Lawrence trans community, supporters send message to elected officials: ‘You cannot get rid of us’
Lawrence community members at a rally Saturday committed to resisting any and all upcoming efforts to suppress transgender and gender-nonconforming folks.
Prefiled bill would release millions in school bond funds from Kansas attorney general’s grasp
Two Kansas legislators prefiled a bill that would deliver millions in voter-approved school bonds that were blocked earlier this year because of a strict ruling from the Kansas attorney general.
Kaw Valley Almanac for Jan. 13-19, 2025
Recent ice, followed by a snow, followed by some melting has created ideal conditions for slick gravel roads in the mornings in parts of the state. Daytime melting can wet a road for refreezing at night.
City of Lawrence reopening overflow winter emergency shelter; volunteers needed
Extremely cold temperatures and wind chills are in the forecast for Lawrence, and the city is planning to reopen an overflow emergency shelter to ensure everyone will have a warm place to sleep.
Lane of K-10 closed after 5-vehicle crash in icy conditions
There were no injuries, but a lane of Kansas Highway 10 was temporarily closed Saturday evening following a five-vehicle crash, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
Kaw Valley Almanac for Jan. 13-19, 2025
Recent ice, followed by a snow, followed by some melting has created ideal conditions for slick gravel roads in the mornings in parts of the state. Daytime melting can wet a road for refreezing at night.
City of Lawrence reopening overflow winter emergency shelter; volunteers needed
Extremely cold temperatures and wind chills are in the forecast for Lawrence, and the city is planning to reopen an overflow emergency shelter to ensure everyone will have a warm place to sleep.
Lane of K-10 closed after 5-vehicle crash in icy conditions
There were no injuries, but a lane of Kansas Highway 10 was temporarily closed Saturday evening following a five-vehicle crash, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
Kaw Valley Almanac for Jan. 13-19, 2025
Recent ice, followed by a snow, followed by some melting has created ideal conditions for slick gravel roads in the mornings in parts of the state. Daytime melting can wet a road for refreezing at night.
City of Lawrence reopening overflow winter emergency shelter; volunteers needed
Extremely cold temperatures and wind chills are in the forecast for Lawrence, and the city is planning to reopen an overflow emergency shelter to ensure everyone will have a warm place to sleep.
Lane of K-10 closed after 5-vehicle crash in icy conditions
There were no injuries, but a lane of Kansas Highway 10 was temporarily closed Saturday evening following a five-vehicle crash, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
LAWRENCE NEWS
Lawrence students prep for trip to Japan, but program participation is falling
Eight Lawrence middle and high schoolers spent the afternoon dancing, learning and playing games in preparation for a trip to Hiratsuka, Japan this summer.
Lawrence school board to hear update on makeup time following 4 snow days
The Lawrence school board on Monday will hear an update from administrators on their plans if the district must make up instructional hours after four snow days already this year.
Lawrence Public Schools: District’s PowerSchool data was not breached
The Lawrence school district’s data within PowerSchool was not accessed in a recent breach, according to an email sent to school families Friday.
Lawrence gets more snow; low chance of winter precipitation forecast for Saturday
A small chance of freezing rain or snow is in the forecast for Saturday after Lawrence received some additional snowfall beginning Thursday night and ending early Friday.
MORE …
STATE NEWS
Kansas governor orders federal benefits go to foster kids savings accounts instead of state agency
A new mandate from Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly requires federal cash benefits, like social security and disability, to go directly to foster children after decades of using them to pay for state agency operating costs.
Auditors urge Kansas agency to better document justification for tax credit awards
Auditors say a state program distributing $4M annually in income tax credits to incentivize donations for community service projects lacks transparency because the agency doesn’t fully document its rationale when selecting recipients.
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COMMUNITY VOICES (OPINION)
Tom Harper: A new and improved Volume 1 of ‘Embattled Lawrence’ is coming soon (Column)
Since the release of Embattled Lawrence, Vol. 2, people have asked editor Dennis Domer frequently where they can find a copy of Vol. 1. A new version of the local history book — long out of print — will soon be available, Tom Harper writes in this column.
Shawn Alexander: The new year, with apologies to and inspiration from Langston Hughes (Column)
”Let us see and hear in the new year the faint voices captured in the Kaw and all ancient rivers ‘older than the flow of human blood in human veins’ that are carrying the calls and dreams of a more hopeful, peaceful, tolerant, and just world,” Shawn Alexander writes in this column.
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LAWRENCE LIFE
Douglas County offering 10-week program to help parents of teenagers
Douglas County Youth Services offers a free 10-week program for those seeking new skills and support while raising teenagers.
