WRITER: Chad Lawhorn

Plans moving forward for small commercial center near Sixth and George Williams Way

Plans for a Braum’s restaurant in Lawrence may be delayed, but that doesn’t mean we have to pause the expansion of our waistbands. While I reported earlier this week that the hamburger and ice cream chain said it doesn’t have plans in either 2025 or 2026 to develop the northwest Lawrence site it owns, that is not a sign that other fast food restaurants aren’t looking at Lawrence. In fact, interest is ...

KU chosen to operate one of the state's seven new Centers for Excellence in Reading; center will help both teachers and students

The University of Kansas has been chosen to run one of seven centers across the state that will help both teachers and parents learn how to help children read better. Now, KU has to figure out exactly where it will locate this new center that likely will employ about 10 professionals who are experts in the “science of reading.” The center doesn’t have to be on the KU campus, and it will be designed to ...

KU wants to start fall semester one week earlier than normal, in part due to changing football schedules

There is a truism in college football: When it is time to watch the games, the couch should already be in place. The University of Kansas is seeking permission to change its upcoming school calendar, in part, to make it so. KU leaders want to start the university’s fall semester one week early, beginning next year. The Kansas Board of Regents on Wednesday will consider approving the request that would start ...

Plans for a Braum's in Lawrence are still delayed; hamburger, ice cream chain says local store not likely in '25 or '26

There’s an old saying about all of us screaming for ice cream. Now, I’m wondering whether some of us will cry about it too, given the latest news from the ice cream and fast food chain Braum’s. As we reported all the way back in May 2023, the Oklahoma-based chain bought property in northwest Lawrence and filed plans to locate one of its hamburger and ice cream shops in Lawrence. The development, though, ...

Connecting football stadium site to downtown among the big issues on the minds of merchants as KU proposes major development

At a combined $759 million, the proposed conference center, hotel and student housing development around the University of Kansas’ football stadium might be the largest single commercial development in the city’s history. But it might be better if it were just a bit bigger. Several downtown Lawrence merchants and stakeholders on Friday morning told KU leaders that figuring out how to get the project to ...

Controversial solar farm project set for key county vote next week; Grant Township says county is rushing project forward

UPDATED 7:05 P.M. DEC. 12 A dispute between Douglas County and Grant Township is growing as county commissioners prepare to take a key vote next week on a controversial solar farm that would be located in the township. Grant Township — which encompasses the rural portions of Douglas County north of the Kansas River — sent a letter asking the County Commission to cancel its planned vote on Dec. 18 on a ...