Cuyler Dunn/Lawrence Times
Sunflower Elementary librarian recognized with statewide award
Sunflower Elementary School librarian Amanda McCoy was named Kansas School Librarian of the Year for her work to make the school library a hub of teaching, learning and reading.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Plans advance to convert former Borders building in downtown Lawrence into self-storage
The long-dormant former Borders bookstore building at 700 New Hampshire St. is one step closer to being developed as a self-storage facility.
Cuyler Dunn/Lawrence Times
Sunflower Elementary librarian recognized with statewide award
Sunflower Elementary School librarian Amanda McCoy was named Kansas School Librarian of the Year for her work to make the school library a hub of teaching, learning and reading.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Plans advance to convert former Borders building in downtown Lawrence into self-storage
The long-dormant former Borders bookstore building at 700 New Hampshire St. is one step closer to being developed as a self-storage facility.
Cuyler Dunn/Lawrence Times
Douglas County Commission approves funding for substance use treatment, sheriff’s equipment and peer employee program
Douglas County Commissioners approved funding for multiple items, including continuing a program that employs people with lived experience with homelessness and substance use disorder at organizations across the county.
Lawrence Humane Pet of the Week: Smokey the pit bull is a ‘dainty’ playmate
Volunteers and shelter staff say that Pet of the Week Smokey, a 3-year-old pit bull mix, is a sweet and gentle social butterfly.
Jacob Rice/Lawrence Times
Douglas County staff to hold drop-in session about battery energy storage systems
Douglas County staff members will host a drop-in session for the community to come share input on battery energy storage systems (BESS) and regulations that are in development.
Cuyler Dunn/Lawrence Times
Douglas County Commission approves funding for substance use treatment, sheriff’s equipment and peer employee program
Douglas County Commissioners approved funding for multiple items, including continuing a program that employs people with lived experience with homelessness and substance use disorder at organizations across the county.
Lawrence Humane Pet of the Week: Smokey the pit bull is a ‘dainty’ playmate
Volunteers and shelter staff say that Pet of the Week Smokey, a 3-year-old pit bull mix, is a sweet and gentle social butterfly.
Jacob Rice/Lawrence Times
Douglas County staff to hold drop-in session about battery energy storage systems
Douglas County staff members will host a drop-in session for the community to come share input on battery energy storage systems (BESS) and regulations that are in development.
Cuyler Dunn/Lawrence Times
Douglas County Commission approves funding for substance use treatment, sheriff’s equipment and peer employee program
Douglas County Commissioners approved funding for multiple items, including continuing a program that employs people with lived experience with homelessness and substance use disorder at organizations across the county.
Lawrence Humane Pet of the Week: Smokey the pit bull is a ‘dainty’ playmate
Volunteers and shelter staff say that Pet of the Week Smokey, a 3-year-old pit bull mix, is a sweet and gentle social butterfly.
Jacob Rice/Lawrence Times
Douglas County staff to hold drop-in session about battery energy storage systems
Douglas County staff members will host a drop-in session for the community to come share input on battery energy storage systems (BESS) and regulations that are in development.
LAWRENCE NEWS
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times
Hear from boarding school survivor, filmmaker after documentary screening at Haskell
A documentary screening at Haskell will precede a Q&A with the filmmaker and a residential boarding school survivor.
Cuyler Dunn/Lawrence Times
After 5-year delay, construction appears set to begin on duplexes next to Lawrence childcare center
Construction appears set to begin on a long-stalled plan for duplexes at the corner of Crestline Drive and Clinton Parkway, despite continued concerns from some neighbors.
Kansas Turnpike Authority plans expansion of I-70 north and east of Lawrence
An upcoming project will expand Interstate 70 to six lanes in parts of Douglas and Leavenworth counties and replace two overhead bridges as part of a $136.6 million contract.
Cuyler Dunn/Lawrence Times
Lawrence school board members float legal options to push for more special education funding
As state funding lags, some Lawrence school board members have suggested legal action may be the best way to force the Kansas Legislature to adequately fund special education.
MORE …
STATE NEWS
Former Kansas employee sues Republican legislators who wanted her fired over Charlie Kirk post
A former state employee sued Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson and two other Republican legislators for demanding she be fired over a comment she posted to Facebook when Charlie Kirk was killed in September 2025.
Roger Marshall, Adam Hamilton clash at last debate in U.S. Senate race
In their final debate, Democrat Adam Hamilton sold a centrist message while Republican Sen. Roger Marshall urged Trump voters to show up to the polls to continue the president’s agenda.
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT …
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times
How construction impacts can underpin racial inequities for Lawrence business owners
When construction starts, businesses owned by Black and Brown people in Lawrence can face a tougher climb toward recovery. One city commissioner says we must “do the work” to keep building opportunities for local establishments.
