WRITER: Bremen Keasey

Amid budget uncertainty, parks director thinks he's up to challenge of guiding department forward

Despite being intrigued by a new possibility in Lawrence, Luis Ruiz was not expecting to seriously consider making a jump to the Sunflower State. Ruiz, who was born and raised in Miami and is a first generation Cuban-American, went to school at the University of Miami and spent at least a decade working in the Sunshine State, with stops in local government like Miami-Dade County and at the music school for his ...

Advocates still pushing for completion of the Lawrence Loop; projects are set in the 2025 budget

As the city gets set to finalize its budget for 2025, one long-term project that advocates hope can stay in the plans for the city is the completion of the Lawrence Loop trail network, a vision and process at least 10 years in the making. The Loop will be a network of 22 miles of continuous, paved walking and biking paths around the city. At the moment, 18 miles of the trail are finished, but the three missing ...

Lawrence city budget for 2025 revised to keep mill levy almost flat, restore 4-person staffing for fire trucks

The revised version of the 2025 budget that Lawrence city commissioners will vote on Tuesday night will now feature a mill rate of 33.197 — about the same as last year’s rate of 33.207 — and will cover the additional expenditures by dipping into the general fund balance. This proposed budget features marked changes from the initial budget proposal in July that would have raised the mill levy from the 2024 ...

City, county officials working with local organizations to provide overflow shelter beds during extreme winter weather

Lawrence and Douglas County officials presented Monday night their current plan for implementing Extreme Weather Emergency Shelters, including working with multiple faith-based organizations, to help potentially save lives in the winter months. Misty Bosch-Hastings, director of the Homeless Solutions Division, and Jill Jolicoeur, the assistant county administrator in Douglas County, presented a plan during ...

Spending some reserves, lowering pay raises, keeping 4-person fire crews — here's what city commissioners want changed in the 2025 budget

A couple of fire station projects would happen later. Staff raises wouldn't be as big. And the city would dip into some special funds to pay for playgrounds at some city parks. Those are among the changes that the Lawrence City Commission has asked staff to make to the 2025 budget plan after hearing dozens of residents voice their frustrations with proposed tax increases and service cuts at a public hearing ...

BIE officials cite increase in enrollment for a potential student housing shortage at Haskell University

After a since-edited Facebook post from Haskell Indian Nations University told students Wednesday night it was “at capacity for Dorm spaces,” a spokesperson said a historic increase in enrollment created new challenges and opportunities. Hours before the university was set to welcome students for orientation and move-in on Thursday, it posted on Facebook at 6:56 p.m.: “New students, We appreciate that ...