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SATURDAY • NOVEMBER 7 • 2015
Missing mom wanted for arrest By Caitlin Doornbos Twitter: @CaitlinDoornbos
A Douglas County District judge signed a warrant Friday for the arrest of a 33-yearold Lawrence woman accused of illegally taking her young daughters to Europe without the consent of their father. Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson said
Woman is believed to have fled to Europe with daughters Friday that Samantha Colleen Elmer is wanted on suspicion of two counts of aggravated interference with parental custody after allegedly fleeing the country with daughters Taylor and Morgan Bush. Branson said in a news release Fri-
day that his office is “seeking international assistance in safely locating and returning Ms. Elmer and her daughters.” Taylor’s and MorContributed Photo gan’s father, Justin Bush, of Smithville, Lawrence resident Samantha Elmer, left, is being sought Mo., asked Lawrence by international authorities after allegedly fleeing to Europe with her daughters, 11-year-old Taylor Bush and Please see MOM, page 2A 9-year-old Morgan Bush, right.
A VIEW FROM ABOVE NEW HAMPSHIRE ST.
KANSAS BUDGET
Revenue gap is now $159M Gov. Brownback slashes millions, borrows heavily from highway fund in response to new estimates By Peter Hancock Twitter: @JWpqhancock
Topeka — New revenue estimates released Friday show Kansas is likely to bring in $159 million less this fiscal year than previously expected, prompting Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration to announce immediate spending cuts and budget adjustments, including another $48 million sweep out of highway funds. The state’s Consensus Revenue Estimating Group, made up of state budget officials, LEGISLATURE agency heads and economists from three universities, said a struggling farm economy, sluggish growth in retail sales and declining oil and gas prices were largely to blame for the downward revision. Budget director Shawn Sullivan acknowledged that as of Friday the balance in the Please see REVENUE, page 12A
Kansas justices grill state on school funding Nick Krug/Journal-World Photo
CREWS CONTINUE WORK WEDNESDAY ON A NEW MIXED DEVELOPMENT being constructed at the northeast corner of Ninth and New Hampshire streets in downtown Lawrence. The seven-story apartment and office building, on the site where Black Hills Energy previously had its offices, is expected to add about 115 apartment units to downtown. New Hampshire from the midblock crossing to Ninth is currently closed for related waterline work but will reopen Nov. 21, according to the city.
Ex-mayor moves out, but not before leaving this
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awrence’s former mayor has left a mess behind. Yes, I know, that is not exactly breaking news at this point. But I’m talking about a literal mess, as in a pile of trash strewn about the front yard of his former home. Journal-World photographer Nick Krug took this photo a few days ago at Jeremy Farmer’s former residence at 1135 Randall Road after some neighbors had called us to complain about the mess. In case you have forgotten, Farmer resigned his post as mayor of Lawrence in August after he resigned his job as the executive director of a local food bank, where it was discovered
Town Talk
Chad Lawhorn clawhorn@ljworld.com
Nick Krug/Journal-World Photo
Former Mayor Jeremy Farmer left this pile of trash behind when he recently moved out of his former residence at 1135 Randall Road. he failed to pay more than $50,000 in payroll taxes. The food bank’s board later alleged that Farmer overpaid himself by more
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than $52,000 over a twoyear period,and deceived the Just Food board on multiple financial matters. We all await whether
Farmer will face criminal charges in the matter. Farmer’s whereabouts have been unclear since his resignation, and he hasn’t returned phone calls. Looking at county property records for 1135 Randall, I reached out to the owner of the property.
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Lead attorney admits Legislature’s changes ‘not supported by any expert opinion’ By Peter Hancock Twitter: @LJWpqhancock
Topeka — Attorneys for the state of Kansas on Friday faced tough questions from the Kansas Supreme Court over recent changes in the school finance Are you system, at one point forcing the state to suggesting we admit it had no evishould let an dence to show that a new funding scheme unconstitutional enacted earlier this law go forward year is fair or equi- for two years table. Those questions while people came during oral work on it?” arguments in the equity portion of the — Kansas Supreme Court ongoing school fi- Justice Dan Biles nance lawsuit, Gannon v. Kansas. That portion deals with how the state distributes so-called “equalization aid” for operating costs and capital expenses for the state’s 286 school districts.
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Please see SCHOOL, page 2A
Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration is recommending against emergency state aid for most Kansas school districts that plan to seek funds at an upcoming meeting with lawmakers. Page 3A
Tourism boost? Lawrence is now just one of two finalist cities vying for an opportunity to host the 2017 USA Track & Field Junior Olympics, according to the city’s visitors bureau. Page 3A
Vol.157/No.311 28 pages