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.)

Traffic court resumes in Douglas County after COVID-19 pause
Traffic court is resuming on Friday mornings in Douglas County after being placed on hold since March 2020.

Times Twitter poll: Almost half say Douglas County should keep the mask mandate; almost half say nix it
The results of the Times’ latest non-scientific Twitter poll show that nearly half of respondents don’t think that Douglas County should end its mask mandate just yet.

Who killed Nick Rice? Part 8: ‘I feel like I now know the whole story’
For years after Nick Rice’s death, his family fielded an untold number of letters, phone calls and the occasional in-person visitor telling them Nick deserved what he got.

KDOT proposes widening west leg of the South Lawrence Trafficway to 4 lanes — so what’s next?
State and federal officials are recommending that the west leg of the South Lawrence Trafficway be expanded from two to four lanes, with an expanded intersection at Interstate 70 and modifications and upgrades at existing interchanges, including the one at 27th and Wakarusa.

Lawrence City Band to return from COVID-19 hiatus for weekly summer concert series
After COVID-19 forced the Lawrence City Band to take an unexpected summer off last year, the group is finally able to return to its weekly concert series, the city announced Tuesday.

Surprise! Lawrence High’s Susan Mička awarded $10K Bobs teaching award
Susan Mička, of Lawrence High School, is the winner of the Lawrence Schools Foundation’s 2021 […]

Judge could grant Sarah Gonzales-McLinn a new trial — but attorneys want to agree to ‘hard 25’ sentence
An attorney fighting to get Sarah Gonzales-McLinn’s hard-50 sentence overturned has come to an agreement with prosecutors: they’re asking for 25 years to life instead for the 2014 murder.

Convening Kansas redistricting town halls before Census data in hand: Efficient or inept?
Kansas lawmakers organizing upcoming work to redraw legislative and congressional district boundaries are wrestling with decisions about whether to begin a series of town hall meetings before arrival in September of detailed population numbers.

Who killed Nick Rice? Part 7: Pocketing the bullet
KBI laboratory testing released 50 years after Nick Rice was killed revealed that a bullet found almost exactly where the teen’s body lay was fired from the gun of Officer Jimmy Joe Stroud. But a Lawrence police captain had tampered with that evidence, rendering it inadmissible.

The Raven Book Store’s bestsellers for the week of May 18, 2021 (Sponsored post)
Hi! Welcome to what will become a regular column highlighting the bestselling books of the week at the Raven Book Store! (Sponsored post)

Rep. Samsel hit with 3 counts of battery in Wellsville school fracas
The Franklin County attorney compounded legal challenges Monday for a Republican state legislator entangled in a classroom disturbance at Wellsville High School.

Douglas County health department to recommend removing local mask mandate at Wednesday meeting
Local public health officials will recommend later this week that Douglas County remove its public health order that includes a mask mandate to slow the spread of COVID-19.

KU professor’s memoir shares two decades teaching writing classes at Douglas County jail
In an upcoming memoir, “Words is a Powerful Thing,” Brian Daldorph, a senior lecturer in KU’s English department, reflects on 20 years of teaching a writing class at the Douglas County jail. He also shares works of more than 50 students he’s taught over the years.

KDHE secretary Norman: Colleagues target of rage, CDC mask guidance ‘bold’
Physician Lee Norman anticipated the risk of deploying to combat zones with the Kansas National Guard, but the doctor didn’t predict the level of animus directed at public health officials by skeptics of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Who killed Nick Rice? Part 6: A coroner’s inquest, unquestioning media coverage — and the sniper theory
There were so many questions surrounding Nick Rice’s death in Lawrence in July 1970, but most local media failed to ask them. Instead, false narratives were allowed to thrive.

Kaw Valley Almanac for May 17 – 23, 2021
There’s been lots of publicity about 17-year cicadas in the Northeast U.S. emerging this year, but the local “Kansas” Brood IV emerged in 2015 and won’t reappear again until 2032.

A moment in Lawrence: Studio 804 class celebrates at open house for Monarch Village
Tom Harper, of Lawrence, attended the open house Saturday for Monarch Village at the Lawrence […]

Kansas House member ordered not to set foot on Wellsville school property for one year
The Wellsville Board of Education ordered Rep. Mark Samsel to serve a one-year ban on entering school property or attending district events in response to his strange and allegedly violent conduct while working last month as a substitute teacher.

A view of Lawrence: Hot air balloons glow
August Rudisell, of Lawrence, submitted this photo to the Times Saturday night. Z & M Twisted Vines Vineyard hosted “Twisted Flying” on Friday and Saturday nights.

Syed Jamal: Islamic Center of Lawrence honors Ramadan traditions (Column)
“Drawing upon its rich tradition of volunteerism and civic engagement, the Islamic community of Lawrence stands ready to work with its neighbors to make positive contributions to the development of Lawrence and to world peace,” Syed Jamal writes.

Who killed Nick Rice? Key figures in the investigation
Nick Rice was shot and killed in the 1200 block of Oread Avenue on the night of July 20, 1970 — an innocent bystander in a crowd of more than 150 protesters. These key figures were involved in Nick’s life, his death, and the subsequent investigation.

Andromeda’s kittens: At 6 weeks, big enough to get their own room
Andromeda’s kittens at 6 weeks old: Their personalities are getting as big as they are, and they get their very own room.

Genesis Health Clubs fined $15K for unsolicited telemarketing calls
Genesis Health Clubs Management Inc. was fined $15,000 for violating the Kansas No-Call Act, the Attorney General’s office announced on Friday.

Lawrence women, landlord concerned about discrimination by homeowners’ association
A Lawrence family is facing harassment and discrimination, illustrated well by the vandalism of both their Black Lives Matter flag and their rainbow flag. The situation has escalated to the point that they’re living in fear.