WASHINGTON — With high drama in the making, Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh will defend his reputation Thursday.

The Senate Judiciary Committee — 11 Republicans, all men, and 10 Democrats — was to hear from just two witnesses on Thursday: Kavanaugh, the federal appeals court judge who has long been eyed for the Supreme Court, and Christine Blasey Ford, a California psychology professor who accuses him of attempting to rape her when they were teens.

Watch a replay of the hearing.

Chairman @ChuckGrassley today received Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s prepared written testimony ahead of tomorrow’s continuation of a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to consider his nomination to serve on the United States Supreme Court. #SCOTUS https://t.co/7gpCSHJY9g pic.twitter.com/r8KyrGK9Uy

— Senate Judiciary (@senjudiciary) September 26, 2018

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The University of Kansas plans to cut $20 million from its budget by leaving many vacant faculty positions unfilled and implementing a buyout program for older faculty members.

KU Interim Provost Carl Lejuez presented budget cuts at a town hall meeting Wednesday.

He says a new voluntary retirement program that was adopted in August would work in tandem with the university’s decision not to fill many vacant positions. Lejuez says 45 faculty members have applied for the program, which offers a buyout option to tenured and tenure-track faculty who are 62 or older.

He anticipates that 50 more faculty members will sign up by the program’s Oct. 5 deadline.

Lejeuz says the program gives the university flexibility to either refill or eliminate the positions.

RENO COUNTY— A Kansas man arrested after leading police on a slow-speed chase has been formally charged.

Angelo Palermo, 36, Hutchinson, led law enforcement on a slow-speed chase on U.S. 50 on Sept. 22.

Once stopped, Palermo was arrested for fleeing and eluding, DUI, driving while suspended, illegal transportation and failing to drive in the right lane.

During the slow-speed chase, Palermo allegedly switched positions with the passenger, according to statements in court.

He finally stopped after pulling off the highway at Jordan Springs Road.

Palermo has a previous drug conviction, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. He is scheduled to be back in court Oct. 17.

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY

SALINA —No. Pronto Print does not offer drive-through service.

Shortly after 10 a.m. Thursday, a Kia SUV pulled into the parking area in front of Pronto Print, 627 E. Crawford, jumped the curb, and crashed into the front of the business, said Mark Neubrand, president of Pronto Print.

“We’ve been here since 1987 and I’ve seen vehicles bounce up over the curb, but we’ve never had one crash through the window,” he said.

Neubrand said no one was standing in the lobby area at the time of the accident. The Kia stopped short of the front counter, he said.

There were no serious injuries reported, according to police.