To house people in the county's Behavioral Health Court and other specialty court programs in a more financially sustainable way, Douglas County is exploring a new, lower-cost supportive housing pilot that could launch next month.
The pilot program, which county commissioners will consider redirecting $154,000 of existing funding toward on Wednesday, would involve leasing eight two-bedroom units to provide ...
A new partnership between a local nonprofit and the Ballard Center will bring free, fresh produce to the center’s expanding pantry, making healthy food more accessible to North Lawrence.
“We’re always trying to figure out the best way to maximize what we can do for the community,” Nancy O’Conner, executive director of Growing Food Growing Health, said.
Will Averill, chief operating officer at the ...
Pregnant women in Douglas County have better access to maternity care than women in much of Kansas, statewide data indicates, especially as compared to rural areas — a growing concern for health officials in the state.
Care for high-risk pregnancies is concentrated in three main urban centers: Kansas City, Topeka and Wichita, according to a report from the University of Kansas School of Nursing. Douglas ...
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 ...
