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.)
Chloe Anderson/Lawrence Times
Reminder: HeadQuarters Kansas to transition to 988 number only, phase out local phone line
Reminder: Starting next week, HeadQuarters Kansas will no longer have its direct local phone number, and all crisis hotline calls will need to go to 988.
Letter to the Times: Raise the age for free rec center access
“Lawrence city commissioners should increase the age limit for youths to be eligible for free access to recreation facilities from 17 to 26,” Irene Ratzlaff Soderstrom writes in this letter to the Times.
Kansas is paying millions for a Barbie and Hot Wheels theme park. It’s another STAR bond
Bonner Springs is giving more than $200 million of tax incentives for Mattel Adventure Park. City officials say it will boost the local tax revenues. But a public finance expert says the deal will mostly cost the state.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Holiday sights and lights in Lawrence – 2025 edition
Here’s a look at some holiday sights, lights and happenings in Lawrence this season.
Have you seen this painting? Lawrence family hopes to reunite with cherished work of art
A Lawrence family is hoping that perhaps by way of a Christmas miracle, they can reunite with a painting they treasured for decades until it was accidentally sold in an estate sale.
Some Kansas City residents are upset by the Chiefs’ planned move. For others, ‘it’ll still be home’
The news on Monday that the Kansas City football team is moving across the state line drew excitement from Kansas public officials and disappointment from Missouri’s.
As more states pass proof of citizenship laws, report points to Kansas as cautionary tale
Kansas’ failed proof of citizenship law could serve as a cautionary tale for Congress and other states just beginning to craft similar voting restrictions, a report found.
Wulfe Wulfemeyer/Lawrence Times
Some 9th Street businesses weigh in on how road closure is affecting their bottom lines
Business trends are fluctuating for two restaurants and a retail store on Ninth Street this holiday season as they navigate the new normal of a long-term road closure for a major city project.
Lawrence Humane Pet of the Week: This holiday, have some warm Coco by the fire
A lucky adopter can celebrate the holidays with a warm Coco by the fire.
Lawrence police to boost traffic enforcement around holidays
Lawrence police will have increased traffic enforcement to be on the lookout for people driving impaired during the holidays.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Some personal property will stop being taxable in Kansas in the new year
Some personal property — such as off-road vehicles, motorized bicycles and scooters, and watercraft — will cease to be taxed by the state of Kansas starting in the new year.
Obituary: Joseph Pennewell
Joseph Pennewell, 2/5/1963 – 12/19/2025
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
KU announces dates of provost finalist candidates’ public presentations
Four finalists for the provost and executive vice chancellor role at the University of Kansas will give public presentations in January and February. KU aims to fill the position by March.
These Lawrence restaurants will be open on Christmas
We’ve reached out to more than 100 restaurants around Lawrence. Here are the ones that have confirmed they’ll be open on Christmas.
Obituary: Norman Edward Daniels Sr.
Norman Edward Daniels Sr., 5/15/1930 – 12/19/2025
Mark Potts/Lawrence Times
Trash pickup delayed, free parking and more info for Christmas and New Year’s in Lawrence
Here’s a quick glance at closures, service changes and more for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays in Lawrence.
Applications open for Douglas County Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge; new World Cup-themed award this year
A local competition that offers a platform for youth to pitch their business ideas and earn cash prizes will soon return, and it will include a special World Cup-inspired prize.
It’s official: The Kansas City Chiefs are moving from Missouri to Wyandotte County, Kansas
The Kansas City football team will relocate to Wyandotte County, Kansas, after lawmakers offered a major tax incentives package that could cover up to 70% of construction costs for a new stadium.
Closure planned for parts of K-10 in Lawrence
Temporary closures of part of K-10 in southern Lawrence are planned Tuesday, Dec. 23 for maintenance work, KDOT has announced.
Kaw Valley Almanac for Dec. 22-28, 2025
Great blue herons can be spotted in winter. Their diet is mainly aquatic but they are happy to snatch a mouse, shrew or other rodent in the winter if the ice limits options.
Details, renderings unveiled for KU entrepreneurship hub planned for former bookstore site
The former Jayhawk Bookstore/McLain’s Bakery building has been demolished to make way for KU’s entrepreneurship hub. The project team has shared more details about what the hub will entail and renderings of the planned building.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Photos: Lawrence community menorot lighting
Members of the Lawrence Jewish Community Congregation gathered Saturday evening to celebrate Hanukkah with menorot lighting, a potluck, and fellowship.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Santa Claus’ associates in Lawrence usher in holiday cheer
Since Santa Claus must conserve energy for his Christmas Eve omnipresence, he wisely delegates some duties to remote workers. Here are a few of the Lawrence locals who signed on to give Santa a helping hand this year.
Wulfe Wulfemeyer/Lawrence Times
New brewery, speakeasy to claim its territory in former Black Stag location
A stag and an elk walk into a bar and, no joke, they will aim to make Lawrence’s newest rootin’ tootin’ brewery with live country music and a speakeasy.




