FRIDAY, APRIL 7. 2006
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 3A
Try not to puke
Mike Bansdell/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Invited guests ride the new Patriot roller coaster during a preview at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, Mo., on Thursday. The floorless coaster features a vertical loop, a zero-gravity roll, an Immelmann loop, an inclined banked curve, an s-curve, a corkscrew and a spiral.
Coyote Ugly bar creates debate
WYANDOTTE COUNTY
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Wyandotte County officials, who developers say initially granted a request to bring a bar to a shopping district near the Kansas Speedway now face a legal battle, after derying a special-use application for the Coyote Ugly Saloon.
RED Speedway Inc. wants a Wyandotte County court to either overturn the commissioners' decision and approve the permit, or award more than $2 million in damages.
in the design of The Legends and that $2 million has been spent in constructing a building for the bar.
But wary that the national chain uses sex as a marketing tool, and after public outcry at two meetings earlier this year, Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kan., commissioners rejected a permit required of businesses that intend to sell more alcohol than food.
RED Speedway Inc., the developer of The Legends shopping center, claims it received approval in 2004 to bring in, as a tenant, the New York-based bar known for bartop-dancing
That prompted lawyers for RED Speedway, Inc. and Coyote Ugly to file a lawsuit contending that officials acted arbitrarily. They also claim the original approval was instrumental
"I've read the lawsuit and we believe the commission's action was well within the law and based on facts and supported by evidence," said Hal Walker, chief legal counsel for the Unified Government. "We find the entire basis of their lawsuit a
women and the movie it inspired by the same name.
little bit absurd."
County officials say the original approval was merely a letter demonstrating what kind of entertainment, stores and restaurants would be included in the development. But it did not obligate officials to issue special-use permits for any tenets that might require them.
The Legends shopping center is a $237 million addition to Village West, near the Kansas Speedway, which includes several restaurants but has yet to open a full-fledged bar.
City to begin manager-hiring process
Requests for executive search firm proposals will begin Tuesday at the Lawrence City Commission meeting at City Hall. This is the first step toward hiring a new city manager.
The firm will assist the city commissioners in the search. The proposal deadline is April 25. The firms that apply will be eligible for approval by May 2. City commissioners will meet then with the firm they select to start the hiring process.
Hiring a search firm to assist in recruiting a city manager is common for city governing bodies, said Dave Corliss, interim city manager.
The same process was conducted for former city manager Mike Wildgen, who resigned under pressure from city commissioners March 8.
Kristen Jarboe
CAMPUS
Vehicle catches fire on campus
A Ford Explorer caught fire at the intersection of 14th Street and Alumni Place on Thursday afternoon.
Linus Coy, Chicago freshman, was driving the SUV when smoke started coming from the engine. A flame jumped from behind the front right tire and crept up the right side of the vehicle.
Coy pulled the Explorer over, then he and the two passengers, both KU freshmen, jumped out of the vehicle.
A firefighter told Coy that either oil or transmission fluid leaked onto the engine and then caught fire.
The Explorer sprung the sudden leak a block before the fire started.
Fraternity cycles for a good cause
Pi Kappa Phi will finish its stationary cycling fundraiser, PUSH America, at noon today on Wescoe Beach.
The fraternity has been riding day and night since Wednesday, with members switching riding shifts on the two bikes.
They are riding to raise money for people with disabilities. To make the fundraiser competitive, coin jars are set up near the cyclers in which people can place quarters, dimes and nickels. Quarters represent positive points, while other coins represent negative points. Each KU sorority has a jar, and the one with the most points will receive 15 percent of the fundraiser's proceeds.
The fraternity chose a cycling event in concurrence with its national summer philanthropy, the Journey of Hope. The journey will include three KU students riding from San Fransisco, Calif., to Washington, D.C.
Rachel Parker
Pizza eating contest