Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence city commissioners won’t restore free senior swim days as they await more data
Lawrence city commissioners considered reinstating free senior swim on Wednesdays at the Indoor Aquatic Center, but they chose to hold off until they have more data about rec center usage following fee implementation.
Landlord-friendly bill would roll back Lawrence’s protections for low-income renters
A Kansas property owner wants to impose a restriction across the entire state because of Lawrence’s ordinance protecting low-income renters.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence city commissioners won’t restore free senior swim days as they await more data
Lawrence city commissioners considered reinstating free senior swim on Wednesdays at the Indoor Aquatic Center, but they chose to hold off until they have more data about rec center usage following fee implementation.
Landlord-friendly bill would roll back Lawrence’s protections for low-income renters
A Kansas property owner wants to impose a restriction across the entire state because of Lawrence’s ordinance protecting low-income renters.
KU organizations to host Lunar New Year celebration
The Lawrence community can ring in the Year of the Horse at the KU Center for East Asian Studies’ New Year Festival, which will feature giveaways, performances from local organizations, activities and more.
Douglas County/Contributed Photo
Reminder: Douglas County treasurer’s office to move all services into satellite location from courthouse
Reminder: The Douglas County treasurer’s office will close its public-facing services in the historic courthouse downtown after this week and move all operations to the satellite location on Sixth Street.
K-10 ramps in west Lawrence to close through May
Two K-10 ramps in west Lawrence are set to close next week through late May.
KU organizations to host Lunar New Year celebration
The Lawrence community can ring in the Year of the Horse at the KU Center for East Asian Studies’ New Year Festival, which will feature giveaways, performances from local organizations, activities and more.
Douglas County/Contributed Photo
Reminder: Douglas County treasurer’s office to move all services into satellite location from courthouse
Reminder: The Douglas County treasurer’s office will close its public-facing services in the historic courthouse downtown after this week and move all operations to the satellite location on Sixth Street.
K-10 ramps in west Lawrence to close through May
Two K-10 ramps in west Lawrence are set to close next week through late May.
KU organizations to host Lunar New Year celebration
The Lawrence community can ring in the Year of the Horse at the KU Center for East Asian Studies’ New Year Festival, which will feature giveaways, performances from local organizations, activities and more.
Douglas County/Contributed Photo
Reminder: Douglas County treasurer’s office to move all services into satellite location from courthouse
Reminder: The Douglas County treasurer’s office will close its public-facing services in the historic courthouse downtown after this week and move all operations to the satellite location on Sixth Street.
K-10 ramps in west Lawrence to close through May
Two K-10 ramps in west Lawrence are set to close next week through late May.
LAWRENCE NEWS
Lawrence Humane Pet of the Week: Sparky, looking for Valentine’s love, likes long naps and thoughtful wrestling with other dogs
Despite being with the Lawrence Humane Society for three months, 2-year-old Sparky has not had any adoption inquiries, and shelter staff members hope that will change for Valentine’s Day.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission selects artist for Vermont Street garage mural
The Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission on Wednesday selected a mural proposal from Tokeya Waci U Richardson, Oglala Lakota and Haliwa-Saponi, to adorn a wall of the Vermont Street parking garage.
Chloe Anderson/Lawrence Times
Lawrence Mardi Gras parade to jazz up Mass Street on Fat Tuesday
Laissez les bons temps rouler. Lawrencians can get a feel for Mardi Gras festivities at this year’s celebration downtown.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Courthouse, rec centers, city offices to close for Presidents Day
City rec centers, Douglas County District Court and more will be closed Monday for Presidents Day, but downtown parking will be free and trash pickup will occur as scheduled. Here are more notes and details for the holiday.
MORE …
STATE NEWS
Kansas Senate passes bill scrutinizing free lunch families, dodging challenges from some Republicans
A contingent of Kansas Republicans narrowly advanced a bill that would increase scrutiny of households that qualify for free and reduced lunch, but it fielded pushback from Democrats and fellow Republicans.
