WRITER: Chad Lawhorn

Douglas County's reserve funds about $70M larger than comparable communities, debt rating agency reports

As banks, investors and others prepared to come together last week to purchase nearly $55 million in bonds from Douglas County — essentially lending the county government money — they likely did a little reading on the county’s finances. The credit rating agency Moody’s had put out a credit report on Douglas County government in advance of the bond sale, which will partially fund the construction of an ...

Plans filed for new apartment complex to be built along the fairways of Jayhawk Club golf course in west Lawrence

Plans have been filed for more than 200 apartments — totaling about 400 bedrooms — to be built along a portion of the golf course at the Jayhawk Club in west Lawrence. City of Lawrence planners have received a preliminary development plan to convert a vacant 17-acre parcel just south of the main parking lot for the country club into a complex with 16 new apartment buildings and a clubhouse and pool for ...

Lawrence home prices tapered off in April, as the number of homes on the market grew

If you squint, you can start to see the Lawrence real estate market getting a little easier for homebuyers. But don’t fully blink, as homes are still moving on and off the market very quickly. Lawrence home sales in April were unchanged — 97 in total — from a year ago, according to the latest report from the Lawrence Board of Realtors. The more significant news, though, is on the pricing and availability ...

Kansas' 'Blueprint for Literacy' now has a big financial question mark; Trump administration also cuts funding for related program

In the profession of education, here’s a lesson that probably rings true for many a teacher: Take the money while you can because you never know when it may disappear. Educators who are responsible for making sure elementary students can read may want to pay particular heed these days. About 15,000 elementary educators in Kansas are required to learn new fundamentals about how to teach reading, and must ...

New doctor's office slated for Sixth Street; Truity has plans for eastern Lawrence; local gas prices at highpoint

News and notes from around town: The empty lot at the southwest corner of Sixth and Alabama streets has been a longtime healthy holdout. Just up the street there has been a plethora of fast food restaurants develop — a McDonalds, a Burger King, a Taco Bell, a Taco John’s and more. But the lot — it is just east of the Midwest Regional Credit Union, if you are having a hard time picturing the spot — ...

County commissioner says Bert Nash needs immediate financial help from county, asks what is the plan if it can't make payroll

Douglas County Commissioner Gene Dorsey is concerned that a crisis is “imminent” at Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, and he thinks the county ought to provide some immediate financial assistance. Dorsey made that request to fellow county commissioners at Wednesday evening’s meeting and was largely rebuffed, but he told the Journal-World Thursday morning that he’s undeterred. He said he will ...