WRITER: Chad Lawhorn

East Hills Business Park call center confirms that employee tested positive for COVID-19

UPDATED STORY (03-25-20): East Hills Business Park call center now says employee lied about testing positive for COVID-19 • • • • • • • • • ORIGINAL STORY: A worker at one of Lawrence's largest private employers has tested positive for the new coronavirus, the company confirmed, and one of the company's buildings in the East Hills Business Park has been temporarily closed. On Monday, the ...

Photos: Local school teachers use parades to say hello to students at home

More than a dozen vehicles with New York Elementary school teachers gathered at about noon on Monday for an informal "porch parade" through the New York school neighborhood in eastern Lawrence. Teachers at other schools throughout Lawrence held similar parades Monday afternoon, driving through the areas where their students live and waving at students who were outside. The parades were part of an effort to stay ...

A look at what's allowed and what's not under Douglas County's stay-at-home order

Story updated at 8:54 p.m. Monday I have heard from several of you about questions related to the stay-at-home order issued by Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health that takes effect Tuesday. I probably don’t have answers to all your questions, but here is a look at a few.   • What will close? The list of businesses that can stay open as “essential businesses” is broad. Some of you have ...

Large East Hills Business Park call center temporarily closes 1 of 2 buildings amid virus concerns

UPDATED STORY (03-25-20): East Hills Business Park call center now says employee lied about testing positive for COVID-19 • • • • • • • • • ORIGINAL STORY: One of Lawrence’s largest private employers is temporarily closing one of its buildings in the East Hills Business Park seemingly over COVID-19 concerns, but its facility next door is remaining open. The call center operator Maximus ...

When The Washington Post reported on virus deniers, it landed in a small town not far from Lawrence

When The Washington Post went looking for “coronavirus deniers and hoaxers” — as its headline said — it landed in a town not far from here. The Franklin County community of Wellsville took center stage in the article written by national correspondent Annie Gowen, who is based out of Lawrence. Why Wellsville, a community of about 1,800 people that is just a few miles east and south of Baldwin City? I ...

As virus threat grows, so too may drive-thru weddings in Lawrence

I always assumed drive-thrus were out of the question when it came to marriage planning, which is why the rehearsal dinner was in the dining room of the McDonald’s. But now, in this crazy virus world, drive-thru weddings might become a thing in Lawrence. A rural Lawrence bed and breakfast that does at least 75% of its business via weddings is now offering a drive-thru ceremony. The owner touts that it will ...