Friends and family are mourning after a Lawrence High School student unexpectedly died last week at a neighborhood pool in Olathe. Isaiah Ferguson, 17, died on Saturday. Close friend Josh Lavin has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover expenses for a celebration of life service on June 21. As of Thursday morning, the fundraiser had surpassed its $10,000 goal, raising $11,042. “Following his unexpected ...
Although Douglas County's proposed budget for next year is still being finalized, county staff says it's working to maintain a flat property tax rate for 2026, unless county commissioners decide otherwise. That was the message from County Administrator Sarah Plinsky on Wednesday at the County Commission’s weekly meeting, where commissioners received a first glimpse at the budget process. “Unless I ...
Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical has some new financial estimates to share with the County Commission this week. One is a proposal to increase ambulance fees; the other is a 2026 budget scenario that commissioners asked about in May — one that the department now says would cut more LDCFM staff positions than "the previous 'worst-case' scenario." At the commission's meeting on Wednesday, LDCFM will provide ...
Despite a rise in graduation rates, Lawrence school officials flagged gaps for Native American students and English learner students and outlined a few steps to address them. On Monday, school board members learned that the district’s graduation rate has risen by 4.5 percentage points over the past six years — from 82.8% in 2019 to 87.3% in 2024. Although graduation rates have trended upward in recent ...
Kansas has compiled initial statewide data revealing how many lead pipes still deliver drinking water — an urgent step in former President Joe Biden’s push to replace them within the next decade. Currently, state data estimates that approximately 17,000 lead pipes still carry water from public supplies to private properties in Kansas — significantly fewer than the Environmental Protection Agency’s ...
The Lawrence school district next week will consider increasing the price of full-price school breakfasts and lunches for the 2025-2026 school year. On Monday, school board members will consider raising the meal prices by 10 cents per meal for students and adults paying full price, according to the board's meeting agenda. Meal prices must be approved in June so that the Nutrition & Wellness Department has ...