WRITER: Bremen Keasey

Lawrence City Hall, 6 E. Sixth St., is pictured Thursday, July 7, 2016.

Draft of new city code would get rid of minimum parking requirements; leaders discuss how that could affect development

As Lawrence continues to grow and change, city leaders have worked with the public to create a comprehensive plan that would set out ways the city could develop for its future. One of the hallmarks of that comprehensive plan — Plan 2040 — is figuring out ways to create more dense growth and better connectivity of transit besides just cars. But city leaders now are considering a plan to increase density ...

'Excruciatingly disappointing': Dropped Wi-Fi and satellite connections, heavy rain grounded Summerfest's $30K drone show

A mix of heavy rain and a failure of Wi-Fi and satellite communications grounded the planned drone lights show at Summerfest Wednesday night. Porter Arneill, assistant Parks and Recreation director for arts and culture, said that while the 200 drones were set and ready during a window with clear skies, disaster struck right before the launch time at around 10 p.m. “Everything was a go,” Arneill said. ...

Proposed city budget would raise property tax rate while services would be cut in some departments

Story updated at 5:42 p.m. Friday, July 5: The proposed budget for 2025 for the City of Lawrence recommends a property tax rate increase of 3.5 mills, but also recommends that some services be cut in departments like fire-medical and parks and recreation. City Manager Craig Owens’ proposed budget would be $520,815,540 across all funds for next year. Owens said Lawrence had “millions of dollars less ...

Lawrence City Hall, 6 E. Sixth St., is pictured Thursday, July 7, 2016.

City-funded Bert Nash outreach team helped 100 clients get into housing in 2023, commissioners hear

A homeless outreach team led by nonprofit Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center told the Lawrence City Commission it was able to help 100 clients receive housing in 2023, while also reaching a higher number of new contacts. During a presentation at the commission's meeting on Tuesday, Mathew Faulk, the director of housing for Bert Nash, said that the outreach team worked with a total of 587 households over ...

City requests 'urgent action' to build EV charging stations for new fire trucks

Urgent action is needed to build electric vehicle charging areas at two Lawrence fire stations that are slated to get two new electric fire trucks later this year, according to the Municipal Services and Operations division of the City of Lawrence. City commissioners on at their regular Tuesday evening meeting will consider approving a request that will allow the city to move ahead with the electric vehicle ...