WRITER: Josie Heimsoth

Douglas County Commission approves $299,100 for security camera systems at abbreviated meeting

The Douglas County Commission approved security camera upgrades for the county jail, the Judicial and Law Enforcement Center and other county facilities at an abbreviated meeting on Wednesday. Commissioners didn’t have any business to take care of on their regular agenda at Wednesday’s meeting, leaving a nine-item consent agenda to pass. The consent agenda included a $299,100 contract with Tech Electronics ...

In day 2 of Douglas County budget hearings, agencies share their proposals for fighting chronic homelessness, addiction and more

A host of social service agencies — and, for the first time, a local church — are asking Douglas County for funding in 2025 to build new transitional housing and strengthen the support systems for people struggling with homelessness and substance abuse. The Douglas County Commission on Tuesday, the second day of its 2025 budget hearings, heard funding requests from several social service agencies whose ...

County commissioners at budget hearing have questions about plan to reduce staff at Lawrence fire and medical department

The Douglas County Commission’s budget hearings opened with many questions regarding a proposed decrease in firefighter staff and the departments’ station expansion project. County commissioners, at their first hearing for the 2025 budget on Monday morning, asked Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical representatives to discuss the recommendations of reducing staff on firetrucks and other cuts. As the ...

Lawrence school board approves renewal of Gaggle software

After a public commenter addressed concerns with the Lawrence school board renewing the annual subscription for a security system monitoring students’ computer use, the board held further discussions before ultimately renewing their deal with the provider, Gaggle, on a 6-1 vote. During Monday's school board meeting, board member Carole Cadue-Blackwood requested to further discuss the annual subscription to ...

Colorful quilts tell stories of Black history in Watkins Museum's newest exhibit

Some family histories and community stories are written in pen and ink, but the ones in the Watkins Museum of History’s newest temporary exhibition are recorded with a needle and thread. On June 20, the Watkins Museum opened a new exhibition called “Honoring the Ancestors: African American Textile Arts,” which features 11 quilts documenting family histories by nationally regarded textile artists, ...

Lecompton's Aunt Netters Cafe ranks as 4th best pie shop in America on USA Today's reader's choice list

A Lecompton cafe has made its way into the Top 5 on USA Today’s reader's choice list of the best pie shops in America. Aunt Netters Cafe, a family-owned eatery offering homestyle meals to the Lecompton area, ranked fourth on USA Today's list. Many of the community’s favorites include coconut cream, peanut butter chocolate and caramel apple pecan. Annette Nally, co-owner and baker, said all of the pies are ...