Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Third ‘No Kings’ rally brings generations together to protest Trump administration
Huge crowds of Lawrence community members of all ages showed up Saturday to protest the Trump administration as part of a string of No Kings Protests across the nation.
Some Kansas lawmakers use AI chatbots in the Statehouse — with no guidelines on responsible use
More and more Kansas legislators are using chatbots to summarize bills, write their remarks and more. There are no guidelines for how lawmakers use ChatGPT, Claude and other services.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Third ‘No Kings’ rally brings generations together to protest Trump administration
Huge crowds of Lawrence community members of all ages showed up Saturday to protest the Trump administration as part of a string of No Kings Protests across the nation.
Some Kansas lawmakers use AI chatbots in the Statehouse — with no guidelines on responsible use
More and more Kansas legislators are using chatbots to summarize bills, write their remarks and more. There are no guidelines for how lawmakers use ChatGPT, Claude and other services.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Part of 19th Street to close, Wakarusa lanes reduced and more Lawrence roadwork coming up
Roadwork is popping up all over Lawrence, including a closure at 19th and Mass, reduced lanes for about a mile of Wakarusa, and more.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Free State High School launching hall of fame to commemorate 30 years; nominations open
Free State High School has launched a nomination form for its first round of hall of fame inductees, which the school will celebrate as part of its 30-year anniversary.
Douglas County District Judge Sally Pokorny to retire next month
Douglas County District Judge Sally Pokorny has announced her plans to retire next month after nearly 50 years of legal service, including establishing and presiding over behavioral health court for the last decade.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Part of 19th Street to close, Wakarusa lanes reduced and more Lawrence roadwork coming up
Roadwork is popping up all over Lawrence, including a closure at 19th and Mass, reduced lanes for about a mile of Wakarusa, and more.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Free State High School launching hall of fame to commemorate 30 years; nominations open
Free State High School has launched a nomination form for its first round of hall of fame inductees, which the school will celebrate as part of its 30-year anniversary.
Douglas County District Judge Sally Pokorny to retire next month
Douglas County District Judge Sally Pokorny has announced her plans to retire next month after nearly 50 years of legal service, including establishing and presiding over behavioral health court for the last decade.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Part of 19th Street to close, Wakarusa lanes reduced and more Lawrence roadwork coming up
Roadwork is popping up all over Lawrence, including a closure at 19th and Mass, reduced lanes for about a mile of Wakarusa, and more.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Free State High School launching hall of fame to commemorate 30 years; nominations open
Free State High School has launched a nomination form for its first round of hall of fame inductees, which the school will celebrate as part of its 30-year anniversary.
Douglas County District Judge Sally Pokorny to retire next month
Douglas County District Judge Sally Pokorny has announced her plans to retire next month after nearly 50 years of legal service, including establishing and presiding over behavioral health court for the last decade.
LAWRENCE NEWS
KU debate coach named Coach of the Year at national tournament
Brett Bricker, KU’s head debate coach, has won the Coach of the Year award at the National Debate Tournament.
Lawrence-area law enforcement officers to participate in NAACP panel
Douglas County Sheriff Jay Armbrister, Lawrence Police Chief Rich Lockhart and KU Police Chief Nelson Mosley will soon participate in a panel hosted by the local NAACP branch.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence advisory board to ask commission to boost sustainability department funding in 2027
Lawrence’s Environmental Sustainability Advisory Board will ask city commissioners to beef up the sustainability department’s budget in 2027 after its operating budget was slashed 89% from 2025 to 2026.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence mayor asks environmental board to prioritize; board champions clean energy ordinance
A Lawrence advisory board and the mayor negotiated a vision for city sustainability initiatives Thursday as board members pushed for an energy benchmarking policy and a clean energy ordinance.
MORE …
STATE NEWS
Kansas governor, attorney general both declare victory in Supreme Court decision on executive power
A divided Kansas Supreme Court issued a narrow decision Friday resulting in dismissal of Gov. Laura Kelly’s petition alleging AG Kris Kobach interfered with her constitutional authority to engage in litigation on behalf of the state. Both sides declared victory.
Kansas Legislature imposes overhaul of state nursing board, voids 20 years of disciplinary actions
A bill forcing extensive changes at the Kansas State Board of Nursing and voiding 20 years of disciplinary actions passed both legislative chambers and will land on the governor’s desk amid concerns about its impact.
MORE …
COMMUNITY VOICES (OPINION)
Tom Harper: Ben Graham’s craftsmanship preserves Lawrence buildings, compels with its details (Column)
Lawrence has benefited from Ben Graham’s generous spirit and broad skillset, particularly as a plasterer, since 1985, Tom Harper writes in this column.
Shawn Alexander: When W. E. B. Du Bois came to Lawrence (Column)
W. E. B. Du Bois spoke in Lawrence 105 years ago today. “We should draw inspiration from those who have come before us and dare to envision a better world,” Shawn Alexander writes in this column.