Forty individuals, organizations object to Kansas Senate bill adding barriers to food and health aid
Melissa Sabin and dozens of others opposed a Kansas Senate bill that would aggressively expand the state’s process of verifying eligibility for Medicaid, SNAP and other public assistance programs.
MORE …
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.
MORE …
LAWRENCE LIFE
Lawrence Humane Pet of the Week: Sparky, looking for Valentine’s love, likes long naps and thoughtful wrestling with other dogs
Despite being with the Lawrence Humane Society for three months, 2-year-old Sparky has not had any adoption inquiries, and shelter staff members hope that will change for Valentine’s Day.
Raven Book Store
The Raven Book Store’s bestsellers for Feb. 11, 2026 (Sponsored post)
“Readers have their fingers on the cultural pulse with … the classic ‘Wuthering Heights,’ whose (unfaithful) adaptation releases into theaters this week. (Seriously. You want to read the book for this one),” the Raven Book Store writes.
Chloe Anderson/Lawrence Times
Valentine’s Day events around Lawrence for kids, adults and everyone in between
From a romance-themed night of Slavic fortunetelling to sugar cookie decorating for kids, here’s a list of heart-fluttering events happening around Lawrence for Valentine’s Day and the week leading up to it.
Lawrence Humane Pet of the Week: Sparky, looking for Valentine’s love, likes long naps and thoughtful wrestling with other dogs
Despite being with the Lawrence Humane Society for three months, 2-year-old Sparky has not had any adoption inquiries, and shelter staff members hope that will change for Valentine’s Day.
Raven Book Store
The Raven Book Store’s bestsellers for Feb. 11, 2026 (Sponsored post)
“Readers have their fingers on the cultural pulse with … the classic ‘Wuthering Heights,’ whose (unfaithful) adaptation releases into theaters this week. (Seriously. You want to read the book for this one),” the Raven Book Store writes.
Chloe Anderson/Lawrence Times
Valentine’s Day events around Lawrence for kids, adults and everyone in between
From a romance-themed night of Slavic fortunetelling to sugar cookie decorating for kids, here’s a list of heart-fluttering events happening around Lawrence for Valentine’s Day and the week leading up to it.
MORE …
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT …
Cuyler Dunn/Lawrence Times
Prosecutors lay out evidence against teens charged in Hawk shooting; murder charge against one dropped
Bar employees, students and police testified Tuesday about what happened the night of a fatal shooting last month at the Hawk, a popular bar near KU’s campus.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Sanctuary Alliance asks people to call hotline if they spot possible ICE activity in Lawrence
A Lawrence-based collective advocating for immigrant rights is asking people to call their rapid response hotline if they spot any potential ICE activity around town.
Join our team: Lawrence Times seeks full-time staff reporter
The Lawrence Times is hiring for a full-time staff reporter to cover community news in Lawrence, Kansas.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Camp sweep near I-70 in Lawrence leaves people asking where else they can go
People living in tents and hand-built structures near Interstate 70 in Lawrence
were forced to vacate the property in the cold during a camp sweep Wednesday. Many had their possessions destroyed and don’t know where they can go next.
Cuyler Dunn/Lawrence Times
Prosecutors lay out evidence against teens charged in Hawk shooting; murder charge against one dropped
Bar employees, students and police testified Tuesday about what happened the night of a fatal shooting last month at the Hawk, a popular bar near KU’s campus.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Sanctuary Alliance asks people to call hotline if they spot possible ICE activity in Lawrence
A Lawrence-based collective advocating for immigrant rights is asking people to call their rapid response hotline if they spot any potential ICE activity around town.
Join our team: Lawrence Times seeks full-time staff reporter
The Lawrence Times is hiring for a full-time staff reporter to cover community news in Lawrence, Kansas.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Camp sweep near I-70 in Lawrence leaves people asking where else they can go
People living in tents and hand-built structures near Interstate 70 in Lawrence
were forced to vacate the property in the cold during a camp sweep Wednesday. Many had their possessions destroyed and don’t know where they can go next.
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.
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 …
