WRITER: Chad Lawhorn

Kansas Supreme Court agrees to hear Holland's arguments that he's being gerrymandered out of state Senate seat

A longtime Democratic state legislator from Douglas County will get his day in front of the Kansas Supreme Court to argue that Republicans are trying to gerrymander him out of state politics. But state Sen. Tom Holland, D-Baldwin City, said his case — which the state’s highest court agreed earlier this week to hear — goes deeper than his political fortunes. “The Republican GOP has it out for Douglas ...

City files plans to build new $400K spray park in North Lawrence; other spray park in eastern Lawrence to have delayed opening

Spray soon will be the hot new type of play in Lawrence. At least that is what Lawrence Parks & Recreation officials are betting. The department has filed plans to build a new $400,000 water spray feature within Lyons Park in North Lawrence, and the city’s first spray and play area is set to open in eastern Lawrence by midsummer, after experiencing some delays. If you are of an age where a spray ...

Central Lawrence church gets into concert, event business by re-using old community theater space

The best bet for a rock concert to break out at my church is if someone slips the organist a Red Bull in her Sunday morning coffee. But there is a church in central Lawrence that is now actively recruiting rock concerts and a whole lot else as it tries to become a significant concert and events venue. For the past eight years, Vintage Church has occupied the old building at 1501 New Hampshire St. But before ...

Local pharmacy owner completes deal to open new drug store in downtown Lawrence

It has been almost 13 years since downtown Lawrence has had a true drug store, but it looks like that wait soon will be over. The owner of Lawrence-based Sigler Pharmacy has confirmed to me that he’s completed a deal to purchase the former Capitol Federal branch bank building at 11th and Vermont streets to convert into a full-service pharmacy. “It is almost perfect,” said Jeff Sigler, owner of Sigler ...

New York-style pizza chain Sbarro, Burger King coming to south Iowa Street; large convenience store set to open this month

No, south Iowa Street won’t soon have a mall, but it soon will have mall pizza. Sbarro — the New York-style pizza chain that is found in many a mall food court — is coming to 25th and Iowa streets next month. For good measure, a Burger King also is going in next door to Sbarro. Both will be inside the biggest, newest convenience store in Lawrence. As we reported all the way back in August of 2020, the ...

Seeing partnership work in Arkansas, local leaders wonder whether Lawrence and Topeka should form new bonds

FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. — Here in the Arkansas Ozarks, a billionaire is never very far away. It is remarkable for one corner in an otherwise rural state to have not one, but rather a multitude of homegrown billionaires — courtesy of the Waltons of Walmart fame, the Hunts of J.B. Hunt Transport and the Tysons of their namesake poultry and protein empire. But perhaps more remarkable is what the region doesn’t ...