Wire
Medical condition forces Piven to leave Broadway
NEW YORK (AP) — Two actors — Norbert Leo Butz and William H. Macy — will replace Jeremy Piven who has unexpectedly left the cast of the hit Broadway revival of “Speed-the-Plow,” producer Jeffrey Richards announced Thursday. Piven, star of HBO’s “Entourage,” abruptly departed the critically praised production of Mamet’s satiric comedy over the weekend, less than two months after the show opened. “We have been advised by Jeremy Piven’s medi...
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Celebrities
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Country singer Mindy McCready was hospitalized after she cut her wrists and took several pills in an apparent suicide attempt, Nashville police said. A police report said McCready’s brother discovered her at home Wednesday. Timothy McCready told police his sister had been “very intoxicated” after a night out. A hospital spokeswoman said the singer was in stable condition. McCready attorney Lee Ofman said he did not hav...
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Chapman schools need bond issue for tornado repair
CHAPMAN (AP) — Despite receiving millions in insurance, government help and donations, Chapman school officials say they will need a bond issue to repair school buildings damaged by a June 11 tornado. The tornado destroyed or damaged the district’s elementary and middle schools, the district office, art building and three-fourths of its high school. The district always expected to ask voters to approve a bond issue to cover remaining costs...
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KU seeks sanctions against clothing store
LAWRENCE (AP) — The University of Kansas has renewed its trademark fight with a Lawrence clothing store it says is illegally selling Jayhawk-themed T-shirts. A federal jury in July determined Joe-College.com owner Larry Sinks and screen printer Clark Orth “willfully infringed” the university’s trademarks on such T-shirts. Jurors ordered the defendants to pay $127,000 to the school and said around 50 designs were infringing. An attorney for...
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73-year-old makes a difference
ARKANSAS CITY (AP) — Ellsworth Lolar says he grew up at the Northwest Community Center. “It’s good for the little kids,” he says. It’s good for older kids too, said Lolar, a high school junior who returned to the center recently for family activity night. “It keeps you out of trouble.” Lolar was helping out at the center during the weekly program called “Reaching Out.” Its founder and director is Chuck Watson who organizes different activ...
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Wichita day care provider guilty in child’s death
WICHITA (AP) — A day care provider was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of a 13-month-old girl who strangled after being left for two hours while partially strapped in a car seat. Jessica Cummings, 27, sobbed Wednesday after hearing the jury’s verdict, which followed about five hours of deliberations. The child’s family members also dabbed tears from their eyes. Cummings, who is seven months pregnant, remains free on b...
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Santa and autism brings challenges
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — She wasn’t sure they should try it again. But every child deserves to visit Santa Claus at least once, Staci Moeller thought. Her husband, Tim, scoffed at the idea, saying she was doing this for herself, not their son, Max. She struggled with that. Maybe he was right. Maybe it would be better to stay home, as they always did. “But I want him to have the everyday experience, just like other kids. Even if it is just...
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Incoming JoCo DA won’t reopen ex-Kansas AG case
OLATHE (AP) — Johnson County’s incoming district attorney said Thursday that he doesn’t plan to reopen an investigation of former Attorney General Paul Morrison. Two special prosecutors have declined to file criminal charges over Morrison’s actions during an extramarital affair that forced him from office. District Attorney Phill Kline appointed the special prosecutors. Steve Howe, who defeated Kline in the Republican primary in August, re...
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Ask Amy
Dear Amy: About two years ago, my wife begged me to let her brother move in until he could get his life straightened out (he was 26 years old at the time). I reluctantly agreed to let him move into our home under certain conditions. He had to get a job, pay rent and work toward getting out on his own. He is no better off today than he was two years ago, but he has cost us thousands of dollars. This has created huge relationship and financia...
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Heloise
Dear Heloise: I read your hint many years ago pertaining to removal of washed clothes ready for the automatic clothes dryer -- always shake the clothes thoroughly before placing them in the dryer. This saves electricity and time, as the dryer does not have to work extra to do this. I have always done this and referred the hint to others! It’s time for another printing -- two more generations have come along! -- Martha S. Smith, Arlington, T...
