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.)
Cuyler Dunn/Lawrence Times
Lawrence community members celebrate freedom, warn about erosion of rights at Freedom Fest
A KU law professor, local politicians, a puppet and more than 100 other Lawrence community members gathered Friday to celebrate the Constitution and the Fourth of July in the face of what they said were attacks on freedom.
Kansas law enforcement boasts lowest crime rates in more than 20 years
Kansas’ crime rate in 2024 reached its lowest mark in at least 20 years, according to recently released data. Violent crimes saw a five-year low in 2024, and property crimes maintained a downward trend.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
We have liftoff: Drones take flight at Lawrence’s Summerfest
Summerfest 2025 came complete with food, family fun, Uncle Sam on stilts and — drumroll, please — a working drone show.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
City of Lawrence’s proposed 2026 budget varies from community’s direction
The Lawrence city manager’s proposed 2026 budget indicates departments had broad discretion to recommend funding cuts. Some cuts align with community feedback; some counter it.
Sen. Moran says he protected funding for Kansas hospitals. Health care advocates disagree
Republican U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas said he made changes to the Senate’s version of the Trump administration’s reconciliation bill to soften the blow of Medicaid cuts on Kansas hospitals. But health care advocates say it won’t be enough.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Resident of Lawrence housing for seniors lacks air conditioning; in ‘agony’ during hot days
Claudia Wilch said she and her cat, Biscuit, cast a concerned glance at each other when the temperature in their Babcock Place apartment had risen to 85 degrees last week.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Fresh Cut Smoothies to open in downtown Lawrence with community recipes, concoctions for all palates
Daniel Luckey has worked in restaurants all over the downtown strip. Now, he’s channeling his decades of service industry experience into opening a grab-and-go-style smoothie and juice shop in the 800 block of Mass.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Haskell students left without housing between semesters because of staffing shortage
Haskell students who planned to stay in campus housing through the summer and into the fall semester have just weeks to find temporary housing as the university is requiring them to move out for about a month.
Obituary: Jason William Dove
Jason William Dove, 11/15/1976 – 6/20/2025
Obituary: Penny Rae Harrell Eisenbarger
Penny Rae Harrell Eisenbarger, 11/21/1961 – 6/26/2025
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
