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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Maya Smith/Lawrence Times
KU governance asks community to vote on whether they have confidence in chancellor, CFO
KU staff and students will voice whether they have confidence in the leadership of Chancellor Doug Girod, after the presidents of the Faculty Senate and University Senate initiated a vote this week amid concerns over the financial health of KU.
Maya Smith/Lawrence Times
KU faculty union rallies as bargaining team meets with administrators, hoping to avoid impasse
Members of the KU faculty union protested outside of Wescoe Hall Wednesday while the union bargaining team met with administrators for last-minute contract talks, hoping to avoid an impasse.
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.
Maya Smith/Lawrence Times
KU governance asks community to vote on whether they have confidence in chancellor, CFO
KU staff and students will voice whether they have confidence in the leadership of Chancellor Doug Girod, after the presidents of the Faculty Senate and University Senate initiated a vote this week amid concerns over the financial health of KU.
Maya Smith/Lawrence Times
KU faculty union rallies as bargaining team meets with administrators, hoping to avoid impasse
Members of the KU faculty union protested outside of Wescoe Hall Wednesday while the union bargaining team met with administrators for last-minute contract talks, hoping to avoid an impasse.
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.
Maya Smith/Lawrence Times
KU governance asks community to vote on whether they have confidence in chancellor, CFO
KU staff and students will voice whether they have confidence in the leadership of Chancellor Doug Girod, after the presidents of the Faculty Senate and University Senate initiated a vote this week amid concerns over the financial health of KU.
Maya Smith/Lawrence Times
KU faculty union rallies as bargaining team meets with administrators, hoping to avoid impasse
Members of the KU faculty union protested outside of Wescoe Hall Wednesday while the union bargaining team met with administrators for last-minute contract talks, hoping to avoid an impasse.
LAWRENCE NEWS
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.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Bert Nash panel series to highlight women’s mental health
An upcoming panel, including experts and people with lived experience, will highlight issues around women’s mental health.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Lawrence city commissioners vote to keep Community Building free to use for 3 more months
The Community Building and its exercise and free play facilities will remain free for the public to use for another three months following the Lawrence City Commission’s 4-1 vote on Tuesday.
City commissioners start process to consider annexing land west of K-10 into Lawrence
Lawrence city commissioners voted Tuesday to begin the process to consider potentially annexing 650 acres of land west of K-10 — about 1 square mile — into city limits
MORE …
STATE NEWS
Kansas lawmakers want to legalize silencers and sawed-off shotguns
Owning firearm suppressors or sawed-off shotguns is legal federally, but not in Kansas. Some state lawmakers are trying to change that, but multiple law enforcement organizations have come out against the bill.
Kansas Senate votes to subvert students’ First Amendment right to join public protests
The Kansas Senate voted Tuesday to clamp down on public school protests by requiring students to secure parental permission to participate and by imposing penalties on districts complicit in organizing protests or meek in disciplining student offenders.
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.
Logan Pierson / Lawrence Times
Annual Eastern European and Eurasian Spring Festival gives space for culture, music and bliny
The smell of crepes and the sound of music filled Liberty Hall on Sunday as KU’s Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies (CREES) held its annual Spring Festival.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence to get more fun and games with two new arcades, mini golf
Lawrence folks wondering what to do on a Saturday night will soon have a few more options with two forthcoming arcades and phosphorescent mini golf.
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.
Logan Pierson / Lawrence Times
Annual Eastern European and Eurasian Spring Festival gives space for culture, music and bliny
The smell of crepes and the sound of music filled Liberty Hall on Sunday as KU’s Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies (CREES) held its annual Spring Festival.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence to get more fun and games with two new arcades, mini golf
Lawrence folks wondering what to do on a Saturday night will soon have a few more options with two forthcoming arcades and phosphorescent mini golf.
MORE …
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT …
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.
via Sanctuary Alliance
Lawrence police, Douglas County Sheriff say they had no notice ahead of ICE arrests
Spokespeople for the Lawrence Police Department and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said that neither agency was involved in Tuesday’s ICE sightings and arrests, nor did they know they were coming.
via Sanctuary Alliance
Multiple reports of ICE detainments, sightings in Lawrence; 5 arrests confirmed, advocates say
Lawrence was swept with reports of ICE sightings and arrests Tuesday. Advocates say they’ve confirmed five people were detained.
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.
via Sanctuary Alliance
Lawrence police, Douglas County Sheriff say they had no notice ahead of ICE arrests
Spokespeople for the Lawrence Police Department and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said that neither agency was involved in Tuesday’s ICE sightings and arrests, nor did they know they were coming.
via Sanctuary Alliance
Multiple reports of ICE detainments, sightings in Lawrence; 5 arrests confirmed, advocates say
Lawrence was swept with reports of ICE sightings and arrests Tuesday. Advocates say they’ve confirmed five people were detained.
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 …
