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.)
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Douglas County Commission to hear update on homelessness strategic plan
Douglas County commissioners on Wednesday will hear about city and county staff members’ efforts to engage the community around a draft strategic plan that aims to reach functional zero homelessness by 2028.
Voting rights case sent to Kansas Supreme Court, challenging 2021 election law
The Kansas Supreme Court will review portions of a voting rights lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of mandates created in 2021 in response to election fraud conspiracy theories.
KU Cancer Center accepts $143 million for new building to advance research, care
The University of Kansas Cancer Center accepted a $100 million donation from the Sunderland Foundation and secured $43 million in federal funding to build a state-of-the-art facility to advance research and treatment of cancer.
KU theatre and film graduate earns award from department, plans to continue career in Chicago
Diego Rivera-Rodriguez thinks back to 2019 when he first witnessed the KU theatre and dance department’s iconic season opener tradition. He had no idea that he would graduate four years later as the recipient of the award tied to that 65-year tradition, he said.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Lawrence school board selects Bob Byers as new member
The Lawrence school board on Monday selected Bob Byers to fill a vacant board seat for the remainder of the term, through Jan. 12, 2026.
Raven Book Store planning queer adult book fair, pride mixer
The Raven Book Store will host a queer adult book fair and pride mixer Thursday that the store says will be reminiscent of a Scholastic book fair.
Kobach says trans Kansans’ IDs will be changed back to their sex assigned at birth
Transgender Kansans who legally changed the gender on their drivers’ licenses or birth certificates will soon see them changed back by the state, Attorney General Kris Kobach said.
Kansas governor nominates two, reappoints one to Kansas Board of Regents
Gov. Laura Kelly nominated to the Kansas Board of Regents a former Fort Scott Community College president as well as the top executive of an information technology company, while reappointing the higher education board’s chairman to a new term.
Clay Wirestone: Kris Kobach comes for trans Kansans’ birth certificates. Did legislators want this to happen? (Column)
”Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach’s move to strip trans Kansans of the right to change their gender markers came late Friday, a notorious dumping ground for unpleasant news,” Clay Wirestone writes in this Kansas Reflector column.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Building that houses Lawrence Municipal Court, planning services closed because of power outage
City Hall Riverfront, the building that’s home to Lawrence Municipal Court and Planning and Development Services, is closed to the public Monday because of a power outage.
‘No Place Like LFK’ event to celebrate trans performers, continue push against SB 180
No SB 180 in Lawrence, a group of local activists who have joined together to fight Kansas’ anti-transgender legislation, will host a celebration of trans performers and a call for action on Tuesday.
Kaw Valley Almanac for June 26-July 2, 2023
Sphinx moths are typically most active around dusk or even at night. This one was caught gathering nectar from the blossoms of the late-blooming Sullivant’s milkweed in broad daylight.
Obituary: Sally Marie Reno
Sally Marie Reno, 3/30/1959 – 6/20/2023
Fiesta Cancún in downtown Lawrence wants to make diners feel like family
Carlos Mendez, who owns Fiesta Cancún with his family, said he wanted the new restaurant on Mass Street to reflect his family’s “cultural duality,” highlighting their Mexican heritage and American influence.
Lawrence school board to select an applicant to fill vacant seat
Lawrence school board members on Monday will choose an applicant to fill a vacant seat through Jan. 12, 2026. They’ll also consider an MOU with the Lawrence Police Department, and facility rental guidelines and fees.
Lawrence High graduate sees success at national debate tournament, reflects on how debate has helped him
Just before Thomas Lushington was scheduled to depart for the National Speech and Debate Association tournament, a local coach offered him some feedback on his argument, igniting a frenzy of revision. The changes paid off.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Photos: Downtown Lawrence holds first Mid Summer Night on Mass
Lawrence community members — and many of their four-legged friends — headed downtown Friday for the first annual Mid Summer Night on Mass.
Just Food names interim executive director
The board of Just Food, the Douglas County food bank, has named a new interim executive director just a few months after hiring a permanent director.
Kansas abortions rose 57% in 2022, fueled by out-of-state patients
Kansas reported its highest number of abortions in decades last year, after the overturning of Roe sent thousands of out-of-state patients to Kansas clinics.
Free State Festival to bring comedy, activists and much more to Lawrence
The Free State Festival returns to Lawrence starting Monday, and the event lineup features a wide variety of film screenings, cultures and musical performances.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Parts of 9th Street, Inverness Drive to close for pavement rehabilitation
The City of Lawrence will close parts of Ninth Street and parts of Inverness Drive for pavement rehabilitation beginning Monday. The projects are expected to be completed by mid-October.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Liberty Hall Video to close, shift rentals to new model; candy store to take over the space
Liberty Hall Video on Sunday will close the physical space that currently houses its hundreds of DVD cases, though movie rentals will still be available. The space at the corner of Seventh and Mass will be taken over by a new candy store.
Letter to the Times: Lawrence city ordinance on toplessness is sexist, transphobic
”If we have a sexist and transphobic ordinance that the police won’t enforce because it’s sexist and transphobic, why are we keeping it as part of city code?” Chris Flowers writes in this letter to the Times.
Molly Adams/Lawrence Times
Get to know Andrew Holt, new director of Downtown Lawrence Inc.
With a little more than two months on the job, Andrew Holt is still getting a feel for the town. The new director of Downtown Lawrence Inc. says he likes every place he’s visited thus far, and he loves how many unique retail stores downtown has to offer.
