WRITER: Chad Lawhorn

Local holiday sales show slight growth in 2025; new state report looks at how well Lawrence attracts out-of-town shoppers

While it doesn’t get nearly as much attention as its cousin “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas,” the song “Have a Nearly Average Christmas” would fairly well describe the Lawrence holiday season. At least, that’s what the latest retail sales numbers from the Kansas Department of Revenue suggest. The latest sales tax report from the state — which generally includes the big holiday shopping season of ...

KU students who get their health insurance through university-run program set to see premium increases

University of Kansas students who get their health insurance through a special program overseen by the Kansas Board of Regents are expected to see their premiums rise slightly next school year. The Board of Regents at its meeting on Wednesday is being asked to approve premium increases of a little more than 3% for the program, which provides health insurance to eligible graduate students, international ...

Lawrence Costco project moving ahead, as retailer files for building permit; now speculation begins about what businesses will follow

Costco has filed for a nearly $22 million building permit at Lawrence City Hall, the latest sign that its plans to build a store near Rock Chalk Park in northwest Lawrence remain on track. The building permit, which was filed with the city one week ago, also may get us closer to a starter’s gun-type of moment for the vacant commercial property near Sixth Street and George Williams Way that surrounds the site ...

Demand for crafting in a crazy world has Lawrence Craft Company expanding to bigger space on Sixth Street

A Lawrence business is more than doubling the size of its space after recognizing a surprising trend — cross-stitch has cross-over appeal. The needle and thread craft of cross stitch — long considered the domain of an older generation — has become quite popular with younger women. Now a Lawrence business is moving from its 23rd Street location to a much bigger space on Sixth Street to take advantage of ...

Lawmakers begin to work on bill that would place new limits on DEI at Kansas universities; KU estimates $1.8M cost to comply with bill

A bill that would prohibit most students from being required to take diversity, equity and inclusion-related classes in order to get a degree at a Kansas university began to make its way through the Statehouse Tuesday. It also got some dollar signs attached to it as it begins its journey. The University of Kansas has estimated it will cost $1.8 million next year to implement House Bill 2428, which has become ...

Lawrence's Budweiser distributor wins 'national championship' as best in the U.S.; tax numbers show local liquor sales fell in 2025

There’s the smell of a national championship in the air in Lawrence. Yes, the KU men’s basketball team has been making the nets pop a bit more regularly, but the national championship vibe comes from an even more reliable activity in Lawrence — the popping of a cold Budweiser. Lawrence-based O’Malley Beverage, which is the distributor of Budweiser and Anheuser-Busch products throughout northeast ...