Logan Pierson / Lawrence Times
Ahead of World Cup, Lawrence advocates to share how to spot, prevent human trafficking
The Willow and the Care Center in Lawrence are partnering to provide human trafficking awareness and response training in preparation for the World Cup games in Kansas City.
Kansas governor vetoes ‘bathroom bill’ aimed at transgender people
Democratic Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed a GOP-led bill on Friday that bans transgender people from using restrooms and locker rooms according to their gender identity.
Logan Pierson / Lawrence Times
Ahead of World Cup, Lawrence advocates to share how to spot, prevent human trafficking
The Willow and the Care Center in Lawrence are partnering to provide human trafficking awareness and response training in preparation for the World Cup games in Kansas City.
Kansas governor vetoes ‘bathroom bill’ aimed at transgender people
Democratic Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed a GOP-led bill on Friday that bans transgender people from using restrooms and locker rooms according to their gender identity.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
LAWRENCE NEWS
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 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.
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)
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.
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.
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 …
Lawrence city commissioners approve historic markers to honor teens killed by police in 1970
Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday approved historic markers to pay tribute to Rick “Tiger” Dowdell and Nick Rice, teens who were shot and killed by Lawrence police officers in 1970, despite objections from the police chief.
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.
Lawrence city commissioners approve historic markers to honor teens killed by police in 1970
Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday approved historic markers to pay tribute to Rick “Tiger” Dowdell and Nick Rice, teens who were shot and killed by Lawrence police officers in 1970, despite objections from the police chief.
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.
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: 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.
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.
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: 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.
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.
MORE …
