WRITER: Chad Lawhorn

Top local stories of the year: Tornado, basketball scandal, school security among the biggest news of 2019

About a half-mile stood between Lawrence’s top story of the year and its top story of a generation. An early evening tornado that cut a swath through Douglas County on May 28 likely is the top local story of the year in many people’s books. The tornado injured more than a dozen people, while destroying 13 homes and damaging at least another 70. That’s already plenty big news, but if the storm’s path ...

Would it be worth spending public money to boost Lawrence's live music scene? Some in the industry want to discuss it

For some of us, boosting Lawrence’s music scene — especially this time of year — involves looking for our symphonic version of “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.” But these days, some local music leaders are looking to make even more noise than that. I had a chance to sit down with two of the larger music promoters in Lawrence recently, and it became clear that they hope to start a conversation ...

Missouri company betting big on Lawrence car wash market by adding two locations

In some ways, it makes sense that a business based in Columbia, Mo. is coming to Lawrence to clean our vehicles. After all, a Lawrence basketball team has been cleaning the clocks of a Columbia basketball team for decades. (Hey, if they are going to restart the basketball games, I’m going to restart the jokes.) Indeed, a Columbia-based car wash company is betting big on Lawrence these days. Club Car Wash ...

Plans filed for renovation of Lawrence's Target store; a bigger Starbucks seems like a possibility

Get ready for a big renovation at Lawrence’s SuperTarget store. Work is expected to begin next month, but what’s going to change at the south Iowa Street retailer is a bit unclear. A smaller grocery department, though, appears to be a possibility, based on plans filed with Lawrence City Hall. There are also some other signs, less concrete at the moment, that a larger Starbucks may be coming to the store. ...

New report claims Lawrence is now one of the best beer cities in America

There has been talk in some circles that Lawrence is the beer capital of Kansas. Now, there is evidence that goes beyond the fact that the pile of discarded beer bottles in your garage is roughly the size of the Statehouse dome. A national website lists Lawrence as one of the 50 best beer cities in America. The financial website SmartAsset has studied 350 cities across the U.S. to determine the “best cities ...

A big, historic building on Massachusetts Street is going on the market after 40-plus years of family ownership

If entering the J.Lynn Bridal store in downtown Lawrence causes you to feel a bit like a hustler or a shark, don’t be alarmed (although I wouldn’t recommend writing those thoughts into the wedding vows.) The building at 731 Massachusetts St. was a pool hall for almost 30 years, after all. The building and its next-door twin at 729 Massachusetts St. also have been a makeshift post office, a dry goods store, ...