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Pentagon spent $9M on pro sports teams’ “paid patriotism” events. 1B
JAYHAWK BASKETBALL IS BACK
Crowd explodes as KU rolls Pittsburg State in exhibition. 1C
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THURSDAY • NOVEMBER 5 • 2015
Educators seek bridge for teacher gap
What goes on top is artificial ice
Legislative committee weighs more changes to retirement rules By Peter Hancock Twitter: @LJWpqhancock
Richard Gwin/Journal-World Photo
THE LIBRARY LAWN SKATING RINK takes shape Wednesday on the south side of the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont St. The rink, which will use synthetic ice, opens Friday, Nov. 27 for its second season. For more information, visit lawrenceks. org/lprd/skaterink.
Lights & Sirens
Caitlin Doornbos
Hard times end OK for exotic pets
H
ow about a happy little Lights & Sirens today? Remember Kevin, the missing teen tortoise who escaped his home at the Tallgrass Parrot Sanctuary in Lecompton after a burglar cut the chain lock on the sanctuary’s gate?
Well, a farmer found Kevin snacking on his soybean field Tuesday, sanctuary owner and Kevin’s caretaker Kail Marie said. As it turns out, Kevin had himself quite the adventure, traveling about 5 miles from the sanctuary to the farmer’s field over a span of
more than two weeks. On Oct. 20, the 17-yearold, 75-pound and 2-footwide tortoise took off with the sanctuary’s goats, chickens and pigs when someone left the gate open after attempting to steal a Please see EXOTIC, page 2A
Topeka — Two groups of Kansas school administrators told a legislative panel Wednesday that many districts are still having trouble recruiting qualified teachers, especially in rural areas, and they suggested changes to a program that would give them more flexibility in hiring retired teachers for cerLEGISLATURE tain hard-to-fill positions. “In light of the difficulty we had this past year in hiring, I think it could be very important down the road,” said Glen Suppes, superintendent of the Smoky Valley school district in Lindsborg. Please see GAP, page 2A
Remembering George Williams, ‘a grand guy’ Public works director shaped city for 45 years By Nikki Wentling Twitter: @nikkiwentling
Former Lawrence Public Works Director George Williams, who dedicated much of his life to the maintenance and preservation of his hometown, died Monday at age 85. Williams, the namesake of George Williams Way in west Lawrence, was named public works director in 1967 and retired in 2001. During his 45-year tenure with public works, he saw the city’s limits stretch, and his department grew along with it. Please see WILLIAMS, page 2A
JAVI THE COCKATOO, rescued by the Tallgrass Parrot Sanctuary, plucked out all her feathers because of a stressful living situation.
INSIDE
Thunderstorm Business Classified Comics Deaths
High: 73
Low: 39
Today’s forecast, page 8A
Contributed Photos
THIS GOOD SAMARITAN FARMER poses with Kevin, the runaway tortoise he found snacking on a field of soybeans.
2A 6C-10C 4A 2A
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George Williams in 2001
Kobach controversy 1C-5C 8A, 2C 1B-8B
Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach denies that a writer’s conference he appeared at has ties to “white nationalists.” Page 3A
Journal-World File Photo
Vol.157/No.309 26 pages