WRITER: Rochelle Valverde

As business incubator prepares to expand, county leaders ask for 'sharp focus' on diversity and equity

As a business incubator supported by local tax dollars prepares to expand, county leaders say they want to see more emphasis on making sure women and people of color also benefit from the center. As part of its meeting Wednesday, the Douglas County Commission met with officials from the Bioscience and Technology Business Center to get an update on the center’s operations and its upcoming expansion project. ...

Defense arranges for outside expert to test footwear evidence in Rontarus Washington murder case

Attorneys defending Rontarus Washington Jr. against a murder charge have arranged for another expert to examine footwear evidence related to bloody footprints found at the crime scene. Washington, 24, is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated burglary in connection with the November 2014 death of his neighbor, 19-year-old Justina Altamirano Mosso. Washington’s attorneys, Adam Hall and Angela Keck, ...

Community Police Review Board wants to know how much power residents think it should have, plus other questions about the board's future

After eight months of research and discussion, the city’s police review board is asking residents what they think of the board’s proposed changes to increase oversight of police complaints. The changes are meant to provide greater transparency and accountability in the handling of complaints against the Lawrence Police Department, to improve the complaint process and to increase diversity of board members, ...

Defense says judge should dismiss Washington murder case because of alleged misconduct; prosecutors say allegations lack evidence and trial should proceed

Defense attorneys for Rontarus Washington Jr. alleged at a hearing on Friday that witness tampering and other prosecutorial misconduct were so rife that the possibility of a fair trial for Washington was destroyed and that the murder case against him should be dismissed. However, state prosecutors said those allegations were based on suspicions rather than evidence and that the defense's motion to dismiss was ...

Outside study of Lawrence Police Department moves into next phase; review to inform upcoming search for new police chief

The outside consultant the City of Lawrence hired to study its police department has been gathering input from city and police leaders — and will soon be gathering it from the public. And that feedback could help inform changes to police duties and shape the city's search for a new police chief. In the wake of national and local calls for police reform and protests against police killings of Black people and ...

As frigid weather increases demand, Lawrence City Commission to consider spending another $90,000 on hotel shelter program for homeless people

City leaders will soon consider spending another $90,000 on a program that shelters homeless people in hotels, allowing the program to continue operating another few weeks amid frigid temperatures. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will consider authorizing spending another $90,000 from the general fund to sustain the program through March 5, which would bring the total city funds ...