MORE …
LAWRENCE LIFE
Contributed photo
Lawrence Humane to celebrate 75th anniversary with fee-waived adoptions and more
The Lawrence Humane Society is celebrating 75 years with a weekend of fee-waived adoptions, community stories about shelter pets and more.
Hannah Loub/Lawrence Times
Lawrence ecologists provide tips on native plant restoration, how to get involved
If you missed the fall window to plant native plants, spring is still a great time to participate in native restoration, at home or within the community. Local ecologists share tips and how to get involved.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Ben Ahlvers wants the Lawrence Arts Center to be flexible, not fragile
Ben Ahlvers is taking over the Lawrence Arts Center helm as executive director during a time of “seismic evolution.” He wants to build an organization that is flexible but not fragile.
Contributed photo
Lawrence Humane to celebrate 75th anniversary with fee-waived adoptions and more
The Lawrence Humane Society is celebrating 75 years with a weekend of fee-waived adoptions, community stories about shelter pets and more.
Hannah Loub/Lawrence Times
Lawrence ecologists provide tips on native plant restoration, how to get involved
If you missed the fall window to plant native plants, spring is still a great time to participate in native restoration, at home or within the community. Local ecologists share tips and how to get involved.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Ben Ahlvers wants the Lawrence Arts Center to be flexible, not fragile
Ben Ahlvers is taking over the Lawrence Arts Center helm as executive director during a time of “seismic evolution.” He wants to build an organization that is flexible but not fragile.
MORE …
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT …
KU chancellor defends finances, calls for unity after ‘no confidence’ vote
KU Chancellor Doug Girod defended recent budget decisions and urged unity in the KU community following an unofficial vote in which nearly 80% of respondents said they had lost confidence in the university’s leadership.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence NAACP to preserve stories of Black people buried in unmarked graves with headstones, biographies
Lawrence’s NAACP chapter will reclaim the stories of 30 Black people who were buried in unmarked graves in Oak Hill Cemetery, including three men lynched by a mob in 1882, with new granite headstones and a digital biography archive.
Cuyler Dunn/Lawrence Times
Thousands in KU community vote ‘no confidence’ in chancellor, CFO
A majority of KU faculty and students who participated in an unofficial vote this month said they do not have confidence in the leadership of Chancellor Doug Girod.
Lawrence woman still missing after nearly a year; search coming up
Saturday will mark one year since Wanda Dyer left her Lawrence home and never returned. Volunteers are planning to search for her again this weekend.
KU chancellor defends finances, calls for unity after ‘no confidence’ vote
KU Chancellor Doug Girod defended recent budget decisions and urged unity in the KU community following an unofficial vote in which nearly 80% of respondents said they had lost confidence in the university’s leadership.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence NAACP to preserve stories of Black people buried in unmarked graves with headstones, biographies
Lawrence’s NAACP chapter will reclaim the stories of 30 Black people who were buried in unmarked graves in Oak Hill Cemetery, including three men lynched by a mob in 1882, with new granite headstones and a digital biography archive.
Cuyler Dunn/Lawrence Times
Thousands in KU community vote ‘no confidence’ in chancellor, CFO
A majority of KU faculty and students who participated in an unofficial vote this month said they do not have confidence in the leadership of Chancellor Doug Girod.
Lawrence woman still missing after nearly a year; search coming up
Saturday will mark one year since Wanda Dyer left her Lawrence home and never returned. Volunteers are planning to search for her again this weekend.
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: Looking at the bigger picture as Lawrence City Commission considers $184M in debt (Column)
“Can our community afford an extra $21 million per year in debt payments when the city had to cut $6.6 million to balance the 2026 operating budget?” Holly Krebs writes in this column.
Amy Helmer/Contributed photo
Amy Helmer: Life, liberty, and the right to pee (Column)
“Fearmongering over the alleged safety risks of peeing is so deeply American, it is hardly surprising that the modern-day politician increasingly attempts to frame transgender people as political scapegoats,” Amy Helmer writes in this column.
Letter to the Times: City of Lawrence should revise, not rescind, sustainability ordinance
“While the federal government is undoing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Lawrence can and should lead the way,” members of the League of Women Voters of Lawrence-Douglas County write in this letter to the Times.
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: Looking at the bigger picture as Lawrence City Commission considers $184M in debt (Column)
“Can our community afford an extra $21 million per year in debt payments when the city had to cut $6.6 million to balance the 2026 operating budget?” Holly Krebs writes in this column.
Amy Helmer/Contributed photo
Amy Helmer: Life, liberty, and the right to pee (Column)
“Fearmongering over the alleged safety risks of peeing is so deeply American, it is hardly surprising that the modern-day politician increasingly attempts to frame transgender people as political scapegoats,” Amy Helmer writes in this column.
Letter to the Times: City of Lawrence should revise, not rescind, sustainability ordinance
“While the federal government is undoing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Lawrence can and should lead the way,” members of the League of Women Voters of Lawrence-Douglas County write in this letter to the Times.
MORE …
