Carter Gaskins/Lawrence Times
Tragic Comedy to center queer, femme, BIPOC comedians in Lawrence
A new comedy troupe in town is bringing parody, musicals, sketch comedy, and standup in a space with room for all who love comedy to showcase their authentic selves and their jokes.
Topeka man tells judge he will defend himself from charges in Jan. 6 attack on U.S. Capitol
A Topeka man who faces federal charges for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol wants to represent himself because his court-appointed attorney lacks computer skills.
Carter Gaskins/Lawrence Times
Tragic Comedy to center queer, femme, BIPOC comedians in Lawrence
A new comedy troupe in town is bringing parody, musicals, sketch comedy, and standup in a space with room for all who love comedy to showcase their authentic selves and their jokes.
Topeka man tells judge he will defend himself from charges in Jan. 6 attack on U.S. Capitol
A Topeka man who faces federal charges for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol wants to represent himself because his court-appointed attorney lacks computer skills.
Sustainability Advisory Board sends plastic bag ban on to Lawrence City Commission
Lawrence’s Sustainability Advisory Board voted unanimously today to approve an ordinance banning establishments from using single-use plastic bags. The ordinance will go on to the city commission for consideration.
Paola man sentenced to 27 months for hate crime against Black boy
A Paola man was sentenced Wednesday to just more than two years in federal prison for threatening a Black boy with a knife and telling him he was in a “white town.”
Lawrence’s Sustainability Advisory Board to consider plastic bag ban; special meeting is Thursday
The city’s Sustainability Advisory Board on Thursday will hold a special meeting to discuss a draft ordinance that would prohibit establishments from providing or selling single-use disposable plastic bags.
LAWRENCE NEWS
Lawrence Times
3 people injured, dog OK after crash; eastbound 23rd Street closed for investigation
Three people were injured in a two-vehicle crash Wednesday on 23rd Street between O’Connell and Franklin roads, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
Tricia Masenthin/Lawrence Times
Free meals for all students will end in August; Lawrence school board to set meal prices
Some families will need to add school meals into their back-to-school budgets as the federal program that provides free food for all students ends in August.
More road construction to start Tuesday: 19th and Alabama; 23rd and Naismith
The city will soon start two more construction projects that will require road closures over the next few months. Here are the details.
KDOT to hold open house to discuss changes to Wakarusa/K-10 interchange
The community is invited to a meeting to learn about planned changes to the Wakarusa interchange with Kansas Highway 10.
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STATE NEWS
Finance council approves Kansas state worker pay raises, digs into bonuses for child care providers
Gov. Laura Kelly and legislative leaders unanimously approved Wednesday the budget outline for appropriating $49.9 million in state tax dollars to provide 5% across-the-board pay raises for state government employees.
Kansas veterans and legislators wary of proposal to close VA clinics and cut emergency services
When retired U.S. Army Col. Lynn Rolf enlisted and went to war, the federal government made a promise it would take care of his medical needs. He says he is still fighting the battle to ensure that commitment is fulfilled and veterans’ medical services remain in place.
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COMMUNITY VOICES (OPINION)
Letter to the Times: The choice is in your hands
“Maybe … you are generally pro-life but don’t like extreme restrictions on abortion. Maybe you are just generally uneasy about abortion itself but want it to keep it as an option,” Ken Grotewiel writes in this letter to the Times.
Ella Lee Dominguez: Lighting candles and cleaning crumbs as my rights disappear (Column)
“The Supreme Court has made its decision — so I will make mine,” Ella Lee Dominguez writes in this column.
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LAWRENCE LIFE
The Raven Book Store’s bestsellers for June 28, 2022 (Sponsored post)
“Here are this week’s bestsellers. We hope you find them interesting.”
And, “Here are some other links that we hope you find interesting.”
Sarah Wright / Contributed
Lawrence Fourth of July: Fireworks planned for July 3 this year
Unless the weather is bad, the city’s Fourth of July community celebration and fireworks show will fall on Sunday, July 3 this year.
Young activists across Kansas lead efforts against abortion bans, voter suppression
With just more than five weeks until the Aug. 2 election, these four student-activists and leaders have been mobilizing across the state. Meet Rija Nazir, Chloe Chaffin, Donnavan Dillon and Adriana Cazares.
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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.
Want to submit a letter to the Times? Great!
Click here to find out how.
Letter to the Times: Kansas will ban abortion if amendment passes on Aug. 2
“If the amendment passes, Kansas lawmakers can — and they will — enact laws banning abortions. And we know they will because they’ve already tried,” Amii Castle writes in this letter to the Times.
Bridging the digital divide can reduce gaps between Kansas communities (Column)
“As state and local governments invest in broadband, they should also ensure their work is focused on digital equity,” members of the Governor’s Commission on Racial Equity and Justice write in this Kansas Reflector column.
Mark McCormick: This Juneteenth, let’s redefine freedom as parity (Column)
“Parity offers the truer path to freedom for African Americans and to a healthier democracy. Juneteenth’s emancipation remembrance merely marks the first step,” Mark McCormick writes in this Kansas Reflector column.
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