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.)
The Kansas River used to be a dumping ground. These kayakers are helping clean it
The Kansas River is cleaner today than half a century ago, but pollution and trash remain problems. Kayakers and others who love this river are helping the river’s sandbars by hauling away tons of garbage.
Lawrence City Commission general public comment for July 1, 2025
Here’s the general public comment for the Lawrence City Commission’s Tuesday meeting, as public comment is no longer being broadcast.
Lawrence artist hosts sticker sale fundraiser for immigrants needing legal help in Kansas
A Lawrence artist has organized an online sticker sale to raise funds to help immigrants and families impacted by ICE activity in Kansas.
Merc to close KC location; Lawrence store won’t be impacted
The Merc Co+Op will be closing its Kansas City, Kansas location at the end of the year, the business announced Tuesday.
Kansas Black Hills Energy customers will see 9% rate increase, pending regulatory approval
Kansas Black Hills Energy customers may see their bills increase by nearly 9%, or about $5.96 per month for average residential use, if regulators approve a settlement agreement presented Monday.
ICE rushed no-bid contract to pay CoreCivic $4.2M per month to hold immigrants at Kansas prison
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement used the pretense of a national emergency to justify a secret, no-bid contract with CoreCivic that would pay the company $4.2 million per month to house detained immigrants at its vacant Leavenworth prison.
Where to go for fireworks in Douglas County
Lawrence will host a drone show instead of fireworks at its Summerfest, but opportunities for dazzling eruptions are offered elsewhere in Douglas County.
Lane Rozin/Lawrence Times
Free summer lunches in Lawrence extended through July; meal kits still available
Free in-person summer lunches for kids have been extended through July in Lawrence.
Obituary: Brett Matthew Elliott
Brett Matthew Elliott, 6/27/1980 – 6/7/2025
Leader of Kansas public defender office resigns in face of budget cuts, constitutional crisis
Heather Cessna is resigning as executive director of the state public defender’s office after years of warning apathetic legislators about the constitutional crisis they created by persistently underfunding her agency.
Kansas university presidents get pay boost amid tuition increases, staff cuts
KU Chancellor Doug Girod on Friday received a 12% hike that increased his salary from $695,000 to $800,000 a year. His total compensation is now $1 million a year, according to Regents data.
Kaw Valley Almanac for June 30 – July 6, 2025
It’s been raining a lot in much of Kansas — not necessarily what wheat harvest and haying needs, but less than a quarter of the state is currently in some sort of drought, which is a considerable improvement overall.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Split Lip Rayfield, massive Lawrence crowd celebrate 30 years of music
Split Lip Rayfield and thousands of their Lawrence fans gathered on Mass Street late Saturday to celebrate 30 years of the band.
Obituary: Jerry Thomas Lyons
Jerry Thomas Lyons, 9/28/1940 – 6/16/2025
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Rec centers closed, celebrations planned and more to know for July 4 in Lawrence
Here’s a quick roundup of closures, changes, celebrations and more for the Fourth of July in Lawrence.
Lawrence couple questions Evergy policy after power outage in high heat
A Lawrence couple is voicing concerns about what could’ve happened when Evergy unexpectedly cut their electricity for hours on a 90-degree day this week. Long outages without notice could be dangerous for people, pets and food.
Kansas AG wants state education department to remove gender, sex language from lunch contracts
Kansas AG Kris Kobach encouraged the State Board of Education to remove sex discrimination language from the state’s lunch contracts, the latest in his offensive against gender and identity politics.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Haskell faculty senate: Budget cuts would defund tribal colleges ‘beyond any hope of functionality’
Members of the faculty senate at Haskell say proposed federal budget cuts amounting to about 90% of funding would devastate tribal colleges and violate the government’s legal obligations.
Celebration of life for Ila Wuerdeman
Ila Wuerdeman, 10/31/1932 – 3/12/2025
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Watkins Museum of History celebrates completed restoration of stained glass windows
The Watkins Museum of History is celebrating a successful stained glass window restoration project — a community-funded effort to maintain a local historical landmark.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Save the dates: Public hearings set for proposed Douglas County budget
Douglas County commissioners will kick off their annual budget process with a series of public hearings set to begin Monday, July 7.
Andrea Albright/Lawrence Times
State’s expert witness can’t testify in trial for man charged in Lawrence teen’s shooting death
A Douglas County district judge on Thursday denied the state’s last-minute request to allow an expert witness to testify about cell tower data during an upcoming Lawrence murder trial.
‘I would have died without it.’ Kansas teen copes with gender-affirming care ban
Kansas’ ban on puberty blockers and hormone therapies for transgender minors takes effect next year. This family is trying to navigate the changes — and give their daughter a normal teen life.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Boba & Beyond opens at Lawrence’s Central Station
Amrutha Ravikumar has opened her second Boba & Beyond location. The cafe is the sole vendor at Lawrence Transit’s Central Station.
