Latest new posts from ALL categories of The Lawrence Times:
Lawrence news, state news, Community Voices, Lawrence Life, obituaries and more.
(Please note that opinion pieces are included in this list, marked as columns or letters to the Times. Not all posts linked on this page were written or produced by the Lawrence Times staff.)
Taco Zone in downtown Lawrence closes; catering still available
Taco Zone in downtown Lawrence has closed to focus on catering, its owners say.
Mackenzie Clark/Lawrence Times
Candidate forums coming up for Douglas County Commission, Lawrence-area House and Senate races
Four candidate forums are coming up, featuring candidates running for Douglas County Commission as well as the Lawrence- and Douglas County-area candidates running in the primary elections for Kansas House and Senate.
The Raven Book Store’s bestsellers for July 9, 2024 (Sponsored post)
”Pretty funny that a store known for its cats has a Dog Man book as its number one bestseller of the last two weeks,” the Raven Book Store writes.
Lawrence school board renews contract for AI student monitoring software, increases student meal prices
As part of a busy annual organizational meeting Monday, Lawrence school board members approved a renewal of Gaggle, the district’s student surveillance software, and a 10-cent increase to student meal prices. They also voted on the next board president and VP.
Lawrence school district will likely pay $65K for boundary analysis; school board postpones approval
The Lawrence school district will likely pay $65,000 for a consultant’s boundary and enrollment analysis, and while some board members voiced concerns about the consultants, others defended the data they deliver.
Contributed photo
Entire board and interim director of HeadQuarters Kansas resign; new staff letter highlights concerns
The interim executive director of HeadQuarters Kansas and its entire board of directors have resigned. A new staff letter highlights ongoing concerns about the nonprofit suicide prevention organization.
Obituary: Buford “Bo” Campbell
Buford “Bo” Campbell, 10/27/1952 – 6/20/2024
Lawrence school district announces two administrative position changes
The Lawrence school district has announced a new deputy superintendent and executive director of curriculum and instruction, which also represent two changes to administrative position titles.
One-fourth of Kansas nursing homes labeled ‘problem’ facilities because of persistently poor care
A national coalition’s report says one-fourth of Kansas’ 300 nursing homes were categorized as problem facilities due to substandard care and persistent compliance issues.
To save the bees, a Kansas scientist is building an app to identify thousands of species
Scientists want to know how well bees are coping with habitat loss. But first, they need to be able to tell nearly identical species apart.
Kaw Valley Almanac for July 8-14, 2024
Here is a working dung beetle, pushing a large marble sized globe of dung with its hind legs to a patch of dirt, where it dug a hole and buried it.
Raven Book Store opens free book collection for queer youths
With a new free book collection now available, the Raven Book Store is aiming to support local youths who are “perfectly queer.”
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence school board to consider increasing meal prices, some student fees
The Lawrence school board on Monday will consider approving a 10-cent increase to lunch and breakfast prices in addition to some student fee increases for the 2024-25 year.
Maya Hodison/Lawrence Times
Lawrence school board to consider $100K contract for enrollment analysis, renewing Gaggle for $53K
Another contract with RSP & Associates, a consulting firm that provides analyses for the Lawrence school district, and a renewal for the district’s student surveillance software are up for the school board’s consideration Monday.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
City budget would hike property taxes, seek to double .05% sales tax to support homelessness solutions
The Lawrence city manager’s proposed budget for 2025 would increase the property tax rate, and it proposes asking voters to double the .05% affordable housing sales tax to support homelessness initiatives. It would also cut some of Parks & Rec’s budget.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Better luck next year? City of Lawrence will have $30K credit for drone show in 2025
The City of Lawrence has a $30,000 credit for a drone show set for July 3, 2025, following technical difficulties that prevented the drones from functioning Wednesday evening.
Proposed Douglas County budget would increase property taxes for most residents
Douglas County’s proposed budget for 2025 would keep property tax rates flat but increase taxes for most residents because valuations have increased. Commissioners also could still add $20 million in expenditures.
Mackenzie Clark/Lawrence Times
Kansas Supreme Court reaffirms that abortion rights are protected by constitution, striking down 2 laws
The Kansas Supreme Court on Friday struck down two laws restricting abortion, affirming its prior interpretation that ending a pregnancy remains a constitutionally protected right in Kansas.
Obituary: Matthew Aaron Puckett
Matthew Aaron Puckett, 8/8/1977 – 6/26/2024
Poetry Munch in Lawrence to spotlight nontraditional masculinity
Lawrence poets are set to bring their talents to the Replay Lounge stage Sunday for an edition of a monthly Poetry Munch focusing on nontraditional masculinity.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Weigh in on the criteria, location for the downtown Lawrence Transit station
The city is asking community members to share their thoughts on how to choose the location for a downtown Lawrence Transit station, and where it should ultimately go.
New abortion laws take effect in Kansas, but doctors are challenging one in court
A Kansas judge allowed a group of abortion providers to expand an existing lawsuit and challenge a new law requiring them to collect information about their patients’ reasons for ending their pregnancies.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Not with a bang but a whimper: Lawrence drone show never takes off
With storms in the forecast again, one might have thought the weather would be the biggest concern for the drone show planned for Lawrence’s Summerfest. Rather, apparent network issues rained on the crowd’s parade as the dozens of tiny flying machines never took to the sky.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Douglas County DA’s office dismisses charges against 2 of 4 defendants in rape case
Douglas County prosecutors have dismissed cases against two men charged with rape in connection with video-recorded incidents from March 2023 because they can no longer find the woman in the videos.
