Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times
City Commission approves west Lawrence annexation for Beacon Landing development
Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday approved annexation and rezoning requests for nearly 300 acres of land in western Lawrence for a new development, Beacon Landing.
How Kansas became one of the new breeding grounds for a bright yellow warbler
The prothonotary warbler population in Kansas is growing as the birds stop to breed before heading south. Researchers are using electronic trackers to study their movements.
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times
City Commission approves west Lawrence annexation for Beacon Landing development
Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday approved annexation and rezoning requests for nearly 300 acres of land in western Lawrence for a new development, Beacon Landing.
How Kansas became one of the new breeding grounds for a bright yellow warbler
The prothonotary warbler population in Kansas is growing as the birds stop to breed before heading south. Researchers are using electronic trackers to study their movements.
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times
Ribbon cutting set for Promise Heights, new housing for families in Lawrence
A local church and nonprofit will soon celebrate the opening of Promise Heights, a new six-family housing community intended to support Lawrence families experiencing housing crises.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Judge temporarily reinstates transgender Lawrence woman’s driver’s license
A Douglas County judge has temporarily reinstated a Lawrence transgender woman and Army veteran’s license that was invalidated by an anti-transgender state law.
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times
Lawrence’s Human Relations Commission to look into whether unhoused people need discrimination protections
Lawrence’s Human Relations Commission met Monday, for the first time since December 2025, and agreed to take steps to understand if local unhoused people face discrimination in social services due to their housing status.
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times
Ribbon cutting set for Promise Heights, new housing for families in Lawrence
A local church and nonprofit will soon celebrate the opening of Promise Heights, a new six-family housing community intended to support Lawrence families experiencing housing crises.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Judge temporarily reinstates transgender Lawrence woman’s driver’s license
A Douglas County judge has temporarily reinstated a Lawrence transgender woman and Army veteran’s license that was invalidated by an anti-transgender state law.
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times
Lawrence’s Human Relations Commission to look into whether unhoused people need discrimination protections
Lawrence’s Human Relations Commission met Monday, for the first time since December 2025, and agreed to take steps to understand if local unhoused people face discrimination in social services due to their housing status.
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times
Ribbon cutting set for Promise Heights, new housing for families in Lawrence
A local church and nonprofit will soon celebrate the opening of Promise Heights, a new six-family housing community intended to support Lawrence families experiencing housing crises.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Judge temporarily reinstates transgender Lawrence woman’s driver’s license
A Douglas County judge has temporarily reinstated a Lawrence transgender woman and Army veteran’s license that was invalidated by an anti-transgender state law.
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times
Lawrence’s Human Relations Commission to look into whether unhoused people need discrimination protections
Lawrence’s Human Relations Commission met Monday, for the first time since December 2025, and agreed to take steps to understand if local unhoused people face discrimination in social services due to their housing status.
LAWRENCE NEWS
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Free event in Lawrence to explore Juneteenth food traditions, Kansas history
A free program at First United Methodist Church will explore the history, symbols and food traditions of Juneteenth, including Kansas communities’ long-running Emancipation Day celebrations.
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times
August 2026 election canvass: Douglas County sees its second-largest primary turnout
This month’s primary election in Douglas County offered poll workers a “surprise whammy at the end” as voter numbers suddenly increased, leading to the county’s second-highest primary turnout to date.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Lawrence: Get ready to welcome KU, Haskell students to town as move-in days are upon us
It’s that time of year again: Lawrence will soon welcome KU and Haskell students as they arrive en masse. That means traffic is going to be heavy in a few areas around town.
Lawrence city commissioners to consider annexing about 300 acres west of K-10
Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday will consider a request to annex nearly 300 acres into western Lawrence for a development dubbed Beacon Landing.
MORE …
STATE NEWS
Kansas sticks with ‘scientific evidence’ for vaccine schedule, despite Trump order
Kansas won’t change its vaccine schedule to match an executive order from Trump but instead will continue to “trust in scientific evidence” and follow recommendations from major health organizations, a spokesperson said.
Evergy urges Kansas regulators to be cautious about AI revealing confidential information
Evergy filed a request with utility regulators to ensure its confidential data wasn’t uploaded to artificial intelligence platforms, highlighting a concern that the rapid growth and use of AI may release private information.
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COMMUNITY VOICES (OPINION)
TJ Campsey: We must struggle together to reach bold, brave solutions (Column)
“We need to find our common strength. That means rejecting the fear and hatred the GOP manufactures to keep us divided and weak,” TJ Campsey writes in this column.
Suzanne Wikle: The future of public education in Kansas will be decided at the polls (Column)
“On Aug. 4, voters will see a ballot question asking if we should start directly electing our Kansas Supreme Court justices. … The threat to fairness of our public schools is one of the main reasons I’ll be voting ‘no,’” Suzanne Wikle writes in this column.
