LATEST NEWS FROM THE HILL
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
KU’s living library of fungi, key to restoration and sustainability, threatened by shrinking federal funds
For a team of researchers at KU, fungal doomsday looks less like parasitic mushrooms transforming people into zombies, and more like the loss of a fungi collection that serves as a major global resource for sustainability and restoration.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
KU’s living library of fungi, key to restoration and sustainability, threatened by shrinking federal funds
For a team of researchers at KU, fungal doomsday looks less like parasitic mushrooms transforming people into zombies, and more like the loss of a fungi collection that serves as a major global resource for sustainability and restoration.
MORE KU NEWS
‘The wild west right now’: Report on Kansas substance use disorder examines system gaps, strengths
An intensive look at the Kansas substance abuse disorder system reveals gaps in services that can be addressed to provide better care and support statewide, KU researchers said.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Panel of Native leaders celebrates Indigenous-led education, calls on Lawrence community for involvement
A panel of Indigenous leaders and academics gathered on Friday to discuss the value of Native-led education, as well as the need for greater Lawrence and Douglas County community participation in Haskell culture.
Kansas School for the Deaf struggles with national shortage of specialized teachers
Lack of a Kansas-based bachelor’s degree program to prepare specialists in teaching of deaf or hard of hearing students complicates the challenge of hiring fully qualified staff at the Kansas School for the Deaf.
Kansas Court of Appeals judges to hear arguments at KU
A panel of Kansas Court of Appeals judges will convene in Lawrence to hear arguments in two criminal cases and a civil case as part of the court’s observance of Constitution Day.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
KU announces new regulations for employees’ email signatures
KU administrators announced an updated policy Tuesday that lays out an exact formula for KU employee email signatures, beyond an earlier requirement for employees to remove pronouns from their signatures.
Watch party locations in Lawrence, Overland Park announced for John Green’s sold-out talk
Offsite watch party locations have been announced after all of the tickets to a free John Green talk were claimed quickly.
Cuyler Dunn/Lawrence Times
KU faculty union rallies in front of chancellor’s office
More than 100 supporters of KU’s faculty union lined the stairs outside Wescoe Hall on Wednesday to chant across Jayhawk Boulevard toward Chancellor Douglas Girod’s office: “Girod, Girod, you’re one year late. When will you negotiate?”
Renovated football stadium to have rededication ceremony with new WWI memorial installation
A rededication of KU’s newly renovated David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium will honor Jayhawks who died serving in World War I with a new memorial installation.
KU Reads organizers to plan digital watch parties for John Green talk after all tickets claimed
Tickets for John Green’s free talk at the Lied Center have all been distributed, so organizers are planning watch parties.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
KU stadium donation doesn’t change Lawrence city commissioners’ stance on tax breaks; some faculty members voice concerns
When Lawrence city commissioners voted to offer KU up to $94.6M in tax incentives last week for the Gateway District, at least three of five were not aware of a $300M donation that would be announced hours later. Some faculty members have concerns about the project.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Fall programming at Dole Institute to hit hot-button issues from electoral college to affordable housing
KU’s Dole Institute of Politics has unveiled fall 2025 programming that hits on hot-button issues, including constitutional law, lessons from local governance, housing affordability, the electoral college and more.
KU Reads programming to include free John Green author talk at Lied Center
KU Reads programming this school year will include a free community talk from John Green on his essay collection “The Anthropocene Reviewed,” which is this year’s common book.
Extra law enforcement patrolling through Labor Day in Douglas County; some options to get home safe
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office will have more deputies on patrol than usual this weekend through Labor Day, looking for impaired and distracted drivers. Here are some ways to get home safely.
KU Department of Theatre & Dance/Courtesy photo
KU Theatre & Dance season aims for the stars with performances on astronomers, astronauts and more
KU’s Departments of Theatre and Dance have announced a 2025 season balancing the zero-gravity trailblazing of astronomers and astronauts with more grounded narratives of grief and belonging.
Kansas state education board expands scoring range for student assessments
State assessments have shown increasing numbers of Kansas students scoring lower on math, science and English language arts tests since 2016, while achieving marks of post-secondary success, such as higher education degrees and military careers.