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Prosecutors decline to charge ex-Kansas AG
OLATHE (AP) — Former Attorney General Paul Morrison won’t face criminal charges for his actions during an extramarital affair that forced him out of office. Two special prosecutors, Robert Arnold III and Timothy Keck, announced results Wednesday of a nine-month investigation, concluding that Morrison’s conduct did not warrant prosecution. They issued a letter to Johnson County commissioners and District Attorney Phill Kline, who had appoint...
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Kansas utility seeks to keep federal lawsuit alive
WICHITA (AP) — Sunflower Electric Power Corp. has asked a federal judge to allow oral arguments as it seeks to keep alive its $1.5 billion lawsuit against the state over a decision not to allow two coal-fired plants in western Kansas. In court papers filed Tuesday, the company asked U.S. District Judge Eric Melgren to hold a hearing before ruling on its motion for a preliminary injunction to keep the state from considering carbon-dioxide em...
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Governor’s press secretary leaving
TOPEKA (AP) — Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ press secretary, Nicole Corcoran, will be filling the newly created position of chief of staff for University of Kansas athletic director Lew Perkins. “I’m very excited to be able to attract someone of Nicole’s skills to coordinate my activities and the increased demands on my time,” Perkins said Wednesday. “She will be a real asset to our team here at Kansas.” Corcoran said Perkins called last month to s...
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World briefs
Obama plan to jolt economy to lifecould reach $1 trillion WASHINGTON (AP) — Anxious to jolt the economy back to life, President-elect Barack Obama is considering a federal stimulus package that could reach a whopping $1 trillion, dwarfing last spring’s tax rebates and rivaling drastic government actions to fight the Great Depression. Obama has not settled on a grand total, but after consulting with outside economists of all political strip...
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Celebrities
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A court document filed by Peter Falk’s daughter says the Emmy-winning actor is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Catherine Falk is seeking a court’s approval for a conservatorship of her 81-year-old father, who she claims no longer recognizes people. A hearing has been scheduled for late January. Falk is familiar to most audiences as the star of the television series “Columbo”. LOS ANGELES (AP) — Documents show Dennis...
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Wichita billionaire buys GM Mirage’s Treasure Island
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Casino operator MGM Mirage Inc. is selling the Treasure Island Hotel & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip to Wichita billionaire Phil Ruffin for $500 million, the company said Monday. Ruffin, whose interests include casinos and greyhound race tracks, purchased the property through Ruffin Acquisition LLC for $500 million cash and $275 million in secured notes issued by Ruffin Acquisition and secured by Treasure Island’s asset...
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Oddities
4-year-old boy breaks into store, plays with toys BEAUMONT, Texas (AP) — Texas police responding to a store’s burglar alarm found a less-than-hardened criminal inside: He was 4, and playing with the toys. Detective Randy Stevens says the child apparently unlocked a door at his nearby home, got out, then crossed a street to reach the discount store. Store surveillance video shows the unidentified boy trying one of the front doors to a Fami...
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Abortion ruling resolves little
TOPEKA (AP) — The state Supreme Court condemned former Attorney General Phill Kline’s conduct, but it resolved little with its latest ruling in Kline’s five-year legal mud-wrestling match with abortion providers. The recent decision came in a dispute between Kline, an anti-abortion Republican who’s now Johnson County district attorney, and Planned Parenthood, which operates an Overland Park clinic. At issue was custody of 29 patients’ medic...
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State briefs
Suspect dies in shootout with KCK police KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas City, Kan., police stop turned into a shootout, ending in the fatal shooting of one of three people pulled over. Kansas City police say 27-year-old Ricky Gatewood of Kansas City died after the Monday shooting. Several police officers opened fire on the stopped vehicle after one suspect, who was wanted for a probation violation, jumped from the car and began shooting. P...
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Heloise
Dear Heloise: I did not have a vegetable peeler on hand, so I used the front of a tablespoon while putting some pressure on the back of the spoon to make the peeling of a sweet potato easy to slide right off. This is a great utensil to use when you need to take the peel off. -- A.R. in Virginia Dear Heloise: I try to buy dishwasher detergent on sale, but even the smallest boxes are very heavy and difficult to handle. My solution was to pour...
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