Logan Pierson / Lawrence Times
Muralist plans to invite community to help paint Vermont Street garage project
Tokeya Waci U Richardson will be inviting Lawrence folks to help him paint the Vermont Street garage mural to instill community ownership in the project.
Kansas House studies bill granting unprecedented administrative autonomy to KU, K-State, and WSU
The Kansas Board of Regents voted unanimously Wednesday to oppose a bill granting the state’s three largest public universities — KU, KSU and WSU — unprecedented autonomy in purchasing, construction, licensing, bidding and ownership of property.
Logan Pierson / Lawrence Times
Lawrence artists, community members convene for first 780 Songwriters Circle
780 Songwriters Circle on Wednesday provided a space for Lawrence musicians to talk about their songwriting processes and perform for an audience of about 50 people.
Douglas County commissioners extend permit for planned solar farm north of Lawrence
Douglas County commissioners voted 4-1 Wednesday to extend a permit by one year for a planned solar farm north of Lawrence, as a court injunction is still blocking progress on the facility’s construction.
Third KU debate team qualifies for national tournament
A National Debate Tournament committee selected a KU team that includes a Free State High School graduate as the university’s third pairing to attend the competition.
Logan Pierson / Lawrence Times
Lawrence artists, community members convene for first 780 Songwriters Circle
780 Songwriters Circle on Wednesday provided a space for Lawrence musicians to talk about their songwriting processes and perform for an audience of about 50 people.
Douglas County commissioners extend permit for planned solar farm north of Lawrence
Douglas County commissioners voted 4-1 Wednesday to extend a permit by one year for a planned solar farm north of Lawrence, as a court injunction is still blocking progress on the facility’s construction.
Third KU debate team qualifies for national tournament
A National Debate Tournament committee selected a KU team that includes a Free State High School graduate as the university’s third pairing to attend the competition.
Logan Pierson / Lawrence Times
Lawrence artists, community members convene for first 780 Songwriters Circle
780 Songwriters Circle on Wednesday provided a space for Lawrence musicians to talk about their songwriting processes and perform for an audience of about 50 people.
Douglas County commissioners extend permit for planned solar farm north of Lawrence
Douglas County commissioners voted 4-1 Wednesday to extend a permit by one year for a planned solar farm north of Lawrence, as a court injunction is still blocking progress on the facility’s construction.
Third KU debate team qualifies for national tournament
A National Debate Tournament committee selected a KU team that includes a Free State High School graduate as the university’s third pairing to attend the competition.
LAWRENCE NEWS
Lawrence Humane Pet of the Week: This Eudora transplant has come to Lawrence for a forever match
At 11 months old, Falkner has come to Lawrence in search of a forever home — preferably one with another playful pup.
Lawrence city commissioners hesitate to make budget cuts but support fire station
Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday struggled to specify where they want to make cuts in the 2027 budget, but they agreed they want to proceed with building a new fire station. They’ll ask community members to help find $4.5 million in cuts.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Judge denies request to pause anti-transgender law during ongoing lawsuit
A Douglas County judge on Tuesday denied plaintiffs’ request to temporarily halt an anti-transgender law in Kansas from taking effect while a lawsuit against the state plays out.
Tom Harper/Lawrence Times
Q39 barbecue restaurant opens in downtown Lawrence
Kansas City barbecue joint Q39 officially fired up the smokers and opened its doors in downtown Lawrence on Tuesday.
MORE …
STATE NEWS
Kansas property tax system is akin to ‘Titanic that’s hit the iceberg,’ lawmaker says
Kansas legislators’ lineup of property tax relief legislation could chip away at state and local revenue, but some see the proposals as course correction, making up for years of rising property taxes.
ICE detention center in Kansas can open after Leavenworth granted a private prison company’s permit
The Leavenworth city commission voted to grant a permit allowing private corrections company CoreCivic to hold more than 1,000 federal immigration detainees in a shuttered facility.
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: This Eudora transplant has come to Lawrence for a forever match
At 11 months old, Falkner has come to Lawrence in search of a forever home — preferably one with another playful pup.
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.
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.
Lawrence Humane Pet of the Week: This Eudora transplant has come to Lawrence for a forever match
At 11 months old, Falkner has come to Lawrence in search of a forever home — preferably one with another playful pup.
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.
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.
MORE …
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT …
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.
Maya Smith/Lawrence Times
KU faculty union, administrators reach tentative contract agreement after nearly 2 years
After nearly two years of bargaining, the KU faculty union has reached a tentative agreement with administrators, union leaders announced Friday.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Transgender people in Lawrence lack answers about enforcement around invalidated driver’s licenses
Transgender people in Lawrence — and former residents who left the country to avoid persecution — have been swept up in the statewide confusion about enforcing anti-trans legislation that invalidates driver’s licenses with corrected gender markers.
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.
Maya Smith/Lawrence Times
KU faculty union, administrators reach tentative contract agreement after nearly 2 years
After nearly two years of bargaining, the KU faculty union has reached a tentative agreement with administrators, union leaders announced Friday.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Transgender people in Lawrence lack answers about enforcement around invalidated driver’s licenses
Transgender people in Lawrence — and former residents who left the country to avoid persecution — have been swept up in the statewide confusion about enforcing anti-trans legislation that invalidates driver’s licenses with corrected gender markers.
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.



