Lawrence Journal-World 08-30-11

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L A W R E NC E

JOURNAL-WORLD ®

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Investigation into K-State’s online sales intensifies By Chad Lawhorn clawhorn@ljworld.com

A state investigation continues into whether Kansas State University’s online merchandise store is skirting sales tax law, and now some state legislators also are be-

ginning to question KSU’s online practices. In early August, the Journal-World reported that purchases made by Kansas residents at the “K-State Official Online Store” were not being charged any sales taxes. On Monday, a KSU spokeswom-

an confirmed that the Kansas Department of Revenue has inquired about the issue and that the university has put the state in contact with the Florida-based vendor that runs the K-State website. “The university is a citizen of the state, and we want

to make sure that we follow all the laws that we are supposed to,” said Sue Peterson, director of governmental relations in the office of KSU’s president. But the university is stopping short of pledging it will charge sales taxes in the fu-

ture. The university hasn’t ruled out that there is a loophole in state law that would allow KSU’s online store to not charge sales tax. That’s because the site is run by a Florida company, Team Fan Shop, that has no bricks-andmortar retail presence in

Gentleman farmer

Humid

Officials mystified by letter on water deal

Today’s forecast, page 8A

INSIDE Base 3-4 OLB ILB ILB DE NT DE

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Gov. Brownback indicates reservoir shouldn’t be drained

The numbers game In the past few months, Kansas University’s football team — under new defensive coordinator Vic Shealy — has switched its defense from a 4-3 base formation to a 3-4 base formation. A look at how it works. Page 1B

By Scott Rothschild srothschild@ljworld.com

QUOTABLE

Although the last decade of my professional life has been devoted primarily to administration at the medical center, in my heart, I will always be a pathologist.” — Barbara F. Atkinson, Kansas University Medical Center’s executive vice chancellor and dean of its School of Medicine, after an anonymous donor gave $1 million to support a professorship in her honor. Page 3A

COMING WEDNESDAY

SCHOOLS

Lawrence teachers will head back to the classroom one day next week, as they gather for professional development.

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Mike Yoder/Journal-World Photo

TED SAVICH, 13, AND AN EIGHTH-GRADER AT LIBERTY MEMORIAL CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL, pulls up a watermelon from the school garden while he and Max Ahlvers, 11, right, were weeding Thursday. Savich will use the stunted watermelon in a science project. Asked why he was wearing the tie, he responded, “Why not?”

Owners urged to close pools after Crypto outbreak in K.C. metro area By Christine Metz cmetz@ljworld.com

A rash of intestinal parasitic illnesses in nearby communities has Douglas County health officials keeping a close eye on local cases. With more than 60 cases of Cryptosporidiosis (Crypto for short) confirmed, the Johnson County Environmental Department is asking pool owners to close their outdoor pools for the summer. The 60 cases are linked to 11 pools in Johnson County. Johnson County isn’t alone in its skyrocketing numbers of Crypto cases. In the Kansas City, Mo., metro area, 100 cases have been reported. According to the

INDEX Business Classified Comics Deaths Events listings Horoscope Movies Opinion Puzzles Sports Television Vol.153/No.242

6A 1C-8C 7B 2A 8A, 2B 7C 5A 7A 7C 1B-8B 5A, 2B, 7C 24 pages

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

Please see TAX, page 2A

COLORADO DISPUTE

Low: 67

High: 87

Kansas. Out-of-state retailers who make online sales in Kansas generally aren’t required to charge sales taxes. A spokesman with the Kansas Department of Revenue, though, confirmed Monday

Crypto is caused by the parasite Cryptosporidium and can result in diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever, nausea and vomiting. It spreads through fecal matter from people or animals infected with the parasite, consumption of contaminated food or water and by person-to-person or animal-toanimal contact. Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, statewide there has been an 88.5 percent increase from what the median number of cases had been in the past five years. While numbers of Crypto cases tend to peak during late summer, Betsy Betros, pollution control division director with the Johnson County Environmental De-

partment, said these recent reports across the region are unusually high. Crypto is caused by the parasite Cryptosporidium and can result in diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever, nausea and vomiting. It spreads through fecal matter from people or animals infected with the parasite, consumption of contaminated food or water and by

person-to-person or animalto-animal contact. The easiest way to track the bacteria is through cases reported by doctors. Testing for it in pools is nearly impossible, Betros said. It was through medical reports that the agency was able to identify the 11 pools where the disease was transmitted. They also identified several people who visited three or four pools in the area while infected with the parasite. So far, Douglas County has had one confirmed case of Crypto and one probable case. Health officials are examining if those cases have any ties to local swimming Please see CRYPTO, page 2A

