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
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Dot Nary: And access for all – celebrating the City of Lawrence’s ADA transition plan (Column)
”I applaud the team of city staff, led by Evan Korynta, … for the considerable work that went into this (ADA Right-of-Way Transition) plan, and our city commissioners who have the courage and foresight to fund it,” Dot Nary writes in this column.
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Tom Harper: Developments at 11th and Mass create excitement for historic downtown Lawrence (Column)
”Mr. Krsnich, we are counting on you to deliver a thoughtfully designed and beautiful development that will provide for the needs of our community … This project could very well be your legacy in our town,” Tom Harper writes in this column.
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Tom Harper: Community initiatives to fund third volume of ‘Embattled Lawrence’ history books (Column)
In ”Embattled Lawrence,” Dennis Domer aims to tell the stories that have been missed in Lawrence’s rich history. Upcoming dinners and presentations will help raise funds to make the next volume possible, Tom Harper writes in this column.
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Max Kautsch: Nothing to see here – Kansas lawmakers use State Finance Council to spend public money in the dark (Column)
”Will the Legislature again allow a cornucopia of taxpayer money to be spent without giving the public the courtesy of observing even the final stage of negotiations?” Max Kautsch writes in this Kansas Reflector column.
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Shawn Alexander: Juneteenth and numerous other Emancipation Day celebrations (Column)
”For generations, no matter what date was selected, freedom and an understanding of the meaning of freedom has been at the center of Emancipation Day events. We must honor and respect that history and legacy,” Shawn Alexander writes in this column.
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Dot Nary: Disability discrimination leaves invisible scars (Column)
”Despite our living with multiple surgical scars … the more serious scars are the emotional ones that we as disabled people have experienced due to discrimination,” Dot Nary writes in this column.
LETTERS TO THE TIMES
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Dot Nary: And access for all – celebrating the City of Lawrence’s ADA transition plan (Column)
”I applaud the team of city staff, led by Evan Korynta, … for the considerable work that went into this (ADA Right-of-Way Transition) plan, and our city commissioners who have the courage and foresight to fund it,” Dot Nary writes in this column.
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Letter to the Times: Free gun locks are available from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office; other locks can work, too
”In Kansas (among other states), most county sheriff departments cooperate with Project Childsafe in providing upon request free gun safety locks that come with instructions for effective use,” George Pisani writes in this letter to the Times.
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Letter to the Times: First Presbyterian Church raising awareness of child gun deaths in Kansas
”The CDC’s most recent statistics published for 2019 showed that Kansas recorded 43 deaths by firearm for children ages 0-19 years,” Margie Dyck writes in this letter to the Times.
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ORG CORNER
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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.
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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.
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Sanctuary Alliance: Lawrence police actions against student protesters raise deep concerns (Column)
”We ask you to formally address your actions and reasoning for both events and refuse to answer any future mutual aid calls from KU police for any action of peaceful protest on the KU campus,” Sanctuary Alliance – Lawrence, KS writes to Lawrence police.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.