WRITER: Chad Lawhorn

Last-minute bill would strip Regents of many oversight powers regarding KU, K-State, Wichita State

A late-arriving bill in the Kansas Legislature has a power struggle brewing between the Kansas Board of Regents and the University of Kansas, among others. A bill introduced Wednesday morning would strip the Kansas Board of Regents of several key oversight powers related to KU, Kansas State and Wichita State University. By Wednesday afternoon, the Regents had unanimously voted to oppose the bill as it works ...

Lt. Gov. Toland tells higher education leaders they need to start having some 'uncomfortable conversations'

The Kansas Board of Regents — the organization that oversees the leaders who hand out grades to thousands of the state’s college students — had the tables turned on it at Wednesday’s meeting. Lt. Gov. David Toland, who also is Kansas’ secretary of commerce, came to Wednesday’s meeting and handed out grades on how the state’s major universities are doing in helping attract new businesses and serve ...

Former pool hall space to become a 'pubcade' with video games, pinball, Skee-Ball, plus full service bar

Skee-Ball and schooners definitely could be a new combination on Lawrence’s entertainment scene. A longtime pool hall soon will re-open as a “pubcade” that has about 40 video games, pin ball machines, and even more traditional classics like Skee-Ball, foosball and air hockey. Importantly, to some, they all will be just steps away from a full-service bar. “I didn’t just want to do a regular bar,” ...

Union representing KU faculty says it has reached tentative agreement on labor contract

UPDATED 5:25 P.M. MARCH 6 KU and the labor union representing the university’s approximately 1,600 faculty members have reached a tentative agreement on wages, working conditions and a host of other issues, the union announced Friday morning. Leaders with the United Academics of KU said the agreement — the first ever between the university and the union — will ensure “dignified compensation for ...

Despite surprise 'no' votes this week, city commissioners want public, state officials to know they still support affordable housing

Affordable housing has been the issue that’s caught the eye of Lawrence voters recently. After Tuesday night’s Lawrence City Commission meeting, it might also have caught the eye of state officials who control the fate of millions of dollars in affordable housing tax credits — and not in the way that local advocates would like. This week’s City Commission meeting included an agenda item that normally ...

KU and its faculty union set to resume negotiations as deadline nears on wage issues

KU management and the labor union representing its faculty members were scheduled to negotiate Thursday as the two parties near the date that KU has said it would seek to declare the negotiations at an impasse. An update posted by the United Academics of KU — which represents about 1,500 faculty members as it seeks a first-time labor contract with the university — said negotiations are expected to resume ...