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SATURDAY • DECEMBER 5 • 2015
Audit: Lack of controls by board played role in alleged fraud Just Food funds were used for car, insurance By Chad Lawhorn Twitter: @clawhorn_ljw
An audit of the food bank Just Food has determined the nonprofit’s board of directors lacked several key financial controls that likely made it
“It is a cautionary tale,” said Will Katz, vice president of Just Food’s & Company found the board of directors. Just Food board lacked But Just Food represenproper procedures for tatives on Friday said the a variety of issues rangboard has taken action to ing from payroll duties, improve the controls, incash management and cluding hiring Lawrencereconciliation of bank Farmer based accounting firm statements. the McFadden Group to conduct
easier for former executive director — and former Lawrence mayor — Jeremy Farmer to allegedly bilk the organization for about $55,000 over a threeyear period. The Lawrence-based auditing firm Summers, Spencer
payroll, cash management and other functions. “What I would say is that this isn’t a case of the board simply not paying attention,” Katz said. “We were paying attention, but outside professionals need to be engaged by the board, and the board Please see FRAUD, page 2A
KCC opens hearings on EPA plan
Rescued in the Nick of time
State committee led by climate change deniers will have final veto power By Peter Hancock Twitter: @LJWpqhancock
Topeka — The Kansas Corporation Commission has opened what it calls a “general investigation” docket, and it will soon hold public hearings to determine what the state must do to comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan. The KCC’s action is in response We have 190 to a bill passed world leaders during the 2015 getting together legislative session, House Bill 2233, in Paris to that calls on the address this KCC and the Kansas Department of global issue. Health and Envi- Meanwhile we ronment to devel- have politicians op a plan for comhere who are plying with the fighting it.” new regulations. But that bill also gives a spe- — Rabbi Moti Rieber, cial legislative Interfaith Power and Light committee — which is headed by two lawmakers who both deny that carbon emissions are a cause of global climate change — veto power over any plan the two agencies adopt. The Clean Power Plan is a set of regulations recently adopted by the Obama administration that calls on states to reduce carbon emissions from power plants by an average of 32 percent over the next 15 years. In Kansas, however, that rule is much stiffer, calling for a 42 percent reduction, due mainly to the fact that Kansas relies more heavily on coal and other fossil fuels for electricity production than most other states. KCC spokesman Samir Arif said the agency plans to announce by Jan. 30 a schedule for holding legislative-style hearings to solicit input for developing a compliance plan. In a carefully worded statement, however, the KCC avoided using the word “compliance,” saying instead that it will examine “re-dispatch options” for Kansas utilities, including the cost of each
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Nick Krug/Journal-World Photo
HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN, PARENTS AND LAWRENCE RESIDENTS gather below at the intersection of Ninth and Massachusetts streets as Santa Claus is heroically rescued from the roof of Weaver's department store by two Lawrence firefighters in a ladder truck Friday.
Better late than never, Santa saved By Conrad Swanson Twitter: @conrad_swanson
T
he holiday season almost wasn’t this year. Luckily, some Lawrence firefighters were on hand Friday evening at Weaver’s department store, 901 Massachusetts St., to rescue Old St. Nick, who was trapped atop the roof. The annual event was delayed a week by weather, but still a hit. All around the intersection of Ninth and Massachusetts streets, families and friends laughed, sang and joked throughout the evening. Young children in puffy jackets three sizes too large clutched Dixie Cups of hot chocolate to keep their
What do you want for Christmas? Asked at the Santa Rescue — Compiled by Conrad Swanson
Krynn Craner, 5 “A big Optimus Prime. Mega Optimus Prime.”
Maisie Clark, 4 “Just Christmas.”
Yuliana Diaz, 8 “LEGO Friends.”
Rosa Diaz, 5 “Dolls.”
Windy Wilks, 7 “A dog. A black-and-white puppy.”
Please see NICK, page 2A
Please see EPA, page 2A
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A Kansas lawmaker has sent an email to his constituents criticizing media coverage of the rights of gay couples in the state’s foster care system. Page 3A
Vol.157/No.339 28 pages