Local history
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Federal cuts raise challenges for Watkins Museum, Humanities Kansas
A $250,000 grant for the Watkins Museum to expand exhibits on local Indigenous history is in limbo and a Lawrence event honoring veterans will be canceled amid federal cuts to humanities programs.
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Watkins Museum, Lawrence library directors discuss potential fallout from federal order
Much is still unknown about how a recent executive order targeting the federal agency known as IMLS will ultimately impact Lawrence’s museums and libraries, but the stakes are high.

Proposed row houses to undergo design tweaks to fit into downtown Lawrence
Developers will work with architects to try to make the design of 15 proposed row houses better fit in with the area near Seventh and Rhode Island streets in downtown Lawrence.

New city website shows burial sites of 64,000 people laid to rest in Lawrence cemeteries
The City of Lawrence has launched a new searchable database of burial records for Oak Hill, Memorial Park and Maple Grove cemeteries. People can also add information about the deceased.

Watkins Museum of History: Curtis Marsh book talk set to celebrate KU’s 160th anniversary
“Over the course of his 30-plus years of service to the University of Kansas, (Curtis) Marsh has amassed a wealth of knowledge about Jayhawk stats, history, and traditions,” Will Haynes writes in this piece from the Watkins Museum of History.

Grant funding available for Douglas County projects on cultural and natural heritage, historic preservation
Douglas County community members have an opportunity to earn grant funding for projects that highlight cultural or natural heritage or preserve historic sites.

Renovations complete in the Douglas County Commission meeting room
The renovated Douglas County Commission meeting room in the historic courthouse was completed just in time for new elected officials to be sworn in Monday.

Tom Harper: A new and improved Volume 1 of ‘Embattled Lawrence’ is coming soon (Column)
Since the release of Embattled Lawrence, Vol. 2, people have asked editor Dennis Domer frequently where they can find a copy of Vol. 1. A new version of the local history book — long out of print — will soon be available, Tom Harper writes in this column.

Douglas County Commission meeting room renovations are nearing completion
The Douglas County Commission’s meeting room will have space at the dais for the two new commissioners joining in the new year. The room has also undergone restoration, renovation, reconfiguration and more.

Lawrence City Commission approves markers to tell story of Sacred Red Rock
After a successful effort to rematriate the Sacred Red Rock with the Kaw people, the Lawrence City Commission has approved markers to be placed in the park where the stolen boulder sat for nearly a century.
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