An outgoing member of the Douglas County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council believes more needs to be done to address the issue of race in the local justice system. Crafting a comprehensive plan to address such issues would be a good place to start, said the Rev. Edith Guffey. “It doesn’t just happen,” Guffey told the Journal-World, referring to how race affects the treatment of people in the legal ...
The Douglas County Commission will learn during its next meeting how county staff proposes to pay for a nearly $30 million jail expansion. County Administrator Sarah Plinsky is expected to lay out the financial plans for the proposed $29.6 million expansion project during the commission’s meeting on Wednesday. The discussion is listed as informational only, which means the commissioners will not take any ...
A Baldwin City man accused of offering a woman money for sexual relations pleaded not guilty in Douglas County District Court on Tuesday. James Ryan Reynolds, 44, entered the plea after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing. Judge Kay Huff, who is presiding over the case, scheduled Reynolds' next court appearance for March 24. He is represented by Olathe attorney Carl Cornwell. Reynolds was arrested at ...
After a gun incident was reported at Lawrence High School last week — the third in the past 12 months — students voiced their concerns during a round-table discussion on Thursday. One worry that the dozen or so students shared: that guns at school are becoming more routine. “It pissed me off to say that it’s normal,” LHS junior Sophia Bracker Sturm said. “It's something I see all the time now.” ...
A new accessible viewing platform will soon be constructed at Wells Overlook Park. The Douglas County Commission on Wednesday accepted a $44,000 grant to help fund the construction of a viewing platform compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility guidelines at the site, which is on County Route 458 just east of U.S. Highway 59. The acceptance of the grant finalizes the project, which the ...
Douglas County may soon begin work on the construction of a new accessible viewing platform and picnic shelter at Wells Overlook Park. The County Commission during its meeting on Wednesday will consider approving the acceptance of a federal grant worth up to $44,790 to fund part of the project. In March 2019, the commissioners approved a plan to construct a viewing platform compliant with Americans with ...