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.)
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Douglas County Sheriff’s Office will not seek people for ICE, will follow law
The Douglas County sheriff says his deputies are “not here to do the bidding of the federal government” and aren’t looking to track people down for ICE, but they will adhere to the law.
K-State researchers say red meat allergy from tick bites is becoming more common
Researchers at Kansas State University say the number of cases of an allergic reaction to red meat tied to tick bites is increasing across the state.
Obituary: Pamela Loewenstein
Pamela Loewenstein, 5/17/1937 – 1/16/2025
People, pets safe after house fire in North Lawrence; firefighter suffers ‘minor injury’
Two occupants and pets that were in a North Lawrence house fire Friday afternoon are safe and a firefighter suffered a “minor injury,” according to Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical.
Obituary: Betty Rose Conway
Betty Rose Conway, 5/25/1941 – 1/20/2025
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence school district will safeguard student info in wake of immigration concerns, superintendent says
Lawrence Public Schools will keep students’ information private and support their constitutional right to education regardless of their immigration status, the superintendent told families Friday.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Single-family home construction in Lawrence continues to decline as home prices rise
Construction of single-family homes in Lawrence continued to decline in 2024, reaching a new low with only 57 permits granted by the city. At the same time, sale prices have continued to rise.
Kansas House looks to cut property tax that funds public schools by $800M over five years
Public school advocates are asking lawmakers to proceed with caution as they consider slashing the statewide property tax that directly funds public education.
Kansas education department responds to lifting of immigration enforcement limits at schools
The Kansas State Department of Education advised school districts to follow laws protecting students’ constitutional rights in wake of Homeland Security’s reversal of a policy forbidding immigration authorities from entering school property to make arrests.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence Community Shelter still battling issues from blizzard, extreme cold
The blizzard that hit Lawrence and the lingering cold have wreaked some havoc for the Lawrence Community Shelter, including causing some pipes to freeze and burst and slowing construction of 24 new Pallet shelters.
Kansas House Democrat knocked to floor in bar fracas between Wichita councilman, legislator
A Kansas House member was shoved to the floor at a Topeka bar during an argument between a Wichita City Council member and a Democratic state rep who disagreed about plans to test residents potentially harmed by a toxic chemical spill in a historically Black neighborhood.
Obituary: Judith Lawrence Hall Young
Judith Lawrence Hall Young, 10/19/1931 – 1/9/2025
Kansas Senate bill would set Election Day deadline for mail-in ballots
Legislation proposed in the Kansas Senate would end the three-day grace period for mail-in ballots, requiring them to be received by 7 p.m on Election Day to be counted, regardless of postage date.
John Brown’s Underground, Saltwell chef named semifinalists for James Beard Awards
John Brown’s Underground was nominated for outstanding bar and Saltwell Farm Kitchen executive chef Rozz Petrozz was nominated for Best Chef: Midwest in this year’s prestigious James Beard Awards.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence school district committee wants to look at changing all schools’ boundaries – not just high schools’
Lawrence high school boundary lines will not change next year after a district committee decided Wednesday it wants to do a longer-term analysis of elementary, middle and high school boundaries altogether.
Free State wins state debate title
Free State High School claimed the 6A four-speaker state title over the weekend, besting some of the top debaters in the state for the Firebirds’ first debate state championship since 2019.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Discussion, info meetings set to discuss proposed reform of Haskell oversight
A series of upcoming meetings will discuss and provide information about proposed federal legislation that would give oversight of Haskell Indian Nations University to the board of regents rather than the Bureau of Indian Education.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence immigration advocate says know your rights
Trump has promised to deport undocumented immigrants and others en masse. Knowledge is power amid fear and uncertainty, a Lawrence immigration advocate says.
Kansas House bill would use driver’s license records to look for voters who are not citizens
A bill proposed in the Kansas House seeks to remove people who are not U.S. citizens from the state’s voter rolls through temporary driver’s license records, invoking concern for potential disenfranchisement of Kansas voters.
Kansas’ child advocate wants to require unannounced inspection of residential facilities
The acting child advocate for Kansas recommended Wednesday that lawmakers mandate annual unannounced inspection of residential facilities serving children in the state’s welfare system.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Communication, honest transparency top traits focus groups desired in next Lawrence superintendent
Focus group members said they’d most like the new permanent Lawrence Public Schools superintendent to be effective in communication and honest with transparency, according to a search firm.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Lawrence City Commission favors rec center fees in early budget talks; much still unclear
Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday gave city staff some guidance for how they might want to address a $6.5 million budget deficit projected for 2026, possibly to include fees for recreational facilities and a property tax rate increase.
Lawrence City Commission general public comment for Jan. 21, 2025
Here’s the general public comment for the Lawrence City Commission’s Tuesday meeting, as public comment is no longer being broadcast.
Bert Nash employees overwhelmingly approve unionization
An overwhelming majority of participating employees at Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center cast votes Tuesday in favor of union representation.
