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.)
Kansas lawmakers pass trio of crime bills dealing with juvenile justice, fentanyl
New bills passed in the last frenzied days of the legislative session would allow Kansans to seek potentially life-saving drug overdose treatment without fear of arrest, expand parameters for teenagers held in state custody and increase penalties for fentanyl-related crimes.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Pro-Palestine protesters occupy lawn on KU’s campus
More than 100 pro-Palestine protesters gathered outside Fraser Hall for 17-plus hours Wednesday, calling on KU to disclose and divest any financial connections with Israel amid monthslong violence in Gaza that has killed tens of thousands of people.
Kansas Legislature adopts $2.3 billion, 5-year tax cut despite bipartisan forecast of veto
The Kansas Legislature passed a tax reduction plan early Wednesday that closely mirrors the package vetoed by Gov. Laura Kelly and includes property tax relief, elimination of sales tax on groceries and more.
Lawrence school district sets number of open seats for transfers into the district, lowers classroom ratios
The Lawrence school district will have approximately 100 spots available for students transferring from outside the district, and it will lower its student-to-teacher classroom ratios for the 2024-25 school year.
Tornado warning issued, expired for Douglas County
A tornado warning was issued for Douglas County as a storm passed through the area Tuesday evening.
Kansas prosecutors reviewing nearly 10,000 pages of documents in Marion newspaper raid
Kansas special prosecutors have received “a detailed synopsis” of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s ongoing review of last year’s police raid on the Marion County Record.
Obituary: Margaret Darlene Herzog
Margaret Darlene Herzog, 8/2/1942 – 4/26/2024
Pancho Metz / Contributed photo
East Lawrencian, Air Force veteran kicks off campaign for Kansas House
Brooklynne Mosley, an Air Force veteran and community organizer living in East Lawrence, has kicked off her campaign for Kansas House District 46.
Open enrollment starts soon in Kansas schools. At least one district says there’s no space available
A state law passed in 2022 goes into effect this year and lets Kansas students attend schools outside the districts where they live, as long as there is space available. Some districts have begun posting the number of slots they’ll have open for out-of-district students.
Retired Kansas Supreme Court Justice Fred Six dies at age 95
Retired Kansas Supreme Court Justice Fred Six, 95, of Lawrence, has died. He was honored by the Supreme Court’s chief justice as a “brilliant legal mind” who practiced principled decision-making and “fairness to all.”
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
During special meeting, Lawrence school board to consider approving 2024-25 classroom capacities
During a special meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence school board will consider approving classroom ratios and enrollment capacities for the 2024-25 year based on projected enrollment at each school.
Severe storms possible in Douglas County
Severe storms are expected to develop Tuesday afternoon, and severe weather is possible for Douglas County Tuesday and over the next few days.
The Raven Book Store’s bestsellers for April 30, 2024 (Sponsored post)
“Lawrence loves Hanif Abdurraqib! Not only did you all sell out Liberty Hall for his April 16 event, but you also helped him earn three spots on this week’s bestseller list,” the Raven Book Store writes.
Jackson County dropped the ball, so Kansas making last-minute drive to lure KC sports teams
Kansas House and Senate members worked Monday to consider whether to approve an economic development package designed to attract the Kansas City football team, Kansas City Royals or professional hockey or basketball franchises to Kansas.
Kansas Senate fails to override governor’s veto of tax cut package
Three Senate Republicans joined with Democrats on Monday to sustain Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto of a massive tax cut package over concerns about reshaping income tax brackets and the state’s long-term fiscal vitality.
Ceramicist Kyla Strid to open studio to the public during Art Spaces event (Sponsored post)
Kyla Strid, a ceramicist who makes pots inspired by small everyday observations, will be opening her studio May 4-5 during the Lawrence Art Guild’s Art Spaces.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Baker University students protest potential sale of land near wetlands discovery center to developers
Baker University student protesters made it clear Monday that the potential sale of wet prairie lands near the Baker Wetlands Discovery Center will not fly with them.
Kansas House fails to override veto on bill that would ban gender-affirming care for kids
As the Kansas Legislature renewed its yearslong assault on transgender children, Sen. Mary Ware told her Senate colleagues Monday she had a “simple” question for them: ”What is the acceptable number of youth suicides?”
Legal clinic in Lawrence to help people get suspended driver’s licenses reinstated
An upcoming free clinic in Lawrence will help drivers who qualify get their suspended driver’s licenses reinstated.
Douglas County Commission to vote on wind energy regulations; report indicates no substantial public health impacts
As Douglas County commissioners will consider approving draft wind energy regulations on Wednesday, the local health department’s research shows the only “definite” public health impact of wind farms is annoyance.
Kansas school finance bill, passed without ‘poison pill,’ on its way to governor
Kansas lawmakers have sent a bipartisan school finance bill that will shape state education funding for the next three years to the governor’s desk, packaging a $75 million increase in special education funding into the bill.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
A year since Prairie Park remnant prairie was sprayed, community workdays planned for nearby site
A year has passed since the remnant prairie at Prairie Park Nature Center was errantly sprayed with herbicides. Lawrence community members can visit the site and help restore nearby prairie during upcoming workdays.
Kaw Valley Almanac for April 29 – May 5, 2024
Even though woods are closing in as oaks and hickories are unfurling new leaves, there are still some woodland wildflowers surprises to be found, such as this showy orchid, found adjacent to an eastern Kansas creek’s rich soil.
Cuyler Dunn/Lawrence Times
Lawrence, Douglas County commissioners vow to back policy that boosts elder care, ends chronic homelessness
Lawrence and Douglas County elected officials made pledges to support initiatives aimed at boosting the elder care workforce and abating chronic homelessness Sunday at the annual Justice Matters Action Assembly.
