City of Lawrence leaders will soon take the next step in shaping the city’s 2019 budget, which, as currently proposed, would hold the property tax rate flat, increase utility rates and provide millions for new projects. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will hold a public hearing on the budget. As proposed, the $206.5 million budget includes about $69 million in capital improvement ...
Millions of dollars could be on the way to help maintain the Amtrak train route that serves Lawrence. Because of maintenance needs, Amtrak is considering changes to the approximately 2,300-mile Southwest Chief passenger route, including discontinuing a portion of the route and replacing it with bus service. A bill passed this week by the U.S. Senate would provide $50 million for track maintenance and other ...
A local developer has withdrawn his plans to build a five-story mixed-use condominium building in downtown Lawrence. The developer of the Vermont Place project, Bob Schumm, said he decided to abandon the project as proposed because not enough people were interested in purchasing a condo. The condos were to comprise three floors of the building, but Schumm, who is also a former city commissioner, said he now ...
As more hotels go up in Lawrence, local tourism leaders think the city has the potential to attract more conventions and other meetings. The city’s convention and visitors bureau, Explore Lawrence, recently hired a new director of sales, Kendra Schultz, to promote the city as a premier destination for meetings, conventions and leisure travel. Schultz said she thinks Lawrence can be a “top destination” ...
At the funeral service for local Fire Chief Mark Bradford, Chaplain Paul Taylor told those gathered that he wanted to speak to both the professional and personal sides of Bradford. Bradford, 58, died Thursday in Shawnee County, according to the funeral program. Standing near Bradford’s flag-draped casket, Taylor told attendees Tuesday at the Lied Center that Bradford had two aspects, the fire chief and the ...
Those hoping to catch a bus during the evening hours in Lawrence will soon have some additional options. The city of Lawrence coordinates its bus service with the University of Kansas, and seven routes that include campus stops will soon run later into the evening, according to a city news release. The changes extend bus service on six routes until 10 p.m. during the academic year and provide a late-night ...