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Haskell Cultural Center and Museum collection digitization among 12 projects earning heritage grants
A preservation project at the Haskell Cultural Center and Museum and 11 other cultural projects have earned $210,000 in grant money from Douglas County.
Latest – All local government news

Lawrence school board approves 2024-25 budget
The Lawrence school board on Monday approved its 2024-25 budget, which will slightly increase the property tax rate.

Civic Engagement 101 series to resume at Lawrence library, starting with panel on misinformation
Accomplished local journalists will kick off the Civic Engagement 101 event series at the Lawrence Public Library with a panel Thursday on disinformation and trust in the news.

Lawrence school board to hold budget hearings
The Lawrence school board on Monday will invite the public to share thoughts on the district’s proposed budget, which would slightly increase the property tax rate.
Lawrence city Commission

Lawrence Historic Resources Commission denies revised plans for downtown row houses
Lawrence’s Historic Resource Commission on Thursday voted 2-2 against a plan to build 15 row houses next to the former Borders book store downtown. The developers can appeal the denial.

Lawrence police chief shares new data reports, outcomes from community meetings
Lawrence Police Chief Rich Lockhart shared with city commissioners on Tuesday how the department is trying to improve community relations. He provided new data and said crime is down, yet the fear of crime is up in some areas.

Lawrence City Commission general public comment for April 15, 2025
Here’s the general public comment for the Lawrence City Commission’s Tuesday meeting, as public comment is no longer being broadcast.
Douglas County Commission

Lawrence, Douglas County cultural events can seek up to $10K from new grant program
Annual events that “celebrate, honor and uplift the county’s diverse cultural heritage” could receive up to $10,000 in funding from a new Heritage Conservation Council grant program.

Douglas County commissioners approve plan for Franklin Cemetery, final letter to feds
Cemeteries in Lawrence are nearing capacity, but Franklin Cemetery will someday soon start accepting burials — more than 100 years after the last person was buried there.

Douglas County commissioners to ask federal delegation to ‘show the fortitude’ to defend democracy
Douglas County commissioners have penned a letter to the four congresspeople who represent the county, asking them to “prevent a single branch of government from becoming too powerful.”
Lawrence School Board

Lawrence school board blasts state board member for handling of top educator’s racist statements
Several Lawrence school board members expressed anger during their meeting Monday after Kansas Commissioner of Education Randy Watson retained his job despite video showing him making racist comments about Native Americans.

Lawrence school board to hear administrative comparison study
Lawrence school board members on Monday will hear a report comparing USD 497’s administrative structures and salaries to comparable and nearby school districts.

Lawrence school board asks for budget cut list that minimizes harm to students
Lawrence school board members on Monday asked building leaders and administrators to provide them with a long list of potential budget cuts, prioritized by those least harmful to students, so they can make final decisions at their March 28 meeting.