WRITER: Chad Lawhorn

Seeking the next big idea: KU spending $12 million in search of new research ideas that could spur state, local economies

You couldn’t blame the world of scientific researchers if the only thing its members wanted to do was talk about what just happened. After all, they’ve got a pretty good claim that they just produced one of the greatest scientific achievements in all of history. A lightning-quick development of vaccines has saved millions of lives from COVID-19, and it was researchers — including Barney Graham who did ...

Big sportswear store set for 23rd and Iowa; final voter turnout numbers; KU housing update

Some news and notes from around town: — Plans have been filed for a sportswear retailer to take over the large, vacant space at 23rd and Iowa streets where the Cork & Barrel liquor store previously was located before it moved to 23rd and Ousdahl. Rally House has filed plans with City Hall to occupy the 11,000-square-foot space at 2000 W. 23rd St. So, one type of game-day store is taking the spot of a ...

LMH budgets for financial turnaround in 2022; plans call for 3% wage increase early next year

LMH Health leaders on Wednesday approved a 2022 budget that makes a big bet that the nonprofit hospital has gotten a lot healthier financially in the last couple of years, despite the pandemic. LMH board members approved a budget that calls for the hospital and its affiliated businesses — doctors offices and other such facilities — to have revenues that are about $5 million greater than expenses in 2022. ...

KU, other state universities prepare for firings related to vaccine refusals; more info on KU's process for granting vaccine exemptions

KU and two other state universities are contemplating when to start firing employees who don’t meet a new federal vaccination mandate, but efforts aren’t underway for schools to evade the COVID requirement. Members of the Kansas Board of Regents on Thursday were told that no new information has been found that suggests KU, Kansas State and Wichita State can opt out of the mandate without risking the loss ...

De Soto-based bank to expand into Lawrence with location along Bob Billings Parkway

The number of $100 million success stories that wend their way through Simpson — the north central Kansas town of 82 people — are relatively rare. But Lawrence soon will see one — and get a new bank in the process. Johnson County-based TriCentury Bank has announced plans to open its first Lawrence location, taking over a vacant bank building at Bob Billings Parkway and Kasold Drive. But what does that ...

Future KU employees may face deeper background checks on sexual harassment; KU considering other policy changes

Soon, every person applying for a job at the University of Kansas may have to sign a form allowing their previous employers to release information regarding past findings of sexual harassment. Such a policy is in line with a recent recommendation from a leading higher education group, but KU leaders stopped short of saying they would adopt other recommendations from the Association of American Universities — ...