Molly Adams/Lawrence Times
Parkside Christmas owners retire Lawrence light show after 16 years
After 16 years bringing cheer to Lawrence, the synchronized holiday display known as Parkside Christmas will not return.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence Arts Center joins international development program to improve digital systems, increase access to arts
As the Lawrence Arts Center joins the ranks of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ program participants, the organization looks toward a new era of digital accessibility and usability meant to increase the community’s access to the arts.
Molly Adams/Lawrence Times
Parkside Christmas owners retire Lawrence light show after 16 years
After 16 years bringing cheer to Lawrence, the synchronized holiday display known as Parkside Christmas will not return.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence Arts Center joins international development program to improve digital systems, increase access to arts
As the Lawrence Arts Center joins the ranks of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ program participants, the organization looks toward a new era of digital accessibility and usability meant to increase the community’s access to the arts.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Lawrence Farmers Market protein bucks program extended to anyone in need
The Lawrence Farmers Market is offering anyone in need a $25 credit to spend on protein.
Courtesy of Theatre Lawrence
Cabaret planned to honor work of Lawrence theatre performer; donations will fuel fund for striving artists
The community is invited to a Celebration Tour Cabaret featuring work by Louise ImMasche, a beloved local theatre performer who died in October. The event will help birth a fund at Theatre Lawrence to support striving artists.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
20 upcoming Lawrence holiday markets offer ways to shop local
Check two boxes off your list this holiday season by shopping local and getting some one-of-a-kind gifts for your loved ones with this guide to 20 upcoming vendor fairs and art markets, starting this weekend in Lawrence.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Lawrence Farmers Market protein bucks program extended to anyone in need
The Lawrence Farmers Market is offering anyone in need a $25 credit to spend on protein.
Courtesy of Theatre Lawrence
Cabaret planned to honor work of Lawrence theatre performer; donations will fuel fund for striving artists
The community is invited to a Celebration Tour Cabaret featuring work by Louise ImMasche, a beloved local theatre performer who died in October. The event will help birth a fund at Theatre Lawrence to support striving artists.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
20 upcoming Lawrence holiday markets offer ways to shop local
Check two boxes off your list this holiday season by shopping local and getting some one-of-a-kind gifts for your loved ones with this guide to 20 upcoming vendor fairs and art markets, starting this weekend in Lawrence.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Lawrence Farmers Market protein bucks program extended to anyone in need
The Lawrence Farmers Market is offering anyone in need a $25 credit to spend on protein.
Courtesy of Theatre Lawrence
Cabaret planned to honor work of Lawrence theatre performer; donations will fuel fund for striving artists
The community is invited to a Celebration Tour Cabaret featuring work by Louise ImMasche, a beloved local theatre performer who died in October. The event will help birth a fund at Theatre Lawrence to support striving artists.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
20 upcoming Lawrence holiday markets offer ways to shop local
Check two boxes off your list this holiday season by shopping local and getting some one-of-a-kind gifts for your loved ones with this guide to 20 upcoming vendor fairs and art markets, starting this weekend in Lawrence.
LAWRENCE NEWS
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Lawrence’s affordable housing board recommends funding for large west side development
Members of Lawrence’s Affordable Housing Advisory Board are recommending that $500,000 in city funding go toward a 121-unit project on the western edge of town.
Lawrence city staff estimate: $18K to open Community Building to kids for limited hours
As the Community Building is set to close to the general public in January, city staff members have estimated that it would cost $18,000 to open the building for kids up to age 17 to use for about 12 hours per week.
Douglas County to host open house on Wakarusa River Valley conservation plan
Community members can review and provide input on Douglas County’s developing Wakarusa Vision Plan at an upcoming open house.
KU convention center opens, capping phase 1 of $800M stadium expansion, redevelopment
KU on Wednesday opened its state-of-the-art convention center, which is equipped with amenities meant to draw thousands of annual visitors and generate revenue to pay off the university’s large-scale development project.
MORE …
STATE NEWS
Sedgwick County and 19 other Kansas law enforcement agencies have signed agreements with ICE
The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office and 19 other Kansas law enforcement agencies have signed formal agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Kansas audit: Counties not fully compensated for delivering state-mandated services
The Legislature’s auditors reported that 3 Kansas counties spent $28.8 million to provide state-mandated government services last year but received one-third of that total in funding to cover administrative costs.
