WRITER: Bremen Keasey

Lawrence city commissioners to consider awarding $4.8 million contract for renovations to Outdoor Aquatic Center

The renovations to Lawrence’s Outdoor Aquatic Center could be starting soon, as the City Commission will consider awarding a construction contract for the project this week. On Tuesday night, the commission will consider a contract of just under $4.8 million with Royal Construction Services LLC for renovating the outdoor pool at 727 Kentucky St. If the contract is approved, city staff expects the first of ...

Lawrence City Commission candidates share housing ideas, thoughts on Federal funding threats during candidate forum

Lawrence City Commission candidates discussed how they would approach creating more affordable housing in the city and shared their thoughts on how Lawrence should respond to federal threats that seem to target diversity, equity and inclusion policies. The four candidates — Michael Courtney, Bart Littlejohn, Kristine Polian and Bob Schumm — spoke during a forum Saturday morning at the Lawrence Public ...

Lawrence Bicycle Club combining two rides into one weekend for first 'October Cyclefest'

The Lawrence Bicycle Club has hosted three annual long bike rides on the paths of rural northeast Kansas, including the Octoginta that dates back nearly 60 years. While that road ride will be held Sunday, Marty Dubois, a board member for LBC and an event organizer, said that this year the club is doing something different. “We wanted to make a weekend out of it,” Dubois said. So for the first time ever, ...

Lawrence city commissioners to consider approving contract for second phase of city's $130 million public works campus

Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday will consider approving a more than $50 million contract to fund the second phase of construction for the city’s new $130 million Municipal Services and Operations campus. Commissioners will consider awarding a contract to the construction firm McCownGordon for just over $57 million of work on the second phase of the MSO campus. The first phase of construction on the ...

New downtown Lawrence bar and restaurant will showcase 'natural' wine, ever-changing menu

Even as life took him away from Lawrence, Jake Moffitt always had an aim for what his life would look like when he came back. “I always had a dream to move back and open a restaurant, but it wasn't clear what it was,” Moffitt said. Moffitt went to college at KU and met his wife, Elizabeth, there, but they then moved to the Pacific Northwest in 2015 so she could attend graduate school. Moffitt worked as a ...

Man sentenced to 21 months after fiery motorcycle crash in North Lawrence severely injured woman

A man who crashed a motorcycle while fleeing from police, seriously injuring his female passenger, was sentenced Friday to 21 months in prison. Dillon Paul Herken, of Easton, pleaded no contest to one count of aggravated battery in September as part of a deal in which four other charges were dropped. The high-speed crash occurred on Feb. 27 in North Lawrence as Herken fled from a Kansas Highway Patrol ...