican who, like 45 percent of his party, according to a recent poll, is unsatisfied with the current 2012 Republican presidential candidates. Page 7A

Kevin Anderson/Journal-World Photos

ABOVE, NAVY VETERAN TYRONE WILSON of New Mexico participated in the gourd dance Friday evening at the Commencement Powwow at the Haskell Powwow Grounds. AT TOP: Michelle Ahshapanek-Dude, 3, looks up at other dancers of the Tlingit tribe from Juneau, Alaska, during the grand entry dance ceremony Friday evening at the Commencement Powwow. AT LEFT: Joy McCullough-Baz and her son Caleb used an umbrella and heavy blanket to ward off the cold wind on a chilly evening while watching the opening ceremony Friday evening at the powwow.

COMING SUNDAY Tag along with Journal-World reporter Chad Lawhorn as he enters the intricate world of playing bridge.

FOLLOW US Facebook.com/LJWorld Twitter.com/LJWorld

INDEX Business Classified Comics Deaths Events listings Faith Horoscope Movies Opinion Puzzles Sports Television Vol.153/No.134

6A 1C-6C 8C 2A 10A, 2B 10B 7C 5A 9A 7C 1B-7B 5A, 2B, 7C 28 pages

Energy smart: The Journal-World makes the most of renewable resources. www.b-e-f.org

LJWorld.com

Haskell graduates look forward to future at commencement ceremony. Page 3A

TOPEKA — Kansas legislative leaders share a difference of opinion over the impact of the $13.8 billion budget they sent to Gov. Sam Brownback early Friday. The bill finances state government starting July 1, making cuts in public schools, social services and general government administration. Kansas will spend $881 million less than it will in the current year, erasing a one-time shortfall of nearly $500 million and creating a $50 million surplus in 2012. House Minority “They got their work done on Leader Paul time and under budget,” BrownDavis, Dback said in a statement Friday. Much of the reductions reflect Lawrence, said the decision not to replace one- no Democrat time federal stimulus dollars used voted for the in the past two years to support budget because education and social services. “No Democrat Unlike 2010 when legislators also raised the state sales tax rate was willing to to balance the ledger, the Repub- sacrifice Kansas lican-controlled Legislature citizens so the turned to a sharp knife to keep state can stash government in business. money away in “There’s a lot of heartburn with the things we did,” said House its bank Appropriations Committee account.” Chairman Marc Rhoades, a Newton Republican, in passing the bill before the 90day session closed shortly before dawn. None of the 33 House or eight Senate Democrats voted for the budget. They argued that the cuts would lead to larger class sizes and teacher layoff, as well as eliminate services for thousands of developmentally disabled residents. “No Democrat was willing to sacrifice Kansas citizens so the state can stash money away in its bank account,” said House Minority Leader Paul Davis of Lawrence. Added Senate Democratic leader Anthony Please see BUDGET, page 2A

Budget provision targets Planned Parenthood —————

State moves to ‘zero out’ federal funding; reproductive health organization may file lawsuit By Scott Rothschild

Thousands of Kansans are now at risk of losing access to TOPEKA — Buried in the $13.8 bil- basic, preventative health lion state budget approved by the Legislature early Friday is a provi- care.” srothschild@ljworld.com

sion that Planned Parenthood says essentially ends federal family plan- — Peter Brownlie, president and chief executive officer of Planned Parenthood of Kansas ning funding to its Kansas clinics. “Thousands of Kansans are now at and Mid-Missouri risk of losing access to basic, preventative health care,” said Peter Brownlie, president and chief executive erupted in cheers and the overall officer of Planned Parenthood of budget was passed later with only Kansas and Mid-Missouri. Republican support. The dispute is over federal funds But Gov. Sam Brownback, a Republican, hailed the measure. that are passed through by states to Speaking to the House GOP caucus Planned Parenthood clinics. Aboron Thursday before a vote on the tion opponents have worked against budget, Brownback said Kansas this funding at the federal level and would become only the second state in some states because some in the nation to “zero out funding of Planned Parenthood clinics perform Planned Parenthood.” The caucus abortions.

Planned Parenthood argues that under the law the federal funds cannot be used to pay for abortions. But its critics say that any public money that goes to Planned Parenthood indirectly supports abortion services. The budget approved by the Kansas Legislature includes a provision that puts Planned Parenthood at the bottom of an eligibility list for the federal funds. The funds go toward getting lowincome women health care, such as birth control, cancer screenings, pap tests, annual exams, and sexually transmitted disease testing and treatment. In Kansas, Planned Parenthood says it provides more than 3,000 pap tests and breast exams, 9,000 birth control visits, and 18,000 sexually transmitted disease tests. Planned Parenthood currently receives about $334,000 in

funding under the program. Planned Parenthood’s health centers in Wichita and Hays, which receive the funding, do not provide abortion services. They serve nearly 9,000 women per year, and the Hays clinic is one of the only clinics in that area that offers family planning services to low-income women, according to the organization. Brownlie said Planned Parenthood is considering filing a lawsuit to prevent the budget provision from taking effect. Last month, the Indiana Legislature passed a law to withhold funding to Planned Parenthood and the issue is now being litigated. But a federal judge has refused to temporarily block the law while the reproductive health organization fights it. — Statehouse reporter Scott Rothschild can be reached at 785-423-0668.


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