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.)
Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector
Kansas lawmakers make sexual extortion a crime, raise penalties for eluding police
A criminal justice bill passed by the House and Senate makes sexual extortion a crime, enforces stronger penalties for attempting to elude a police officer and allows a spouse to be charged with sexual battery.
August Rudisell/@KsScanner
Analysis: Downtown Master Plan draft proposes a few big changes, but skirts critical local issues
The final draft of the downtown master plan suggests that such landmark buildings as the post office, the U.S. Bank building, Replay Lounge and the former Journal-World printing plant could be torn down or redeveloped, but it is all but silent on how to deal with such key local issues as affordable housing, homelessness, aging of the population, soaring vacancy rates and the fallout from COVID-19.
Who killed Nick Rice? Part 1: Four days, two killings
A Lawrence Times investigation shows that Nick Rice was an innocent bystander when he was shot and killed by a Lawrence police officer on July 20, 1970. So why is there still so much ambiguity about his life and death?
Ken Lassman
Kaw Valley Almanac for May 10 – May 16, 2021
This may be the time of year with the most variety of bird
species easily visible or heard. Smartphone apps can record birds and ID them by their songs.
Report by Matt Cravens for Douglas County CJCC
Black people face higher bail bonds in Douglas County, report shows; CJCC to discuss
On average, Black people must pay higher bond amounts than people of other races to be released from the Douglas County jail, according to a new report.
Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector
Kansas businesses angry about COVID-19 mandates can get in line for piece of $500M
The Kansas Legislature pushed to the finish line an extraordinary plan to redirect as much as one-half billion dollars in federal COVID-19 relief aid to Kansas businesses claiming damages from city, county and state public health mandates during the pandemic.
August Rudisell/The Lawrence Times
Preview: Lawrence school board meeting, May 10
The Lawrence school board will hear an update from staff on the district’s equity plan, consider approving a new equity policy and more.
Darin Brunin
Tornado watch issued for Douglas County
The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for Douglas County until 1 a.m. Sunday, according to Douglas County Emergency Management.
Olivia Schwyhart/andromeda.beans on Instagram
Andromeda’s kittens: At 5 weeks, no pen too high to climb
Andromeda’s kittens at 5 weeks old: They are such good climbers now that they can’t be contained. They escape the pen multiple times a day.
Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector
Kansas Legislature wraps 2021 session with late-night property tax deal
In the final day, the House and Senate came together to tie up loose ends to school finance after negotiations with the governor’s office, and finalized the state budget by injecting cash into universities, increasing pay for judges and restricting the use of vaccine passports.
Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector
Public can comment on Evergy sustainability plan after critiques over transparency
Members of the public will be allowed to comment on Evergy’s five-year sustainability plan after environmental and consumer advocates criticized regulators’ process as not transparent.
C.J. Janovy: This Lawrence Democrat likes Ike — and wonders how many Republicans still would (Column)
“It’s been the most challenging year for me so far,” said Rep. Boog Highberger, of Lawrence, who’s been in office since 2015.
Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector
Revised Kansas budget includes $53M more for universities, $120M Docking rebuild, judicial raises
Lawmakers agreed to a budget deal Friday to inject cash into state universities, renovate the Docking State Office Building, increase pay for judges, restrict the use of vaccine passports, and leave the state with a $541 million reserve.
Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector
Kelly, Senate endorse compromise on K-12 education policy, funding
A bipartisan education bill embraced by Gov. Laura Kelly appeared headed Friday for approval as the Legislature committed the state to limiting reliance on remote instruction in public schools and to expansion of student eligibility for private school scholarships.
Mitch Quaney
Monarch Watch spring fundraiser plant sale underway
For the second year in a row, Monarch Watch is holding its annual spring plant sale online. The sale, offering a variety of butterfly-friendly plants, is taking place this weekend.
Haskell Indian Nations University has new interim president
Following a recent faculty vote of no confidence in its top administrator and an investigation, Haskell Indian Nations University has a new interim president.
Kate Lowder
Review: Lucky Seb’s Dumpling Bar and Grill is delicious, welcoming
Lucky Seb’s Dumpling Bar and Grill is a small but hip, unassuming place — until you sample the delicious food.
Images courtesy Brad Allen
Kansas band Vitreous Humor – featuring now-Lawrence Public Library director – re-releases album on vinyl
Vitreous Humor last played together in 1996, but the Topeka-born band has released their album, “Posthumous,” on vinyl today. Thanks to The Pitch for letting the Times republish this article!
Courtesy of Free State Festival
Free State Festival’s first act will feature ‘The 24th,’ ‘Not So Silent Cinema’ and more
The Free State Festival’s lineup of movies, comedy, live music and more — announced this week — will take place in safe, open-air environments.
Darin Brunin
Vassar-area residents: Tornado sirens aren’t working
Osage County Emergency Management put out a warning to Vassar-area residents on Thursday: The outdoor tornado warning siren failed a routine test Wednesday.
Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector
Prayer service at Kansas Statehouse features apology to American Indians
Rep. Randy Garber delivered an apology to American Indians during a prayer ceremony Thursday on the south steps of the Kansas Statehouse, recognizing the country’s “long history of official depredations and ill-conceived policies.”
Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector
Kansas House adopts medical marijuana bill with bipartisan majority
Republicans and Democrats in the Kansas House banded together in bipartisanship Thursday to approve a medical marijuana bill creating a state-regulated system for growing, processing and distributing the substance to people with chronic health problems.
Bean Foster
Teacher returns to Lawrence roots, helps students create ‘incredible’ art in pandemic
Todd Poteet graduated from Lawrence High School in 1989 and accomplished what so many dreamers […]
Ask Cody: Black children learn the truth from birth; white children must, too (Column)
Black parents raise their children from the very start of life to fear the power of white people. Black children learn about anti-Black racism from the moment they engage institutions. If Black children can handle the truth of our world, why can’t white children?
