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.)
Karen Vaughn: Read books, don’t ban them (Column)
“The challenged books are not pornography or treatises on bomb-making. These books have been chosen (by teaching professionals) for their artistic and educational value,” Karen Vaughn writes in this column.
Sexual assault survivors Bill of Rights provides Kansans critical trauma supports, advocates say
A bill under consideration in a Kansas House committee would provide a sexual assault survivor with a support person throughout any physical examinations, interviews, investigations or any interaction with the legal system.
August Rudisell / The Lawrence Times
Updated Lawrence school district budget data shows school closures would save less than slashing programs
Updated data from the Lawrence school district shows that a plan that includes closing or repurposing five schools would save the district less money than a plan that closes no schools but makes deep cuts to programs.
August Rudisell / The Lawrence Times file photo
Man charged with soliciting murder after paperwork seized from his Douglas County jail cell
A man was charged Thursday with allegedly attempting to have someone killed — a charge that comes two and a half months after a Douglas County jail cell search that the man’s defense attorney says violated his client’s constitutional rights.
Laura Green/Contributed Photo
Fair to provide eager growers opportunity to trade and share seeds with fellow gardeners
In a sure sign of spring, the Kaw Valley Seed Fair is returning to the Douglas County Fairgrounds Saturday with food, vendors and thousands of seeds to share.
Molly Adams via Alicia Erickson/Contributed Photo
‘Caught off guard’: Lawrence community members share their concerns about school closure proposals
The Save Our Schools 497 group has hosted community meetings and rallies with more to come soon. But these efforts are just the top layer of organizers’ work, and the enthusiasm shown in these demonstrations is a veneer on top of deep concerns for many families.
Carter Gaskins via Amber Fraley/Contributed Photo
Lawrence author tells paranormal tale of entomologist’s first year at KU in new novel, ‘The Bug Diary’
In another life, Amber Fraley might have studied biology. Now, the Lawrence writer has channeled her love of the natural world into a novel that tells the mysterious story of a KU freshman’s first year on campus.
August Rudisell / The Lawrence Times
Lawrence school district apologizes for inaccurate data shared on budget options
The Lawrence school district shared breakdowns of three cost-cutting options during a meeting Wednesday evening — but some of the data was inaccurate.
Kansas Senate weighing bill to trim property tax for K-12 schools by $150 million annually
Passage of property tax legislation in the Kansas Senate would exempt $100,000 of the assessed value on residential property from the 20-mill tax used by the state to finance public schools and would result in a decline of nearly $150 million annually in state revenue.
Indigenous Community Center / Contributed Photo
Lawrence’s Indigenous Community Center launches new food sovereignty farm
Lawrence’s Indigenous Community Center has reserved an acre of farmland, where board members and a crew of volunteers will plant perennial crops including berries, vegetables, roots, edible flowers and herbal medicines.
Obituary: Harvey Otis Hockenbury
Harvey Otis Hockenbury, 1/4/1935 – 1/28/2022
Douglas County Commission extends mask mandate through March 2
After hearing from county health officials and more than a dozen concerned residents, Douglas County commissioners on Wednesday voted unanimously to extend the county’s current indoor mask mandate through March 2.
August Rudisell / The Lawrence Times
3 options for Lawrence school district budget shortfall lean on school closures, major cuts to programs and staffing
Months of work by Lawrence school district committees has resulted in three cost-saving proposals formulated by district leadership. School closures remain on the table in two options, and significant reductions to staffing and programs in all scenarios would help fill a multimillion-dollar shortfall.
Kansas House completes override of Gov. Kelly’s veto of congressional redistricting map
The Kansas House ratified action of their brethren in the Kansas Senate to complete Wednesday an override of Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto of the congressional redistricting map that moves Lawrence to the rural 1st District.
Ann Dean / Contributed Photo
Art Tougeau back on the street this spring in Lawrence; grants available to offset costs of creating new entries
The kinetic creativity of Art Tougeau is coming back to downtown Lawrence this spring, and event organizers are hoping financial incentives will encourage even more community participation.
Lawrence Times graphic
Lawrence school district’s budget committee to conduct equity analysis of cost-cutting proposals
As conversations continue about how the Lawrence school district can patch its budget shortfall, committee members will use this equity impact analysis tool to examine cost-cutting proposals.
Carter Gaskins / The Lawrence Times
Lawrence school board sets special meeting to consider school closures, other budget proposals
Lawrence school board President Erica Hill has called a special meeting of the board to discuss cost-cutting proposals, which could include school closures.
GOP-led Kansas Senate reverses course to override governor’s veto of congressional redistricting map
The Kansas Senate on Tuesday succeeded in overriding Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto of a congressional redistricting map shifting Lawrence to the rural 1st District.
August Rudisell/The Lawrence Times
Construction to start Monday at 9th and Iowa; lane closures will be needed
Construction work starting next week near the intersection of 9th and Iowa streets in Lawrence will mean lane closures and traffic signal interruptions in the area.
Contributed Image
Virtual roundtable to feature creator of Free Black Women’s Library and a ‘dynamic group of Black women’
A virtual panel Wednesday evening will bring together seven Black women in conversation about the power of Black women’s narrative and in celebration of the many reflections of their experiences in literature, according to organizers.
Kansas Senate fails to override governor’s veto of GOP-drawn congressional map
Despite their supermajority, Republicans failed to gather the 27 votes necessary to override the governor’s of a GOP-drawn congressional map.
Kansas House convenes hearing on bill enabling broad use of hearsay at felony preliminary hearings
The Shawnee County DA’s office is lead advocate of a bill allowing hearsay evidence, permitting remote testimony and doing away with a 2-week deadline for felony preliminary hearings.
Julie Boyle / Contributed Photos
Sunset Hill’s Amanda Atkins wins counselor of the year award for serving as ‘child’s rock’
Sunset Hill Elementary’s Amanda Atkins has landed 2022 Kansas Counselor of the Year honors. “She is my child’s rock, and she needs to be recognized for it,” a parent said in nominating her.
Courtesy of Lawrence Arts Center
‘Night of 1,000 Candles’ to debut during Valentine’s weekend
An upcoming production sponsored by Lawrence’s Free State Film Society, “Night of 1,000 Candles,” will incorporate live music and experimental films in a candlelit environment.
