August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Property tax increase, request for sales tax increase in early plans for Lawrence’s 2027 budget
A 3-mill property tax rate increase and the possibility of asking voters to increase a sales tax for transit are included in an early glance at the City of Lawrence’s 2027 budget plan. Commissioners will discuss it on Tuesday.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Learn how to stay safe in severe weather at upcoming training session
Douglas County Emergency Management will lead a two-hour training session on how to identify storms and stay safe in severe weather. The session is free and open to the public.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Property tax increase, request for sales tax increase in early plans for Lawrence’s 2027 budget
A 3-mill property tax rate increase and the possibility of asking voters to increase a sales tax for transit are included in an early glance at the City of Lawrence’s 2027 budget plan. Commissioners will discuss it on Tuesday.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Learn how to stay safe in severe weather at upcoming training session
Douglas County Emergency Management will lead a two-hour training session on how to identify storms and stay safe in severe weather. The session is free and open to the public.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Learn how to stay safe in severe weather at upcoming training session
Douglas County Emergency Management will lead a two-hour training session on how to identify storms and stay safe in severe weather. The session is free and open to the public.
Molly Adams/Lawrence Times
780 Songwriters Circle to highlight local artists and their creative processes
Hear performances by local artists and learn about their songwriting processes at the first 780 Songwriters Circle on Wednesday at the Lawrence library.
Kaw Valley Almanac for March 9-15, 2026
Sandhill cranes have been heading north through Kansas. Here’s an outdoor checklist for this week: See if you can hear a frog, see a goose, see a maple tree blooming, taste a wild onion leaf and smell a crocus.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Learn how to stay safe in severe weather at upcoming training session
Douglas County Emergency Management will lead a two-hour training session on how to identify storms and stay safe in severe weather. The session is free and open to the public.
Molly Adams/Lawrence Times
780 Songwriters Circle to highlight local artists and their creative processes
Hear performances by local artists and learn about their songwriting processes at the first 780 Songwriters Circle on Wednesday at the Lawrence library.
Kaw Valley Almanac for March 9-15, 2026
Sandhill cranes have been heading north through Kansas. Here’s an outdoor checklist for this week: See if you can hear a frog, see a goose, see a maple tree blooming, taste a wild onion leaf and smell a crocus.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Learn how to stay safe in severe weather at upcoming training session
Douglas County Emergency Management will lead a two-hour training session on how to identify storms and stay safe in severe weather. The session is free and open to the public.
Molly Adams/Lawrence Times
780 Songwriters Circle to highlight local artists and their creative processes
Hear performances by local artists and learn about their songwriting processes at the first 780 Songwriters Circle on Wednesday at the Lawrence library.
Kaw Valley Almanac for March 9-15, 2026
Sandhill cranes have been heading north through Kansas. Here’s an outdoor checklist for this week: See if you can hear a frog, see a goose, see a maple tree blooming, taste a wild onion leaf and smell a crocus.
LAWRENCE NEWS
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Lawrence school board to consider about $4.16M to prep Centennial building for new program
The Lawrence school board on Monday will consider bids totaling about $4.16 million to ready the former Centennial Elementary School building to serve as a new flexible high school option.
Hannah Loub/Lawrence Times
F-Mart has closed, but plans are in the works for an Afro-Asian shop to help fill a cultural gap in Lawrence
The closing of F-Mart, Lawrence’s sole Asian grocery store, has highlighted a gap in Asian representation in Lawrence but opened up the opportunity for a new Afro-Asian concept.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawyers for Kansas state departments see benefit to monthlong delay in enforcing anti-transgender bill
Legal representatives for two Kansas state departments said Friday that there would be benefits to delaying the enforcement of a new anti-transgender bill for another month, drawing an apparent concession from AG Kris Kobach.
Molly Adams/Lawrence Times
No charges filed in fatal Lawrence City Hall shooting
The Douglas County district attorney’s office announced Friday that it will not file charges against anyone in January’s fatal shooting inside Lawrence City Hall.
