August Rudisell / The Lawrence Times
Masks no longer required in Lawrence city buildings for those who are fully vaccinated
Effective Thursday, people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 do not need to wear masks in City of Lawrence-owned buildings, the city announced.
Hearing on critical race theory in Kansas schools veers into sex, religion and supposition
A state education official told lawmakers Wednesday they need to “stop calling everything under the sun” critical race theory if they want to work together to improve student achievement.
August Rudisell / The Lawrence Times
Masks no longer required in Lawrence city buildings for those who are fully vaccinated
Effective Thursday, people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 do not need to wear masks in City of Lawrence-owned buildings, the city announced.
Hearing on critical race theory in Kansas schools veers into sex, religion and supposition
A state education official told lawmakers Wednesday they need to “stop calling everything under the sun” critical race theory if they want to work together to improve student achievement.
Lucy Peterson / The Lawrence Times
Title IX town hall at KU canceled after low attendance; spring plans TBA
A University of Kansas Student Senate town hall about Title IX practices was canceled Tuesday night because of low attendance, but another opportunity is in the works for the spring semester.
Photo courtesy of KU Theatre
KU Theatre’s fall finale centers trans woman, ‘disrupts’ idea of classic American play
KU Theatre is preparing for the grand finale of its fall season this Friday: a contemporary play that centers on the story of a transgender woman returning to her childhood home in the American South.
August Rudisell / The Lawrence Times
St. Luke AME’s stained-glass windows are back
The splendor of stained glass is returning to St. Luke AME Church this week.
LAWRENCE NEWS
Mackenzie Clark / The Lawrence Times
2 people seriously injured in crash at 21st and Haskell in Lawrence
Two people suffered injuries that were serious but not life-threatening in a crash in Lawrence Tuesday evening, according to Lawrence police.
Kansas attorney general accuses KU, KSU of violating new vaccination exemption law
The attorney general notified Kansas State University and the University of Kansas that both were in violation of a new state law broadening access to religious or medical exemptions to federal COVID-19 vaccination mandates.
Screenshot/YouTube
Lawrence school board hears budget deficit overview, approves natural gas bill settlement and more
Even though Lawrence may look like it’s growing, school enrollment hasn’t, the district’s finance director told the school board Monday.
House Democrats file complaint seeking investigation, sanction of state Rep. Coleman
Six Democratic state reps filed a formal complaint Monday to initiate a special Kansas House investigation of the back-to-back arrests of state Rep. Aaron Coleman for allegedly driving under the influence and in relation to a domestic dispute.
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STATE NEWS
Kansas legislators drill into state Board of Education’s tweak to district accreditation rules
House and Senate education committee members chiseled away at the Kansas State Board of Education’s latest revision to school district accreditation rules and regulations, alleging objective measures were dropped in favor of subjective language not effective in promoting student achievement.
Federal vaccine mandate for health care workers in 10 states, including Kansas, blocked by judge
Enforcement of the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate for millions of health care workers was blocked in 10 states on Monday, after a ruling by a federal judge in Missouri.
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COMMUNITY VOICES (OPINION)
Kimberly Lopez: What does queer joy mean? (Column)
“I have a gut feeling that there’s something I’m doing that is intrinsically wrong,” Kimberly Lopez writes in this column for the Times.
Paul Samberg: Kansans who compare COVID-19 mandates to Holocaust fuel antisemitism (Column)
“Likening the greatest act of antisemitism in history to mask requirements and vaccine mandates is abhorrent and downplays the reality of the Holocaust,” Paul Samberg writes in this column for Kansas Reflector.
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LAWRENCE LIFE
August Rudisell / The Lawrence Times
Photos: Santa brought to safety once again in downtown Lawrence
A Lawrence tradition continued Friday night as Santa Claus was safely rescued from the top of Weaver’s Department Store.
Where to see holiday lights in Lawrence
We’re mapping out holiday lights and decorations in Lawrence, KS.
Contributed/Emily Boedeker
Children’s choir aims to diversify voices, remove barriers to participation
A new children’s choir for Douglas County third through sixth graders boasts only one requirement: a love for singing. No auditions, no fees, no experience nor church membership required.
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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, the Times is offering some space for area organizations and organizers to provide updates and attempt to reach other folks who might share their mission.
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Clay Wirestone: Reality and conspiracy collide at Lawrence COVID-19 vaccine clinic for kids (Column)
“Saturday should have been a banner day for my family. I brought my 10-year-old son to West Middle School in Lawrence, where he received his first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine,” Clay Wirestone writes in this column for Kansas Reflector.
Clay Wirestone: Kansas Republicans claim they want to cut the food sales tax. So why haven’t they? (Column)
“The Kansas GOP has reminded everyone that our state’s high tax on food is very, very bad and must be changed. … If only we could figure out who was responsible,” Clay Wirestone writes in this column for Kansas Reflector.
Clay Wirestone: Following anti-CRT wins, expect dangerous hogwash in 2022 Kansas elections (Column)
“In short, every single debunked bit of irrational absurdity we’ve heard over the last few months — in Kansas and nationwide — will be repeated ad nauseam” in Kansas’ 2022 elections, Clay Wirestone writes in this column for Kansas Reflector.
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