August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
‘This isn’t our first rodeo’: Kansas, Lawrence Democrats rally, prep for vote against amendment in August 2026
Local Democrats urged community members during a rally Sunday to help people register and get out the vote — and in particular, to vote against a constitutional amendment coming to ballots in August 2026.
Kansas Supreme Court affirms product liability immunity of gun maker, seller in civil suit
The Kansas Supreme Court agreed Friday with a district court decision tossing a lawsuit filed by a former Emporia State football player shot by a teammate who mistakenly believed that disassembling his handgun required pulling the trigger.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
‘This isn’t our first rodeo’: Kansas, Lawrence Democrats rally, prep for vote against amendment in August 2026
Local Democrats urged community members during a rally Sunday to help people register and get out the vote — and in particular, to vote against a constitutional amendment coming to ballots in August 2026.
Kansas Supreme Court affirms product liability immunity of gun maker, seller in civil suit
The Kansas Supreme Court agreed Friday with a district court decision tossing a lawsuit filed by a former Emporia State football player shot by a teammate who mistakenly believed that disassembling his handgun required pulling the trigger.
Kaw Valley Almanac for April 28 – May 4, 2025
Verbena is a showy prairie wildflower blooming right now. Flower clusters start blooming around the edges and work their way toward the center as the season progresses.
Lawrence artists to open studios to the public during Art Spaces event (Sponsored post)
Area artists will open their studios, homes and creative spaces to guests during Lawrence’s free, self-guided, open-studio tour, Art Spaces.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence school board to consider approving 2025-26 classroom capacities; public comment not on agenda
The Lawrence school board on Monday will consider approving classroom ratios and enrollment capacities for the 2025-26 year. General public comment is not on the board’s agenda.
Kaw Valley Almanac for April 28 – May 4, 2025
Verbena is a showy prairie wildflower blooming right now. Flower clusters start blooming around the edges and work their way toward the center as the season progresses.
Lawrence artists to open studios to the public during Art Spaces event (Sponsored post)
Area artists will open their studios, homes and creative spaces to guests during Lawrence’s free, self-guided, open-studio tour, Art Spaces.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence school board to consider approving 2025-26 classroom capacities; public comment not on agenda
The Lawrence school board on Monday will consider approving classroom ratios and enrollment capacities for the 2025-26 year. General public comment is not on the board’s agenda.
Kaw Valley Almanac for April 28 – May 4, 2025
Verbena is a showy prairie wildflower blooming right now. Flower clusters start blooming around the edges and work their way toward the center as the season progresses.
Lawrence artists to open studios to the public during Art Spaces event (Sponsored post)
Area artists will open their studios, homes and creative spaces to guests during Lawrence’s free, self-guided, open-studio tour, Art Spaces.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence school board to consider approving 2025-26 classroom capacities; public comment not on agenda
The Lawrence school board on Monday will consider approving classroom ratios and enrollment capacities for the 2025-26 year. General public comment is not on the board’s agenda.
LAWRENCE NEWS
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Art students, teachers celebrated at Lawrence Arts Center’s Vanguard Awards
Art students and their teachers celebrated their award-winning artwork Friday evening at the annual Vanguard Awards during the opening reception for the USD 497 Exhibition.
(Contributed)
Youth-led inclusive period pantry to host block party in Lawrence amid leadership shift
As the founders of Honor Moon’s period pantry and nonprofit foundation make their transition from high school to college, they’re teaming up with incoming leaders for a community event.
Black Hills Energy asks to raise natural gas rates for Kansas customers by 17.6%
A public hearing Tuesday in Wichita and online will give Black Hills Energy customers an opportunity to comment on a proposal that would raise residential bills by about 17.6%.
August Rudisell / Lawrence Times
Rally at South Park to look ahead to 2026 election
The Democratic Parties of Douglas County and Kansas will soon hold a rally at South Park to discuss the 2026 election, including who will run for governor.
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STATE NEWS
Kansas Legislature turns cold shoulder to child reading program after less than one year
The Kansas Legislature’s budget bill that eventually passed with bipartisan support contained no new funding of Blueprint for Literacy, which aims to intervene on behalf of 33% of Kansas students not meeting fundamental levels of reading.
Kansas agency says scam texts about toll payments should be reported to FTC
The Kansas Department of Transportation is asking people to report scam text messages about unpaid tolls to federal authorities.
MORE …
COMMUNITY VOICES (OPINION)
Max Kautsch: Kansas Legislature’s supermajority makes mockery of open records law over efficiency portal messages (Column)
“This iteration of the Legislature seems to think it is entitled to redact information that could traditionally be found in a phonebook, and that it may do so in a futile attempt to shield the identity of a handful of powerful Kansans but not the rest of us,” Max Kautsch writes in this Kansas Reflector column.
Letter to the Times: Lawrence’s policies should support business growth
“By supporting the expansion of existing businesses and by attracting new employers, we can create jobs, increase our tax base and ultimately ease the pressure on residential property taxpayers,” Gary Rexroad writes in this letter to the Times.