MORE …
STATE NEWS
Kansas House introduces bill creating sports authority needed to complete Chiefs stadium deal
The Kansas House introduced legislation Friday authorizing creation of a state sports authority to allow construction of a publicly owned stadium spectacular enough to convince the Kansas City Chiefs to move from Missouri to Kansas.
Kansans can’t use food assistance to buy candy, soda beginning in February 2027
Kansans receiving food assistance can’t buy soda or candy with those dollars beginning in 2027, Gov. Laura Kelly said Wednesday.
MORE …
COMMUNITY VOICES (OPINION)
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.
MORE …
LAWRENCE LIFE
Lawrence Humane Pet of the Week: Squishy-faced Azalea blooms when not confined to a kennel
Azalea, a 3-year-old pit bull, is calm, cuddly and kind when she’s not cooped up at the shelter.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence Transit announces proposed route changes, seeks public feedback
Lawrence Transit has released proposed updates to routes and is seeking public feedback throughout the month.
Nathan Kramer
Free State High School’s pop variety show to showcase throwbacks and modern hits
Performers in Encore, Free State High School’s annual spring pop variety show, are gearing up to showcase music for all ages. The show premieres Thursday.
Lawrence Humane Pet of the Week: Squishy-faced Azalea blooms when not confined to a kennel
Azalea, a 3-year-old pit bull, is calm, cuddly and kind when she’s not cooped up at the shelter.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence Transit announces proposed route changes, seeks public feedback
Lawrence Transit has released proposed updates to routes and is seeking public feedback throughout the month.
Nathan Kramer
Free State High School’s pop variety show to showcase throwbacks and modern hits
Performers in Encore, Free State High School’s annual spring pop variety show, are gearing up to showcase music for all ages. The show premieres Thursday.
MORE …
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT …
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Some transgender folks in Lawrence balance uncertainty, resistance in face of new bathroom bill
Some local transgender folks are balancing fear, uncertainty and resilience as public agencies in Lawrence scramble to understand how to enforce Kansas’ new anti-trans bathroom legislation.
Andrea Albright/Lawrence Times
Prosecutors dismiss charges against man charged in murder at North Lawrence camp
Douglas County prosecutors have dropped the case against a man charged with fatally stabbing his friend at the former North Lawrence camp because of “insufficient evidence.”
Maya Smith/Lawrence Times
‘Hold the line’: Michael Fanone shares his Jan. 6 experience, champions accountability
Former D.C. Metro police officer Michael Fanone described his “medieval battle scene” experience at the Jan. 6 insurrection and what ensued afterward that led him to become an advocate for accountability and democracy during an event Sunday in Lawrence.
Bert Nash names interim as new CEO
Dr. Kirsten Watkins has been named the permanent CEO of Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center following eight months in the interim role.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Some transgender folks in Lawrence balance uncertainty, resistance in face of new bathroom bill
Some local transgender folks are balancing fear, uncertainty and resilience as public agencies in Lawrence scramble to understand how to enforce Kansas’ new anti-trans bathroom legislation.
Andrea Albright/Lawrence Times
Prosecutors dismiss charges against man charged in murder at North Lawrence camp
Douglas County prosecutors have dropped the case against a man charged with fatally stabbing his friend at the former North Lawrence camp because of “insufficient evidence.”
Maya Smith/Lawrence Times
‘Hold the line’: Michael Fanone shares his Jan. 6 experience, champions accountability
Former D.C. Metro police officer Michael Fanone described his “medieval battle scene” experience at the Jan. 6 insurrection and what ensued afterward that led him to become an advocate for accountability and democracy during an event Sunday in Lawrence.
Bert Nash names interim as new CEO
Dr. Kirsten Watkins has been named the permanent CEO of Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center following eight months in the interim role.
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: 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.
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.
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: 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.
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 …
