WRITER: Chad Lawhorn

Voters turn out big when there's a question on the ballot, so why don't the feds or state allow more of them?

Here’s a thought exercise for you: Imagine there was a national election where voters would decide whether there should be a national sales tax of X% to fund a single payer healthcare system for all Americans. Do you think a lot of people would show up to vote in that election? “It sure seems like people would come out and vote on that,” Chris Koliba, founder and director of KU’s Center for Democratic ...

Minsky's Pizza closes lone Lawrence location; a look at the large number of vacancies in downtown

No matter how you slice it, a notable change has struck downtown Lawrence — there are no more slices of pizza at 934 Massachusetts Street. The popular Kansas City chain Minsky’s Pizza has closed its downtown Lawrence location, which also was its only location in Lawrence. The closing happened earlier this week, and it marks the end of a 14-year run for the Lawrence establishment. But that’s just the half ...

KU's Girod helped Trump administration craft letter calling on universities to adopt set of principles

UPDATED 6:25 P.M. AUG. 3 KU Chancellor Doug Girod has helped the Trump administration craft a letter asking U.S. universities to broaden their ideological spectrum and put “Americans, and American interests” first. Girod was among four university chancellors and presidents who helped U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon craft a letter sent Monday asking U.S. universities to publicly commit to seven ...

For Lawrence to truly grow to the west, it will take at least $85M in new infrastructure; the coming Costco store might help pay the bill

The oft-quoted, old saying from more than 150 years ago is: “Go West, young man.” I suspect there is a less-quoted, second part to that saying: “Bring your wallet.” Both phrases have meaning in modern day Lawrence, as there has been much talk at Lawrence City Hall about expanding the city limits west of the South Lawrence Trafficway in an effort to open up hundreds of new acres for housing that ...

Jamie Shew

Douglas County's top election official worries that mail ballots sent in now won't arrive on time

Lines at polling places were a sure sign advance voting had picked up in Douglas County on Friday, but County Clerk Jamie Shew wants voters to be mindful of a key slowdown as well — mail delivery. Shew told the Journal-World that he is urging residents with advance ballots to drop them off in person or at a one of the county’s collection boxes rather than putting them in the mail. While Election Day isn’t ...

A Mass Street comeback: Longtime restaurant owner Bob Schumm reopening Mass Street Deli nearly 20 years after it closed

A stack of recipes, an empty building and fond memories of when he was a leader of the pack in Lawrence’s restaurant scene has set the stage for an unexpected comeback Lawrence’s once-popular Mass Street Deli is reopening, and yes, original owner Bob Schumm will be the owner and operator. Schumm has been retired from the restaurant business for more than a decade, but said he is raring to get back in the ...