WRITER: Rochelle Valverde

'A huge gap': City leaders review plan to allocate $1.64M in pandemic relief aid to affordable rentals

Lawrence city leaders have gotten their first look at a plan to allocate $1.64 million in federal funds for homelessness and affordable housing toward affordable rental units. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission received a presentation regarding the city’s draft allocation plan for $1.64 million from the HOME Investment Partnership American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) Program, which can be ...

District shares additional details about providing public comment ahead of school closing hearings

The Lawrence school district has provided additional details about how residents may submit public comment regarding the potential closures of Broken Arrow and Pinckney elementaries. As the Journal-World reported Monday, the public hearing for the potential closure of Broken Arrow will take place from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 25, in the Broken Arrow school gymnasium. The public hearing for the ...

City leaders to consider spending additional $1.36M to landscape entry points as part of SLT expansion

City leaders will soon decide how much extra money, if any, they would like to spend to landscape entry points to the city as part of the upcoming expansion of the South Lawrence Trafficway. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will consider approving a landscaping allocation for the entry points, which are located at Clinton Parkway and East 900 Road; Wakarusa Drive and 27th Street; ...

Union representatives for Lawrence teachers, staff call for restructuring or cuts to district administration

With school closures and dozens of teacher cuts on the table, the two unions that represent the Lawrence school district’s teachers and staff want the school board to also consider restructuring or cuts of district administration. Superintendent Anthony Lewis recommended a budget package that included multiple school closures and the elimination of at least 50 teaching positions, but no reductions to ...

Lawrence City Commission to review plan to allocate $1.64M in pandemic relief aid to affordable rentals

Lawrence city leaders will soon review a plan to allocate $1.64 million in federal funds to help address homelessness and affordable housing. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will receive a presentation regarding the city’s draft allocation plan for $1.64 million from the HOME Investment Partnership American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) Program. The plan calls for focusing the dollars ...

Free State orchestra selected to perform at Kauffman Center as part of Kansas City festival

In what their conductor calls one of the highest honors, the Free State High School Philharmonic/Symphonic Combined Orchestra has been chosen to perform in the Kansas City Classic Orchestra and Band Festival. The free performance, presented by Youth Symphony of Kansas City, will take place at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts on Tuesday. Free State High School Director of Orchestras Judy Erpelding ...