Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times
Spirit Halloween, Italian restaurant and downtown home decor store all open in Lawrence
Spirit Halloween and a home decor store have set up shop in Lawrence for the season, and a new Italian restaurant has opened.
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times
Faculty, elected officials ask KU to reconsider closing Hilltop
More than 450 KU faculty, staff and graduate students and several elected officials have signed letters urging the university to rethink closing Hilltop Child Development Center.
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times
Spirit Halloween, Italian restaurant and downtown home decor store all open in Lawrence
Spirit Halloween and a home decor store have set up shop in Lawrence for the season, and a new Italian restaurant has opened.
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times
Faculty, elected officials ask KU to reconsider closing Hilltop
More than 450 KU faculty, staff and graduate students and several elected officials have signed letters urging the university to rethink closing Hilltop Child Development Center.
Enrollment open for Douglas County’s free emergency response training
Douglas County residents can register for a weekend of free emergency preparedness training on topics from fire safety and medical operations to search and rescue and terrorism.
Courtney Lane / Lawrence Times
Lawrence school board hears updates on facilities, preschool space
Lawrence school board members heard about 10 major capital projects costing $8.5 million, and the superintendent shared that there are no preschool spots open, but there is a waitlist available for people who are interested.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Douglas County Commission to discuss new extended-stay housing for Lawrence Community Shelter
The Douglas County Commission on Wednesday will hear about a plan to convert some shipping container shelters into extended-stay housing at the Lawrence Community Shelter.
Enrollment open for Douglas County’s free emergency response training
Douglas County residents can register for a weekend of free emergency preparedness training on topics from fire safety and medical operations to search and rescue and terrorism.
Courtney Lane / Lawrence Times
Lawrence school board hears updates on facilities, preschool space
Lawrence school board members heard about 10 major capital projects costing $8.5 million, and the superintendent shared that there are no preschool spots open, but there is a waitlist available for people who are interested.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Douglas County Commission to discuss new extended-stay housing for Lawrence Community Shelter
The Douglas County Commission on Wednesday will hear about a plan to convert some shipping container shelters into extended-stay housing at the Lawrence Community Shelter.
Enrollment open for Douglas County’s free emergency response training
Douglas County residents can register for a weekend of free emergency preparedness training on topics from fire safety and medical operations to search and rescue and terrorism.
Courtney Lane / Lawrence Times
Lawrence school board hears updates on facilities, preschool space
Lawrence school board members heard about 10 major capital projects costing $8.5 million, and the superintendent shared that there are no preschool spots open, but there is a waitlist available for people who are interested.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Douglas County Commission to discuss new extended-stay housing for Lawrence Community Shelter
The Douglas County Commission on Wednesday will hear about a plan to convert some shipping container shelters into extended-stay housing at the Lawrence Community Shelter.
LAWRENCE NEWS
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times
Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical working on strategic plan, hosting station open houses
Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical is inviting the community to provide feedback on the department’s upcoming strategic plan, and to visit fire stations during open house events.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Alex Red Corn confirmed as Haskell president
The federal government has confirmed Alex Red Corn as the president of Haskell Indian Nations University.
See restricted research areas of KU Field Station during visitors’ day
The KU Field Station will open a 1.5-mile loop for the public to walk and explore research projects during Visitors’ Day, held every two years.
Kaw Valley Almanac for Sept. 28 – Oct. 4, 2026
This Blue/Pitcher’s sage has just a few blossoms left, with most of the buds turning into seed. But the pale blue blossoms are enough to draw this hairstreak butterfly to gather some of its nectar.
MORE …
STATE NEWS
Kansas lawmaker cries foul over voter registration gift cards, asks Kobach to investigate
A Kansas legislator is demanding an investigation into a League of Women Voters chapter that gave $5 gift cards to high school students who registered to vote, a move he said violates election laws.
Report: Kansas fails to meet housing, mental health needs of vulnerable children in foster care
An annual assessment of Kansas foster care reform indicates the state improved health screening and crisis intervention for vulnerable children, but it fell short in advancement of home placement stability.
MORE …
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT …
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Hilltop Child Development Center closure leaves community hurt, unsure of future
Many parents have been left scrambling because of the abrupt closure of Hilltop, the longtime childcare center on KU’s campus.
