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.)
Kansas House Speaker touts Republican supermajority’s ‘people-first agenda’
Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins underscored the force of the Republican supermajority and its 2025 policy wins in his response to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s final State of the State address.
Kansas governor revels in triumphs, warns against succumbing to ‘uncivilized’ D.C. politics
Gov. Laura Kelly said during her State of the State speech that Kansas would have suffered in managing the government, advancing economic activity and elevating the quality of life if voters had chosen a governor who confused toxicity for leadership.
Contributed photo
Man killed at Lawrence City Hall had schizophrenia, was stranded during trip, his sister says
The Minnesota man shot and killed in Lawrence City Hall last week had schizophrenia and was distressed after being stranded en route to his grandmother, according to his friend and his sister.
Kansas Supreme Court chief justice pleads for investments in specialty courts, rural attorneys
Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Eric Rosen pressed the Legislature on Tuesday to expand funding for specialty courts and asked lawmakers to collaborate on solutions to the shortage of attorneys in rural Kansas.
Upcoming Watkins Museum exhibition to celebrate 5 decades of KU’s Hall Center for the Humanities
An upcoming exhibition at the Watkins Museum will look at 50 years of growth and impact at the Hall Center for the Humanities, a research center at KU.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence superintendent to seek feedback at community meetings this winter
The Lawrence school district superintendent will soon host a series of meetings to elicit feedback from students, staff, families and the local community.
Lawrence school district names next Sunset Hill Elementary principal
The Lawrence school board on Monday approved hiring Courtney Ellis as the next principal of Sunset Hill Elementary School.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence school board hires consultant for enrollment projections, online map
The Lawrence school board on Monday approved a contract with a familiar consulting firm to complete enrollment projections and launch an updated online map for the district.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence rec center memberships already nearing goals; spectator fees raise nearly $30K
Despite pushback against fees to access Lawrence’s rec centers, the city has already reached three quarters of the goal of 3,000 membership signups for the first year, and tournament spectator fees have raised nearly $30,000.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
New and reelected Lawrence school board members sworn in
The newly elected and reelected Lawrence school board members took their oaths on Monday to serve Lawrence Public Schools.
Kansas Legislature jolts to life with newcomers and generation of new policy agendas
The 2026 session of the Kansas Legislature burst to life Monday as Republicans and Democrats staked out public policy priorities, welcomed members to fill unexpired terms and awaited Gov. Kelly’s final State of the State speech.
Stephen R Ausmus USDA-ARS
Kansas bird flu outbreak is worst in nation
Kansas is suffering from the worst outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the country, with nearly 414,000 birds affected, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Douglas County treasurer’s office to move services out of courthouse, into satellite location
The Douglas County treasurer’s office will soon close its public-facing services in the historic courthouse […]
Lawrence Municipal Court judge to retire
Chris Kopecky, the judge who presides over Lawrence Municipal Court, is set to retire at the beginning of March.
Obituary: Julie Ann Abel
Julie Ann Abel, 11/21/1958 – 1/6/2026
Kansas Legislature launches 2026 session with Democrat Laura Kelly in final year as governor
The Kansas Legislature convenes Monday for the final session with Gov. Laura Kelly amid uncertainty about potential redrawing of the state’s congressional map to disenfranchise voters who elected U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids.
Kaw Valley Almanac for Jan. 12-18, 2026
Sycamore trees are white barked and easy to spot. Their smooth round seed balls stay on the trees all winter long and persist into the spring when they can be pulled off and thrown at a wall, exploding into seeds.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Lawrence protesters speak out against fatal ICE shooting, immigration policy
Peaceful protesters congregated Sunday afternoon in downtown Lawrence to denounce American immigration policy, prior to and during the Trump administration, in the wake of an ICE agent fatally shooting a woman in Minneapolis.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence school board to consider hiring consultants for enrollment projections, online map
The Lawrence school board on Monday will consider contracting with a consulting firm to complete enrollment projections and launch an online map for the district. Four board members will also begin their new terms.
Lawrence Farmers Market to present studies of possible park locations amid some pushback
The Lawrence Farmers Market will soon present a city board with a study on whether South Park or Watson Park could be an appropriate place for the market’s permanent location, though there has been some pushback against those sites.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
‘This shop will fail’: ECM leadership hopes new punk bookstore will be lightning rod to get community in the door
If Lawrencians are going to confuse the Ecumenical Campus Ministries for a church, executive director Jessie Duke at least wants it to seem like a wild one. That’s why she opened a punk, anarchist bookstore in the building.
Lawrence Restaurant Week to feature specials from dozens of local restaurants, bars
The local hospitality industry is gearing up a slew of special menu items for this year’s Lawrence Restaurant Week, a 10-day culinary affair.
Carter Gaskins/Lawrence Times
Here’s a sneak peek at Runner, service-dog-in-training and future Watkins Museum volunteer
Runner, the latest service-dog-in-training being raised by a Watkins Museum volunteer, stopped by the museum Thursday to greet her future colleagues.
GOP legislative leaders enlist former Emporia State president to slash Kansas university budgets
Republican legislative leaders agreed to pay former Emporia State University president Ken Hush $50,000 to spearhead their efforts to slash spending at public universities.
