Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence advisory board to ask commission to boost sustainability department funding in 2027
Lawrence’s Environmental Sustainability Advisory Board will ask city commissioners to beef up the sustainability department’s budget in 2027 after its operating budget was slashed 89% from 2025 to 2026.
Kansas Legislature’s debate exposes bitter dissent, and buried treasure, in the spending bill
Thin majorities in the Kansas Legislature early Friday passed a budget bill around bipartisan opposition. The bill spends vastly more than anticipated tax revenue.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence advisory board to ask commission to boost sustainability department funding in 2027
Lawrence’s Environmental Sustainability Advisory Board will ask city commissioners to beef up the sustainability department’s budget in 2027 after its operating budget was slashed 89% from 2025 to 2026.
Kansas Legislature’s debate exposes bitter dissent, and buried treasure, in the spending bill
Thin majorities in the Kansas Legislature early Friday passed a budget bill around bipartisan opposition. The bill spends vastly more than anticipated tax revenue.
KU debate coach named Coach of the Year at national tournament
Brett Bricker, KU’s head debate coach, has won the Coach of the Year award at the National Debate Tournament.
Lawrence-area law enforcement officers to participate in NAACP panel
Douglas County Sheriff Jay Armbrister, Lawrence Police Chief Rich Lockhart and KU Police Chief Nelson Mosley will soon participate in a panel hosted by the local NAACP branch.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence mayor asks environmental board to prioritize; board champions clean energy ordinance
A Lawrence advisory board and the mayor negotiated a vision for city sustainability initiatives Thursday as board members pushed for an energy benchmarking policy and a clean energy ordinance.
KU debate coach named Coach of the Year at national tournament
Brett Bricker, KU’s head debate coach, has won the Coach of the Year award at the National Debate Tournament.
Lawrence-area law enforcement officers to participate in NAACP panel
Douglas County Sheriff Jay Armbrister, Lawrence Police Chief Rich Lockhart and KU Police Chief Nelson Mosley will soon participate in a panel hosted by the local NAACP branch.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence mayor asks environmental board to prioritize; board champions clean energy ordinance
A Lawrence advisory board and the mayor negotiated a vision for city sustainability initiatives Thursday as board members pushed for an energy benchmarking policy and a clean energy ordinance.
KU debate coach named Coach of the Year at national tournament
Brett Bricker, KU’s head debate coach, has won the Coach of the Year award at the National Debate Tournament.
Lawrence-area law enforcement officers to participate in NAACP panel
Douglas County Sheriff Jay Armbrister, Lawrence Police Chief Rich Lockhart and KU Police Chief Nelson Mosley will soon participate in a panel hosted by the local NAACP branch.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence mayor asks environmental board to prioritize; board champions clean energy ordinance
A Lawrence advisory board and the mayor negotiated a vision for city sustainability initiatives Thursday as board members pushed for an energy benchmarking policy and a clean energy ordinance.
LAWRENCE NEWS
MixMaster2026 to offer resources, connections for local musicians
Lawrence’s MixMaster Music Conference is set to return Sunday, aiming to provide valuable information and connections for local musicians and all involved in the city’s music scene.
Contributed photo
Lawrence Humane to celebrate 75th anniversary with fee-waived adoptions and more
The Lawrence Humane Society is celebrating 75 years with a weekend of fee-waived adoptions, community stories about shelter pets and more.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Douglas County Commission approves limited tenant eviction defense pilot program
Following months of tense discourse about tenant right to counsel, Douglas County commissioners on Wednesday voted 3-2 for a pilot program that will grant some tenants facing eviction access to legal representation.
Plat for Hunters Hill subdivision in northwest Lawrence gets planning commission approval
Planning commissioners on Wednesday approved a preliminary plat for Hunters Hill, a subdivision of mostly single-family homes planned for northwestern Lawrence.
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STATE NEWS
Kansas Legislature imposes overhaul of state nursing board, voids 20 years of disciplinary actions
A bill forcing extensive changes at the Kansas State Board of Nursing and voiding 20 years of disciplinary actions passed both legislative chambers and will land on the governor’s desk amid concerns about its impact.
