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.)
The Raven Book Store’s bestsellers for Jan. 10, 2023 (Sponsored post)
”Welcome to the first Raven bestseller list of 2023! … People are still gobbling up Fall 2022’s big books, as well as (continuing) support for iconic local books like ’Boogorama’ and the ’Paradise Café Cookbook,’” the Raven Book Store writes.
Kansas officials pursue new megadeals with semiconductor makers
Kansas officials are pursuing megadeals for six new projects, including two companies that make semiconductors, by using the same tax incentives that landed Panasonic’s $4 billion investment last year.
Kansas GOP rails against ‘woke agenda,’ will work toward stricter abortion rules
Kansas Republicans have vowed to fight the rise of a “sexualized woke agenda” across the state, saying they will work to pass legislation to stop the ideology, though conservative lawmakers have differing opinions on what the woke agenda is, and how to prevent it.
Lawrence and Douglas County seek public’s feedback on draft wind regulations
Lawrence and Douglas County community members are invited to a meeting Thursday and an open house on Jan. 30 to discuss a new draft of wind energy regulations.
Get help with your electricity or gas bill – federal funds available
People who need help with their gas or electric utility bills can apply through March 31 for a once-a-year federal benefit.
Evergy blames renewable plans, inflation for $1 billion rise in infrastructure plans
Kansas’ largest electric utility says inflation and plans to add more renewable energy are to blame for the ever-rising estimated cost of its infrastructure investments.
New order puts Keystone pipeline cleanup under EPA oversight
Owners of the Keystone oil pipeline must complete their cleanup of a massive spill in northern Kansas under oversight of the federal government, the Environmental Protection Agency announced Monday.
Projected enrollment decline causes financial concerns for Lawrence school district
Lawrence schools are expected to steadily decrease in enrollment over the next five years, causing district budget concerns as well as questions about the future of the Lawrence community as a whole.
Chloe Anderson/Lawrence Times
Lawrence Parks & Rec staff plan to move forward with fees at rec centers, Prairie Park Nature Center
Lawrence’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board voted to recommend fee increases for some facilities and programs but opposed new admission fees for rec centers. But staff will likely move forward with all new and increased fees anyway.
Chloe Anderson/Lawrence Times
Longtime locally owned Allen Press purchased by out-of-state corporation
Allen Press, a family-owned business operating in Lawrence since 1935, has been sold to Minnesota-based CJK Group Inc., according to an announcement from the latter Monday afternoon.
Obituary: Katoya Leasá Owens
Katoya Leasa Owens, 12/5/1983 – 1/2/2023
Democratic Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly starts four more years asking Republicans to work with her
Gov. Laura Kelly said during her inauguration address that Kansas politicians should work together for good policy. But her agenda likely faces strong opposition from Republican lawmakers.
Applications open for Lawrence-Douglas County Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge
Young entrepreneurs in Douglas County are invited to showcase their talents as part of a local business competition, and winners could earn between $500 and $1,250 in prize money.
Clay Wirestone: This Kansas rep wanted to run for House speaker on a transparency platform. The GOP shut him down. (Column)
”Rep. Dennis ‘Boog’ Highberger, a Lawrence Democrat, won’t be running for Kansas speaker of the House today. Republican leaders who prize obfuscation over open government made sure of that,” Clay Wirestone writes in this Kansas Reflector column.
Ken Lassman
Kaw Valley Almanac for Jan. 9-15, 2023
Sycamores are white barked and easy to spot lining creeks, where this water-loving tree likes to grow. Another way to enjoy them is to see their smooth round seed balls that stay on the trees all winter long. They persist into the spring, when they can be pulled off and thrown at a wall, exploding into seeds.
Gov. Laura Kelly launching second term poised to balance centrist philosophy of governing
Gov. Laura Kelly enters a second term in office Monday committed to a centrist philosophy of governing capable of irritating Republicans and at times frustrating Democrats.
Lawrence Parks & Rec plan calls for fees to use rec centers, enter Prairie Park Nature Center
Lawrence folks who want to continue using the city’s recreation centers and Prairie Park Nature Center will likely need to budget for a new expense starting next month.
Lawrence school board to hear enrollment projections from consulting firm, update on Futures Planning Committee
The consulting firm hired by the Lawrence school district will report its progress to the school board on Monday, including projections of declining enrollment and a possible budget scenario that would close three schools next year.
Clay Wirestone: Feeble clergy sex abuse report exposes Schmidt’s sins. He betrayed his office and Kansas kids. (Column)
”Now we know the true legacy of outgoing Attorney General Derek Schmidt: allowing likely sexual abusers of children to walk free,” Clay Wirestone writes in this Kansas Reflector column.
Mackenzie Clark/Lawrence Times
‘A new era’ for open records in Kansas: Court says yes, electronic records must be provided electronically
When a person requests a copy of an electronic public record under the Kansas Open Records Act, public agencies must provide that copy in electronic format, the Kansas Supreme Court ruled Friday.
Kansas teacher shortage prompts calls for higher salaries, paying student teachers
A group of education deans from public universities in Kansas say the state needs to raise teacher pay, elevate the profession and offer student teachers a paycheck — rather than just another tuition bill — while they work in classrooms.
Report finds Catholic church in Kansas covered up sexual abuse of children by priests for decades
The KBI found that the Catholic church minimized child rape with euphemisms, protected priests accused of rape and supported clergy financially after they had been implicated in sexual assault.
Kansas Catholic clergy sexual abuse investigation targets 14 suspects; prosecutions unlikely
The KBI’s four-year inquiry into alleged child sexual abuse in four Catholic dioceses and a breakaway Catholic sect in the state resulted in referral of 30 cases to county prosecutors targeting 14 members of the clergy, state officials said Friday.
Lawrence Public Schools’ director of HR resigning
Sarah Hamlin, director of Human Resources for the Lawrence school district, is resigning effective immediately, according to a news release from the district.