RIVERFRONT PARK

Michigan man, 29, identified as fatality victim By George Diepenbrock gdiepenbrock@ljworld.com

Lawrence police Monday identified a 29-year-old Michigan man as the driver who died in a single-vehicle accident early Saturday morning near the entrance to Riverfront Park in North Lawrence. Sgt. Matt Sarna, a Lawrence police spokesman, said officers were also trying to determine if the driver was involved in a high-speed chase that began in Tonganoxie nearly six hours before the accident was discovered. Police identified Tyler Yaroch, Midland, Mich., as the driver of the yellow 2000 Jeep Wrangler. A passerby called police at 6:15 a.m. Saturday when they noticed the driver had been ejected from the vehicle. Police said there were no other passengers in the vehicle. Tonganoxie Deputy Chief

Billy Adcox said about 12:30 a.m. an officer observed a yellow Jeep Wrangler driving through Tonganoxie south on U.S. Highway 24-40 faster than the posted speed limit. The Jeep failed to stop at a traffic light at the Kansas Highway 16 intersection and almost struck another vehicle, he said. Sarna said investigators think the Jeep crashed between 12:30 a.m. Saturday, which was when the Tonganoxie chase started, and when it was discovered several hours later. During the chase, the Tonganoxie officer activated his lights and sirens and attempted to stop the vehicle. “The officer was in pursuit with the Jeep Wrangler with speeds in excess of 100 mph southbound on U.S. 24-40,”

Adcox said. “A supervisor was monitoring radio traffic and advised the officer to terminate the pursuit.” The Tonganoxie officer stopped his pursuit east of the Lawrence Municipal Airport and returned to Tonganoxie. The officer was unable to obtain the license plate number on the Jeep. A passerby several hours later discovered a Jeep Wrangler that had crashed near the entrance to the park — just west of where the Tonganoxie officer ended his pursuit. Lawrence officers believe the Jeep was headed west on North 1800 Road at a high rate of speed before the crash and left the road. Yaroch was thrown from the vehicle. North 1800 Road is a westbound extension of U.S. Highway 24-40.

“It is not known at this time if alcohol was a contributing factor to the accident,” Sarna said. According to a preliminary coroner’s report, Yaroch died of multiple injuries due to blunt-force trauma, and he tested positive for marijuana and amphetamine, although a blood test will take several weeks to complete. Adcox said Leavenworth County dispatchers also advised Douglas County dispatchers a pursuit was headed into Douglas County. Lawrence police ask anyone with information on the accident to call the department at 785-832-7650 or Douglas County Crime Stoppers at 785-843-TIPS (8477). — Reporter George Diepenbrock can be reached at 832-7144. Follow him at Twitter. com/lawrencecrime.

TOPEKA — After years of negotiations, Colorado officials have agreed to drain a reservoir and send the water to Kansas in order to comply with a U.S. Supreme Court decision in a long-running dispute. But as the plan was unfolding, Gov. Sam Brownback indicated he had problems with it. In a recent letter to a Colorado resident, Brownback said the Bonny Reservoir in Yuma County, Colo., which abuts the border of northwest Kansas, is a valuable recreational area for many residents in surrounding communities. He added in the letter to Audrey Hase, who is trying to save the reservoir from being drained, “Because Colorado is a party to this compact, it is named in the lawsuit, but Kansas seeks no relief against Colorado at this time.” The statement caused alarms to go off in Colo- Gov. Sam rado. Brownback’s Colorado office maintains State Engithat draining neer Dick Bonny Reservoir Wolf said B r o w n b a c k isn’t part of the was off base. compact nego“I’m not tiations. sure what the basis for that statement is,” Wolf said Monday. “We do know that it is wrong.” The release of water from Bonny Reservoir is necessary for Colorado to make up a water debt it owes Kansas and comply with the 2003 settlement of the 1942 Republican River Compact between Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas, Wolf said. “We are taking steps to completely drain the reservoir,” he said. And, he said, the release benefits Kansas. Wolf said he spoke with Kansas water officials to make sure Brownback wasn’t signaling a change of plans. He said they told him the plan hasn’t changed. Brownback’s office maintained that draining Bonny Reservoir isn’t part of the compact negotiations. Wolf, however, maintains it is the only plausible way to fulfill the compact. “It was the best of our worst options,” he said. Colorado will start draining Bonny Reservoir after Labor Day. — Statehouse reporter Scott Rothschild can be reached at 785-423-0668.


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