Teens accused in Hawk shooting appear in court; one seeking immunity
Two teens who are charged in connection with a fatal shooting early Saturday at the Hawk appeared in court Wednesday morning, and one of their attorneys said he plans to file a motion for immunity from prosecution.
KBI director urges mandatory background checks for school employees to fill public safety gaps
KBI director Tony Mattivi urged approval of a bill that would require state and national fingerprint-based criminal history background checks for all employees and volunteers at public and private schools every five years.
Teens accused in Hawk shooting appear in court; one seeking immunity
Two teens who are charged in connection with a fatal shooting early Saturday at the Hawk appeared in court Wednesday morning, and one of their attorneys said he plans to file a motion for immunity from prosecution.
KBI director urges mandatory background checks for school employees to fill public safety gaps
KBI director Tony Mattivi urged approval of a bill that would require state and national fingerprint-based criminal history background checks for all employees and volunteers at public and private schools every five years.
City of Lawrence advisory boards may ask commission to adopt climate neutrality resolution
Two City of Lawrence advisory boards will consider asking the commission to replace a 2020 ordinance aiming to transition to full renewable energy use by 2035 with a new resolution aiming for climate neutrality by 2050.
Lawrence Humane Pet of the Week: Jasper ready to hit the road, see the world — or nap on the couch
Like any good best friend, Jasper’s ready to ride out life with you, whether you want to hit the road to get away for a weekend or spend a Friday night on the couch.
Lawrence City Commission asks about immigration, schools’ involvement and more in World Cup prep
Lawrence city commissioners asked about ICE raid concerns, Haskell’s involvement and more with preparation for the World Cup coming up this summer.
City of Lawrence advisory boards may ask commission to adopt climate neutrality resolution
Two City of Lawrence advisory boards will consider asking the commission to replace a 2020 ordinance aiming to transition to full renewable energy use by 2035 with a new resolution aiming for climate neutrality by 2050.
Lawrence Humane Pet of the Week: Jasper ready to hit the road, see the world — or nap on the couch
Like any good best friend, Jasper’s ready to ride out life with you, whether you want to hit the road to get away for a weekend or spend a Friday night on the couch.
Lawrence City Commission asks about immigration, schools’ involvement and more in World Cup prep
Lawrence city commissioners asked about ICE raid concerns, Haskell’s involvement and more with preparation for the World Cup coming up this summer.
City of Lawrence advisory boards may ask commission to adopt climate neutrality resolution
Two City of Lawrence advisory boards will consider asking the commission to replace a 2020 ordinance aiming to transition to full renewable energy use by 2035 with a new resolution aiming for climate neutrality by 2050.
Lawrence Humane Pet of the Week: Jasper ready to hit the road, see the world — or nap on the couch
Like any good best friend, Jasper’s ready to ride out life with you, whether you want to hit the road to get away for a weekend or spend a Friday night on the couch.
Lawrence City Commission asks about immigration, schools’ involvement and more in World Cup prep
Lawrence city commissioners asked about ICE raid concerns, Haskell’s involvement and more with preparation for the World Cup coming up this summer.
LAWRENCE NEWS
Jason Wang/Contributed photo
Artist invites Lawrence community members to leave their mark on ceramics for arts center exhibition
In the antiseptic age of AI and ChatGPT, Jason Wang has devised a tactile method to remind Lawrencians of their authenticity, messiness and capacity for human connection.
Lawrence Junior Youth, Youth of the Year to be selected at a single ceremony
Judges will select the 2026 Lawrence Youth of the Year and Junior Youth of the Year in a joint ceremony next week when candidates deliver speeches to family, friends and community members.
Tom Harper/Contributed photo
City of Lawrence asks residents to weigh in on upcoming capital improvement plan
As city staff members start developing the capital improvement plan for 2027-2031, they’re asking residents to submit project requests to help guide the plan’s development.
Molly Adams/Lawrence Times
Couple donates $1M to construct accessible entrance to KU’s Natural History Museum
A gift of $1 million from KU alumni Jann and Tom Rudkin will fund a new accessible entrance to Dyche Hall, home of the university’s Natural History Museum.
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STATE NEWS
Kansas judge rebukes AG Kris Kobach in gender marker case, issues symbolic $1 fine
Kansas AG Kris Kobach will pay a symbolic $1 sanction in a case regarding gender marker changes on driver’s licenses because he “should have known” better than to file a motion in a court that did not have jurisdiction.
Kansas adopts faculty workload, post-tenure review system for public universities
The Kansas Board of Regents ordered state public universities to implement faculty workload and tenure review policies aiming to bring underperforming professors to remediation, with termination as a potential consequence.
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COMMUNITY VOICES (OPINION)
Tom Harper/Lawrence Times
Tom Harper: Lawrence volunteers craft a story we need right now (Column)
Kim Brook brings the supplies and encouragement for Lawrence volunteers to come together and create hundreds of handmade valentines for Meals on Wheels recipients, Tom Harper writes in this column.
Letter to the Times: Lifting short-term rental cap could harm Lawrence residents
“The need for long-term rentals won’t decrease because the World Cup is coming and the need for short-term rentals is increasing,” Chris Flowers writes in this letter to the Times.
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LAWRENCE LIFE
Lawrence Humane Pet of the Week: Jasper ready to hit the road, see the world — or nap on the couch
Like any good best friend, Jasper’s ready to ride out life with you, whether you want to hit the road to get away for a weekend or spend a Friday night on the couch.
