WRITER: Josie Heimsoth

Lawrence school board approves new cellphone policy for high school students, banning use during instructional time

High school students in the Lawrence school district soon won't be able to use their cellphones during instructional time. On Monday, the Lawrence school board unanimously approved a new policy that will make high school classrooms phone-free during instructional time. The policy is set to begin in January. During the meeting, Interim Superintendent Jeanice Swift said the goal of the new policy was all about ...

KU researchers document native prairie pastures in Douglas County to uncover how much remains

Before European settlement, Kansas was dominated by vast prairies of tall grasses and wildflowers. However, farming and development have since altered the landscape, prompting researchers at the University of Kansas to help uncover how much of it remains intact in Douglas County. Prairie pastures, which include native prairie that has never been plowed being grazed by cattle, have played an important ...

Lawrence school board to consider final approval of new phone-free classroom policy for high schools

Lawrence school board members will consider approving a new cellphone policy that would make high school classrooms phone-free during instructional time. On Monday, school board members will be reviewing a new draft of the high schools cellphone policy – aiming to keep cellphone use out of instructional time – and will consider final approval. The goal is to minimize distractions in the classroom, but make ...

A wren-naissance: One of Lawrence’s historic concrete bird statues is restored after half-century-long journey, will be displayed at Watkins Museum

Fifty-eight years ago, in the early hours of a freezing December night, a boiler explosion in a laundry building resulted in a fire of “record proportions” that “destroyed or badly damaged” three buildings in downtown Lawrence from Massachusetts to Vermont streets. One of those buildings was the “WREN Building" on the northeast corner of Eighth and Vermont streets, which at the time housed ...

Douglas County administrator will get $41K raise; county commissioners say it's appropriate for her position

Douglas County Administrator Sarah Plinsky will be getting a 19% raise — more than $41,000 above her current base salary — which county commissioners said was appropriate to bring her compensation in line with administrators in nearby communities. On Wednesday, the County Commission approved Plinsky's base salary increase – the amount before taxes, benefits or other additional compensation. Plinsky’s ...

Douglas County commissioners to consider approving $41K salary increase for county administrator after pay increases for employees

UPDATED 11:15 A.M. DEC. 4 After approving pay increases for other county employees, Douglas County commissioners will consider a more than 19% increase to the county administrator’s base salary — a raise of more than $41,000. On Wednesday, commissioners will consider setting the new base salary for County Administrator Sarah Plinsky. Currently, Plinsky's base salary — the amount before taxes, benefits or ...