Daily Archives: March 8, 2008

Should college students be able to pack heat?

March 8, 20086:05 a.m.

gunArizona’s Legislature is debating a bill that would allow someone with a concealed-weapons permit — limited to those 21 and older — to carry their firearms at public colleges and universities, the New York Times reported. The bill was prompted by recent university shootings but was originally intended to include K-12 schools. “I feel like our kindergartners are sitting there like sitting ducks,” said state Sen. Karen S. Johnson, the bill’s sponsor. Utah is the only state that now expressly allows people with concealed-weapon permits to carry guns on college campuses, but more than a dozen states are considering such legislation, the Times reported. Opponents argue that allowing armed students on campuses would create more danger than it would prevent.

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Education | Comments (380)

Open thread 3/8

March 8, 20086:04 a.m.

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Open thread | Comments (86)

No due diligence on WaterWalk consultants?

March 8, 20086:03 a.m.

Memphis developer John Elkington is just a consultant to the WaterWalk development — a good thing, given his troubling track record in some other cities. If he were in charge, rather than just lining up the Funny Bone Comedy Club and Wet Willie’s Daiquiri Bar for the project, Wichitans might have big reason to worry. Still, two things said in Thursday’s Eagle article on Elkington’s messy history were cause for concern: WaterWalk president Tom Johnson’s comment that he doesn’t care what Elkington did in other cities, and Wichita economic development director Allen Bell’s suggestion that Elkington’s track record isn’t the city’s responsibility either. Elkington’s limited role may be no big deal. But if WaterWalk doesn’t care about its consultants’ track records and the city sees no need for due diligence on its part, who is looking out for the taxpayers who are backing this major public-private project along Wichita’s best riverfront real estate?

By Rhonda Holman | Filed under Wichita government | Comments (15)

Advice to fight by

March 8, 20086:01 a.m.

clintonbill“When someone is beating you over the head with a hammer, don’t sit there and take it. Take out a meat cleaver and cut off their hand.” — Bill Clinton, in 1981

By Rhonda Holman | Filed under Presidential race | Comments (100)

Party stars share unlikely Kansas roots

March 8, 20086:00 a.m.

kaineWhat is it with El Dorado and rising Democratic Party stars? Something in the water? Or the oil? During his appearance at the Kansas Democratic Party’s annual Washington Days event in Topeka last week, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine (in photo) talked of his Kansas roots: He grew up in Overland Park, and his mother is from El Dorado and his father from Wamego. Kaine has been mentioned as a possible running mate for Barack Obama, who won the Virginia primary this year with Kaine’s enthusiastic support. Kaine said of Obama last year: “When I found out his mother grew up in the same town as my mom, El Dorado, Kan., I knew we knew we were separated at birth and I had to support him.’’

By Rhonda Holman | Filed under Presidential race | Comments (8)