WRITER: Bremen Keasey

A decluttering expert in Douglas County shares tips on how to get rid of your junk responsibly

Decluttering, with its talk of "sparking joy" and making life simpler, may sound innocent, but Erin Schmidt knows that it has a hidden dark side. Schmidt is the owner of Douglas County-based decluttering business Home Liberated LLC. She says many people don't know that when they get rid of their old junk — even if they try to do it responsibly by donating it to a thrift store — it still may one day end up ...

KU student found not guilty of rape, criminal sodomy by Douglas County jury after a day and a half of deliberation

After a day and a half of deliberations, a jury found a KU student not guilty of rape and aggravated criminal sodomy on Friday in Douglas County District Court. The trial for Calistus Chukwuma Ezenwa began on Monday, and included testimony from the woman who accused Ezenwa of assaulting her on Nov. 21, 2024. During closing arguments on Thursday, the attorneys didn't dispute that something happened that night ...

Lawrence City Commission to consider approving financial incentives for $300M second phase of KU's Gateway project

Tuesday is set to be decision day for what leaders are calling Lawrence’s largest development project in modern history — the approximately $750 million Gateway district around the University of Kansas’ football stadium. Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday will consider a variety of financial incentives that would allow the $300 million second phase of the Gateway project to begin at 11th and ...

City of Lawrence pushes timeline for Outdoor Aquatic Center renovation back a year; project will be done in phases

The City of Lawrence announced Thursday it will push back the construction timeline for a major renovation to its Outdoor Aquatic Center, with the goal of completing the project in 2027. The city said in a press release that the project will now be completed in two phases “to avoid overlap and minimize disruption.” The first phase will include building improvements that will focus on renovating the ...

Lawrence city commissioners approve a traffic calming project in Sunset Hill neighborhood; construction expected in 2026

The Lawrence City Commission on Tuesday night approved a traffic calming project in the Sunset Hill neighborhood that will add speed cushions along a major collector street. The project calls for adding five speed cushions along Crestline Drive between Ninth Street and Bob Billings Parkway to address concerns about speeding and cut-through traffic along that route. The project was chosen from among 16 ...

Jefferson's holding food drive to benefit Just Food; customers can bring in donations and get $5 coupons all August

With Douglas County food pantry Just Food facing budget pressure from federal cuts, Lawrence's Jefferson’s restaurants are partnering with the pantry to hold a month-long food drive. The pantry and restaurant kicked off the “Five for Food” food drive Wednesday at the Dillons at 1015 W. 23rd St. Jefferson’s guests who want to support the food drive can contribute non-perishable items to donation barrels ...