WRITER: Chad Lawhorn

Kansas adds population in 2023, but it ranks last in the region in many growth categories

As Kansans enter the new year, we can do so knowing that our state is no longer a loser — although the margin for error is pretty slim. After losing population last year, the latest numbers from the U.S. Census show Kansas gained population in 2023. But the growth amounted to only about 4,000 people, or a 0.1% gain, which was well below the national average, which was historically low itself. Maybe that ...

Girod says something needs to change with college athletics, but stops short of endorsing new plan to pay student-athletes

Something has to change in college athletics, University of Kansas Chancellor Douglas Girod told me last week. “It is clear that we need something different than what we have, or else we are going to spend our lives in court,” Girod said in a brief interview with the Journal-World. But Girod isn’t sure a new proposal by NCAA President Charlie Baker to give university athletic departments the option to ...

Busker Fest, Christmas parade among events set to get share of $150K in city funding for 2024

Twenty Lawrence events next year will share $150,000 in city funding, and city commissioners at their meeting on Tuesday will divvy up those dollars. Commissioners, as part of their consent agenda, are scheduled to approve a set of recommendations for which community events should receive funding through the city’s guest tax program, which is funded through the special sales tax that is charged on local ...

KU to create new degree to help students launch careers as social media influencers, athletes and other performers

There are plenty of students who dream of growing up to be the next TikTok star or a high-profile social media influencer. But there are perhaps not plenty of college degrees that help prepare them for that world. University of Kansas officials this week won approval to create a new degree that indeed is targeted to potential social media influencers, plus other performers ranging from athletes to musicians. ...

Longtime downtown Lawrence restaurant Cielito Lindo destroyed by overnight fire

Updated at 4:40 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023 The longtime downtown Lawrence restaurant Cielito Lindo has been destroyed by a fire that began late Wednesday night and burned well into Thursday morning as dozens of firefighters fought to extinguish the blaze and to protect historic buildings. As the Journal-World's partner Operation 100 News first reported, police and firefighters arrived shortly after 11:40 ...

Construction issues have KU considering playing 2024 home football games in Arrowhead; decision expected in about a month

There’s a chance the University of Kansas' home football games next season could be played at Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium, as KU leaders become concerned construction work at their campus stadium will make true home games infeasible. KU Chancellor Douglas Girod confirmed to the Journal-World on Wednesday that KU has had some preliminary discussions with Arrowhead officials about using the stadium for ...