Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Photos: Lawrence community menorot lighting
Members of the Lawrence Jewish Community Congregation gathered Saturday evening to celebrate Hanukkah with menorot lighting, a potluck, and fellowship.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Santa Claus’ associates in Lawrence usher in holiday cheer
Since Santa Claus must conserve energy for his Christmas Eve omnipresence, he wisely delegates some duties to remote workers. Here are a few of the Lawrence locals who signed on to give Santa a helping hand this year.
Wulfe Wulfemeyer/Lawrence Times
New brewery, speakeasy to claim its territory in former Black Stag location
A stag and an elk walk into a bar and, no joke, they will aim to make Lawrence’s newest rootin’ tootin’ brewery with live country music and a speakeasy.
City of Lawrence snowplow, newly dubbed ‘The Blizzard of Oz,’ ready to take to the streets
“Taylor Drift” was so last season. Now, there’s a new name in town among the city’s snowplow fleet, and the machine has been adorned with a custom magnet.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Loving Paws therapy dogs provide a fuzzy shoulder to lean on
Even if dogs can’t solve the world’s biggest problems, they can be present at just the right moment for folks who need a fuzzy shoulder to lean on, Loving Paws Animal Therapy’s volunteer coordinator believes.
Wulfe Wulfemeyer/Lawrence Times
New brewery, speakeasy to claim its territory in former Black Stag location
A stag and an elk walk into a bar and, no joke, they will aim to make Lawrence’s newest rootin’ tootin’ brewery with live country music and a speakeasy.
City of Lawrence snowplow, newly dubbed ‘The Blizzard of Oz,’ ready to take to the streets
“Taylor Drift” was so last season. Now, there’s a new name in town among the city’s snowplow fleet, and the machine has been adorned with a custom magnet.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Loving Paws therapy dogs provide a fuzzy shoulder to lean on
Even if dogs can’t solve the world’s biggest problems, they can be present at just the right moment for folks who need a fuzzy shoulder to lean on, Loving Paws Animal Therapy’s volunteer coordinator believes.
Wulfe Wulfemeyer/Lawrence Times
New brewery, speakeasy to claim its territory in former Black Stag location
A stag and an elk walk into a bar and, no joke, they will aim to make Lawrence’s newest rootin’ tootin’ brewery with live country music and a speakeasy.
City of Lawrence snowplow, newly dubbed ‘The Blizzard of Oz,’ ready to take to the streets
“Taylor Drift” was so last season. Now, there’s a new name in town among the city’s snowplow fleet, and the machine has been adorned with a custom magnet.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Loving Paws therapy dogs provide a fuzzy shoulder to lean on
Even if dogs can’t solve the world’s biggest problems, they can be present at just the right moment for folks who need a fuzzy shoulder to lean on, Loving Paws Animal Therapy’s volunteer coordinator believes.
LAWRENCE NEWS
Where to see holiday lights in Lawrence – 2025 edition
Though the owners of a beloved holiday home have retired, there are plenty aglow this year to keep us inspired.
Jeff McPheeters/Contributed photo
KU band’s new album showcases student talent, music that’s ‘fun to play’
Student musicians are set to blow listeners away on the KU Wind Ensemble’s new album, “Midnight Sun,” a triumphant entry in the group’s repertoire.
Maya Hodison/Lawrence Times
Former Lawrence school speech pathologist charged with child sex crimes will face trial, judge rules
A former Prairie Park Elementary School speech pathologist was bound over for trial on Thursday on charges of child sex crimes against students.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
‘We’re regressing’: Douglas County commissioners again bump tenant right to counsel program to back burner
Although Douglas County has expressed commitment to tenant right to counsel and has engaged in implementation discussions for months, a majority of county commissioners Wednesday opted instead to have county staff do more research on mediation.
MORE …
STATE NEWS
Kansas Supreme Court chief justice to retire by early February
Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Marla Luckert will step down from her position at the start of the new year and retire within weeks, she announced Friday.
Kansas marijuana laws remain unchanged, despite Trump promoting looser regulations
President Donald Trump took the first step Thursday to reclassify marijuana, but the move won’t affect Kansans unless the state changes its laws, a law enforcement professional said.
MORE …
COMMUNITY VOICES (OPINION)
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.
Tom Harper: La Prima Tazza celebrating 35 years serving Lawrence (Column)
For 35 years, La Prima Tazza has functioned as a coffee shop, community gathering place and a “little tugboat” helping Liberty Hall move forward in the turbulent waters of Massachusetts Street, Tom Harper writes in this column.
MORE …
LAWRENCE LIFE
Lawrence Humane Pet of the Week: Unflappable brindle shepherd mix Cardi B. is not the drama
Unlike her namesake, 3-year-old brindle shepherd mix Cardi B. doesn’t have to ask if she’s the drama. She’s guaranteed to be a human’s peace.
