WRITER: Austin Hornbostel

After 6 months, LPD's 'Lights On!' partnership has provided dozens of people with vouchers to help pay for vehicle repairs

In the past six months, dozens of Lawrence drivers have been granted some grace instead of a ticket after being pulled over for an equipment violation. That’s thanks to the Lawrence Police Department’s partnership with the national “Lights On!” program. As the Journal-World has reported, the program teams up with law enforcement agencies nationwide to provide vouchers to people who are stopped for ...

Library, school district and more honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Day with various events through the next week

The Lawrence Public Library, the Lawrence school district and other local groups in the next week will host a variety of events in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which is coming up on Monday. Here’s a roundup of some of the events on the calendar: Thursday — As part of its Martin Luther King Jr. Day programming, the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont St., is hosting a presentation featuring ...

Setting a course for Lawrence Regional Airport's next master plan

What will Lawrence Regional Airport look like in five, 10 or even 20 years? An updated master plan for the airport is now in the works, and it could provide a blueprint for the future once it's complete. Lawrence’s Aviation Advisory Board hosted an open house for the master plan update Wednesday at the airport terminal, where city staff and representatives with Garver — the engineering and planning firm the ...

LMH Health board approves letter voicing support for governor's Medicaid expansion plan

The LMH Health Board of Trustees is taking a new approach to advocating for hospital-friendly legislation at the state level. During a brief special meeting on Wednesday, the board approved a letter template that voices support for Gov. Laura Kelly’s proposed Medicaid expansion plan. Board chair Pat Miller said the letter was prepared by an advocacy committee, which was initiated as LMH Health responds to ...

Lawrence city leaders take no action on possible winter emergency shelter strategies

With bitterly cold temperatures on the horizon, one City of Lawrence leader says that strategies like putting up unhoused individuals in hotel rooms or in chairs at the Santa Fe train depot are on the table if the Lawrence Community Shelter reaches its maximum capacity. But at least as of Tuesday night, it’s not clear how soon those strategies might come into play, or whether they’ll ultimately be ...

'A pivotal moment': New Lawrence Community Shelter leader steps into role with big changes underway

The new leader of the Lawrence Community Shelter operates by a simple motto: Help at least one person each day. James Chiselom began his role as the shelter’s latest executive director Friday, joining LCS as a slew of operational changes are in the works. As the Journal-World has reported, that includes managing The Village at 256 N. Michigan St. — Lawrence’s community of 64-square-foot cabins for people ...