Brandon Colbert / Contributed photo
MacArthur Fellow says climate research project is infused with Haskell’s purpose
As Haskell researchers and collaborators wrap up a $20 million federal grant, a Lawrence instructor and Colorado MacArthur Fellow reflect on how they’re working with Indigenous knowledge-holders to address climate change.
MORE …
LAWRENCE LIFE
Lawrence Humane Pet of the Week: Smokey the pit bull is a ‘dainty’ playmate
Volunteers and shelter staff say that Pet of the Week Smokey, a 3-year-old pit bull mix, is a sweet and gentle social butterfly.
Debi Taylor/Contributed photo
Holiday Open Barn will feature local artists to kick off gift shopping season in Douglas County
A local farm will kick off the holiday shopping season in Douglas County with its Holiday Open Barn, featuring more than 30 local artists.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence Día de los Muertos celebration to honor nourishers; workshops coming up
This year’s Día de los Muertos celebration in Lawrence will serve as a tribute to nourishers. Arts and crafts workshops are planned throughout this week ahead of Sunday’s event.
Lawrence Humane Pet of the Week: Smokey the pit bull is a ‘dainty’ playmate
Volunteers and shelter staff say that Pet of the Week Smokey, a 3-year-old pit bull mix, is a sweet and gentle social butterfly.
Debi Taylor/Contributed photo
Holiday Open Barn will feature local artists to kick off gift shopping season in Douglas County
A local farm will kick off the holiday shopping season in Douglas County with its Holiday Open Barn, featuring more than 30 local artists.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence Día de los Muertos celebration to honor nourishers; workshops coming up
This year’s Día de los Muertos celebration in Lawrence will serve as a tribute to nourishers. Arts and crafts workshops are planned throughout this week ahead of Sunday’s event.
MORE …
MORE ICYMI …
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Election security, or stripping citizens’ voting rights? FAQs about the amendment on Kansans’ ballots
Kansas’ Constitution already says voters must be citizens. A proposed amendment would add a small yet loaded distinction that opponents say could disenfranchise many eligible voters.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence school district’s AI committee disbanded with no specific policy recommendations
The Lawrence school board ended its AI committee after the group met only four times and had no chance to recommend specific policy, all more than two years after the board agreed to create the committee.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence voters: Here’s the info you need to cast your ballot in the Nov. 3, 2026 election
Here’s info to help Lawrence-area voters make informed decisions in the local, state and federal races on ballots in the Tuesday, Nov. 3 general election.
Molly Adams/Lawrence Times
Early voting is open in Douglas County; Lawrence rally to encourage folks to cast their ballots
Here’s info on early voting, which is underway Wednesday in Douglas County. Some Lawrence community members are also planning a rally to encourage folks to cast their ballots sooner rather than later.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Election security, or stripping citizens’ voting rights? FAQs about the amendment on Kansans’ ballots
Kansas’ Constitution already says voters must be citizens. A proposed amendment would add a small yet loaded distinction that opponents say could disenfranchise many eligible voters.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence school district’s AI committee disbanded with no specific policy recommendations
The Lawrence school board ended its AI committee after the group met only four times and had no chance to recommend specific policy, all more than two years after the board agreed to create the committee.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence voters: Here’s the info you need to cast your ballot in the Nov. 3, 2026 election
Here’s info to help Lawrence-area voters make informed decisions in the local, state and federal races on ballots in the Tuesday, Nov. 3 general election.
Molly Adams/Lawrence Times
Early voting is open in Douglas County; Lawrence rally to encourage folks to cast their ballots
Here’s info on early voting, which is underway Wednesday in Douglas County. Some Lawrence community members are also planning a rally to encourage folks to cast their ballots sooner rather than later.
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.
Tom Harper/Contributed Photo
Tom Harper: It’s showtime – ‘Beetlejuice’ screening coming up at Lawrence’s Oak Hill Cemetery (Column)
It’s showtime: The Lawrence Film Club is inviting the community to a free, outdoor screening of “Beetlejuice” in Oak Hill Cemetery, Tom Harper writes in this column.
Dot Nary: Government jeopardizes rights of Lawrence residents with disabilities (Column)
Currently, people who are supported to live in the Lawrence community and their caregivers fear institutionalization resulting from the federal government’s potential withdrawal of support for home-based services, Dot Nary writes in this column.
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.
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.
Tom Harper/Contributed Photo
Tom Harper: It’s showtime – ‘Beetlejuice’ screening coming up at Lawrence’s Oak Hill Cemetery (Column)
It’s showtime: The Lawrence Film Club is inviting the community to a free, outdoor screening of “Beetlejuice” in Oak Hill Cemetery, Tom Harper writes in this column.
Dot Nary: Government jeopardizes rights of Lawrence residents with disabilities (Column)
Currently, people who are supported to live in the Lawrence community and their caregivers fear institutionalization resulting from the federal government’s potential withdrawal of support for home-based services, Dot Nary writes in this column.
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.
MORE …
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