Lawrence still cleaning up after blizzard; answers to some FAQs as efforts continue
Many residential roads aren’t yet cleared as Lawrence recovers from the weekend’s blizzard, and bitter temperatures are forecast the remainder of the week. Here are answers to a few FAQs as cleanup efforts continue.
Kaw Valley Almanac for Jan. 6-12, 2025
Winter flocks are in full swing as juncos, cardinals, woodpeckers, bluejays, titmouse and even crows come together with the collective goal of getting enough food and avoiding predators.
Douglas County offering 10-week program to help parents of teenagers
Douglas County Youth Services offers a free 10-week program for those seeking new skills and support while raising teenagers.
Lawrence still cleaning up after blizzard; answers to some FAQs as efforts continue
Many residential roads aren’t yet cleared as Lawrence recovers from the weekend’s blizzard, and bitter temperatures are forecast the remainder of the week. Here are answers to a few FAQs as cleanup efforts continue.
Kaw Valley Almanac for Jan. 6-12, 2025
Winter flocks are in full swing as juncos, cardinals, woodpeckers, bluejays, titmouse and even crows come together with the collective goal of getting enough food and avoiding predators.
MORE …
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT …
Lawrence Community Shelter, city prepare for winter weather; here’s where to go and how to help
With the possibility of severe weather looming, the Lawrence Community Shelter, city and volunteers are preparing to ensure everyone who needs a warm place to sleep will have one.
Tenant rights educator included in $1.2M the City of Lawrence will spend on housing initiatives in 2025
The City of Lawrence is doling out $1.2 million from its sales tax coffers for affordable housing and housing-adjacent projects. New this year will be a community educator to help renters learn their rights.
Feds propose giving Haskell Board of Regents authority over university, removing BIE
Proposed federal legislation would give the Haskell Board of Regents governance over Haskell Indian Nations University, rather than the Bureau of Indian Education.
Douglas County Commission approves agrivoltaics, stormwater plans for Kansas Sky Energy Center
Douglas County commissioners on Wednesday heard about 30 public comments, mostly in opposition, before unanimously approving plans for agrivoltaics and stormwater management as part of the massive solar farm proposed to be built north of Lawrence.
Lawrence Community Shelter, city prepare for winter weather; here’s where to go and how to help
With the possibility of severe weather looming, the Lawrence Community Shelter, city and volunteers are preparing to ensure everyone who needs a warm place to sleep will have one.
Tenant rights educator included in $1.2M the City of Lawrence will spend on housing initiatives in 2025
The City of Lawrence is doling out $1.2 million from its sales tax coffers for affordable housing and housing-adjacent projects. New this year will be a community educator to help renters learn their rights.
Feds propose giving Haskell Board of Regents authority over university, removing BIE
Proposed federal legislation would give the Haskell Board of Regents governance over Haskell Indian Nations University, rather than the Bureau of Indian Education.
Douglas County Commission approves agrivoltaics, stormwater plans for Kansas Sky Energy Center
Douglas County commissioners on Wednesday heard about 30 public comments, mostly in opposition, before unanimously approving plans for agrivoltaics and stormwater management as part of the massive solar farm proposed to be built north of Lawrence.
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: Bail fund overregulation would keep ‘justice’ system in hands of the elite
”The idea that community bail funds should be regulated with insurance requirements is an absurd overregulation of what amounts to voluntary mutual aid within a community,” Douglas County Community Bail Fund directors write in this letter to the Times.
Letter to the Times: No more false populism
”We must be diligent in calling out disingenuous actors who seek to further divisions under the guise of helping the working class,” Isaac Johnson, of Trans Lawrence Coalition, writes in this letter to the Times.
Letter to the Times: The new land development code – A finish line appraisal
”Give the (new land development) code a little breathing space … and let’s watch and see what the early returns are on residential infill. Perhaps neighborhood concerns will prove largely misplaced,” Phil Englehart 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: Bail fund overregulation would keep ‘justice’ system in hands of the elite
”The idea that community bail funds should be regulated with insurance requirements is an absurd overregulation of what amounts to voluntary mutual aid within a community,” Douglas County Community Bail Fund directors write in this letter to the Times.
Letter to the Times: No more false populism
”We must be diligent in calling out disingenuous actors who seek to further divisions under the guise of helping the working class,” Isaac Johnson, of Trans Lawrence Coalition, writes in this letter to the Times.
Letter to the Times: The new land development code – A finish line appraisal
”Give the (new land development) code a little breathing space … and let’s watch and see what the early returns are on residential infill. Perhaps neighborhood concerns will prove largely misplaced,” Phil Englehart writes in this letter to the Times.