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.)
Obituary: Michael Wayne Forcade
Michael Wayne Forcade, 8/21/1948 – 1/26/2026
Kansas’ Chiefs deal criticized by both parties over ‘tax giveaways for billionaires’
In a crowded hearing last week, Kansas lawmakers drilled a lawyer for the Kansas City Chiefs on the deal to bring the NFL team across the state line. Republicans and Democrats are forming rare alliances on both sides of the issue.
Lawrence school board approves tax incentive for downtown development, defers approval of calendars
The Lawrence school board on Tuesday agreed to a tax incentive for developments at the former Reuter buildings and deferred a vote on the district’s 2026-28 calendars to look into adding a paid holiday.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Laila Reetz is Youth of the Year, Jensen Aitken is Junior Youth of the Year in Lawrence’s 2026 competition
Lawrence’s 2026 Youth of the Year and Junior Youth of the Year titles have been claimed by Laila Reetz, a sophomore at Free State High School, and Jensen Aitken, a fifth grader at Woodlawn, respectively.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence, Free State high school students hold walkouts to protest ICE
Students walked out of Lawrence and Free State high schools Tuesday to protest ICE. They were joined by middle schoolers, teachers, college students and community members of all ages.
Online survey for Lawrence residents will help inform city’s affordable housing study
Lawrence residents can share their experiences with housing in town through an online survey that will help inform the city’s affordable housing study.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
City of Lawrence seeks feedback on push to make Watson Park a historic landmark
Historic resources staff members with the city will hold an open house this weekend to seek feedback on possibly listing Watson Park on the Lawrence Register of Historic Places.
Kansas Republicans add bathroom ban to anti-trans proposal, shuffle bills to avoid public hearings
The anti-transgender “bathroom bill” made a comeback in Kansas politics Monday after a GOP-led legislative committee pushed out legislation to force anyone using a bathroom in government buildings to use the facility matching their biological sex at birth.
Merry Sun/Off-Site Art Space
‘A force of nature’: Posthumous show at Lawrence gallery celebrates the feminist textile art of Becky Johnson
Viewers are invited to contribute to a communal weaving at an exhibition celebrating the work of Becky Johnson, a textile artist and KU grad student who died last year.
Kansas bill seeks to roll back juvenile justice reforms, favoring stiffer detention sentences
Proposed legislation in Kansas cracks open state guidelines to allow courts to sentence any kid deemed an offender to juvenile prison, reversing a decade-old effort to treat youth incarceration as a last resort.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Haskell has a new temporary president as search to fill the position continues
Alex Red Corn will serve as the next temporary president of Haskell as the search to fill the position continues, according to an announcement Monday.
Kaw Valley Almanac for Jan. 26-Feb. 1, 2026
The cold temperatures have frozen over most rivers, except for where the current is fast enough to keep it open, as it has in several spots near the Bowersock dam in Lawrence. Eagles, geese and other birds looking for food/protection are concentrated by the open water.
Logan Pierson / Lawrence Times
KU student repairs typewriters to preserve history and inspire new art
Jonathan Swanberg, 21, spends his weekdays in Lawrence as a KU math major before heading home for the weekends to Leawood, where he runs a typewriter repair business that’s in high demand throughout the KC metro.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Extreme cold temperatures persist; Lawrence Public Schools and more to be closed Monday
Lawrence Public Schools will be closed Monday as snow has passed through the area but extremely cold temperatures and wind chills as low as 22° below will continue for another day. Find details and more closures here.
Audio-Reader/Contributed photo
Lawrence advocates to host workshop on arts accessibility for blind and visually impaired people
The Audio-Reader Network will partner with area arts organizations to host the second Arts Accessibility Forum, aiming to promote accessibility at regional arts and culture events.
City of Lawrence staff to propose new climate neutrality resolution
City of Lawrence staff will recommend commissioners repeal a 2020 renewable energy ordinance and instate a resolution aimed at attaining climate neutrality by 2050.
Six viruses detected at high levels in Lawrence wastewater
Six viral diseases — including COVID-19, the flu and norovirus — have been found at high concentrations in Lawrence wastewater as Kansas communities face peak flu season.
Winter storm soon to move into Lawrence; here’s info on shelter options, city streets and more
Several inches of snow, extreme cold and dangerous wind chills are en route to Lawrence. A cold weather advisory and winter storm warning will be in effect starting Friday evening.
Lawrence Public Library to close amid winter weather, plus other area closures and cancellations
The Lawrence Public Library will be closed Saturday as heavy snow is in the forecast for the area and most of the state. We’ll add other closures here as we receive them.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Person in critical condition after shooting at Hawks Pointe apartments in Lawrence; suspect in custody
A person is in critical condition following a shooting Friday afternoon in the Hawks Pointe apartment complex. Police say they have arrested a man who they suspect “went to an apartment, knocked on the door, then shot another man at the entrance.”
Lawrence school board to consider tax incentive for downtown development, approving 2026-28 calendars
The Lawrence school board on Tuesday will consider approving a tax incentive for developments at the former Reuter buildings, multiyear district calendars for 2026-27 and 2027-28, and a 4.5% increase to preschool tuition.
Obituary: Melvin Wayne Goin
Melvin Wayne Goin, 8/8/1946 – 1/23/2026
‘Prevention is important’: Erin’s Law advocates seek child abuse education in Kansas schools
Advocates and survivors of child sexual abuse are urging legislators to pass Erin’s Law, which requires K-12 schools teach about body safety and sexual abuse prevention at an age-appropriate level once per school year.
Renovations to Kansas Union to include WWI memorial, game day watch spot and more
KU Memorial Unions have announced a renovation to the level four lobby and Jayhawk Ink space in the Kansas Union will include a WWI memorial, moveable furniture and a TV for game days.
