WRITER: Dylan Lysen

'Frustrating': Proposed Broken Arrow closure would be second for rural Lawrence students in 11 years

When Kellen Gaston’s oldest child was entering kindergarten a little more than 10 years ago, she was happy to send her to the rural elementary school just a little more than a mile north of their home. Wakarusa Valley School — located at 1104 East 1000 Road, just southeast of Clinton Lake — served as a Lawrence elementary school for many rural students. But Gaston’s daughter, who is now in high school, ...

Lawrence school board to consider keeping full-week Thanksgiving break for 2022-23 school year, giving staff Juneteenth as paid holiday

After taking a full week off during the week of Thanksgiving this school year, the Lawrence school district may keep the weeklong break next school year as well. The school board on Monday will consider adopting a district calendar for the 2022-23 school year featuring a full week off for Thanksgiving. That would be a change from the district’s traditional calendar, which included two school days on Monday ...

KU basketball player Jalen Wilson granted diversion in DUI case

University of Kansas basketball player Jalen Wilson has been granted diversion in a case where he is charged with a DUI in Douglas County District Court, his attorney said. Wilson, 21, of Denton, Texas, had been accused of unlawfully operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, which is a misdemeanor, according to a charging document previously provided to the Journal-World. Hatem Chahine, ...

Lawrence man formally charged with attempted first-degree murder in shooting at The Outhouse

A Lawrence man has been formally charged with attempted murder for a shooting that occurred outside of a nightclub in rural Douglas County on New Year’s Day. Daequan Jermaine Rayton, 24, was recently charged with attempted first-degree murder, a level-one felony, for allegedly shooting a man with intent to murder, according to a charging document provided to the Journal-World on Thursday. If convicted, ...

Closing Hillcrest as opposed to other Lawrence elementary schools would not make much sense, boundary committee hears

A scenario that would close Hillcrest Elementary School — as opposed to closing other elementary schools — would not make much sense, the Lawrence school district's data director told a district committee Wednesday. If the district chooses to close Hillcrest, students in its districtwide English language learning program could be sent to several other schools. However, doing so may not save the district as ...

Lawrence's new police chief, Rich Lockhart, sworn in

The newest leader of the Lawrence Police Department officially put on his badge on Tuesday. The City of Lawrence swore in Rich Lockhart, 53, as the chief during a ceremony with his family. He took over a department that had been led by interim leaders for nearly two years after the former chief, Gregory Burns Jr., stepped down. Lockhart’s wife, Laura, placed his badge on his uniform for him. He was also ...