Latest IN Business NEWS

New legislation could allow hemp products to be used in Kansas animal feed
Industrial hemp could open up new pastures for Kansas, said industry professionals urging lawmakers to loosen regulatory measures they believe gave a chilling effect on the business.
MORe Business NEWS

Jingle House pop-up combines plants and holiday cheer
Jungle House owners Jhami and Rachel Guffey hope that when customers walk into their new pop-up shop in downtown Lawrence, they experience “over-the-top holiday magic.”

A private company asked Kansas to hide public information, so the state obliged
Emails between an auditing firm and Kansas show how quickly the state bent to the company’s wishes to keep information out of public view. Experts say this reflects a disturbing national trend.

Lawrence City Commission approves next steps toward long-term parklet program
Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday unanimously voted to move forward with an extension of the city’s temporary “parklets” while staff develops a long-term program.

Survey says most respondents like Lawrence’s parklets
Most visitors to downtown Lawrence like the parking stalls-turned-al fresco dining spaces and would use them in the long term, according to the city’s recent survey.

Young entrepreneurs of Douglas County invited to compete in virtual challenge
Innovative students in grades six through 12 are invited to compete for big prizes in the 2021 Douglas County Youth Virtual Entrepreneurship Challenge.

Battle between Blue Cross of Kansas and Lawrence hospital heats up, with patients in the middle
Heated negotiations between LMH Health and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas will either raise prices for its patients at Lawrence’s only hospital or steer them to seek care elsewhere.

Wonder Gallery to reopen, featuring Matthew Willie Garcia prints, a ‘Utopian Bookstore,’ and ‘blobby things’
Wonder Gallery will reopen on Final Friday with an expanded focus that includes home items and a Utopian Bookstore alongside rotating artists’ exhibitions.

Lawrence City Commission candidates talk economic development at Chamber’s forum
In between questions about economic issues in Lawrence, such as childcare, local purchasing policy, and the Downtown Master Plan, City Commission candidates explained what role they thought the commission should have in the business community in Wednesday’s forum, hosted by The Chamber of Lawrence.

Kansans create special chamber of commerce to advance business of medical cannabis
Advocates of legalizing marijuana sales formed the Kansas Cannabis Chamber of Commerce to move the political, business and health debate forward in a state bordered by dispensaries in Colorado, Oklahoma and Missouri and a renewed push to open markets in Nebraska.

Sundance Film Festival picks Liberty Hall for satellite screenings
The Sundance Film Festival will hold screenings at Lawrence’s Liberty Hall in January as one of seven satellite sites nationwide, the festival announced Monday.

City Commission candidates undecided on vacancy tax, they say during Downtown Lawrence forum
An audience member at the Downtown Lawrence forum asked the Lawrence City Commission candidates on Wednesday whether they would support a vacancy tax. None of the six candidates gave a firm answer, but they shared some views on the idea.

From the Caribbean to Kansas: Earl Moise, founder of Rising Son Plumbing, shares his story
Earl Moise, one of the best-known master plumbers in Lawrence, has been passionate about the craft ever since graduating from high school. With each pipe he hand-cut, he fell more and more in love.

City of Lawrence considering long-term expansion of parklet program; staff seeks feedback
Last summer, the city of Lawrence started implementing temporary parklets to expand outdoor seating for businesses during COVID-19. Now those parklets might be around for a while longer.

Catherine Bell makes supporting local designers Sew Simple
Lawrence native Catherine Bell grew up with 10 siblings, but she was the only one to take up her mom’s passion for sewing and fashion design. Now she’s passing the torch — or needle — to the kids she’s had under her wing since 2019, when she started teaching sewing classes under the name Sew Simple Sewing.

Customers make challenges of COVID-19 pandemic bearable for owners of 1313 Mockingbird Lane
Through navigating COVID-19 as both healthcare workers and small business owners, the toy store’s regular customers have made things easier for the owners of 1313 Mockingbird Lane.