WRITER: Matt Resnick

Douglas County commissioners to consider renewing permits for testing devices associated with potential wind energy projects

Douglas County commissioners on Wednesday will consider renewing temporary permits for several meteorological testing devices that are associated with potential wind energy developments. All of the renewal requests come from NextEra Energy Inc., on behalf of Tower Associates LLC, and according to the meeting agenda materials, county staff is recommending that the permits be renewed for three years — from Feb. ...

Lawrence school board increases number of credits needed for graduation

For area eighth grade students entering high school next fall, the path to earning a diploma will require more credits than that of their older classmates. The Lawrence school board on Monday unanimously approved a new set of requirements that increases the total number of credits required to graduate to 24 from 23. The changes, among other things, emphasize career and college readiness, as well as how certain ...

Many projects in planning stage, but Eudora building boom hasn't yet started as Panasonic opening nears

When it comes to major economic initiatives proposed by Eudora city leaders, all roads lead to the forthcoming arrival of the multibillion dollar Panasonic battery plant in neighboring De Soto. But how wide those roads will be and how fast traffic will move, so to speak, still isn’t clear in this eastern Douglas County community of about 6,000 people. While several projects are in the planning stages, a ...

Lawrence school board to consider updating graduation requirements

The Lawrence school board on Monday will consider changing the district's high school graduation requirements to meet new statewide standards, which, among other things, emphasize career and college preparation and change how math and science credits are handled. According to the agenda materials for the board's meeting on Monday, the Kansas State Department of Education in 2022 approved a new set of ...

At district's annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration, bestselling author speaks about art and activism

More than 60 years ago, Martin Luther King Jr. spoke out about injustice with his words at the March on Washington — and on Thursday night, a different kind of activist spoke in Lawrence about how to carry on that legacy with art. Nikkolas Smith, the bestselling author of "The Artivist," spoke to a crowd at the Lied Center on Thursday as part of the Lawrence school district's annual "One Dream" MLK ...

Free State debate team wins third-place trophy at state tournament

The Free State High School four-speaker debate team capped its season with a third-place finish at the Class 6A State Debate Championship Saturday in Olathe, marking the third consecutive year that the team has medaled at the showcase event. Free State finished the tournament with a 9-5 record, as Washburn Rural High School and Blue Valley West finished first and second, respectively. Free State's team was ...