WRITER: Chad Lawhorn

College-readiness levels hit new lows in Kansas; state leaders say they have a plan, even if the reasons why aren't clear

The numbers of the moment have not been kind to universities across the state. At the University of Kansas, $40 million is the amount of budget pain leaders here worry about if new regulations are placed on how universities can spend federal grants from the National Institutes of Health. At Kansas State, it already has lost federal grants that reportedly were worth at least $35 million, and layoffs of about 10 ...

As LMH CEO nears retirement, he opens up about Medicare for all and other aspirations for the health care system

LMH Health President and CEO Russ Johnson has made a career of watching the money in health care. As he gets set to retire this summer, he made an observation about money and medicine. There’s probably too much money in the industry for it ever to change on its own. Johnson, when chatting with me for an article earlier this week about his pending retirement, didn’t rule out playing a role of advocate for ...

Crime reports on KU campus continue to fall; university in midst of multiyear decline of drug cases

Reported crime on the University of Kansas’ Lawrence campus hit another low in 2024 — fueled, in part, by a dramatic multiyear drop in drug offenses — university leaders announced Wednesday. The KU Police Department took 481 criminal offense reports in 2024, according to the latest statistics. That’s down about 6% from a year ago. The 2024 mark is lower than any year in the last decade, other than the ...

LMH president and CEO to retire in August; hospital to conduct nationwide search to replace Russ Johnson

Story updated at 4:28 p.m. March 25: LMH Health President and CEO Russ Johnson will retire in August, the hospital announced on Tuesday. The pending change means the hospital will be looking for new leadership for the first time in nearly a decade, as the regional health care market becomes more competitive and as LMH works to remain an independent, community-owned hospital. “The (LMH) board asked me what ...

KU to cut back on hiring as federal funding concerns grow; 'we should all prepare for disruptions,' Girod says

Updated at 1:50 p.m. Tuesday, March 25 The University of Kansas is clamping down on its hiring process as it faces possible reductions in federal funding, Chancellor Douglas Girod said Tuesday. KU will require all new hiring decisions to go through an additional review process by KU’s “University Cabinet,” which includes the chancellor, the provost, the chief financial officer and other top executives ...

Plans filed for drive-thru bakery at former Henry T's site in west Lawrence; new report ranks Panasonic battery plant project

Some news and notes from around town: ••• The only thing standing between me and a fresh-baked treat is a city permit. No, both I and a city clerk somewhere are thankful there’s no such thing as a pastry permit. Instead, a new bakery is planned for west Lawrence, but its proposed home first needs to win a city permit for a drive-thru. Plans have been filed to convert the former Henry T’s building ...