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.)
Contributed photo
Long-running English as Second Language program for women accepting new students
Volunteers teaching English as a Second Language classes for women in Lawrence are inviting new students to join the program.
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Douglas County’s Behavioral Health Court helps those with mental illness break the cycle of incarceration
Members of Douglas County’s Behavioral Health Court shared how the program has progressed during the past four years and how administrators might further improve the program in the future during a meeting of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council on Tuesday.
August Rudisell / The Lawrence Times
Grover Barn’s interpretive panels set for dedication; organizers hope to allow attendees inside building
Lawrence historians and preservationists will soon host a dedication of interpretive panels installed at Grover Barn, which served as a stop along the Underground Railroad.
Kansas governor asks for simple food tax relief, resilience in State of the State speech
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly on Tuesday used her annual State of the State address to propose eliminating the sales tax on food with a simple 13-word phrase, freezing college tuition rates, investing in law enforcement, and funding a state water plan abandoned by previous administrations.
Kansas Supreme Court’s chief asks for more reliable judiciary funding model, 23 new judges
Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Marla Luckert on Tuesday proposed adoption of a judicial branch budget model tied to general state revenue rather than volatile court fee funds and requested state resources to add 13 district judges and 10 magistrate judges.
Kansas Legislature kicks off 2022 session as coronavirus, election-year politics flare
“I think (the legislative session) is going to be a train wreck, and I think it’s going to be highly partisan,” Rep. Boog Highberger, of Lawrence, said.
Carter Gaskins / The Lawrence Times
Lawrence schools’ student, staff absences up in first days back after winter break, superintendent tells board
High numbers of student and staff absences amid surging COVID-19 cases in just the first week back to school after winter break had Lawrence school board members concerned Monday about how buildings will stay open.
August Rudisell/@KsScanner
Haskell Indian Nations University classes will be online only to start spring semester
Haskell Indian Nations University will resume classes on Jan. 18 as planned, but the first three weeks of classes will be entirely online amid record numbers of COVID-19 cases in Douglas County.
August Rudisell/@KsScanner
KU will return to in-person classes as planned, provost says
KU will stick with plans to bring students back to campus next week for the spring semester, the administration announced Monday, as Douglas County continues to face record-breaking numbers of new COVID-19 cases.
Mark McCormick: Does CRT make white students feel bad? Try being a Black student (Column)
“So much of the ever-changing debate about critical race theory — a term for an academic body of work not taught in K-12 public schools — centers the feelings of white students. We rarely seem concerned about how Black students have felt in public schools,” Mark McCormick writes in this column for Kansas Reflector.
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Justice Matters’ lead organizer continues quest for a more equitable world in Douglas County
Camille Debreczeny grew up in California surrounded by extended family taking care of each other as part of an interconnected whole. The lead organizer for Justice Matters credits that collectivist culture — and her family’s immigrant background — with drawing her to community work.
Ken Lassman
Kaw Valley Almanac for Jan. 10-16, 2022
This photo of the first quarter moon through the cottonwood tree was taken at sunset when it was due south. Each day at sunset this week, the moon will move a little further to the east until by the end of the week it will rise a little more than an hour before sunset, almost completely round.
Kansas doctors praise governor’s ‘bold action’ as COVID-19 infections continue to spike
Kansas medical providers on Friday praised Gov. Laura Kelly for declaring a state of emergency and issuing executive orders to help confront an overwhelming surge in COVID-19 infections.
August Rudisell/The Lawrence Times
Lawrence school board to hear COVID update, consider goals for cash reserves and more
The Lawrence school board — including two new members — on Monday will hear an update from the superintendent about COVID-19, consider recommendations for contingency funds in the district’s budget and more.
Lawrence Times graphic
Two dozen people hospitalized with COVID-19 at LMH Health as cases continue to soar
The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Lawrence has started to reflect the recent record-breaking numbers of new cases.
Organizers promise to keep fighting for gymnastics program in Lawrence public schools
Supporters of Firelions gymnastics at the Lawrence school district’s two high schools have ramped up efforts to keep the program afloat with the launch of an online petition. They’re also vowing to make “a large presence” at the school board meeting Monday.
Kansas officials, advocates grapple over election integrity and voting access
After a 2021 legislative session packed with election proposals, Kansas officials and advocacy groups again are looking at both election integrity and accessibility issues.
Lawrence Times file photo
Douglas County DA seeks public feedback on in-person court hearings, jury trials
Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez has launched an online survey to gauge how the public feels about in-person court hearings and jury trials amid record numbers of COVID-19 cases.
House Democrats want Kansas voters to decide on Medicaid expansion, marijuana legalization
A trio of newly proposed Kansas constitutional amendments would see the issues of Medicaid and marijuana put up to a public vote.
Where to get kids ages 12-15 their COVID-19 booster shots in Lawrence and Douglas County
Here’s a list of pharmacies and clinics in and near Lawrence and Douglas County that, as of Thursday afternoon, were offering booster shots of the COVID-19 vaccine for kids ages 12 to 15.
Kelly signs COVID-19 disaster declaration, executive orders due to medical staff shortages
Gov. Laura Kelly responded to mounting staff shortages at Kansas hospitals and nursing homes by issuing a new COVID-19 disaster emergency declaration and companion executive orders temporarily suspending laws and regulations on health care providers.
August Rudisell / The Lawrence Times
KDHE broadening eligibility for COVID-19 vaccinations, boosters for children
Kansas and federal public health officials Thursday expanded eligibility for the Pfizer booster shot to 36,000 children between ages 12-15, and moderately or severely immunocompromised children ages 5-11 can get an additional primary dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
Dan Skinner/Contributed Photos
A moment in Lawrence: Audio-Reader recognizes volunteers’ outstanding service
Lawrence nonprofit Audio-Reader is celebrating 50 years of service to the blind, visually impaired, and print disabled. Several volunteers were recently recognized for outstanding years of service.
Drone Lawrence/dronelawrence.com
Douglas County implements emergency mask mandate, effective Friday; 727 new COVID cases reported since Monday
Douglas County officials have implemented an emergency mask mandate to curb the spread of COVID-19 as case numbers have reached record highs in the past week.
