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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Mackenzie Clark/Lawrence Times
‘It’s not right’: Pallet village guests voice concerns about Lawrence’s community for unhoused people
Sarah Swan was apprehensive about moving from a camp into Pallet shelter village. Now, as one of dozens of people who have been exited back to the streets, she’s angry, sad and concerned about how the program is being operated.
Mackenzie Clark/Lawrence Times
‘It’s not right’: Pallet village guests voice concerns about Lawrence’s community for unhoused people
Sarah Swan was apprehensive about moving from a camp into Pallet shelter village. Now, as one of dozens of people who have been exited back to the streets, she’s angry, sad and concerned about how the program is being operated.
Top tags
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
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.
Tricia Masenthin / The Lawrence Times
Mother blames child’s heat exhaustion on lack of safety protocols at St. John Preschool in Lawrence
A local mother is demanding corrective action after her child suffered heat exhaustion in the care of a Lawrence preschool. As she’s pondered her child’s experience, her mind has gone to “dark places” — including wondering if racism played a role.
Photo by MChe Lee on Unsplash
Lawrence school district declines to give details on students, staff in quarantines
As COVID-19 case counts rise just a week into the school year, students in Lawrence schools have been directed to isolate after potential exposure to the virus. That’s problematic for learning — and for students who need meals.
KU Libraries Exhibits
The KBI declined to release its case file on Rick ‘Tiger’ Dowdell’s 1970 killing by Lawrence police; here’s why it matters (Analysis)
The KBI will, at least temporarily, continue to keep in the dark records that could finally shed light on a case of police violence that has been imprinted in the fabric of Lawrence for exactly 51 years.
Coroner’s findings skewered in appeal of murder conviction in Eudora baby’s death
An attorney argued Thursday that his client was convicted based on a coroner’s junk science, aided by a natural human desire to hold someone accountable for the tragic death of a 9-month-old baby.
Lawrence Boys & Girls Club petition cites safety, equity concerns in calls for reform
A group of current and former staffers of Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence have launched a petition complaining of unsafe conditions, systemic inequity and mismanagement, and they’re demanding an overhaul of the organization’s programs.
Investigative SerieS: Days of Rage — Lawrence, 1970
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