Our favorite kinds of stories to tell — highlighting good things happening in Lawrence and Douglas County.
The image at the top of this page is from the August 2022 Pooch Plunge. Check out the full gallery at this link.
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LATEST GOOD NEWS
Contributed
Quail Run students win award for spirit, teamwork and respect at international competition
Lawrence fifth graders Esther Kong and Sarah Song took their STEAM project on the road last week and scored big by bringing home the Core Values Award from the FIRST LEGO League Challenge in Houston, Texas.
Contributed
Quail Run students win award for spirit, teamwork and respect at international competition
Lawrence fifth graders Esther Kong and Sarah Song took their STEAM project on the road last week and scored big by bringing home the Core Values Award from the FIRST LEGO League Challenge in Houston, Texas.
MORE GOOD NEWS
Carter Gaskins / The Lawrence Times
Free State High School security guard Demetrius Kemp leads by example
When Demetrius Kemp sees that someone might need help, he puts his “Superman suit” on.
He’s dedicated his free time to finding ways to help people in need through volunteer work and community projects.
Contributed
Twins Tae-Vheon and Sae-Vheon Alcorn lead double lives as KU student-athletes and entrepreneurs
Twins Sae-Vheon and Tae-Vheon Alcorn started running track in fifth grade, and their athletic journeys led them to the University of Kansas for school and collegiate track and field. They’ve also carried on family values of hard work and perseverance to become successful entrepreneurs, plus they’re now helping other Jayhawks build their own brands.
Contributed
Mental health practitioner’s new solo venture focuses on BIPOC and first responders
Nicole Rials is excited to build on the mental health work she’s done in this community for 20 years — and she’s excited to host the Black Resilience Summit online next week.
Mark Potts / The Lawrence Times
After 15 months, Ladybird Diner is back, same as before — but different
Fifteen months after the pandemic closed it down — at least in its original form — Ladybird Diner has reopened under the big “EAT” sign on Massachusetts Street.
The new version of the spunky, funky diner is a product of everything that’s happened to it and its proprietor.
Conner Mitchell / The Lawrence Times
Garcia family’s imprint on Lawrence Mexican food scene felt through museum exhibit
Starting with the El Tampico Club in the 1940s, the Garcia family quickly expanded its footprint in Lawrence. Mementos from the family’s time in town and their efforts to introduce authentic Mexican food to the community are on display through October at the Watkins Museum of History.
Contributed
Cordley teacher wins grant to teach first graders hands-on math with blocks
Sarah Rand’s first graders at Cordley Elementary School will get to learn math in a new blocks center with tactile learning tools, thanks to a grant the teacher won.
Douglas County
How a KU class and local advocates helped build an ADA-accessible platform at Wells Overlook Park
Thanks to a $44,000 state grant, Douglas County accessibility advocates, and help from a third-year architecture class at the University of Kansas, an ADA-accessible viewing platform is now complete at Lawrence’s Wells Overlook Park.
Contributed
Free State High School student earns superior rating from International Thespian Festival for short film
A Free State High School junior’s short film earned a superior rating Tuesday evening at the Virtual International Thespian Festival, her teacher said.
Lawrence teacher turns ‘magical’ classroom event into inspirational book
Jessica Brown, a teacher at Sunflower Elementary School in Lawrence, has turned a “magical” moment in her classroom into a self-published picture book to help kids with social-emotional learning.
Mackenzie Clark / The Lawrence Times
Love, support, and giving free hugs: Lawrence PRIDE attendees share why they showed up
It was a hot, sunny day at South Park, but that didn’t stop hundreds of people from showing up for Lawrence PRIDE. Many attendees told the Times they were there to show love and support — including giving free hugs.
Contributed
Bishop Seabury students find passion in helping others, raise $3K for refugees
A group of sixth-graders at a Lawrence private school has collected money to help people fleeing war and violence across the world.
Carter Gaskins
Free State graduates celebrate triumph over pandemic adversity
The Lawrence Free State High School class of 2021 donned mortar boards and face masks under cloudy skies for their commencement Wednesday night.
Carter Gaskins
Lawrence High graduates persevere despite pandemic
Amid a backdrop of basketball lore and behind face masks, the students of Lawrence High School’s class of 2021 celebrated their commencement Tuesday evening in Allen Fieldhouse.
Surprise! Lawrence High’s Susan Mička awarded $10K Bobs teaching award
Susan Mička, of Lawrence High School, is the winner of the Lawrence Schools Foundation’s 2021 […]
Kelly Thompson
Free State wins second consecutive state speech championship; Lawrence High takes 6th
Free State and Lawrence high school speech students have big reasons to celebrate: Both teams had students crowned state champions in events Saturday.
Audrey Basham
From chaos to creativity: Lawrence High artists capture pandemic emotions in photos
Lawrence High School students share photos and writings from their portfolio class during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ollie Hall/Contributed
Herman’s Place celebrates a year serving food to those in need in Lawrence, in memory of namesake
Herman Hall has been gone since 1988, but his memory lives on through the “restaurant […]
Michaela Cantrell
Just Food helping those in need with period products, diapers
Not everybody would get excited enough to jump up on top of a pallet of […]
Kelly Thompson
Free State juniors take debate program to new competitive heights, break records
Serena Rupp and John Marshall were the first Lawrence school district team to ever qualify for the Tournament of Champions, according to their debate coach.
Michelle Cadue
Lawrence High student activist lobbies for laws to protect Indigenous people
If you’ve ever visited the Kansas Capitol building, you might have assumed the adolescents you encountered were taking a field trip or paging for a state legislator. Georgia Blackwood, a Lawrence High School junior, crushes that presumption.
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