WRITER: Austin Hornbostel

City Commission candidates share thoughts on collaborating with Douglas County Commission, efforts to encourage renewable energy use and more

At the first of a series of election forums on tap this week, the candidates running for seats on the Lawrence City Commission answered questions about renewable energy, how they’d work collaboratively with other local governing bodies and more. On Monday, the League of Women Voters of Lawrence hosted a candidate forum in partnership with the Lawrence Public Library. Four of the six candidates running for ...

Lawrence City Commission candidates share thoughts on affordable housing and homelessness issues

As the Nov. 7 general election approaches, the Journal-World asked the six candidates running for three seats on the Lawrence City Commission — incumbents Brad Finkeldei, Amber Sellers and Courtney Shipley, former commissioner Mike Dever, and newcomers Dustin Stumblingbear and Justine Burton — a series of questions related to affordable housing and homelessness issues. The deadline to register to vote in ...

Indigenous community members in Lawrence gather to remember victims of Native American boarding schools, recognize 'intergenerational trauma'

Members of Lawrence's Indigenous community gathered on Saturday to remember the victims of Indian boarding schools that for more than a century sought to assimilate Native American children into white society — including Haskell Institute, the precursor to Haskell Indian Nations University. Saturday was the National Day of Remembrance for Indian Boarding Schools, and the memorial service at Central United ...

'This dedication makes us very proud': Family members, community honor Black Civil War veteran Doc McWilliams

For the descendants of Union veteran Doc McWilliams, the booming sound of cannon fire that filled Oak Hill Cemetery on Saturday afternoon was more than just a Civil War reenactment — it was the sound of ceremony and celebration. As the Journal-World reported, McWilliams — who was a member of the first Black regiment to see combat during the Civil War, the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry — had rested in an ...

At downtown-centric candidate forum, City Commission candidates share thoughts on outdoor camping, increasing density and more

At a downtown-centric forum Thursday evening, the six candidates running for seats on the Lawrence City Commission shared their thoughts on increasing residential density in the area, how to enforce the city’s rule for camping in public spaces and more. The forum was hosted by Downtown Lawrence Inc., the not-for-profit membership organization that promotes the interests of the downtown business district. All ...

After student publicizes allegations of sexual abuse, Haskell president says the university plans to create new position and revise policies related to sexual assault

Days after a Haskell Indian Nations University student publicly stated that reports of alleged sexual abuse on campus have gone ignored, Haskell’s leader has announced plans to create a new position and to revise the university’s policies related to sexual assault. As the Journal-World reported, Haskell student Tierra Thomas told the Journal-World last week that after being assaulted by a fellow student in ...