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‘We’re not just loading people on a bus,’ Lawrence’s homeless solutions director says
Questions have surfaced about the city’s policy to prioritize Douglas County residents with homelessness services — among them, how does someone without an address prove they live here? Here’s more about the policy, its purpose and how it’s played out over the last few months.
Latest – All local government news
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When a Kansas county wants people to plant milkweed but a city makes them rip it out
Across the Midwest, some city codes threaten people with fines for having milkweed on their property. But experts say many places have dropped those rules to support monarchs with urban and suburban butterfly gardens.
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Lawrence’s police review board down to 4 members again; new work group to meet soon
Lawrence’s Community Police Review Board is once again barely a quorum, following the resignation of the recently appointed chair. Meanwhile, a new work group — whose work was supposed to conclude in November — is close to setting their first meeting date.
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North Lawrence camp residents say violence and chaos is increasing, and the new fence hasn’t helped
People living at the city-run campsite in North Lawrence say they’re struggling with increased interlopers, assaults, theft and drug activity in the week since the city installed a fence intended to prevent visitors, and a woman said she was raped at the camp on Sunday.
Lawrence city Commission
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Lawrence City Commission agrees to put sales tax increase on ballot, continues discussion of 2025 budget
Lawrence city commissioners decided Tuesday that they will ask Lawrence residents to vote on whether to approve a sales tax increase to fund homelessness programs. Otherwise, much of the 2025 city budget is still up for discussion.
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Lawrence City Commission general public comment for Aug. 20, 2024
Here’s the general public comment for the Lawrence City Commission’s Tuesday meeting, as public comment is no longer being broadcast.
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Lawrence budget hearings coming up; here’s how the proposed budget compares to public survey
The Lawrence City Commission’s budget hearings are coming up Tuesday. City staff members asked residents to help inform the budget process. Did they listen to what people said?
Douglas County Commission
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Douglas County Commission approves 2025 budget; property tax rate is lower but taxes will increase for some
Douglas County commissioners on Wednesday approved their 2025 budget, which includes a lower property tax rate than the current budget but will still increase taxes for many property owners.
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Douglas County primary election results: Loomis wins with nearly two-thirds of vote in DA race; Francisco wins race for Senate 2
With almost all ballots counted, the incumbent Douglas County district attorney has lost her seat, a longtime incumbent state senator will hold on for the general election and a city commissioner could not unseat an incumbent county commissioner.
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Meet the candidates for Douglas County Commission District 2
Incumbent Shannon Reid and current Lawrence City Commissioner Lisa Larsen are running as Democrats to represent Douglas County Commission District 2. The candidates shared their thoughts on how wind and solar energy should be handled, property tax reductions and more.