Staff

Chad Lawhorn (City and neighborhoods reporter)

I've been reporting news in Lawrence since 1992. Before joining the NewsCenter, I was editor, publisher and owner of the Lawrence Business Ledger and the Baldwin Ledger newspapers. I've been with The World Company since 2001, when I sold my weekly newspaper business to the company.

I mainly cover city government and neighborhoods, but I've also previously served as business editor for the Journal World, and have undertaken a variety of first-person journalism projects. In parts of 2007 and 2008, I received some national publicity for a series of articles detailing how I purchased a handgun, received a concealed carry license from the state, and carried the weapon around for a few days.

I also enjoy writing profiles on area people, ranging from a promient nightclub owner to the corner hot dog vendor to a 91-year old woman who still goes to work six days per week. If you know of someone interesting, send me an e-mail.

And from time to time, I like to take people to places that they don't often get to go. Sometimes I even take a video camera, like the night I hung out with a bunch of mixed martial artist competitors.

I have my degree in journalism from Kansas University, and also did some undergraduate work at Emporia State University. I'm a native of the small Kansas town of Melvern, which is about an hour away from Lawrence in Osage County.

My wife and I have two children. In my spare time, I work on writing what I hope will be my first novel, play pool, boat, umpire Little League baseball, and barbecue.

Recent stories

CritiTech leader has stake in lab building
November 7, 2009
New details emerged Friday about a multimillion-dollar city-county proposal designed, in part, to keep a promising pharmaceutical company from leaving Lawrence.
Public invited to forum on proposal for new homeless shelter on East 23rd Street
November 6, 2009
Leaders of the Lawrence Community Shelter will hold a public forum next week to discuss a proposal to build a new shelter in eastern Lawrence.
City, county asked to consider $2.9 million investment in former Oread Labs building
City and county mull deal to retain CritiTech
12:23 p.m., November 5, 2009 Updated 07:08 p.m.
City and county commissioners will consider issuing $2.9 million worth of debt as part of an economic development deal designed to keep a promising bioscience company in Lawrence, and to provide the community more space to attract other biotech firms.
Public invited to tour library’s new computer lab
November 4, 2009
Area residents will soon have a chance to tour the Lawrence Public Library’s new computer lab.
Second of three public forums on parks and recreation needs set for Thursday night
01:50 p.m., November 4, 2009 Updated 04:46 p.m.
The second of three public hearings to gather input on future parks and recreation needs is set for Thursday.
City restores full employee bonus
November 4, 2009
Lawrence city commissioners felt good enough about the city’s financial condition Tuesday night to add $130,000 to this year’s budget to provide a boost to a year-end employee bonus program.
Area fake ID case to be on Judge Judy on Thursday
November 3, 2009
Area residents soon will get to see a local restaurant owner’s appearance on the national TV show Judge Judy.
City of Lawrence employees in line for higher-than-expected year-end bonus
November 2, 2009
Lawrence city employees may receive a special monetary thank you as city commissioners prepare to close the books on a rough 2009.
Census officials reminding college students to be counted in Lawrence
November 2, 2009
Area leaders are beginning to work on a major campaign to educate university students on the importance of participating in the upcoming U.S. Census.
City’s high prices driving away some rural water districts
November 1, 2009
For decades there’s been a big business in Lawrence City Hall that stretches well beyond the borders of the city limits.

Full story list

Recent photos

A student walks on the campus of the University of North Carolina. Kansas University’s incoming chancellor, Bernadette Gray-Little, has spent 38 years at the school in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Several area legislators say they were surprised to learn that a bill they voted for in 2007 loosened the restrictions on concealed-carry holders bringing loaded weapons into bars.

A .22 caliber Jimenez pistol cost $139 to buy at a local pawn shop. The pistol is about the size of a cell phone.

For concealed carry Web package

Finding places that allow you to carry a concealed weapon in Lawrence is not hard, Journal-World reporter Chad Lawhorn found. Lawhorn carried a concealed weapon around the city during the last week as part of project to document the process of receiving a concealed carry permit in the state.

Full photo list