Articles on this page generally required more “digging” than much of the rest of the coverage our award-winning journalists have produced. This collection of articles includes what we consider to be some of the most important coverage we publish. We are always willing to ask the hard questions. In fact, that’s one of the biggest reasons we launched The Lawrence Times in February 2021 — to fearlessly challenge power and injustice.
Whether these investigations took a few days, a few weeks or more than a year, we believe they’re important, and we appreciate our readers’ support to pursue this kind of coverage.
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Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
‘A systemic failure,’ part 1: Hilltop Child Development Center staff, families say abuse reports are symptoms of bigger issues
Despite reports of abuse surfacing, current and former Hilltop Child Development Center staff members and families say they have deeper concerns, and publicized incidents are a small part of a much larger story.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
‘A systemic failure,’ part 1: Hilltop Child Development Center staff, families say abuse reports are symptoms of bigger issues
Despite reports of abuse surfacing, current and former Hilltop Child Development Center staff members and families say they have deeper concerns, and publicized incidents are a small part of a much larger story.
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In addition to the key articles linked on this page, we have a lot more coverage on some of the big topics we’ve investigated:
Animal Control • Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center • Brady/Giglio • HeadQuarters Kansas • Open records • NAGPRA (Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act) • Treatment and Recovery Center •
MORe Investigative work
Advisory board calls for transparency in city’s social services funding process
As the city formulates its 2023 budget, some social services leaders and advisory board members want more transparency, equity and public engagement in the process used to distribute funding for social service agencies.
Haskell coach barred from team for 5 months, then fired after requesting administrative hearing
Haskell cross-country coach Clay Mayes has been unable to lead practices for five months, he said, pending an investigation into complaints made by a few students. Days after his lawyer made a formal request for an administrative hearing, Mayes’ contract with the university was terminated.
Douglas County sheriff’s personnel file was not reviewed, cleared by judge as he stated
No judge reviewed Douglas County Sheriff Jay Armbrister’s personnel file and cleared him of untruthful behavior, as the sheriff wrote in response to questions last month.
Contributed photo
Conflicting policies of police and prosecutors jeopardize high-stakes criminal cases
The Douglas County DA’s office has dropped an estimated 50 cases because of officer integrity issues — including one homicide case. And dueling policies about officer truthfulness and bias are straining the relationship between police and prosecutors.
Full disclosure: How law enforcement answered questions about officer truthfulness policies
In the interest of giving each Douglas County law enforcement agency a fair opportunity to respond to questions about complex issues surrounding officer truthfulness, we are publishing each agency’s full responses.
Sarah Podrasky via Marisa Hegeman / Contributed Photo
Lawrence school district librarians shocked after learning of plans to cut most of their jobs
Lawrence school district librarians and library media assistants were “blindsided” Wednesday after being informed that two-thirds of their jobs were being cut, even before the school board has made any final budget cut decisions.
Mackenzie Clark / The Lawrence Times
In Lawrence murder solicitation case, judge removes attorneys for prosecution and defense
A Douglas County judge on Friday removed both the prosecutor and defense attorney in the case of a man accused of seeking to kill a witness while awaiting trial for aggravated robbery.
August Rudisell / The Lawrence Times file photo
Man charged with soliciting murder after paperwork seized from his Douglas County jail cell
A man was charged Thursday with allegedly attempting to have someone killed — a charge that comes two and a half months after a Douglas County jail cell search that the man’s defense attorney says violated his client’s constitutional rights.
Mackenzie Clark / The Lawrence Times
Baldwin City police sergeant’s criminal record again ordered sealed
A Douglas County judge on Monday reinstated an order to seal the record of a Baldwin City police sergeant after acknowledging that the Kansas statute used to set it aside did not apply.
Ichabod via Wikimedia Commons
Lyon County judge grants expungement in Baldwin City police sergeant’s case; exceptions will apply
A judge in Lyon County on Monday granted a petition to expunge the record of a Baldwin City police sergeant who was acquitted of felony official misconduct and misdemeanor theft more than 10 years ago, but the order does not seal the records completely.
Mackenzie Clark / The Lawrence Times
Judge rescinds expungement of Baldwin City police sergeant’s criminal record; wants to consider second case
Updated article: A Douglas County judge who had initially granted the petition to expunge false impersonation charges from the record of a Baldwin City police sergeant reconsidered that decision Thursday, taking another pending expungement into account.
Mackenzie Clark / The Lawrence Times
Baldwin City police sergeant seeks expungement of criminal records in Douglas and Lyon counties
A Douglas County judge is expected to decide this week whether to seal the arrest record of a Baldwin City police sergeant.
Tricia Masenthin / The Lawrence Times
Eight months later: The aftermath of closing Kennedy Elementary School
Eight months after the Lawrence school board voted to close Kennedy Elementary’s K-5 classrooms, students and staff are grappling with changes and uneven class sizes.
Tricia Masenthin/The Lawrence Times
Lawrence middle school community voices concerns about safety, spate of resignations
A rough start to the year has left many in the Liberty Memorial Central Middle School community reeling and parents worrying. Three teachers resigned in October, and in early September, a staff member was knocked down and hit their head on the floor during a fight at the school.
Lawrence Times graphic
Attorney files complaint against Douglas County district attorney, calls for investigation of coroner
A Lawrence attorney has filed a complaint against the Douglas County district attorney for “spiteful, malicious” conduct, called for an investigation of the former coroner, and says the DA’s office should be disqualified from handling his client’s case.
Investigative SerieS: Days of Rage — Lawrence, 1970
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