WRITER: Sylas May

Lawrence City Commission approves nearly $1M contract for fire station design, has questions about stormwater

Lawrence city leaders on Tuesday approved a nearly $1 million final design contract for the city’s new fire station, and they’re interested in hearing more about how the project might affect stormwater drainage nearby. The commission voted 4-0, with Mayor Brad Finkeldei absent, in favor of the $951,502 agreement with SFS Architecture Inc. for the final design of Fire Station 6 in northwest Lawrence. Steven ...

Douglas County's Behavioral Health Court is proud of its 100th graduate and how far the program has come

There have now been 100 successful graduates of Douglas County’s Behavioral Health Court, and the latest one, Alex Cowdin, has some advice to keep that number growing. “This program’s really awesome,” Cowdin told the other court participants at his final hearing on Tuesday. “If you really just take advantage of it and take what is offered you, you’ll go really far.” After dozens of hearings and ...

New City Manager Majed Al-Ghafry says Lawrence is already 'a winning combination for me'

At City Manager Majed Al-Ghafry’s first City Commission meeting on Tuesday, Vice Mayor Mike Courtney called on the community “to provide him a warm Kansas welcome.” And Al-Ghafry said he’s already felt that in his first days on the job. “I will tell you, I’ve absolutely been welcomed in this incredible city,” Al-Ghafry said. “... Love the place, love the organization, love the community. I ...

From pre-approved designs to preserving older homes, Lawrence housing study's strategies have precedents around the U.S.

If Lawrence wants to add hundreds of housing units a year, as its affordable housing study says is necessary, it’s going to need some new tactics. The housing study, as the Journal-World has reported, was recently completed by consulting firm Development Strategies using a COVID-related grant. Among other things, it found that Lawrence had a severe shortage of housing of all types, and a demand for more than ...

Homeless man accused of chasing woman with bat outside Lawrence Public Library is ordered to stand trial

A man accused of hitting a woman, pulling her hair and chasing her with a baseball bat earlier this year at and outside the Lawrence Public Library was ordered on Friday to stand trial on a charge of aggravated assault. At a preliminary hearing, Judge Stacey Donovan found that the state had produced sufficient evidence to bind Brandon Eugene Snow over for trial. Snow, 35, is a homeless man, and the case he's ...

City Commission to consider nearly $1M contract for final design of Fire Station 6

City leaders next week will consider authorizing a nearly $1 million contract for the final design of northwest Lawrence's new fire station. At its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission is set to vote on the $951,502 agreement with SFS Architecture Inc. for the final design of Fire Station 6. SFS was previously selected for the preliminary design process of the station, and in March 2025, the City ...