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Lawrence Arts Center laying off staff, making cuts amid budget crisis
The Lawrence Arts Center has begun to lay off employees as the board has asked staff to cut about $500,000 worth of expenses.
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With provisional ballots counted, Elizabeth Stephens takes 6th in Lawrence school board primary
Just seven votes separated Lawrence school board candidates Elizabeth Stephens and Melissa Clissold in the race for the final spot on the November general election ballot after provisional votes were counted Monday, but Stephens will advance.

Kaw Valley Almanac for Aug. 16-22, 2021
Showy partridge pea, a native annual, yellow-flowered legume, has begun to bloom in area prairies. Ragweed will be pollinating soon.

The To Do List! from The Lawrence Juice – Aug. 15-29, 2021
This edition of the To Do List! spans from Sunday, Aug. 15 through Sunday, Aug. 29, 2021. Some highlights: Bleeding Kansas history, Kansas State Fiddling & Picking Championships, and the first Kaw River Roots Festival.

Wishing Bench in East Lawrence destroyed by fire
Story updated at 3:44 p.m. Sunday: A beloved East Lawrence landmark was destroyed by a fire overnight Sunday.

Lawrence redistricting town hall participants object to racial, prison gerrymandering
People testifying to 20 legislators Friday at the University of Kansas’ business school requested congressional maps not be recast by the Republican-led Legislature for the purpose of unseating U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, and they asked for lawmakers to turn aside map proposals that harmed representation in communities of color.

Jacy Hurst, of Lawrence, sworn in as Kansas Court of Appeals judge, making history
Jacy Hurst, of Lawrence, was sworn in as a judge on the Kansas Court of Appeals Friday morning. Chief Judge Karen Arnold-Burger became a bit emotional as she noted that Hurst is the first Black woman to serve on the appellate courts of Kansas.

KU announces its incentives for vaccinated students: $235K in prizes
The University of Kansas is not mandating that students get COVID-19 vaccines to attend classes this fall, but it has just sweetened the pot for those who do.

The Indian Leader, Haskell’s student newspaper, selected for prestigious Free Press Award
Just a week after announcing a haul of 14 National Native Media awards from the Native American Journalists Association, the staff of the Indian Leader has announced that it has won another — this one for its “commitment to upholding freedom of the press, information and transparency in Indian Country.”

Kansas Court of Appeals overturns conviction of woman charged in Eudora baby’s death
The Kansas Court of Appeals on Friday reversed the conviction of Carrody M. Buchhorn and remanded the case to Douglas County District Court.

Social worker, coach weaves life experiences into empowerment lessons for Lawrence youth
Audrey Trowbridge sits in her basement surrounded by glitter, wood, paint cans and her favorite crafting supply of all time — pipe cleaners. Her craft room serves as a retreat, and during remote learning, the Free State High School social worker took her video conference calls there.
Behind her, a painting of a glowing Black woman wearing a bejeweled crown draws attention. When asked if she painted it, Trowbridge says one of her sisters gifted the piece to her. Its placement is purposeful. She wants others to see it in the background, but she also hopes to glean inspiration from it when she glances at herself on screen. The powerful art serves as a self-affirmation and a reminder while advocating for herself and her students.

Kicks 4 Kids shoe drive returns; accepting shoes for distribution Sunday
Anthony Harvey Jr. and Ja’Darius Woods have partnered up again for the second annual Kicks 4 Kids shoe drive, coming up this Sunday in Lawrence.

Amber ‘Chef Lady’ Brown prepares to launch her latest Lawrence venture, the Pub & Hub
This summer, Amber Brown celebrated the one-year anniversary of her Lawrence ghost kitchen, the Commissary. Now she’s giving local food entrepreneurs another place to land with her newest concept, The Pub & Hub, opening Friday.

Kansas lawmakers to hold redistricting public hearing on KU campus Friday; here’s what to know
A group of Kansas lawmakers will be in Lawrence on Friday to hold a public hearing and gather community input ahead of efforts to redraw legislative districts before the 2022 election.

COVID-19 vaccinations remain a sticking point for KU faculty heading into fall semester
As the University of Kansas prepares for another semester dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic — this time with new concerns about the highly contagious Delta variant — faculty members want more transparency and stronger virus protocols.

Lawrence Times introduces the 785 Collective, a local podcast network
At The Lawrence Times, one of our biggest motivators is simply bringing the community together. Today, we’re launching a new way to connect our readers to voices and faces of other Lawrence community members.