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.)
It’s illegal to own a pet raccoon in Kansas. One man is trying to change that
For the past four years, Lenexa resident Stephen Kaspar has been feeding and training wild raccoons that wander onto his property. He’s urging state lawmakers to pass a bill that would legalize pet ownership of raccoons.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Warmth on the horizon after snow blankets Lawrence again
Springtime may come after all. Following Lawrence’s third significant snow of the winter, warmer weather is finally in the forecast.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence school district reaches 8 inclement weather days; still unclear whether makeup time will be needed
Lawrence Public Schools will be closed for a second day in a row this week, making for eight total days canceled so far this year. It’s still not clear whether makeup time will be needed.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence Public Schools to close, plus other closures for Wednesday, Feb. 19
There will be no school again for Lawrence Public Schools on Wednesday. That, plus more closures:
Kansas Legislature votes to override governor’s veto of legislation that targets trans kids
Senate and House Republicans voted Tuesday to override Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto of legislation that bans gender-affirming care for minors, rejecting pleas from Democrats to turn attention instead to issues that concern Kansans.
Letter to the Times: Bravo to Lawrence High for ‘Hadestown’
”I’ll admit I was skeptical of such a complex and dynamic show in the hands of a high school. My doubts turned to goosebumps, and I caught my theater-going partner wiping away tears,” Marc Havener writes in this letter to the Times.
Obituary: Michael D. Devlin
Michael D. Devlin, 2/9/1946 – 2/14/2025
Kansas Senate Democrats urge support for healthy food over ‘humiliating’ restrictions
Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau urged her colleagues Tuesday to make access to healthy food a priority instead of imposing “humiliating” restrictions on how low-income residents use government funds for food. But the Senate advanced the bill on a voice vote.
Sunrise Project has found a new home in North Lawrence
Sunrise Project has found a new space where it can continue to couple social connections with food equity.
KBI director, Kansas attorney general allow agents to work with ICE on immigration cases
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation formally agreed to dedicate agents to enhance collaboration with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the search for people without documentation to legally be in the country.
Kansas protest march, Democratic governor sound alarm on federal DOGE operations
Sarah Melody, of Lawrence, joined dozens of people for a protest march Monday that circled the perimeter of the Kansas Capitol. She held a sign with the message ”No one elected Elon.”
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence Transit service canceled through Thursday, plus more closures for Tuesday, Feb. 18
Lawrence Transit has canceled services for Tuesday through Thursday, KU will be closed Tuesday, and more closures and cancellations will be posted here.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence High senior Zana Kennedy named Kansas Student Journalist of the Year
Lawrence High School senior Suzana “Zana” Kennedy was named the state’s student journalist of the year Monday during a surprise ceremony at the school.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
City Commission to consider $3.5M agreement with Lawrence Community Shelter
Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday will consider approving a $3.5 million contract with the Lawrence Community Shelter. The agreement includes some big changes to services and goals.
Lawrence could get 4 to 7 inches of dry snow Tuesday
Lawrence is expected to receive 4 to 7 inches of dry, powdery snow amid single-digit temperatures Tuesday. Dangerous cold is expected through most of the week.
With extreme cold looming, Lawrence’s Homeless Resource Center seeking help
Lawrence’s Homeless Resource Center is calling for some extra help from the community as snow is on the way and extreme cold is expected to stick around all week.
Kaw Valley Almanac for Feb. 17-23, 2025
”This winter has been a great cat TV channel for our cat, as she chatters away at birds through a double-paned window. … It’ll be another good week to feed birds (not feed birds to cats!),” Ken Lassman writes in the latest Kaw Valley Almanac.
KU Housing to nix gender-inclusive assignments, restrooms in Grace Pearson Scholarship Hall
Grace Pearson Scholarship Hall at KU will no longer have gender-inclusive assignments and restrooms next year, and residents are concerned about the effects on LGBTQ+ students.
Obituary: Michelle Roberta Law
Michelle Roberta Law, 11/17/1953 – 2/6/2025
Heavy snow possible; extreme cold expected in Lawrence
Douglas County could see more snow over the next few days, and dangerously cold wind chills could reach as low as -25° by Thursday.
Lawrence filmmaker Kevin Willmott paves career with uncompromised vision; films to be screened at namesake festival
Kevin Willmott’s objective was to get from Junction City to Hollywood. He made it there — and all around the world — through his filmmaking career.
Cuyler Dunn/Lawrence Times
KU faculty concerned about cuts to federal grants that fund lifesaving research
KU researchers recently made a major advancement toward early detection of ovarian cancer. That’s just one example of efforts they fear could be decimated by cuts to federal grants.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Sexual Trauma and Abuse Care Center staff furloughed amid funding issues
The Sexual Trauma and Abuse Care Center furloughed all staff and paused some services earlier this month because it didn’t have funds to pay everyone, the center’s director said.
Obituary: Joel ‘Jody’ Conrad Hahn
Joel “Jody” Conrad Hahn, 2/4/1960 – 2/10/2025




