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THURSDAY • NOVEMBER 19 • 2015
Voter lawsuit could go class action Amendment filed in battle over Kobach suspensions
By Karen Dillon Twitter: @karensdillon
Lawrence attorneys who filed a federal lawsuit Sept. 30 attempting to overturn a state law restricting voter registration added an amendment Tuesday to make the lawsuit a class action. Earlier this year, Secretary of State Kris Kobach
suspended the pending registrations of more than 36,000 would-be Kansas voters until they provide proof of citizenship. The Sept. 30 lawsuit that asked for a preliminary injunction was filed by former Lawrence Rep. Paul Davis, an attorney, and William
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Lawrence, an attorney in What has been going Davis’ law firm. The plaintiffs in that case on in Kansas has been are two Douglas County concerning. It is a case residents, Cody Keener and Alder Cromwell, who ap- of high importance.” plied to register to vote in — William Lawrence, December and March. Lawrence attorney Please see VOTER, page 2A
DA: Sexting not uncommon among area teens
Brownback blasts Obama policy on refugees Legal experts question constitutionality of governor’s Syria order By Peter Hancock Twitter: @LJWpqhancock
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By Caitlin Doornbos Twitter: @CaitlinDoornbos
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fter law enforcement learned of a “sexting” ring possibly involving hundreds of high school and middle school students in the small Colorado town of Cañon City earlier this month, officials are grappling with disciplinary actions. According to the Denver Post, Cañon City officials are debating the best ways to deal with the teens implicated in the scandal in which minors allegedly snapped nude images of themselves and shared them with others. The issue: Do you charge kids with crimes that could require
Consequences differ on case-by-case basis “The gray comes in within our discretion. Is this conduct that needs to be addressed as criminal?”
DA Charles Branson
them to register exchanging sexualas sex offenders, ly explicit images or do you order of one another “at therapy and counleast once every seling to correct other week.” the problem? By statute, he COURTS Douglas County is not allowed to District Attorney elaborate on cases Charles Branson said that are handled in juvethose are questions his nile court. Because those office considers often. cases are sealed, concrete Branson said he sees a numbers and outcomes case involving minors are not public records.
When it comes to Kansas law, though, there is “no gray area” as to whether the act of exchanging sexually explicit photos of those under 18 is illegal, Branson said. If one “persuades,” “entices” or “coerces” a minor to take a sexually explicit Please see SEXTING, page 8A
Please see REFUGEES, page 2A
Black Friday sneak peek
Regents chair encourages respect on campuses By Sara Shepherd Twitter: @saramarieshep
Wichita — The issue of racial tension on university campuses came up during Wednesday’s Kansas Board of Regents meeting, though no action items were on the board’s agenda. Kansas University OF Student Body President BOARD REGENTS Jessie Pringle, chairwoman of the Regents Students’ Advisory Committee, said during her report to the board that there are
KU’s Student Senate spent more than five and a half hours debating minority issues at a marathon Wednesday night meeting at KU Commons. 3A students who are “hurting.” On behalf of all student body presidents on the committee, she urged the Regents and university representatives in the audience to take the issue of creating inclusive campuses seriously. “This conversation is occurring across the nation, and we’re not in
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Today’s forecast, page 8A
Republican lawmakers fear Kansas University plan to require “inclusion and belonging” will squelch conservative thought. 3A a vacuum,” Pringle said. “This discussion is important and needs to be had. I think the state of Kansas has a real opportunity right now.” Board chairman Shane Bangerter said he supports an environment that allows “people of all faiths, all Please see RESPECT, page 8A
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Topeka — Gov. Sam Brownback blasted the Obama administration late Tuesday for failing to provide assurances that it can prevent terrorists from entering the U.S. posing as Syrian refugees. His statement was issued shortly after a 90-minute conference call between the White House and 34 governors, many of whom, including Brownback, have announced they will not accept Syrian refugees into their states. “The White House was desperate to restore confidence in the screening process for Syrian refugees. They failed,” Brownback said in a statement Tuesday night. “In the end, despite acknowledging information gaps from these failed states, Brownback the White House said it would continue to run Inside: Baha the program as it has in Safadi, spokesman the past, disregarding for The Islamic the concerns of goverCenter of nors across the nation.” Lawrence, The White House, condemns Paris meanwhile, described attacks but hopes the conference call Brownback as productive, saywill reconsider ing several governors refugee order. 2A expressed appreciation for the chance to better understand the screening process and have their issues addressed. “Others encouraged further communication to ensure that governors are able to better respond to questions from the public about the refugee screening and resettlement process,” the White House said in a statement to news outlets. President Barack Obama did not take part in the conference call. It was led by White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough and included ranking officials from the departments of State, Defense, Homeland Security and Health and Human Services. On Monday, Brownback issued an executive order directing that no state agency or
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Readers of the Journal-World will have a chance to get a sneak peek at dozens of Black Friday sales fliers from area retailers. The Journal-World on Wednesday will publish a special edition that will contain the Black Friday advertising circulars. The special edition — which will sell for $2 — will be available for purchase beginning at noon Wednesday at all Dillons locations in Lawrence. Normally, the advertising circulars would not be available to readers until the Journal-World’s Thanksgiving Day edition. But the Journal-World’s circulation department is making the special edition available to area readers who want to have more time to plan for and take advantage of Black Friday specials. The advertising circulars also will be available in the Journal-World’s Thanksgiving Day edition.
KU Central District Kansas University’s $350 million Central District plan and its novel funding mechanism were OK’d by the Kansas Board of Regents Wednesday. Page 3A
Vol.157/No.323 26 pages