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
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Latest Douglas County drug court graduates celebrate completing this step of their journeys
Three new graduates of Douglas County drug court can now start with a clean slate and continue to build on the people they’ve grown to be throughout their time in the program.
MORE GOOD NEWS
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Kids help rabbi press oil, make wicks for menorah candles at Lawrence library
Families gathered in the Lawrence Public Library auditorium Tuesday to hear Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel tell the story of Hanukkah, snack on latkes and applesauce, and help make olive oil and wicks to use in a menorah.
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Lawrence author, musician Melvin Litton is driven by passion for creativity
Lawrence author and musician Melvin Litton walks his German shepherd, Jack, through the Barker neighborhood every evening. He might be shaping sentences in his head or exploring literary ideas as he walks, eager to scrawl them onto his sketch pad once he’s home again.
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Photos: Lawrence High girls basketball celebrates Native American Heritage Night
The Lawrence High School girls basketball team celebrated Native American Heritage Night on Friday.
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Lawrence school district alumni come back to coach, cultivate new wave of sports culture
These former Lawrence High and Free State student-athletes have returned to coach at their alma maters. They’re working to improve the culture of youth sports for their athletes today.
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Averill family to stage Christmas show and ‘big party’ with vaudeville roots
The moment they’ve all been waiting for soon will arrive. Finally, Ric and Jeanne Averill will perform on stage at the same time with their children, Will and Trish. The big event will take place on the mainstage at Lawrence Arts Center à la “Drunken Christmas Carol.”
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At Ampersand RadLab, KU students use design as a force for good
KU design professor Ryan Clifford works at the intersection of design and social impact. As the faculty lead for Ampersand RadLab, a new student-run project focused on community engagement, he’s helping young adults harness the power of visual art as a force for good.
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Free State football standout commits to KU; ‘I can be near my support community,’ he says
Calvin Clements, a senior at Free State High School and Jayhawk fan growing up, is staying home for college.
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At Nostalgia Room, Lawrence’s new nonalcoholic bar, sobriety and sentimentality mix together
Memories and feelings of family converge at Nostalgia Room, telling the story of Emily Kate Johnson’s sobriety — and of how she opened the new sober bar in East Lawrence.
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Angeles Panaderia, a new bakery in Lawrence, carries on family tradition
Six mornings a week at his new Lawrence bakery, Javier Angeles bakes the breads and pastries his father taught him to make in Mexico.
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Santa rescued from Weaver’s rooftop yet again; Lawrence townspeople rejoice
Much to the relief of concerned Lawrencians, Santa Claus was rescued from a department store rooftop Friday following the kickoff celebration of the holiday season in downtown Lawrence.
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Lawrence to unveil its own PFLAG chapter for LGBTQ+ individuals, allies
Family members, friends and advocates of those identifying as LGBTQ+ soon will have a new local resource to help them and their loved ones.
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Lawrence high school Unity Step Team encourages individuality, self-confidence
One minute the practice gym echoes with jokes and laughter, and the next, it fills with rhythmic stomping and clapping. More than just an extracurricular activity, the Unity Step Team is cherished by its members.
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Lawrence High School seniors celebrate newfound scholarship opportunities
A new partner has helped 90 Lawrence High School seniors find more than $82 million in potential scholarships.
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Performance by Tweesna Rose Mills portrays Indigenous history
Tweesna Rose Mills, from the Shoshone-Yakama-Umatilla Nations, spent weeks preparing for her performance, “Footsteps of Our Ancestors.” The hourlong show honored Indigenous culture, history and lineage.
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Hari Kondabolu to return to Free State Festival with socio-political commentary, new dad jokes
People face heavy issues these days, but comic Hari Kondabolu doesn’t think we should shy away from them — even while taking in a comedy show. After all, the best stand-up routines bring about some kind of healing, he says.
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Self-advocate Kathy Lobb to retire but still fight for disabled Kansans
When Kathy Lobb retires Monday, she’ll vacate her position at the Self Advocate Coalition of Kansas, but she’s not leaving the field. She’ll continue advocating for Kansans with intellectual and developmental disabilities. After all, there’s still a bill named after her that she wants to see resurrected and turned into law.
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Photos: Angels, Sanderson sisters and more trick-or-treaters enjoy Enchanted Forest
Hundreds of children and adults flocked to the Prairie Park Nature Center’s Enchanted Forest Trail-or-Treat Sunday afternoon.
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Dana Dyer and his Half-Acre of Fear await visitors
The cluster of gravestones jutting from Dana Dyer’s backyard beckon you to stop as you drive by.
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‘NORTH: The Musical,’ a story about Underground Railroad freedom-seekers, to make world premiere at Lied Center
A newly commissioned musical is set to make its world premiere at the Lied Center this month, sharing stories of former enslaved Black Americans who were far more than their circumstances.
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Slow Rise Donuts are a hit at Lawrence Farmers’ Market
Slow Rise might be the name of one of Lawrence’s newest donut businesses, but its rise has been anything but slow. This family-owned operation is known for their small-batch, handcrafted sourdough donuts, which owners Jeff and Jessica Dunkel started slinging at the Lawrence Farmers’ Market this season.
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