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
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.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Commissioner Amber Sellers: Participating in general public comment from an alternative location (Column)
”Lawrence is a city built on respect, inclusivity, and a shared commitment to progress. We are better than the behaviors we’ve witnessed in recent months,” City Commissioner Amber Sellers writes in this column.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Max Kautsch: KBI history offers ample reasons for Kansans to scrutinize Marion raid investigation (Column)
”The only reason the public learned what the KBI really knew about … who killed Nick Rice on the streets of Lawrence in 1970 was because those cases’ raw investigative files eventually saw the light of day,” Max Kautsch writes in this Kansas Reflector column.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Tom Harper: A welcome to visitors and new residents of Lawrence, and a PSA for townies (Column)
”Finally, information and a warning that turns this reflectional welcome post into a public service announcement … It is a very unsettling experience for both drivers to witness a car driving toward you on a one-way street,” Tom Harper writes in this column/PSA.
LETTERS TO THE TIMES
Letter to the Times: It’s time for ‘The Talk’ on Lawrence city budgets
”As City Manager Craig Owens made clear, the 2025 budget recipe won’t work for 2026 and beyond. Hence, the unavoidable Talk — frank community dialogue about the 2026 budget,” Phil and Peggi Englehart write in this letter to the Times.
Letter to the Times: Haskell faculty are committed to students’ well-being, success
”It is with a deep sense of responsibility and commitment to our students, our community, and our shared vision that we now speak to ensure the voice of our university is heard,” the Haskell Faculty Senate writes in this letter.
Letter to the Times: An open letter to the Lawrence community about homelessness
”Those of us who work informally on the ground with the unhoused are painfully aware of failures,” independent advocates for unhoused people write in this open letter to the Lawrence community.
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.
