Preliminary approval given to develop land

Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday approved a preliminary development plan to redevelop land at 31st and Iowa streets adjacent to the Home Depot store under construction.

The 3.46 acre site on the intersection’s northeast corner will be the site of three buildings dedicated to retail, restaurant and gasoline sales use.

Mayor Sue Hack voted to approve the plan and was joined by Commissioners Marty Kennedy and Jim Henry. Commissioners Mike Rundle and David Dunfield were opposed.

Police investigate report of rape

Lawrence police are investigating a report that a 25-year-old woman was raped inside her home in northcentral Lawrence.

The woman said the attack happened between 2:30 a.m. and 3:30 a.m. Saturday.

The victim told police she let the suspect stay at her residence, but sometime overnight, she said, he raped her. The suspect then left.

Autopsy for 76-year-old delivered to prosecutors

Autopsy results are in on an elderly Lawrence man whose death police suspected was due to mistreatment and neglect at the hands of family members.

The coroner concluded 76-year-old Henry Harrell died from complications of pneumonia and multiple infected bedsores. The autopsy report said Harrell “would have required care from others” to have prevented his death.

In mid-November, Harrell’s relatives took him to Lawrence Memorial Hospital. He died there more than a week later.

Police are investigating two family members who were responsible for caring for Harrell.

The Douglas County District Attorney’s Office received the autopsy report Monday. No charges have yet been filed in the case.

Historians highlight downtown buildings

In the rebuilding years following Quantrill’s Raid in 1863, many of downtown Lawrence’s most familiar buildings were constructed.

The history of some of the most celebrated structures in the city is brought to life this week on a special “River City Weekly” encore.

Host Greg Hurd interviews historian Steve Jansen and Jessie Branson about historic buildings in downtown Lawrence and the city’s efforts to celebrate their history through commemorative plaques.

“River City Weekly” premieres on Sunflower Broadband Channel 6 at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays with encore presentations at 7:30 weeknights and 9 a.m. Saturdays.