With Independence Day just around the corner, here’s what to know about various events and how to celebrate safely and legally. Fireworks have been prohibited in Lawrence for 23 years now, with the exception of novelty items like party poppers, sparklers and snappers, but folks who want to shoot off fireworks can do so in parts of Douglas County, as long as certain rules are followed. The use of fireworks ...
Douglas County staff is proposing a $191.4 million budget for 2026 that holds the property tax rate flat, and the county administrator said Thursday that many partner agencies are making "serious, substantial" requests for extra funding to offset federal cuts. Last year, county commissioners approved a $201 million 2025 budget with a 2.911-mill property tax rate decrease, for a total mill levy of 41.298 mills. ...
Douglas County commissioners on Wednesday voted unanimously to submit a grant application to continue funding a mental health program for youths in juvenile detention. As the Journal-World reported, the grant the county is applying for will support the ongoing partnership between the Kansas Department of Corrections and the Douglas County Juvenile Detention Center to ensure continued access to mental health and ...
UPDATED: 4:40 P.M. JUNE 24 Patrick Schmitz resigned his role as CEO of the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center effective immediately on Tuesday, and the center has announced clinical director Kirsten Watkins as its interim CEO. On Tuesday during the Bert Nash Governing Board meeting, members of the board announced Schmitz’s resignation. Schmitz told board members in a written statement read aloud at ...
Douglas County commissioners at their Wednesday meeting will consider a grant application to help fund mental health and substance abuse care to youths who are in juvenile detention. The grant opportunity supports the ongoing partnership between the Kansas Department of Corrections, or KDOC, and the Douglas County Juvenile Detention Center to ensure continued access to assessments and related services. As ...
A vote from the Lawrence school district’s classified staff has united all district employees into one local union, and school board members were briefed on the new milestone Monday. On June 10, 2025, Educational Support Professionals, ESPs, in the Lawrence school district voted with a 95% majority to unionize under the Lawrence Education Association, LEA. This vote unites both the certified and classified ...