WRITER: Josie Heimsoth

Douglas County commissioners to consider conditional use permits linked to K-10 expansion

Douglas County commissioners at their Wednesday meeting will consider two conditional use permits tied to the ongoing Kansas Highway 10 expansion. The expansion involves K-10 being widened from two to four lanes west of Lawrence. The conditional use permits, or CUPs, are for a landfill to dispose of concrete, concrete products, reinforcing steel, asphalt pavement, rock and uncontaminated soil, as well as for ...

Lawrence school officials say it's too early to determine use of inclement weather make-up days

Despite nearly a week's delay in getting back to school after winter break, Lawrence Public Schools officials told the school board it’s too early to determine whether make-up days will be used. On Monday, Lawrence school board members were told that additional instructional time was included in the development of the school calendar with potential snow days in mind and April 21 as an inclement weather ...

When the 2026 FIFA World Cup arrives, Lawrence and other KC-area communities will need the state's support, county leader says

Kansas' economy could see a more than $160 million windfall from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but the host communities — possibly including Lawrence — will need the state's support to ensure the event goes on safely and smoothly. That's what Douglas County Commission Chair Karen Willey said at Friday's Legislative Priorities Breakfast, an event hosted by the Lawrence chamber of commerce in advance of the state ...

After 4 weather-related cancellations in one week, Lawrence school board will discuss next steps on school calendar

After a snowy week with four days of school cancellations, the Lawrence school board will be discussing what the next steps might be and whether the district might need to make up time in the calendar. The school district canceled classes on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week after last weekend's winter storm dropped a layer of ice and about a foot of snow in Lawrence. Then, after one day of classes on ...

New free tool lets Kansas taxpayers file directly with the IRS; here's what you need to know

A new tool will allow many taxpayers in Kansas to electronically file their federal taxes directly with the Internal Revenue Service this year at no cost. Filing taxes can be both costly and time-consuming; the U.S. Department of Treasury reports that, on average, taxpayers spend about 13 hours and $270 a year on tax preparation. The free Direct File program — which is available in 25 states — offers an ...

Trump-aligned group threatens Douglas County for being a 'sanctuary' for illegal immigrants

If you ask America First Legal, a group founded by a prominent Trump adviser, Douglas County is making "a mockery of American democracy" when it comes to federal immigration law and is setting itself up for "serious consequences." The conservative group sent a letter in December to Douglas County Commission Chair Karen Willey accusing the county of acting as a "sanctuary jurisdiction" for undocumented ...