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times
Hilltop Child Development Center at KU set to close
Hilltop Child Development Center at the University of Kansas is set to close at the end of October.
MORE …
LAWRENCE LIFE
Lane closures coming up on 6th Street and more, plus segment of Lawrence Loop closed
The city is closing lanes on Sixth Street and some other arterial streets, plus Douglas County has closed a section of the Lawrence Loop for maintenance.
Lawrence author, opinion columnist to launch new book about Kansas journalism shaping discourse
Clay Wirestone, Lawrence author and opinion columnist with the Kansas Reflector, is gearing up to celebrate the release of his first book: a look at Kansas journalism and how it’s shaped public discourse in the state.
Watkins Museum to open exhibition on Haskell Memorial Stadium for 100th anniversary
The Watkins Museum of History will have an exhibition marking the centennial anniversary of the Haskell Memorial Stadium and Arch’s dedication on campus.
Lane closures coming up on 6th Street and more, plus segment of Lawrence Loop closed
The city is closing lanes on Sixth Street and some other arterial streets, plus Douglas County has closed a section of the Lawrence Loop for maintenance.
Lawrence author, opinion columnist to launch new book about Kansas journalism shaping discourse
Clay Wirestone, Lawrence author and opinion columnist with the Kansas Reflector, is gearing up to celebrate the release of his first book: a look at Kansas journalism and how it’s shaped public discourse in the state.
Watkins Museum to open exhibition on Haskell Memorial Stadium for 100th anniversary
The Watkins Museum of History will have an exhibition marking the centennial anniversary of the Haskell Memorial Stadium and Arch’s dedication on campus.
MORE …
MORE ICYMI …
Planning commission approves a new barrier to data centers in Lawrence
Planning commissioners on Monday approved an additional hurdle to prevent hyper-scale data centers from being built within Lawrence city limits.
Wulfe Wulfemeyer/Lawrence Times
Group paves way for improved Douglas County birth outcomes through policy, data and patient care
Public and nonprofit health agencies in Douglas County will host quarterly meetings to push for better policy, data collection and patient care to improve birth outcomes and reduce stark racial disparities.
Lawrence City Commission votes 3-2 to adopt 2027 budget
Following months of budget discussions, Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday voted 3-2 to approve a 2027 budget that will increase the property tax rate.
Amy Wulfemeyer/Contributed photo
Lawrence Costco’s opening date announced; currently hiring multiple positions
Costco is opening its Lawrence branch on Thursday, Oct. 29, according to a banner at the Overland Park location.
Planning commission approves a new barrier to data centers in Lawrence
Planning commissioners on Monday approved an additional hurdle to prevent hyper-scale data centers from being built within Lawrence city limits.
Wulfe Wulfemeyer/Lawrence Times
Group paves way for improved Douglas County birth outcomes through policy, data and patient care
Public and nonprofit health agencies in Douglas County will host quarterly meetings to push for better policy, data collection and patient care to improve birth outcomes and reduce stark racial disparities.
Lawrence City Commission votes 3-2 to adopt 2027 budget
Following months of budget discussions, Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday voted 3-2 to approve a 2027 budget that will increase the property tax rate.
Amy Wulfemeyer/Contributed photo
Lawrence Costco’s opening date announced; currently hiring multiple positions
Costco is opening its Lawrence branch on Thursday, Oct. 29, according to a banner at the Overland Park location.
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.
Amii Castle: Amendment on Kansas ballot this fall would provide pretext for voter suppression laws (Column)
“On Nov. 3, Kansans will vote on whether to amend our state constitution, again. This time, we’ll be voting on whether to make it harder for many American citizens who live in Kansas to vote in future elections,” Amii Castle writes in this Kansas Reflector column.
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.
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.
Amii Castle: Amendment on Kansas ballot this fall would provide pretext for voter suppression laws (Column)
“On Nov. 3, Kansans will vote on whether to amend our state constitution, again. This time, we’ll be voting on whether to make it harder for many American citizens who live in Kansas to vote in future elections,” Amii Castle writes in this Kansas Reflector column.
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.
MORE …
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