WRITER: Austin Hornbostel

Rally slated in Lawrence for protection of reproductive choice

A women’s march in Lawrence is scheduled for the beginning of June, as fears about the fate of reproductive rights have intensified across the nation in recent weeks. With the recently leaked draft of a U.S. Supreme Court opinion showing justices are likely to overturn Roe v. Wade, rights to reproductive choice in Kansas will hinge on a state vote this August. The march in Lawrence is set for 11 a.m. June 4 ...

Haskell recognizes nearly 150 graduates as U.S. secretary of the Interior gives keynote address

Haskell Indian Nations University — and a U.S. Cabinet member — recognized nearly 150 graduating students Friday morning at the university’s first official in-person commencement ceremony in two years. Haskell’s graduates were joined by a who’s who of influential Native American leaders at the federal level — Secretary Deb Haaland, the leader of the U.S. Department of the Interior; Tony Dearman, ...

Current and former Latin educators in Lawrence join chorus of voices against eliminating the program in public schools

A recent flood of letters to the Journal-World and Lawrence school board members, along with about a dozen public commenters at the school board’s Monday meeting, have all voiced a particular goal: Save the Lawrence school district’s Latin program. The program’s sole teacher, Zachary Puckett, could see his position eliminated as the district begins to implement more than $6 million in budget cuts. ...

Douglas County Commission approves pair of conditional use permits

The Douglas County Commission approved a pair of conditional use permits at its meeting Wednesday, both of which might lead to more work from county staff in the future to iron out standards. One of them — a vacation rental permit — comes with a number of conditions, from how the property owners are to deal with noise disturbances to mandating a building safety inspection on the property. The permit will be ...

Free State alumnus steps into leadership role on 'Doctor Strange' set

Hamilton Lewis, a 2005 Free State graduate, is no stranger to helping bring films from concept to life. Lewis, now a visualization supervisor with The Third Floor in Los Angeles, has been working in Hollywood since he was 22. His first stop after graduating from Ringling College of Art and Design in Florida was a seven-year stint with DreamWorks Animation, but in more recent years the bigger projects he has ...

Douglas County Commission set to consider pair of conditional use permits; one may have implications for vacation rentals

The Douglas County Commission at its meeting Wednesday is set to consider a pair of conditional use permits, one of which may prompt the county to consider setting standards for a particular type of permit in the future. One of those permits is listed as a vacation rental, located at 1269 North 870 Road in the unincorporated area of Douglas County south of Lawrence. The other is listed as light equipment ...