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 image
Lawrence High School student artists shine in regional competition, advance to nationals
Lawrence High School students are celebrating success in a prestigious regional art competition, and many of their works will advance to the national level.
Contributed image
Lawrence High School student artists shine in regional competition, advance to nationals
Lawrence High School students are celebrating success in a prestigious regional art competition, and many of their works will advance to the national level.
MORE GOOD NEWS
Laura Amlung/Contributed Image
Deerfield Doughnuts: 3rd grade students’ unique designs to be sold in Lawrence
A doughnut with apple pie filling, topped with chunks of bacon and a chocolate drizzle? This dream is one that Laura Amlung’s third grade class at Deerfield Elementary hopes to make a reality.
Contributed
Lawrence school district alum returns, hopes to spark BIPOC students’ interest in education
In addition to an enthusiastic passion for history, first-year teacher Tori Mitchell offers Black students something she didn’t have as a student in Lawrence schools — a teacher who looks like them.
Indigenous Community Center / Contributed Photo
Lawrence’s Indigenous Community Center launches new food sovereignty farm
Lawrence’s Indigenous Community Center has reserved an acre of farmland, where board members and a crew of volunteers will plant perennial crops including berries, vegetables, roots, edible flowers and herbal medicines.
Lawrence women establish support group for girls with ADHD
A new support group is forming in Lawrence to provide a safe space for the growing number of girls and young women who are diagnosed with ADHD.
Contributed Photo
Young entrepreneurs open shoe store, Soled Out LK, in downtown Lawrence
With aspirations to level up from online shoe resales, business partners Anthony Wahquah, 19, and Riley Henley, 20, opened Soled Out LK in October, reaching their goal of owning a shoe store in their hometown of Lawrence by age 21 with time to spare.
Carter Gaskins/The Lawrence Times
Lawrence students, educators honor legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. at annual event
Centered on students and the theme “It Starts with Me,” a tribute to civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. took place Friday afternoon at Billy Mills Middle School.
Lawrence Schools Foundation/Contributed Photo
Free State High School teacher honored with Dedication to Education Award for ‘never giving up on students’
Erin McDaneld-Campbell, a Free State High School special education teacher, was selected to receive the 2021 Dedication to Education Award and the $5,000 check that goes with it.
Jeff Burkhead/Contributed Photo
Lawrence photographer tells story of community’s response to first year of COVID-19 pandemic in new book
Lawrence photographer Jeff Burkhead’s “Our Pandemic Year in Photos” is filled with hundreds of images telling tales of love, strength and resilience. Observations and essays penned by locals punctuate the collection and tie together the book’s message of hope.
Contributed images
Organizers of Coats 4 Kids hope to ‘promote peace, love, and positivity’ in Lawrence; drive is Sunday
Anthony Harvey Jr. and Ja’Darius Woods will be giving away free winter accessories to anyone who needs them, no questions asked, at the second annual Coats 4 Kids drive this Sunday.
Photo courtesy of KU Theatre
KU Theatre’s fall finale centers trans woman, ‘disrupts’ idea of classic American play
KU Theatre is preparing for the grand finale of its fall season this Friday: a contemporary play that centers on the story of a transgender woman returning to her childhood home in the American South.
August Rudisell / The Lawrence Times
St. Luke AME’s stained-glass windows are back
The splendor of stained glass is returning to St. Luke AME Church this week.
August Rudisell / The Lawrence Times
Photos: Santa brought to safety once again in downtown Lawrence
A Lawrence tradition continued Friday night as Santa Claus was safely rescued from the top of Weaver’s Department Store.
Tricia Masenthin / The Lawrence Times
Photo gallery: Volunteers prepare annual LINK Thanksgiving meals
Volunteers hustled Wednesday to prepare hundreds of meals for the annual LINK Thanksgiving tradition.
Contributed/Emily Boedeker
Children’s choir aims to diversify voices, remove barriers to participation
A new children’s choir for Douglas County third through sixth graders boasts only one requirement: a love for singing. No auditions, no fees, no experience nor church membership required.
Contributed photo and Wikimedia Commons
Lawrence High senior chosen to perform in Big Apple with Carnegie Hall concert choir
A Chesty Lion will join voices with the top-rated high school vocalists from across the world in February.
Lucie Krisman / The Lawrence Times
Jingle House pop-up combines plants and holiday cheer
Jungle House owners Jhami and Rachel Guffey hope that when customers walk into their new pop-up shop in downtown Lawrence, they experience “over-the-top holiday magic.”
Tricia Masenthin/The Lawrence Times
Fairytale faves and zombies mix it up in West Middle School production
With two casts and two endings, there’s a lot to keep organized in West Middle School’s all-school play, “The Walking Dwarves.” There’s no sugar-coating the scene at Thursday morning’s preview show: It’s pure, loud chaos. It’s also a celebration.
Tom Harper / Contributed Photo
A moment in Lawrence: Community celebrates new mural at Cottin’s Hardware
A crowd gathered Sunday to celebrate the completion of a new mural at Cottin’s Hardware in Lawrence.
Lucie Krisman / The Lawrence Times
Lawrence-based sculptor wins design title in nationwide metalworking competition
Lori Norwood took inspiration from Lawrence’s Pooch Plunge tradition to create a steel sculpture. Her piece was recently selected for a metalworking award.
Danny Caine / Contributed Photo
Raven Book Store cat retires after a decade of service
Ngaio, the 13-year-old resident bookstore cat at the Raven, greeted and accompanied customers for 10 years. She has now retired to a quieter life at a bookseller’s home.
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