Lawrence Journal-World 09-17-11

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KU faces Georgia Tech today in 1st road game Sports, pages 6B, 10B

L A W R E NC E

JOURNAL-WORLD ®

75 CENTS

LJWorld.com

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Welfare policies being revised

‘What a precious gift citizenship is’

The rocket at Centennial Park

COSMOSPHERE

Center has eye on city’s missile By Chad Lawhorn clawhorn@ljworld.com

Maybe the Cold War isn’t quite over yet in Lawrence. Lawrence city commissioners at their meeting Tuesday night will formally receive a letter from the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center in Hutchinson asking whether the city would consider donating to the center the Polaris submarinelaunched ballistic missile that long has served as a Cold War monument in Centennial Park. City commissioners are expected to receive the letter and refer the issue to staff members for review, but based on early feedback from the public it seems likely that parting with the missile would receive a mighty chilly reception. “My speculation is we’ll probably be keeping the missile, but we’ll keep their name on file,” City Manager David Corliss said. The missile, of course, is inoperable, but that doesn’t make it any less of a Lawrence landmark. Thousands of cars every day drive by the missile, which is in Centennial Park near the corner of Sixth Street and Rockledge Road. “I’ve always been a fan of the missile,” said City Commissioner Mike Amyx. “It has been there for a long time, and I think it has found a pretty Please see MISSILE, page 2A

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SRS leader cites jobs and fighting fraud as reasons By Scott Rothschild srothschild@ljworld.com Nick Krug/Journal-World Photos

Vietnam, Israel, Somalia, Kenya and Pakistan. “You have great diversity in where you’re from, what you do, what your backgrounds are and what you’re doing here,” said Lungstrum, a Lawrence resident. “You’re united, I think, by a

TOPEKA — Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services Secretary Robert Siedlecki Jr. on Friday announced a host of policy changes for programs that provide assistance to lowincome Kansans. “These changes represent a significant change in policy, in that they treat all households equally, and create fairness across the system,” Siedlecki said in a news release. Siedlecki said the changes would help eliminate fraud and abuse, and save from $10 million to $15 million, which would expand Siedlecki SRS’ programs to get folks back to work. “Getting people jobs is our first priority,” Siedlecki said. The new policies will affect programs that provide tens of thousands of Kansans with food stamps, child care assistance and temporary assistance. They are set to take effect starting Oct. 1 and should be fully in place by Jan. 1. Many of the changes will affect the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program. TANF is available to families earning less than 32 percent of the federal poverty level. The federal poverty level for a family of four is $22,350, so 32 percent of that

Please see CITIZENS, page 2A

Please see WELFARE, page 2A

NEWLY NATURALIZED CITIZEN STELLA AYERS, OF EDGERTON, is congratulated with a hug and a kiss from her friend Beth Cockle, of Leawood, on Friday following a naturalization ceremony at the Dole Institute of Politics. Ayers, who is originally from Nigeria, was one of 99 individuals who were granted U.S. citizenship in the ceremony.

99 people from 44 countries officially become Americans By George Diepenbrock gdiepenbrock@ljworld.com

ONLINE: See the video at LJWorld.com

Honglian William Shi smiled proudly minutes after he and 98 other people took the oath to become a U.S. citizen administered by U.S. District Judge John Lungstrum. Shi, a third-year Kansas University associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology, originally from China, worked for years to establish residency and complete other citizenship requirements, including learning about the U.S. Constitution. “We see it here. It is a place for us to live mainly for the freedom — political freedom and economic freedom,” Shi, 42, said Friday morning after the naturalization ceremony at the Dole Institute of Politics on KU’s West Campus. “What I’m doing, I think I can make more progress right here.”

He came to America as a researcher and worked at other universities before coming to KU. But Shi took to heart an urging from Lungstrum and others at the annual ceremony, meant to coincide with the anniversary today of the signing of the Constitution, Sept. 17, 1787. “The rights of citizenship are many, and the process you’ve gone through to earn them is difficult,” KU Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little said. “But it is difficult for a reason. The rights you’ve gained as citizens have been and must continue to be protected. Yet too often those rights are taken for granted by those of us who are born with them. Today you remind us of what a precious gift citizenship is, and you honor us with your commitment to become American citizens.” Gray-Little urged the new Americans to participate and be engaged in civic life — at the local, state or national levels. The chancellor pointed to the military and

VALLIAMMAI SHANMUGAM, FROM SALEM, INDIA, center, takes the oath of citizenship during a naturalization ceremony Friday at the Dole Institute of Politics. political service of Sen. Bob Dole as an example. Federal court officials said 99 people participated in Friday’s ceremony, and they represented 44 countries, including China, India, the Philippines, United Kingdom, Syria, Mexico, Nigeria, Albania, Ukraine, Jamaica, Argentina, Ethiopia,

‘Oh my goodness!’ Baby weighs 13 pounds By Karrey Britt kbritt@ljworld.com

Lawrence doctor Kimberley McKeon estimates she’s delivered about 900 babies during her 13-year career. On Thursday night, she delivered her first 13-pounder. “I was pretty surprised. I was like, ‘Oh my goodness, he is more than 11 pounds,’” she said. “I think maybe he could have crawled out by himself.” The not-so-little-guy named Wyatt Lee McIntyre, who is 22 inches long, was sleeping soundly Friday af-

ternoon in his doting mother’s arms at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. As he slept, the new parents — Crystal Smith, 23, and Zachary McIntyre, 27, of Lawrence — talked about how their firstborn, delivered by Caesarean section, already is too big for newborn clothes and diapers. Dad said they have a baby swing that only holds up to 20 pounds. “He might be able to use it for a week,” he said with a laugh.

High: 73

Low: 60

Today’s forecast, page 10A

McKeon said an average newborn weighs 7 pounds 5 ounces. Wyatt weighs as much as a typical 4-monthold. Everyone’s glad he decided to come two weeks early, especially mom. “I was in a lot of pain all of the time, but it was well worth it,” she said, as she planted a kiss on his forehead. — Health reporter Karrey Britt can be reached at 8327190. Read her health blog at WellCommons.com, and follow her at Twitter.com/WellCommons.

INSIDE

Storm chance Business Classified Comics Deaths Events listings

7A 1C-8C 9A 2A 10A, 2B

Faith Forum Horoscope Movies Opinion Poll

CRYSTAL SMITH, Lawrence, holds her newborn, Wyatt Lee McIntyre, on Friday at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. He was born at 11:56 p.m. Thursday, weighing 13 pounds.

9B 7C 5A 8A 2A

Puzzles Sports Television

Join us at Facebook.com/LJWorld and Twitter.com/LJWorld

7C 1B-6B, 10B 5A, 2B, 7C

Karrey Britt/Journal-World Photo

COMING SUNDAY Bike MS Kansas City will roll into South Park this weekend, and we’ll be there.

Vol.153/No.260 28 pages

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