Raven Book Store
The Raven Book Store’s bestsellers for Jan. 21, 2026 (Sponsored post)
“Lawrence readers have kicked off the new year by supporting local authors, learning local histories, checking out what’s hot and finding books to help out with their new year’s resolutions,” the Raven Book Store writes of the latest bestsellers.
Wulfe Wulfemeyer/Lawrence Times
Downtown Lawrence to welcome a baby boutique, bid farewell to a pizza joint and more updates
Downtown Lawrence is welcoming a new baby boutique and recently lost a pizza place, and a coffee shop is doubling down on its brick and mortar location after closing its mobile trailer.
Lawrence Humane Pet of the Week: Jasper ready to hit the road, see the world — or nap on the couch
Like any good best friend, Jasper’s ready to ride out life with you, whether you want to hit the road to get away for a weekend or spend a Friday night on the couch.
Raven Book Store
The Raven Book Store’s bestsellers for Jan. 21, 2026 (Sponsored post)
“Lawrence readers have kicked off the new year by supporting local authors, learning local histories, checking out what’s hot and finding books to help out with their new year’s resolutions,” the Raven Book Store writes of the latest bestsellers.
Wulfe Wulfemeyer/Lawrence Times
Downtown Lawrence to welcome a baby boutique, bid farewell to a pizza joint and more updates
Downtown Lawrence is welcoming a new baby boutique and recently lost a pizza place, and a coffee shop is doubling down on its brick and mortar location after closing its mobile trailer.
MORE …
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT …
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Lawrence police release some additional info on teen killed in shooting at the Hawk
The teen killed in a shooting at a Lawrence bar early Saturday was 18-year-old Aidan Knowles, according to police.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
One teen killed, another injured in shooting at popular bar near KU in Lawrence
Update: An 18-year-old man was killed and a 16-year-old boy is in critical condition after a shooting around 2 a.m. Saturday at the Hawk in Lawrence. Two 18-year-olds have been arrested in connection.
New lawsuit challenges City of Lawrence’s housing discrimination ordinance
A real estate company has filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Lawrence challenging an ordinance that bans discrimination based on where a potential tenant’s rent payments would come from, such as housing vouchers.
Contributed photo
Man killed at Lawrence City Hall had schizophrenia, was stranded during trip, his sister says
The Minnesota man shot and killed in Lawrence City Hall last week had schizophrenia and was distressed after being stranded en route to his grandmother, according to his friend and his sister.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Lawrence police release some additional info on teen killed in shooting at the Hawk
The teen killed in a shooting at a Lawrence bar early Saturday was 18-year-old Aidan Knowles, according to police.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
One teen killed, another injured in shooting at popular bar near KU in Lawrence
Update: An 18-year-old man was killed and a 16-year-old boy is in critical condition after a shooting around 2 a.m. Saturday at the Hawk in Lawrence. Two 18-year-olds have been arrested in connection.
New lawsuit challenges City of Lawrence’s housing discrimination ordinance
A real estate company has filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Lawrence challenging an ordinance that bans discrimination based on where a potential tenant’s rent payments would come from, such as housing vouchers.
Contributed photo
Man killed at Lawrence City Hall had schizophrenia, was stranded during trip, his sister says
The Minnesota man shot and killed in Lawrence City Hall last week had schizophrenia and was distressed after being stranded en route to his grandmother, according to his friend and his sister.
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MORE COMMUNITY VOICES
The opinion pieces in this section are generally written by members of the Lawrence community and those who have close ties. In addition, we’re offering some space for area organizations and organizers to provide updates and attempt to reach other folks who might share their mission.
Want to submit a letter to the Times? Great!
Click here to find out how.
Letter to the Times: A 3-point plan to achieve more accessible and affordable housing
“Local data … makes clear that Lawrence needs more housing that is both affordable and accessible,” members of the Accessibility in Affordable Housing Workgroup write in this letter to the Times.
Letter to the Times: Raise the age for free rec center access
“Lawrence city commissioners should increase the age limit for youths to be eligible for free access to recreation facilities from 17 to 26,” Irene Ratzlaff Soderstrom writes in this letter to the Times.
Contributed photo
Ken Lassman: Wakarusa River Valley is a key wildlife corridor (Column)
“It is important in the current conversations about developments along the South Lawrence Trafficway … to have a better appreciation of what the Wakarusa Valley represents to the larger community of wildlife,” Ken Lassman writes in this column.
The opinion pieces in this section are generally written by members of the Lawrence community and those who have close ties. In addition, we’re offering some space for area organizations and organizers to provide updates and attempt to reach other folks who might share their mission.
Want to submit a letter to the Times? Great!
Click here to find out how.
Letter to the Times: A 3-point plan to achieve more accessible and affordable housing
“Local data … makes clear that Lawrence needs more housing that is both affordable and accessible,” members of the Accessibility in Affordable Housing Workgroup write in this letter to the Times.
Letter to the Times: Raise the age for free rec center access
“Lawrence city commissioners should increase the age limit for youths to be eligible for free access to recreation facilities from 17 to 26,” Irene Ratzlaff Soderstrom writes in this letter to the Times.
Contributed photo
Ken Lassman: Wakarusa River Valley is a key wildlife corridor (Column)
“It is important in the current conversations about developments along the South Lawrence Trafficway … to have a better appreciation of what the Wakarusa Valley represents to the larger community of wildlife,” Ken Lassman writes in this column.
MORE …
