WRITER: Chad Lawhorn

Plans filed to expand historic Turnhalle building at Ninth and Rhode Island; site would become performance venue

What is generally thought to be the oldest community building in Lawrence has new owners — and new plans to become a performance venue on the edge of downtown. Plans have been filed at City Hall to expand the Turnhalle building, 900 Rhode Island St., as new owners seek to turn the old stone structure with its historic stage and balcony into a performance and event business. The new owners of the building ...

Demolition work underway on Oliver Hall, old facilities building at KU campus

It’s demo days at the University of Kansas. Demolition work has begun both on Oliver Hall and the old Facilities and Operations building on the KU campus. As the Journal-World has reported, KU received approval to demolish both buildings as part of a campus initiative to reduce deferred maintenance costs. The sites of both buildings are planned to remain largely undeveloped after demolition is complete. ...

Halfway through the year, Lawrence is the one metro area in the state that has lost jobs

At the halfway point of 2022, the Lawrence metro area finds itself in a position it would rather not be in: It is the only metro area in the state that has fewer jobs now than it did a year ago. The job losses for the Lawrence metro aren’t huge. Jobs located in the Lawrence metro — which comprises all of Douglas County — are down by 300 compared with the same period a year ago. That’s only a 0.6% ...

Habitat for Humanity ReStore plans to move from East Lawrence to south Iowa Street

A longtime supplier of bargain building materials is planning to make the move to south Iowa Street. But no, this isn’t a sign that a new, big discount chain is entering the market. Instead, it is Lawrence’s existing Habitat for Humanity ReStore. The nonprofit has announced a deal to move the store from its longtime East Lawrence home to a spot in a shopping center at 27th and Iowa streets. The ReStore ...

Every day is a good day to have classes outdoors at this new private school; 'forest school' concept to open in west Lawrence

Shannon Hodges can envision a school day this winter where the temperatures are about 20 degrees and the big news of the school day is a fire inside a tent. No need to call the fire department. No need to call the principal. There’s not even a need to call a repairman for the furnace. At Hodges’ new private school, a fire inside a tent isn’t a bad day. It is just another day outside. And every day at ...

Little Caesars to open on Sixth Street; townhouse project proposed for wooded land next to Fall Creek Farms

It is too hot for any sustained activity that doesn’t involve a long straw, a tall glass and a short nap. So, let’s do a tidbit version of Town Talk. Here are some news and notes from around town: — Little Caesars is looking to become less little in Lawrence. The pizza chain has filed plans for its second Lawrence location. Its newest spot will be at 3025 W. Sixth St., which is basically across the ...