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.
Please share your good news with us!
LATEST GOOD NEWS
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Rosy-cheeked rascal from the North Pole gets stranded again; Lawrence firefighters to the rescue
Lawrence was abuzz ahead of Friday’s downtown holiday lighting ceremony, wondering if Santa would once again find himself in an embarrassing predicament. The jolly man did not disappoint.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Rosy-cheeked rascal from the North Pole gets stranded again; Lawrence firefighters to the rescue
Lawrence was abuzz ahead of Friday’s downtown holiday lighting ceremony, wondering if Santa would once again find himself in an embarrassing predicament. The jolly man did not disappoint.
MORE GOOD NEWS
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
How to start incorporating native plants into Lawrence lawns and gardens this season
Everyone in Lawrence with access to some soil and seeds can participate in restoration ecology by planting native species this season. Here are some suggestions to start seeding prairie plants.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Mural to honor La Yarda completed; installation, unveiling set for September
Gardens, children playing basketball, a mischievous chicken and more illustrate the community of La Yarda in a mural to be installed soon in East Lawrence.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Open house celebrates decade of Free State High School prairie restoration project
Local wildlife appeared and wildflowers were in bloom on Sunday as community members toured the decade-old Free State High School prairie.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Young artists of Van Go build benches, connections
Perspective can be everything — particularly in the humanities, as one client of the Van Go Benchmark program pointed out. The KU Hall Center for the Humanities commissioned one of 20 custom benches unveiled Friday, each made by a young artist.
Cuyler Dunn/Lawrence Times
Japanese students visit Lawrence, present gift to city
Students from Hiratsuka, Japan made a stop by Lawrence City Hall Monday to meet with Vice Mayor Brad Finkeldei and present the city with a gift, part of a week of events planned through the Sister City exchange program.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence aerial silks workshop makes space for unabashed queer, trans movement and joy
A monthly aerial silk arts class is empowering queer and transgender folks in the Lawrence area to convene for community-building and a creative form of exercise.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Haskell museum exhibit depicts a contemporary Indigenous experience through astonishing colors, vibrant patterns
A temporary art exhibit at Haskell, boasting saturated hues and energetic patterns, depicts a modern Indigenous experience through the pen and brush of career artist Benjamin Harjo Jr.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
A view of Lawrence: Downtown on Friday
Two store kitties celebrated their gotcha day, the library’s summer book sale got underway, Remi the adoptable dog got to go for a walk and more Friday in downtown Lawrence.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence author Amanda Sellet puts the comedy back in ‘rom-com’ for her upcoming book launch
Lawrence author Amanda Sellet will celebrate her forthcoming romantic comedy novel with a film screening and book signing at Liberty Hall, and she hopes local readers and writers will be there to laugh with her.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
We have liftoff: Drones take flight at Lawrence’s Summerfest
Summerfest 2025 came complete with food, family fun, Uncle Sam on stilts and — drumroll, please — a working drone show.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Split Lip Rayfield, massive Lawrence crowd celebrate 30 years of music
Split Lip Rayfield and thousands of their Lawrence fans gathered on Mass Street late Saturday to celebrate 30 years of the band.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Watkins Museum of History celebrates completed restoration of stained glass windows
The Watkins Museum of History is celebrating a successful stained glass window restoration project — a community-funded effort to maintain a local historical landmark.
Cuyler Dunn/Lawrence Times
Hope Project breaks ground, will offer 10 affordable housing units
Collaboration was the common theme Monday evening as supporters and community members gathered at the corner of Ninth and Tennessee streets to break ground on the Hope Project affordable housing development.
Molly Adams/Lawrence Times
‘So spot on’: Van Go artists, business CEO celebrate new mural in downtown Lawrence
Young artists of Van Go celebrated the completion of their latest mural, “Building Community,” on Friday evening with a ribbon-cutting and community gathering in downtown Lawrence.
Cuyler Dunn/Lawrence Times
Gina Carter wins $10K Bobs Award for bringing ‘warmth and energy’ to Woodlawn students
Gina Carter, a title reading and math teacher at Woodlawn Elementary, said she doesn’t come to a job every day — she comes to a place she truly loves. She was announced as the 2025 Bobs Award winner Friday morning.
Free State senior wins national forensics title
Free State High School senior Anwen Williams added to her impressive list of forensics accomplishments by claiming a national championship in extemporaneous speaking over the weekend.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Peers, educators support students of all abilities in Lawrence school district’s adaptive triathlon
A vibe of camaraderie and encouragement filled Lawrence High School’s athletic facilities Wednesday morning at the annual Pat Grzenda Adaptive Triathlon.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Haskell graduates encouraged to press on while leaning on community
There’s no place like Haskell Indian Nations University, the university’s commencement speaker said Friday, speaking from experience. Nearly 180 graduates were recognized.
Lawrence high school journalism programs bring home state awards
Student journalists from Lawrence High and Free State both took home awards from the Kansas Scholastic Press Association this year, adding to a tally of recent honors for the programs.
Free State wins 6th straight speech title, completes season sweep
The Free State High School speech team claimed its sixth straight state championship, completing a sweep of state titles this year after winning the debate crown in January.
If local news matters to you, please help us keep doing this work.
Don’t miss a beat … Click here to sign up for our email newsletters
Click here to learn more about our newsletters first
