The 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.
The Lawrence Times does not publish staff editorials (unsigned opinion columns, usually about the topics we cover, that many news publications run).
Want to submit a letter or column to the Times? Great! Click here to find out how.
OPINION COLUMNS
Max Kautsch: This Sunshine Week, Kansas officials should finally clear the Marion County Record’s journalists (Column)
”Journalists should not feel like they are taking an unreasonable risk just to do their jobs, a feeling perpetuated every day that goes by without resolution on the raids” of the Marion County Record, Max Kautsch writes in this Kansas Reflector column.
Clay Wirestone: Doom-laden bombast about future of journalism overlooks striking work in Kansas, elsewhere (Column)
”I’m lucky to live in a state where myriad journalists set an example for the nation,” Clay Wirestone writes in this Kansas Reflector column.
Kate Appel Eckert: Let’s celebrate the hot-blooded, radical, progressive history of Kansas (Column)
”Kansas is consistently at the heart of every single revolution in America. And I have every intent on continuing this tradition,” Kate Appel Eckert writes in this Kansas Reflector column.
Lawrence Professional Firefighters: Incumbent city commissioners are good for emergency services (Column)
”It is understandable that everybody has different priorities, but we can assume that public safety is high on almost everybody’s list. This is why your Lawrence Professional Firefighters have confidence in the three incumbent candidates,” the IAFF Local 1596 executive board writes in this column.
Sarah Cole: Legislative leaders spread biased tropes about disabled Kansans in crusade against Medicaid (Column)
”Though disabled people are often prevented from doing the work they would prefer to be doing … most, if not all, of those barriers come not from within disabled people but rather from the outside world,” Sarah Cole writes in this Kansas Reflector column.
Tom Harper: Celebrating renovations to the oldest library in Kansas (Column)
”Members of the Coal Creek Library Board in Vinland recently hosted an open house for community members and donors to celebrate the successful restoration of the nearly 125-year-old library building,” Tom Harper writes in this column.
LETTERS TO THE TIMES
Letter to the Times: Strategic plan to address homelessness is a big first step
”As a community, we are just in the beginning stages with the proposed plan (to address homelessness). Now the next stage of work begins,” Caitlin McDiarmid and Judy Pope of Justice Matters write in this letter to the Times.
Letter to the Times: A call for Lawrencians to come together to help our unsheltered neighbors during deadly weather
”No matter your opinion or stance on homelessness, I know without a doubt that the Lawrence community cares about keeping their neighbors alive,” Jenn Wolsey writes in this letter to the Times.
Letter to the Times: A CNA’s plea for increased staffing standards in Kansas nursing homes
”Scarcity of staff has compelled facilities to deploy CNAs with minimal training and experience into situations where the safety net of an experienced colleague or nurse is glaringly absent,” Addison Stover writes in this letter to the Times.
ORG CORNER
Douglas County Extension Master Gardeners: Groovy Garden Show to offer something for everyone (Column)
”Gardening feeds the soul and provides a sense of peace and hope for the future,” the Douglas County Extension Master Gardeners write of the free, upcoming Groovy Garden Show.
Somos Lawrence: Gratitude for support of Día de Muertos (Column)
Following a large Día de Muertos celebration, Somos Lawrence, Lawrence Percolator and Moms Demand Action would like to thank the people and partners who helped with the event.
Kansas Audio-Reader: Master gardener retires at 90 (Announcement)
Frank Male Sr.’s dedication, expertise and commitment has grown the beautiful green space of the Sensory Garden into the much-loved destination that it is today, Martha Kehr of Audio-Reader writes.
FROM THE STACKS
Note: Staff members at the Lawrence Public Library write blog posts about books, bookish things and other media. The Times is reposting some of those blogs in this feature, From the Stacks. Find many other blog posts, titles referenced in these posts and much more on the library’s website, lplks.org.
From the Stacks: Who is David Lowery?
“David Lowery fans: I hope you’re free to join us on Nov. 3 at the Lawrence Arts Center. You can expect an irreverent, wide-ranging conversation about the business of rock music, the Internet, capitalism, and maybe even a little math,” Library Director Brad Allen writes.
From the Stacks: Unsolicited reading recommendations for Lawrence candidates
Here’s a series of unsolicited reading recommendations for Lawrence City Commission and Lawrence school board candidates, based on favorite books they shared with the Times.
From the Stacks: An interview with Bathsheba Demuth ahead of her Wednesday event
“One of my favorite books of the past couple years is Bathsheba Demuth’s award-winning ‘Floating Coast,’ so I was pleased to see that the author is part of this season’s speaker series at KU’s Hall Center for the Humanities,” Jake Vail of Lawrence Public Library writes.