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
Crews work into the night to clean up after train derailment near Lawrence
Union Pacific crews were working well past midnight Saturday following the derailment of about 30 railroad cars carrying coal Friday afternoon.
One person seriously injured in crash near Clinton Lake
One person was seriously injured in a crash near North 851 and East 251 Diagonal roads, southwest of Clinton Lake, Friday evening. Three others were also transported to an area hospital.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Train derails north of Lawrence; no injuries reported
About 30 cars from a coal train derailed north of Lawrence Friday afternoon in Douglas County, according to a spokesperson for Union Pacific.
Douglas County folks with little ones: This new resource is meant for you
A new online resource launched this week to help Lawrence and Douglas County parents, families, caregivers and early childhood professionals support kids from birth to age 5.
#BeMoreLikeClaire: Power of collective generosity is helping Douglas County (Column)
“Over the past four years, through the power of collective generosity, #BeMoreLikeClaire has awarded more than $195,825 in grants to area nonprofits, with the vast majority located in Douglas County,” organization leaders write in this column.
Schwegler Elementary, Lawrence Virtual School principals honored with district recognitions
Jared Comfort and Susan Cooper have been honored as elementary and secondary principals of the year in the Lawrence school district.
Kansas Poor People’s Campaign focuses on interlocking agenda before D.C. march
In anticipation of a march in Washington, D.C., the Kansas delegation of the Poor People’s Campaign is homing in on an interlocking agenda focused on labor issues and health care access.
Kansas GOP candidate accepted Zuckerberg cash, then embraced bogus election fraud claims
As a Johnson County commissioner in 2020, Mike Brown welcomed the “nice surprise” of Mark Zuckerberg’s cash to support the expansion of advance voting. Now, as an election denier seeking the GOP nomination for secretary of state, Brown opposes the use of grants funded by the Facebook magnate and promises to ban ballot drop boxes on his first day in office.
FDA greenlights emergency use of COVID vaccines for kids under 5
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday authorized emergency use of two COVID-19 vaccines for children under 5, moving the country one step closer to having shots for all age groups.
Domestic violence took her health and her job. Now she teaches first responders how to help
Kansas first responders are learning about trauma-informed policing, and the effect of head and neck injuries on survivors.
Lawrence Times graphic
Lawrence Public Schools report forecasts drop in Black high school students enrolling in AP courses
As Black high school students’ enrollment in Advanced Placement courses is expected to drop by 26% this fall, most of their peers will increase their AP enrollment by 21% to 41%. The disparity raises questions about whether or not all students feel empowered to take these college-level courses.
‘Death by 1,000 cuts’: Kansas teachers demoralized by current environment
Caught in a political crossfire and exhausted from the pandemic, Kansas teachers are putting down their books and leaving the profession.
Lawrence Times reader photo
Parents concerned after Lawrence police search for armed suspect in kids’ summer camp, near preschool
A Lawrence mother is concerned after learning that a police officer was looking for an allegedly armed suspect in the East Lawrence Rec Center while her two kids and a few dozen others were at a summer camp there last week.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Lawrence Juneteenth celebrations and events, both in person and virtual, to span the weekend
The Lawrence, Kansas Juneteenth Organization will hold a big downtown parade and celebration on Saturday, and plenty of events are planned for Thursday through Sunday.
Lawrence Public Library festival to celebrate ‘community expertise’; plus, take a ride in a new electric bus
The Lawrence Public Library invites the community to come learn some new things on Saturday, June 25.
Lawrence City Commission delays vote on revisions to sanctuary ordinance, sets special meeting
The Lawrence City Commission voted Tuesday to delay action on changes to its sanctuary ordinance that city staff said were necessary to comply with state law. The commission will instead give activists more time to work with the city on changes to the ordinance.
ACLU of Kansas argues probation shouldn’t depend on ability to pay fines
The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas is arguing a state law allowing probation to be extended for the failure to pay fines and fees should be struck down as unconstitutional.
Douglas County District Court plans to launch self-help center
Douglas County District Court is planning to launch a self-help center that will be a go-to point for basic logistical questions, help people involved in eviction cases and more.
Douglas County is incarcerating Black people at 6.5 times the rate of white people
Black people are booked into the Douglas County jail at almost four times the rate of white people, and the incarceration rate of Black people in Douglas County is 6.5 times the rate of white people.
Person seriously injured in crash in Douglas County
One person was seriously injured in a single-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 40 and East 1675 Road Tuesday morning, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
The Raven Book Store’s bestsellers for June 14, 2022 (Sponsored post)
“The Raven was recently awarded Publishers Weekly’s Bookstore of the Year award, a huge honor that we’re very proud of. Believe it or not, however, this was not the first national championship to come to Lawrence this year.”
Maya Hodison / Lawrence Times
Lawrence school district gives final offer of 1.8% increase in teacher salaries
The Lawrence school district gave its final offer of a 1.8% increase in teacher salaries Monday, declining to go any higher than the $796,874 in salary raise funds offered at the last negotiations meeting.
Student device fees proposed to Lawrence school board would apply to everyone, regardless of income, administrator says
Lawrence school board members asked district staff several questions Monday about distinguishing between damage to devices that is intentional or part of normal wear and tear. Proposed device damage charges would apply to everyone, regardless of their family income status.
Jancita Warrington appointed to governor’s administration
Jancita Warrington, a local consultant on Indigenous issues, has been appointed to Gov. Laura Kelly’s administration in the office that “serves as the liaison for the governor to ensure Native American voices are represented in state policymaking.”