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LAWRENCE LIFE
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times
Lawrence High student builds prototype to monitor river conditions in real time
Lawrence High School senior Liam Sturm is turning a box of electronics into a prototype he hopes will give residents real-time information about the rivers running through the community.
Contributed photo
Lawrence Jewish Community Congregation to celebrate new Tree of Life mural
The Lawrence Jewish Community Congregation will soon celebrate the completion of its new Etz Chayim, or Tree of Life, community mural during a potluck gathering.
FidPick to return to South Park, featuring Dom Flemons
The 45th annual Kansas State Fiddling and Picking Championships will soon bring acoustic music, competitions and a Grammy-winning performer to South Park in Lawrence.
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times
Lawrence High student builds prototype to monitor river conditions in real time
Lawrence High School senior Liam Sturm is turning a box of electronics into a prototype he hopes will give residents real-time information about the rivers running through the community.
Contributed photo
Lawrence Jewish Community Congregation to celebrate new Tree of Life mural
The Lawrence Jewish Community Congregation will soon celebrate the completion of its new Etz Chayim, or Tree of Life, community mural during a potluck gathering.
FidPick to return to South Park, featuring Dom Flemons
The 45th annual Kansas State Fiddling and Picking Championships will soon bring acoustic music, competitions and a Grammy-winning performer to South Park in Lawrence.
MORE …
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT …
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Douglas County Democrats cheer amendment failure; Wikle to retain House seat
Attendees at the Douglas County Democrats’ watch party in downtown Lawrence celebrated the failure of a proposed constitutional amendment as well as local candidates’ successes. Rep. Suzanne Wikle will retain her house seat.
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times
Douglas County Commission election results: Kelly to hold seat, Spurling to oust incumbent
Douglas County Commissioner Patrick Kelly will hold his longtime seat, and newcomer Ethan Spurling has ousted incumbent Gene Dorsey.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence community members voice concerns about framing of discussion on homelessness
Dozens of community members gathered Wednesday and many voiced concerns about a discussion hosted by three county and city commissioners and advertised as focusing on a plan to handle homelessness.
Douglas County voters: Here’s the info you need to cast your ballot in the Aug. 4, 2026 election
All registered Kansas voters can cast ballots in the Aug. 4 primary election. Here’s a guide to help Douglas County voters make informed decisions on county, state and federal races.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Douglas County Democrats cheer amendment failure; Wikle to retain House seat
Attendees at the Douglas County Democrats’ watch party in downtown Lawrence celebrated the failure of a proposed constitutional amendment as well as local candidates’ successes. Rep. Suzanne Wikle will retain her house seat.
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times
Douglas County Commission election results: Kelly to hold seat, Spurling to oust incumbent
Douglas County Commissioner Patrick Kelly will hold his longtime seat, and newcomer Ethan Spurling has ousted incumbent Gene Dorsey.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence community members voice concerns about framing of discussion on homelessness
Dozens of community members gathered Wednesday and many voiced concerns about a discussion hosted by three county and city commissioners and advertised as focusing on a plan to handle homelessness.
Douglas County voters: Here’s the info you need to cast your ballot in the Aug. 4, 2026 election
All registered Kansas voters can cast ballots in the Aug. 4 primary election. Here’s a guide to help Douglas County voters make informed decisions on county, state and federal races.
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: I want to go to Algeria (and thanks to all!)
Algerians and Lawrencians proved to the world (and perhaps to ourselves) that it is possible to build bridges and break barriers, Tai Edwards writes in this letter to the Times.
Letter to the Times: Preserve the Wakarusa River ecosystem instead of building the 1059 development
“The proposed 1059 (formerly New Boston Crossing) development is a bad idea. If this project is realized, the environmental damage will be irremediable,” Dan Wildcat writes in this letter to the Times.
Clay Wirestone: As Pride Month dawns, Kansas governor helps celebrate rainbow flag creator Gilbert Baker (Column)
“Happy Gilbert Baker Day! … He created a piece of American iconography that has spread across the globe and into the hearts of those who care for their gay neighbors: the rainbow pride flag,” Clay Wirestone writes in this Kansas Reflector 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: I want to go to Algeria (and thanks to all!)
Algerians and Lawrencians proved to the world (and perhaps to ourselves) that it is possible to build bridges and break barriers, Tai Edwards writes in this letter to the Times.
Letter to the Times: Preserve the Wakarusa River ecosystem instead of building the 1059 development
“The proposed 1059 (formerly New Boston Crossing) development is a bad idea. If this project is realized, the environmental damage will be irremediable,” Dan Wildcat writes in this letter to the Times.
Clay Wirestone: As Pride Month dawns, Kansas governor helps celebrate rainbow flag creator Gilbert Baker (Column)
“Happy Gilbert Baker Day! … He created a piece of American iconography that has spread across the globe and into the hearts of those who care for their gay neighbors: the rainbow pride flag,” Clay Wirestone writes in this Kansas Reflector column.
MORE …