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COMMUNITY VOICES (OPINION)
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.
MORE …
LAWRENCE LIFE
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
City soliciting feedback on transportation, revitalization project for North Lawrence corridor
The city is urging residents, business owners and visitors to “dream big” at a community visioning workshop to brainstorm the future of infrastructure, placemaking and economic revitalization in North Lawrence.
Molly Adams/Lawrence Times
Resource fair to connect Lawrence community members with free and low-cost support services
The Lawrence Public Library’s fifth annual resource fair will provide free services to community members while connecting them with over a dozen support organizations.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Where to get free meals this week in Lawrence
Groups throughout Lawrence are offering free meals amid the ongoing uncertainty surrounding SNAP benefits.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
City soliciting feedback on transportation, revitalization project for North Lawrence corridor
The city is urging residents, business owners and visitors to “dream big” at a community visioning workshop to brainstorm the future of infrastructure, placemaking and economic revitalization in North Lawrence.
Molly Adams/Lawrence Times
Resource fair to connect Lawrence community members with free and low-cost support services
The Lawrence Public Library’s fifth annual resource fair will provide free services to community members while connecting them with over a dozen support organizations.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Where to get free meals this week in Lawrence
Groups throughout Lawrence are offering free meals amid the ongoing uncertainty surrounding SNAP benefits.
MORE …
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT …
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Lawrence man accused in hit-and-run charged with leaving the scene of a fatality accident
The district attorney’s office has charged a Lawrence driver suspected of striking and killing a 20-year-old KU student with leaving the scene of a fatality accident.
Sheriff’s office makes arrest in fatal hit-and-run north of Lawrence
Deputies with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office have made an arrest in a hit-and-run that killed 20-year-old Elsa McGrain, a premed student at KU.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
‘It’s going to kill all of us’: Lawrence business owners say construction on 9th Street poses devastating financial impacts
Business owners along Ninth Street near downtown Lawrence are concerned they could face devastating losses and possibly even closures as city construction work will soon close the arterial street that’s key to their livelihoods for several months.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence city manager to step down
Lawrence City Manager Craig Owens has announced his resignation, to take effect in May 2026.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Lawrence man accused in hit-and-run charged with leaving the scene of a fatality accident
The district attorney’s office has charged a Lawrence driver suspected of striking and killing a 20-year-old KU student with leaving the scene of a fatality accident.
Sheriff’s office makes arrest in fatal hit-and-run north of Lawrence
Deputies with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office have made an arrest in a hit-and-run that killed 20-year-old Elsa McGrain, a premed student at KU.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
‘It’s going to kill all of us’: Lawrence business owners say construction on 9th Street poses devastating financial impacts
Business owners along Ninth Street near downtown Lawrence are concerned they could face devastating losses and possibly even closures as city construction work will soon close the arterial street that’s key to their livelihoods for several months.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence city manager to step down
Lawrence City Manager Craig Owens has announced his resignation, to take effect in May 2026.
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.
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.
Elise Higgins: Abortion seekers, trans youth, and immigrants can’t afford more surveillance (Column)
“If we’d known about this Axon contract, there’s absolutely no way the people of Lawrence would have co-signed a program that risks the privacy and the dignity of abortion seekers, trans folks and immigrants,” Elise Higgins writes in this column.
Kincaid Dennett: The community has no interest in taking away the police’s cameras (Column)
“The city should pause new (surveillance camera) integrations and analytics until it adopts a Lawrence-specific oversight ordinance created with community input. This will preserve the benefits of cameras while putting safeguards in place,” Kincaid Dennett 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.
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.
Elise Higgins: Abortion seekers, trans youth, and immigrants can’t afford more surveillance (Column)
“If we’d known about this Axon contract, there’s absolutely no way the people of Lawrence would have co-signed a program that risks the privacy and the dignity of abortion seekers, trans folks and immigrants,” Elise Higgins writes in this column.
Kincaid Dennett: The community has no interest in taking away the police’s cameras (Column)
“The city should pause new (surveillance camera) integrations and analytics until it adopts a Lawrence-specific oversight ordinance created with community input. This will preserve the benefits of cameras while putting safeguards in place,” Kincaid Dennett writes in this column.
MORE …
