WRITER: Austin Hornbostel

Lawrence leaders to settle impasse in negotiations between city and unionized employees, including issue related to cleanup at homeless camps

The Lawrence City Commission will have the final say this week in contract negotiations between the city and a group of unionized city employees that have stalled due to issues with three provisions, one of which concerns cleanup at homeless camps. As the Journal-World reported, the city earlier this month announced an impasse in negotiations with a bargaining unit including central maintenance, engineering, ...

Site selection, public outreach process for downtown bus station slated to begin in 2024

It won’t be long before work to bring a new bus station to downtown Lawrence begins in earnest. The Public Transit Advisory Committee set the stage for that work Monday, when it met to discuss future plans for the site selection and public outreach process of the project. The last time city leaders considered moving forward with a downtown bus station was in 2021. Adam Weigel, the city’s public transit and ...

Direct social services are key to Fayetteville, Arkansas' homeless initiatives

Average household income, population size, the presence of a major university — Lawrence and Fayetteville have plenty of things in common. Both cities have populations just under 100,000, are home to major universities – Kansas and Arkansas – and in 2022 had a similar percentage of cost-burdened households. But when the Journal-World visited Fayetteville in early November, it was because of one ...

'I'm forever grateful': Client of Fayetteville's Hearth Program has been in stable housing for a decade thanks to the program

Like many people who have experienced homelessness, Miguel Garcia’s story is one of cycles. Garcia is a client of the Hearth Program, which is facilitated by the Community Resources Department in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and helps individuals and families experiencing homelessness get placed in permanent supportive housing, assists with rent and utility costs and tailors case management appointments to ...

Homeless Programs coordinator says recent changes at Lawrence Community Shelter will go a long way toward unraveling uncertainties around homeless initiatives

Many uncertainties exist regarding the City of Lawrence’s homeless initiatives, but one city leader is hoping that recent changes at the Lawrence Community Shelter will play a key role in unraveling them. Homeless Programs Coordinator Misty Bosch-Hastings spoke with the Journal-World Thursday about what role the city plays in keeping the community apprised of progress with projects like the planned Pallet ...

'The way it ought to be done': Gov. Laura Kelly lauds Community Children's Center at groundbreaking for child care support hub

If the level of state funding support is any indication, investing in Douglas County’s Community Children’s Center and its Early Childhood Community Center project is a high priority for Gov. Laura Kelly. Kelly confirmed as much Thursday when she joined leaders with the nonprofit at a groundbreaking ceremony for the project, which will eventually convert 346 Maine St. — formerly the Medical Arts Building ...