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
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Furry booksellers make a comeback at Raven Book Store
Ready to serve and slumber, a fluffy and friendly trio has settled into their respective roles at Raven Book Store in downtown Lawrence.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Furry booksellers make a comeback at Raven Book Store
Ready to serve and slumber, a fluffy and friendly trio has settled into their respective roles at Raven Book Store in downtown Lawrence.
MORE GOOD NEWS
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Gardens across Lawrence school district allow students to learn by growing
There’s now a blooming garden at every school site in the Lawrence school district, and students are learning how to grow food inside and outside of classroom settings.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Renewed hope: Douglas County drug court graduate has created a new path for herself
Over the past couple of years, Hope Thommen and Jason Hall have been the only constants in each other’s lives. Everything has changed for the better in sobriety, and they’re putting broken pieces back together.
KU doctoral candidates earn Fulbright-Hays awards to conduct research abroad
Two KU doctoral candidates have earned prestigious honors and awards that will allow them to conduct research in South America.
Tricia Masenthin/Lawrence Times
Million dollar man: Lawrence volunteer achieves fundraising milestone in fight against cancer
After 23 years of fundraising to end cancer, Bob Silipigni is celebrating $1 million in donations and a volunteer award.
Tricia Masenthin/Lawrence Times
Buddy system encourages this group of Lawrence women to stay active in their 70s
Five Lawrence women linked together by friendship and a common goal of staying healthy in their 70s share their experiences through the evolution of women’s athletics.
Lawrence state rep chosen for Obama leadership program
Rep. Christina Haswood, a Lawrence Democrat and the Kansas House minority policy chair, has been chosen as an emerging changemaker for the first iteration of Obama Foundation’s Leaders USA program.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Young artists of Van Go unveil 20 new benches, share what they learned from their work
For Van Go apprentice artist Barack Bennett-Robinson, drawing from emotion is part of making meaningful art. He and 19 other young artists on Friday night unveiled the benches they’ve been working on for eight weeks.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Lawrence community members gather to celebrate Indigenous artists’ works on bus shelters
Community members gathered at Haskell LIGHT student center and campus ministry Sunday to celebrate six local Indigenous artists and their works decorating 10 Lawrence bus stop shelters.
Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical recognizes service of pioneering firefighter
Lexie Engleman was one of the city’s first female firefighters, and now her name is on the training room at Station No. 1.
Lawrence film company wins national advertising award for spot featuring Stan Herd’s earthwork art
A Lawrence film company has earned national recognition as part of an esteemed advertising competition, and the award-winning spot features earthwork by local artist Stan Herd.
KU theatre and film graduate earns award from department, plans to continue career in Chicago
Diego Rivera-Rodriguez thinks back to 2019 when he first witnessed the KU theatre and dance department’s iconic season opener tradition. He had no idea that he would graduate four years later as the recipient of the award tied to that 65-year tradition, he said.
Contributed photo
Sunflower Elementary artist-entrepreneurs raise $2K for animal sanctuary with jewelry sale
As students across Lawrence wrapped up their final projects of the school year, a class of Sunflower Elementary first graders put a bow on their service learning project to benefit rescued animals.
Chloe Anderson/Lawrence Times
Lawrence Virtual School graduates celebrate, prepare to move on to their next adventures
Kelley Lowe told fellow students graduating from Lawrence Virtual School Saturday that no matter what brought them there, they made it their school home, found acceptance and made connections.
Chloe Anderson/Lawrence Times
C-Tran Program graduates celebrate, surrounded by family and friends
Friends and family of C-Tran Program students gathered at Lawrence school district offices Friday morning to celebrate the program’s five 2023 graduates.
Molly Adams/Lawrence Times
Lawrence High’s Valerie Schrag wins annual Bobs Award and $10K prize
The payout was huge, and it matched the praise heaped today on social studies teacher Valerie Schrag as she received the Lawrence Schools Foundation’s 2023 Excellence in Teaching Award.
Former students honor Lawrence High School math teacher Matt Ellis with teaching award
In the halls of Lawrence High School, math teacher Matt Ellis will always be known for his collection of ties that he features throughout the school year. Now he’ll also be known as the winner of a teaching award that reflects his connection with his students.
Molly Adams/Lawrence Times
Former staff, students shine as inspirational role models at Billy Mills Middle School
A retired staff member, Kathy Stuntz, and three former students, E’Lease Stafford, Ekow Boye-Doe and the late Travis Sanders, were honored Wednesday for their positive contributions to Billy Mills Middle School and the Lawrence community.
Chansi Long/Lawrence Times
‘Purple house’ family flooded with Lawrence community support after anonymous letters
After speaking out about anonymous letters critical of their purple home in the West Hills neighborhood, the Bonura family has seen an outpouring of love from the Lawrence community, and they’re leveraging the ordeal into something positive.
Free State senior named recipient of 2023 Princeton Prize in Race Relations
Free State High School senior Wendo Kimori has received a prestigious award that recognizes young leaders pushing toward racial equity in their communities.
Molly Adams/Lawrence Times
Lawrence library’s ‘Left Between the Pages’ exhibition offers unique snapshots of community
Lawrence Public Library staff members have collected items left between the pages of books over the years — notes, postcards, photographs and more — and synthesized them into collages that are currently on display.
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