Contributed photo
Deerfield Elementary teacher earns Dedication to Education award
Melissa Clover, a fourth grade teacher at Deerfield Elementary School, was surprised Monday with an award for her dedication to student success.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Champions of Lawrence arts celebrated at 25th Phoenix Awards
More supportive spaces for Native American youth to grow in the arts and entrepreneurship are always needed, said Rachael Lackey, one of six Phoenix Award recipients recognized Sunday for their contributions to Lawrence arts.
Lawrence Humane Pet of the Week: Unflappable brindle shepherd mix Cardi B. is not the drama
Unlike her namesake, 3-year-old brindle shepherd mix Cardi B. doesn’t have to ask if she’s the drama. She’s guaranteed to be a human’s peace.
Contributed photo
Deerfield Elementary teacher earns Dedication to Education award
Melissa Clover, a fourth grade teacher at Deerfield Elementary School, was surprised Monday with an award for her dedication to student success.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Champions of Lawrence arts celebrated at 25th Phoenix Awards
More supportive spaces for Native American youth to grow in the arts and entrepreneurship are always needed, said Rachael Lackey, one of six Phoenix Award recipients recognized Sunday for their contributions to Lawrence arts.
MORE …
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT …
Kaydi Rudisell
City of Lawrence will remove Watson Park basketball court, prone to flooding, this summer
The city plans to remove the basketball court in Watson Park, which is prone to flooding, during the summer as part of ongoing construction, and it’s not yet clear whether a new court will replace it.
Contributed photo
HeadQuarters Kansas to transition to 988 number only, phase out local phone line
HeadQuarters Kansas has been reachable at 841-2345 for decades. At the end of this year, that will no longer be the case, and all calls will need to go to 988.
Court document details evidence allegedly found in fatal hit-and-run north of Lawrence
Investigators found fibers in a truck’s broken headlight that appear consistent with the shirt a Lawrence runner was wearing when she was struck and killed by a driver who fled the scene last month, according to law enforcement documents.
Lawrence City Commission rejects Alvamar apartment complex plan
The Lawrence City Commission on Tuesday voted 4-1 to reject a preliminary plan for a 200-unit apartment complex in west Lawrence’s Alvamar neighborhood.
Kaydi Rudisell
City of Lawrence will remove Watson Park basketball court, prone to flooding, this summer
The city plans to remove the basketball court in Watson Park, which is prone to flooding, during the summer as part of ongoing construction, and it’s not yet clear whether a new court will replace it.
Contributed photo
HeadQuarters Kansas to transition to 988 number only, phase out local phone line
HeadQuarters Kansas has been reachable at 841-2345 for decades. At the end of this year, that will no longer be the case, and all calls will need to go to 988.
Court document details evidence allegedly found in fatal hit-and-run north of Lawrence
Investigators found fibers in a truck’s broken headlight that appear consistent with the shirt a Lawrence runner was wearing when she was struck and killed by a driver who fled the scene last month, according to law enforcement documents.
Lawrence City Commission rejects Alvamar apartment complex plan
The Lawrence City Commission on Tuesday voted 4-1 to reject a preliminary plan for a 200-unit apartment complex in west Lawrence’s Alvamar neighborhood.
MORE …
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.
Holly Krebs: How will Lawrence’s utility rate increases affect your household? Here are the numbers (Column)
“The Lawrence City Commission has increased the city utility rates each of the last five years and are planning substantial increases for the next three years, too,” Holly Krebs writes in this column.
Tom Harper/Lawrence Times
Tom Harper: Walt Hull has forged functional metal works of art throughout Lawrence (Column)
Walt Hull’s path to become a blacksmith had twists and turns not unlike the functional works of art he’s shaped all over Lawrence. Now 83, he has no intentions of retiring. Tom Harper shares Hull’s story in this column.
Max Kautsch: In loco parentis, or just plain loco – Surveilling Kansas students doesn’t make sense (Column)
“The outcome of the case will depend largely on whether the district can show that implementing software designed to monitor students the way it did was closely related enough to an important government interest — namely, student safety — to justify Gaggle’s intrusion into the students’ lives,” Max Kautsch writes in this Kansas Reflector 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.
Holly Krebs: How will Lawrence’s utility rate increases affect your household? Here are the numbers (Column)
“The Lawrence City Commission has increased the city utility rates each of the last five years and are planning substantial increases for the next three years, too,” Holly Krebs writes in this column.
Tom Harper/Lawrence Times
Tom Harper: Walt Hull has forged functional metal works of art throughout Lawrence (Column)
Walt Hull’s path to become a blacksmith had twists and turns not unlike the functional works of art he’s shaped all over Lawrence. Now 83, he has no intentions of retiring. Tom Harper shares Hull’s story in this column.
Max Kautsch: In loco parentis, or just plain loco – Surveilling Kansas students doesn’t make sense (Column)
“The outcome of the case will depend largely on whether the district can show that implementing software designed to monitor students the way it did was closely related enough to an important government interest — namely, student safety — to justify Gaggle’s intrusion into the students’ lives,” Max Kautsch writes in this Kansas Reflector column.



