WRITER: Bremen Keasey

Lawrence drug, alcohol treatment center celebrates one year of service; working on adding coverage options

Staff and former patients at an alcohol and drug treatment center in Lawrence celebrated the one-year anniversary of its opening, and its leaders say the center is close to being able to accept Medicaid for treatment. The Avalon Wellness and Recovery Center, 801 Iowa St., which provides medical assisted detox to patients as well as residential treatment for substance use disorder, first opened its doors to ...

Haskell community resurrects Thunderbird Theatre with 'Wounspe Wanktya,' a play they say hits home for Native students

Haskell students and community members will bring back an inactive theater group on campus for its first independent production since the COVID-19 pandemic with a play that centers Native stories. The school’s Thunderbird Theatre, a theater company at Haskell Indian Nations University that started in 1975, will put on their first show after a long hiatus, with the production of “Wounspe Wanktya — A ...

Minor injuries, significant damage in Ottawa after tornado; forecasters warn of more severe weather in region

Severe thunderstorms Monday evening led to a confirmed tornado in Ottawa, several reported injuries across Kansas and significant damage, and forecasters warn severe weather could return to region Tuesday night. Three people in Franklin County were left with minor injuries after the storms, according to the sheriff’s office, while two people reported minor injuries in neighboring Miami County, according to ...

'Think higher': Lawrence business leaders hear more about demographics of expected 2026 FIFA World Cup visitors

When the 2026 FIFA World Cup comes to Kansas City this summer, expect lots of tourists from South America, Algerians from outside of Algeria, and a ton of younger people looking for fun things to do. That's what several dozen members of Lawrence's business community heard on Monday at the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce's “Ready, Set, Score!” World Cup preparation event. This was the third planning and ...

Midco to convert vacant lot in downtown Lawrence to prairie 'oasis’ with help from local partners

As the old Joni Mitchell song goes, “they paved paradise, and put up a parking lot.” But one project in downtown Lawrence aims to do the reverse and create an urban oasis with native plants. Pat McAdaragh, the chair and CEO of Midco, told the Journal-World via email that after the remodeling of the company’s store in downtown Lawrence on 644 New Hampshire St., the company saw an opportunity to turn a ...

'It honestly changes everything:' Haskell student journalists thankful for $8,500 grant from community to support school's newspaper

Student journalists at Haskell Indian Nations University are thankful for the Lawrence community’s support after the campus newspaper was presented with a $8,500 grant Wednesday evening. The grant will go to support The Indian Leader, Haskell’s student-run newspaper. The funds to support the grant were raised by the Haskell Family/Friends Network, an advocacy group created by local community members which ...