WRITER: Chad Lawhorn

School district leaders tell Chamber crowd that financial pressure to close neighborhood schools remains

The Lawrence school board earlier this week finalized $6.4 million in budget cuts and avoided closing any of the district’s 13 elementary schools. For now. But at a Wednesday afternoon meeting with the Lawrence chamber of commerce, district leaders made it clear they are far from convinced they will be able to avoid school closures in future years. “I think we have to think about whether the true ...

KU wins $5 million state grant to help build Innovation Park project on West Campus

Story updated at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday: Efforts to make KU’s West Campus a much larger hub for high-tech businesses and research have received a $5 million boost from the state of Kansas. Gov. Laura Kelly and other state officials on Tuesday afternoon announced that the University of Kansas will receive a $5 million infrastructure grant to help the university complete its Innovation Park project slated for the ...

Home Builders cancel Lawrence Spring Parade of Homes because of shortage of new homes

I like touring new homes, but I don’t like helping new homeowners unpack their boxes. I was worried that might be the scenario confronting us at this year’s Spring Parade of Homes. That’s no longer a worry. The Lawrence Home Builders Association has made the decision to cancel this year’s Spring Parade of Homes. The reason is simple: There are so few homes being built in Lawrence that those that are ...

Chancellor expects KU to see an enrollment boost next year thanks to National Championship

The University of Kansas’ all-time high for enrollment came during the fall semester of 2008. KU officials are convinced it is no coincidence that was the first enrollment period following KU’s National Championship in men’s basketball. In case you haven’t heard, there’s a new National Championship trophy on campus, and that has Chancellor Douglas Girod optimistic there will be lots of new students ...

PHOTO: Lawrence chamber of commerce honors community leaders at annual meeting

Members of the Lawrence chamber of commerce gathered for the organization’s annual meeting on Friday at Abe & Jake’s Landing in downtown Lawrence. The Chamber honored Ron and Joanne Hurst as Citizens of the Years, and honored state Sen. Marci Francisco with the Athena Award, which recognizes outstanding female leaders of the community.

Department of Defense leader tells KU crowd that 'Russia has largely declared war on the West'

While the eyes of the world are on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a top Defense Department official told a KU crowd Thursday that Americans need to understand they are in a conflict too. “Russia has largely declared war on the West,” Trent Maul, director of analysis for the Defense Intelligence Agency, told a KU conference on Russian threats to America and democracy. And Maul — a KU graduate who is ...