WRITER: Dylan Lysen

Lawrence school district outlines some precautions for conducting fall athletics, activities

The Lawrence school district is planning on taking measures to help keep students safe while they participate in athletics and activities amid the coronavirus pandemic this fall. Some of those measures include limiting use of locker rooms and providing specific guidelines for each athletic team. However, there will be risk involved no matter what they decide to do, said Lawrence High School Athletic Director ...

Area school districts could begin academic year through on-site, hybrid learning plans; Eudora, Perry-Lecompton not yet decided

While Lawrence students won’t step into a classroom until at least October, some other Douglas County students could be receiving in-person education in just a few weeks. The school districts of Baldwin City, Eudora and Perry-Lecompton are all considering plans to begin their academic years through in-person and hybrid learning — the latter option being a model that calls for some school days in the ...

Thellman hangs on to lead by just 6 votes in County Commission race; result still not official

Updated at 3:40 p.m. Friday The race for the Douglas County Commission 2nd District has reached an unofficial end with incumbent Nancy Thellman holding on to her seat by just a few votes. In the final tally released Friday, Thellman finished with just six more votes than Democratic challenger Shannon Reid. Thellman, who is running for a fourth term as 2nd District representative, received 2,301 votes, while ...

Lawrence school board to consider giving administration ability to furlough some staff during remote learning period

The Lawrence school district may soon be able to furlough some staff who administration believes will not be needed during remote learning this fall. The Lawrence school board on Monday will consider giving the district’s administration the ability to furlough classified staff — a category that includes custodians, office staff and other employees who aren't teachers — as early as Tuesday and until ...

A look at the spending Douglas County proposes for $24.9 million in CARES funding

Covering health and medical expenses caused by the coronavirus pandemic accounts for a large portion of a proposed spending plan for Douglas County's nearly $25 million of federal aid. Almost half of the $24.9 million of funding from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as CARES, provided to the county is proposed to be used to cover costs for medical and public health ...

Race for Douglas County Commission 2nd District gets closer with new ballots counted Wednesday; Thellman's lead drops to 42 votes

One of the closest local primary elections of the year, the 2nd District County Commission race, got even closer on Wednesday after the Douglas County Clerk’s Office counted more advance mail ballots. Incumbent Democratic County Commissioner Nancy Thellman, who is running for a fourth term as 2nd District representative, saw her lead over Democratic challenger Shannon Reid dwindle to just 42 votes. Thellman ...