Sophia Maines / LJWorld.com

Staff

Sophia Maines

Sophia is a native of upstate New York. She came to the NewsCenter in 2005 after working as a news reporter at The Sun News in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

She holds a bachelor's degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a master's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri - Columbia.

She lives in Lawrence and in her spare time enjoys hiking and exploring all that the Lawrence has to offer.

Recent stories

Waiting for the right moment: Local couples find their own timing for marriage: By Sarah Henning & Sophia Maines; August 17, 2009; Lawrence couple Gary and Kellee Pratt sometimes wonder what their lives would have been like had they found each other sooner. But it’s not a thought that holds them for too long. Each married for the first time in their 20s, and it wasn’t until their 40s, after their previous marriages had ended in divorce, that they took a second go at marriage.
Tempered spirits: It’s five o’clock somewhere, but has the party moved on?: By Cathy Hamilton & Sophia Maines; June 8, 2009; “It’s five o’clock somewhere!” That’s the rallying cry for the time-honored tradition called happy hour, a ritual in which colleagues, friends or perfect strangers convene after work at a local pub or restaurant to relax over their favorite libations.
Electric vs. regular: By Sophia Maines; February 2, 2009; The sooner you throw out that standard toothbrush the better, according to Debbie Rogers.
The wander years: Toddler-proof your home: By Sophia Maines; January 19, 2009; Two-year-old Sebastian Borjas is an explorer. “He’s into everything,” says Sarah Borjas, Sebastian’s mother and owner of Boomer Babies Day Care, 2429 Via Linda Drive. “He’s a curious kid. That’s what I expect toddlers to be. He’s definitely reached my expectation.”
Don’t let storms knock out family fun: By Sophia Maines; January 12, 2009; When a winter storm wipes out the electricity, the list of family-fun activities shrinks. Suddenly there’s no electric lighting, let alone television or video games.
Facebook not just for kids: By Sophia Maines; January 12, 2009; Facebook was once the domain of college students, but today the online social network has a different face.
Toy stories: Lawrence residents share their collections: By Sophia Maines; January 12, 2009; Twenty-nine-year-old Nick Spacek embraces his inner child. “I think more people should buy toys,” says Spacek, a Lawrence resident and collector of wrestling figures and other toys. “I don’t think there’s anything to be embarrassed about.”
Indoor makeover: Winter perfect time to spruce up home: By Sophia Maines; January 5, 2009; Winter need not be synonymous with such words as “stuffy” and “blah.” The cold weather makes it a perfect season to spend time indoors freshening up a home’s interior, according to area designers.
Myshape helps women find right clothing: By Sophia Maines; December 22, 2008; Tierra Hopkins struggles to find the right fit for her clothing.
Acupuncture adopted by patients seeking new types of treatment: By Sophia Maines; November 24, 2008; Jim Kreider says he stands half an inch taller than he did two years ago. “That tells me something obviously is happening differently in my body,” says Kreider, a Lawrence resident and clinical social worker. Once a sufferer of frequent colds, chronic severe pain and sleepless nights, Kreider turned to acupuncture several years ago and now attributes it and other therapies to his improved health and taller stature.

Full story list

Recent photos

The sinkhole in the East Hills Business Park has grown to about 5 feet wide. A broken water line is blamed for the cave-in. The hole should be repaired by the end of the week.

Brenna Buchanan, a student in Kansas University's School of Architecture and Urban Planning, leads a walking tour of downtown Lawrence on Saturday. The guided tours are associated with a KU class on the city's architectural heritage.

Full photo list