Kansas governor vetoes bill offering tax breaks to people using nontraditional health plans
Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed a bill that would provide income tax deductions for Kansans enrolled in health care sharing ministries plans, saying the organizations can leave everyday people with “huge medical bills.”
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COMMUNITY VOICES (OPINION)
Tom Harper: Ben Graham’s craftsmanship preserves Lawrence buildings, compels with its details (Column)
Lawrence has benefited from Ben Graham’s generous spirit and broad skillset, particularly as a plasterer, since 1985, Tom Harper writes in this column.
Shawn Alexander: When W. E. B. Du Bois came to Lawrence (Column)
W. E. B. Du Bois spoke in Lawrence 105 years ago today. “We should draw inspiration from those who have come before us and dare to envision a better world,” Shawn Alexander writes in this column.
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LAWRENCE LIFE
Third No Kings protest planned in Lawrence
Lawrence will join the third surge of nationwide No Kings protests with a demonstration starting in Watson Park focused on visibility.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence Public Library to host town halls for community feedback on master plan
As the Lawrence Public Library devises its first master plan in two decades, staff members are asking the community to show up to two town hall celebration events to provide input on the future of the building and its offerings.
The Raven Book Store’s bestsellers for March 19, 2026 (Sponsored post)
“Lawrence readers are on trend with this bestsellers list! … Stories from the Phog by Lawrence author Chelan David also makes an appearance and is the perfect read for our Jayhawks celebrating March Madness,” the Raven Book Store writes.
Third No Kings protest planned in Lawrence
Lawrence will join the third surge of nationwide No Kings protests with a demonstration starting in Watson Park focused on visibility.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence Public Library to host town halls for community feedback on master plan
As the Lawrence Public Library devises its first master plan in two decades, staff members are asking the community to show up to two town hall celebration events to provide input on the future of the building and its offerings.
The Raven Book Store’s bestsellers for March 19, 2026 (Sponsored post)
“Lawrence readers are on trend with this bestsellers list! … Stories from the Phog by Lawrence author Chelan David also makes an appearance and is the perfect read for our Jayhawks celebrating March Madness,” the Raven Book Store writes.
MORE …
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT …
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence NAACP to preserve stories of Black people buried in unmarked graves with headstones, biographies
Lawrence’s NAACP chapter will reclaim the stories of 30 Black people who were buried in unmarked graves in Oak Hill Cemetery, including three men lynched by a mob in 1882, with new granite headstones and a digital biography archive.
Cuyler Dunn/Lawrence Times
Thousands in KU community vote ‘no confidence’ in chancellor, CFO
A majority of KU faculty and students who participated in an unofficial vote this month said they do not have confidence in the leadership of Chancellor Doug Girod.
Lawrence woman still missing after nearly a year; search coming up
Saturday will mark one year since Wanda Dyer left her Lawrence home and never returned. Volunteers are planning to search for her again this weekend.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Judge denies request to pause anti-transgender law during ongoing lawsuit
A Douglas County judge on Tuesday denied plaintiffs’ request to temporarily halt an anti-transgender law in Kansas from taking effect while a lawsuit against the state plays out.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence NAACP to preserve stories of Black people buried in unmarked graves with headstones, biographies
Lawrence’s NAACP chapter will reclaim the stories of 30 Black people who were buried in unmarked graves in Oak Hill Cemetery, including three men lynched by a mob in 1882, with new granite headstones and a digital biography archive.
Cuyler Dunn/Lawrence Times
Thousands in KU community vote ‘no confidence’ in chancellor, CFO
A majority of KU faculty and students who participated in an unofficial vote this month said they do not have confidence in the leadership of Chancellor Doug Girod.
Lawrence woman still missing after nearly a year; search coming up
Saturday will mark one year since Wanda Dyer left her Lawrence home and never returned. Volunteers are planning to search for her again this weekend.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Judge denies request to pause anti-transgender law during ongoing lawsuit
A Douglas County judge on Tuesday denied plaintiffs’ request to temporarily halt an anti-transgender law in Kansas from taking effect while a lawsuit against the state plays out.
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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, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
MORE …
