WRITER: Chad Lawhorn

Lawrence's marijuana experiment and the questions it creates

Plain and simple, the mayor of Lawrence wants marijuana to be legal. In March, Lawrence city commissioners went about as far as they could go on that front. They lowered the fine for possessing 32 grams or less of marijuana to just $1 — not only for your first offense but also your second. The penalty for marijuana possession was lowered after a lot of discussion about how justice wasn’t being equally ...

The Granada owner buys The Bottleneck, also takes ownership stake in longtime neighborhood pub

The Bottleneck — the gritty downtown Lawrence music venue that has hosted everyone from Radiohead to Jewel — has a new owner. Mike Logan, who already owns one of the largest downtown music venues in The Granada, has purchased The Bottleneck with a group of investors. “For me, it is Lawrence against the world when we are trying to convince bands to come here,” said Logan, who also operates Abe & ...

Douglas County aviation firm buys Wisconsin company, moving operations to Vinland

When I’m on a flight, I don’t spend any time thinking about where the parts of the airplane came from. (I keep my focus on obtaining free pretzels, which after the fifth serving pretty much takes a full-time effort.) But the next time I’m on a plane, I probably will wonder whether the propeller came from little old Vinland, Kan. McFarlane Aviation Products — based in Vinland, which is an unincorporated ...

Helicopter company setting up operations at Lawrence airport; leaders see more aviation development on the way

Plans to add more job-producing businesses at the Lawrence Municipal Airport have been talked about for years. Now, there are signs they are nearing takeoff. A Eudora-based company has signed a deal to take over an entire hangar at the airport in North Lawrence to repair helicopters. EuroTec Vertical Flight Solutions has completed a purchase of the airport hangar long owned by local pilot Al Stuber. ...

An update on slow-moving plans for new Casey's, QuikTrip in Lawrence

Convenience stores sometimes make me anxious too. When I enter and see the doughnut case only has one creme-filled pastry left, I break into an anxious sprint. It appears some of you are anxiously wondering whether two major convenience store chains are going to follow through on their previously announced plans to build in Lawrence. The short answer appears to be yes, both Casey’s and QuikTrip are still on ...

Preliminary election results

A closer look at Tuesday's election, including an east-west split that still exists, and possible incumbent angst

Previously, one of the few things I knew about sidewalks was: If you wait long enough, the snow will melt. Now, I know another thing: All that rage people had over the city making property owners pay to fix city sidewalks in front of their homes didn’t carry much weight at the ballot box. There were only two real supporters of the city's sidewalk policy, and both of them won on Tuesday night. Stuart Boley ...