Christmas is Saturday, but for many people in the work force, the holiday begins today.

All area city and county government offices will be closed today, as will city halls in Baldwin, Eudora and DeSoto. In Ottawa and McLouth, city halls will be closed today and Monday. County courts will be closed today.

The Lawrence Transit System and the T Lift will operate today but will shut down Saturday. The Lawrence Bus Company will not operate today or Saturday.

There will be no Lawrence residential trash pickups today or Saturday. Commercial solid waste routes will be made today but not Saturday.

Kansas University students are on winter break until Jan. 19. All KU offices will be closed today. Campus libraries and computer labs will have varied hours over the next few days.

The Lawrence Workforce Center will be closed today.

Douglas County Senior Services Inc. and the Lawrence Senior Center will be closed today. Meals will not be served at Babcock Place, Edgewood Place, Lecompton, Eudora and Baldwin. Cancellation of meals includes home-delivered meals. Bus 62 service also will be canceled Monday. There is no bus service today.

The Lawrence Public Library will be closed today through Sunday.

Post offices will be closed Saturday, and there will be no regular mail delivery. Express mail and priority packages will be delivered.

UPS delivery will be provided today, but automatic pick-ups will not. For details about UPS holiday schedules, call (800) 742-5877.

Banks will be closed Saturday; many will close early today.

The Journal-World will be published Saturday. The circulation office will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Parking meters in downtown Lawrence will be free today.

To report a water or sewer emergency after business hours, weekends or on a holiday, call the utilities department at 843-2685.