MORE …
LAWRENCE LIFE
Molly Adams/Lawrence Times
Haskell Cultural Center and Museum collection digitization among 12 projects earning heritage grants
A preservation project at the Haskell Cultural Center and Museum and 11 other cultural projects have earned $210,000 in grant money from Douglas County.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
KC World Cup CEO: Lawrence one of the ‘most engaged’ communities in region
Lawrence is well positioned to cash in on an estimated regional windfall of more than $600 million next summer when the World Cup comes to Kansas City, the CEO of KC’s World Cup planning told local business leaders Tuesday evening.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Watkins Museum to celebrate 50 years with birthday party
Watkins Museum of History will host a public celebration of half a century serving Lawrence and Douglas County.
Molly Adams/Lawrence Times
Haskell Cultural Center and Museum collection digitization among 12 projects earning heritage grants
A preservation project at the Haskell Cultural Center and Museum and 11 other cultural projects have earned $210,000 in grant money from Douglas County.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
KC World Cup CEO: Lawrence one of the ‘most engaged’ communities in region
Lawrence is well positioned to cash in on an estimated regional windfall of more than $600 million next summer when the World Cup comes to Kansas City, the CEO of KC’s World Cup planning told local business leaders Tuesday evening.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Watkins Museum to celebrate 50 years with birthday party
Watkins Museum of History will host a public celebration of half a century serving Lawrence and Douglas County.
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT …
Cuyler Dunn/Lawrence Times
KU international students worried, questioning place in country after visas revoked nationwide
Some international students at KU say they are shocked and concerned about the federal government terminating international student records and revoking thousands of visas.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Owner plans to demolish East Lawrence building amid ongoing court case
A Lawrence developer says he’s now forced to demolish an old stone building in East Lawrence because of a parking-related lawsuit filed by the owner of properties across the street.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Lawsuit alleges Lawrence plastic surgery patients’ medical files, photos were accessed by unauthorized health care worker
A class action lawsuit alleges that an unauthorized physical therapist employed by KU Health repeatedly accessed the private medical records and photos of 425 Lawrence Memorial Hospital patients over the span of two years.
Lawrence Times earns Best Investigative Story, Best Community Service Project and more from Kansas Press Association
The Lawrence Times news team has won seven first-place awards from the Kansas Press Association, including best Investigative Story and Best Community Service Project for our accountability work.
Cuyler Dunn/Lawrence Times
KU international students worried, questioning place in country after visas revoked nationwide
Some international students at KU say they are shocked and concerned about the federal government terminating international student records and revoking thousands of visas.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Owner plans to demolish East Lawrence building amid ongoing court case
A Lawrence developer says he’s now forced to demolish an old stone building in East Lawrence because of a parking-related lawsuit filed by the owner of properties across the street.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Lawsuit alleges Lawrence plastic surgery patients’ medical files, photos were accessed by unauthorized health care worker
A class action lawsuit alleges that an unauthorized physical therapist employed by KU Health repeatedly accessed the private medical records and photos of 425 Lawrence Memorial Hospital patients over the span of two years.
Lawrence Times earns Best Investigative Story, Best Community Service Project and more from Kansas Press Association
The Lawrence Times news team has won seven first-place awards from the Kansas Press Association, including best Investigative Story and Best Community Service Project for our accountability work.
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: Planning Commission should deny 3rd and Michigan upzoning request
“Please encourage the development interests — public and private — to engage the neighborhood so that the results reflect sensible density that adds value for all concerned,” Phil and Peggi Englehart write in this open letter to the Planning Commission.
Tom Harper/Lawrence Times
Tom Harper: Son of longtime Liberty Hall owners aims to preserve something ‘beneficial for everyone’ (Column)
Josh Millstein is stepping up to keep Liberty Hall alive and well, aiming to preserve his father’s vision and an iconic piece of downtown Lawrence’s historic district, Tom Harper writes in this column.
Housing advocates and organizers: Lawrence should say no to occupancy restrictions (Column)
“We see daily how families of all kinds — blood-related or chosen — pool groceries, bills and child care to keep one another safe. Occupancy caps effectively criminalize mutual aid, making it harder for people to meet basic needs,” four local housing advocates write 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: Planning Commission should deny 3rd and Michigan upzoning request
“Please encourage the development interests — public and private — to engage the neighborhood so that the results reflect sensible density that adds value for all concerned,” Phil and Peggi Englehart write in this open letter to the Planning Commission.
Tom Harper/Lawrence Times
Tom Harper: Son of longtime Liberty Hall owners aims to preserve something ‘beneficial for everyone’ (Column)
Josh Millstein is stepping up to keep Liberty Hall alive and well, aiming to preserve his father’s vision and an iconic piece of downtown Lawrence’s historic district, Tom Harper writes in this column.
Housing advocates and organizers: Lawrence should say no to occupancy restrictions (Column)
“We see daily how families of all kinds — blood-related or chosen — pool groceries, bills and child care to keep one another safe. Occupancy caps effectively criminalize mutual aid, making it harder for people to meet basic needs,” four local housing advocates write in this column.
MORE …
