WRITER: Josie Heimsoth

What’s behind the numbers in Douglas County’s homelessness dashboard

Douglas County’s homelessness dashboard offers a closer look at who is experiencing homelessness locally, but understanding what its numbers mean requires a closer look at how the data is collected and who is counted. The Douglas County Homelessness Dashboard is a public online tool displaying monthly data on homelessness in the county. The dashboard is intended to give the public, policymakers and service ...

Heartland Community Health Center focuses on staff turnover as demand for psychiatric care grows

Demand for psychiatric care at Heartland Community Health Center is growing – especially among children – as the clinic works to address gaps in staffing while keeping the people it already has. Since 2022, Heartland’s staff has fluctuated with hiring additional staff and losing other providers, according to a presentation shared with Douglas County commissioners on Wednesday. In 2025 and 2026, the ...

LMH Health joins regional healthcare collaboration to improve access to care and lower costs

Updated at 4:33 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026. LMH Health has become one of five Kansas health systems joining together to form a new regional healthcare alliance designed to improve patient care and create more affordable healthcare options for communities. The healthcare collaboration was dubbed Astra Health, and it includes LMH Health, Amberwell Health, Salina Regional Health Center, Newman Regional Health ...

Douglas County commissioners to consider new solid waste management plan following public hearing

Following a public hearing on Wednesday, Douglas County commissioners will consider adopting the new Solid Waste Management Plan. Douglas and Jefferson counties have prepared a joint, regional Solid Waste Management Plan – which guides the management of solid waste generated within the two-county region as population trends, service expectations, and market conditions continue to evolve. The Kansas ...

Lawrence health officials want to explore changes to tobacco retailer rules, including potential moratorium on new licenses

As Lawrence’s number of tobacco retailers continues to grow, health officials hope to discuss a potential temporary moratorium on new licenses – along with other changes to retailer rules – with city leaders. Vicki Collie-Akers, an associate professor in the Department of Population Health at the University of Kansas Medical Center and a representative with Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health, said ...

Friends group leads effort to build new 18-hole disc golf course at Clinton State Park

A new 18-hole championship-caliber disc golf course is coming to Clinton State Park to expand disc golf opportunities in Lawrence. The new disc golf course is part of an effort by Friends of Clinton State Park – a volunteer organization dedicated to supporting, improving, and promoting Clinton State Park – and Ryan Cecil, a member of the organization, said the goal is for it to open in late October or ...