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
Mike Warner: Voters have an experienced choice in this district attorney race (Column)
”Experience matters. … A poorly managed district attorney’s office undermines justice and wastes taxpayers’ money, and I want to end this,” Mike Warner writes in this column.
Tom Harper/Lawrence Times
Tom Harper: Keep City Hall in downtown Lawrence where it belongs (Column)
”Our city hall communicates strength and has an aura of permanence … City hall must remain in the heart of our city: downtown,” Tom Harper writes in this column.
Tom Harper/Lawrence Times
Tom Harper: Behind the brew – How KANbucha came to be (Column)
Elliot Pees, creator of KANbucha, recently gave Tom Harper a tour of his business and allowed him to document the weekly process of making 240 gallons of kombucha.
Shannon Portillo: Save KU’s centers that espouse values, help form leaders (Column)
”I benefit to this day from the strong networks I was able to build in spaces that students demanded. I hope that KU can continue to have those spaces of learning and connection for the students, staff and faculty there now,” Shannon Portillo writes in this column.
Bert Nash Center: Community Resource Fair to offer food, demos, dozens of agencies (Announcement)
”This will be the third year for the Bert Nash Center’s Community Resource Fair. And this year’s will be the most interactive one yet,” Jeff Burkhead writes in this Org Corner piece from Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center.
Tom Harper/Lawrence Times
Tom Harper: Don’t call it ‘flipping’ – Mike Randolph wants to revive old houses, create good homes (Column)
”Housing is a fundamental need, and Mike Randolph has been helping address that need in Lawrence for many years,” Tom Harper writes in this column.
LETTERS TO THE TIMES
Letter to the Times: Are veterans’ sacrifices for democracy worthless?
”My father (Navy), mother (Army), and many other family members served our country in World War II. … They gave of themselves, in countless ways, to stop the spread of authoritarianism, suppression of freedoms and tyranny of the many by the few,” Sandy Sanders writes in this letter to the Times.
Letter to the Times: Extremism has no place in Douglas County government
”These candidates have been careful to downplay their beliefs and affiliations while campaigning because they know being anti-trans and anti-vaccine is disqualifying for holding public office here,” Vanessa Sanburn writes in this letter to the Times.
Letter to the Times: Vote ‘yes’ on the affordable housing sales tax
”Through this small sales tax, we can provide dedicated funding to make Lawrence a more affordable place to live and to end chronic homelessness by 2028,” the Justice Matters Board of Directors writes in this letter to the Times.
ORG CORNER
Bert Nash Center: Community Resource Fair to offer food, demos, dozens of agencies (Announcement)
”This will be the third year for the Bert Nash Center’s Community Resource Fair. And this year’s will be the most interactive one yet,” Jeff Burkhead writes in this Org Corner piece from Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center.
Watkins Museum of History: Free fun to return with Summer Games (Announcement)
“The Watkins Museum of History is excited to announce the return of a popular event series: Watkins Summer Games,” the museum writes.
Bishop Seabury Academy announces the Class of 2024 (Announcement)
”Congratulations to these outstanding graduates of the Class of 2024 from Bishop Seabury Academy!” the academy 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.
Contributed image
From the Stacks: What I learned about tardigrades, aka ‘water bears’
Tardigrades “have inched their way into the public imagination in recent years. For one thing, they are cute as heck, especially for a microscopic creature that doesn’t really have a face,” Dan Coleman writes in this piece for the Lawrence Public Library.
From the Stacks: Green spaces of Douglas County
“I thought I would write up and share a few of my favorite off-the-beaten-path corners of Douglas County,” Dan Coleman writes.
Contributed
From the Stacks: Goodbye storytime, hello book club
Angela Hyde writes about the benefits and bonding experience of starting a book club with tweens and teens.
