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WEDNESDAY • DECEMBER 9 • 2015
FLOYD BLEDSOE FREED
Questions, fears voiced at KU gun info session By Sara Shepherd Twitter: @saramarieshep
Karen Dillon/Journal-World Photo
FLOYD BLEDSOE, CENTER, WALKS OUT OF JEFFERSON COUNTY DISTRICT COURT on Tuesday after a judge overturned his April 2000 conviction in a first-degree murder case. Accompanying Bledsoe are Kansas University Innocence Project attorneys Jean Phillips, left, and Elizabeth Cateforis, right. See Bledsoe speaking after his release at LJWorld.com/bledsoe.
Judge throws out conviction in 1999 murder
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Tom Bledsoe, 41, admits to killing It’s all just barely sinking in. Zetta “Camille” Arfmann, and says I just want to take everything he accidentally shot her after he had Oskaloosa — Floyd Scott Bledsoe sex with her and learned that she was slow.” was set free Tuesday after a Jefferson only 14. County judge overturned his During the Tuesday hearing, — Floyd Bledsoe, whose life sentence was overlife sentence for the 1999 murFloyd Bledsoe, 39, whose feet der of his 14-year-old sisterwere shackled, remained sitting turned Tuesday in-law. but broke into a broad grin New evidence, includafter Jefferson County District ing DNA evidence and three Court Judge Gary Nafziger, who of the courthouse, Floyd Bledsoe told suicide letters written by his presided over his murder trial reporters that he planned to go back brother Tom Bledsoe, indicate and sentencing, announced “the to “milking cows.” that Floyd Bledsoe was not defendant is to be released.” “It’s all just barely sinking in,” he the killer. Floyd Bledsoe spent Tom Bledsoe The more than 40 people in said. “I just want to take everything more than 15 years in prison. the courtroom broke into apslow.” In the suicide letters that were plause, and some started crying. Please see BLEDSOE, page 8A found with his body in November, During a news conference in front By Karen Dillon
Twitter: @karensdillon
Incentive package recommended for Menard plant The package comprises a 10-year, 50 percent Twitter: @nikkiwentling property tax abatement; a $549,350 grant to Menard Inc. is another be paid over 10 years; and providing at no cost step closer to building a a bulk warehouse at the site that’s valued at manufacturing campus in $285,963. By Nikki Wentling
Lawrence’s VenturePark — a $25 million project a Menard representative said can’t be done without public assistance. The city’s Public Incentives Review Committee on Tuesday voted to recommend the city approve
an incentives package worth about $2.3 million. Seven members of the eight-member board voted in favor of the incentives. Member Brad
grant to be paid over 10 years; and providing at no cost a bulk warehouse at the site that’s valued at $285,963. Menard Inc. is also asking Douglas County for a $200,000 grant to be paid over a 10-year period. Burnside, with U.S. Bank, Douglas County commisrecused himself from the sioners will consider that vote. request at their meeting The package comprises a today. 10-year, 50 percent properPlease see MENARD, page 5A ty tax abatement; a $549,350
More than 200 Kansas University students, faculty and staff turned out Tuesday for an informational session about concealed carry coming to campus. KU’s University Senate organized and moderated the gathering, where some information about the imminent change in law was shared but many specific questions had to go unanswered because policies that will guide KANSAS implementation of the law UNIVERSITY have yet to be written. Many speakers expressed fear — of mass shootings, of accidental firearm discharges, of arguments escalating into shootings, of a loss of academic freedom, of increased suicide rates and more. Here were two examples, from either side of the debate, of questions with no answers right now. Miranda Ganter, a sophomore from Houston, said she’s an RA, or resident assistant, in Oliver Hall and already sometimes feels afraid to knock on doors of residents whom she suspects of getting drunk in their rooms. Please see GUN, page 2A
Shelter says cuts may be necessary next year By Nikki Wentling Twitter: @nikkiwentling
The Lawrence Community Shelter, which has already cut its number of staff, salaries and benefits because of a revenue shortfall this year, will have to do that again if it can’t fund a projected deficit for 2016, board members said Tuesday. John Magnuson, a shelter board member, said the organization is currently seeking to hire a development director to coordinate fundraising and other revenue-generating activities. He said the board expects it will be able to fill the gap next year, but, if not, a contingency plan has been put in place. Please see SHELTER, page 5A
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Vol.157/No.343 36 pages
Alvarez & Marsal consultants assured lawmakers Tuesday they will identify “hundreds of millions of dollars” of budget savings. Page 3A
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