WRITER: Sylas May

Lawrence city leaders to discuss potential ballot question on whether mayor should be directly elected

The idea of changing Lawrence's mayor to a directly elected position is expected to get some discussion on Tuesday at City Hall. One of the items on the City Commission's agenda for next week is a presentation from the Lawrence Chamber about a potential ballot question on how the city's mayor should be chosen. The question would ask whether Lawrence's mayor should be elected directly, instead of chosen by the ...

Lawrence city leaders set max mill levy at what budget proposal recommends; they also approve transit sales tax ballot question

Lawrence city leaders voted on Tuesday to set the maximum mill levy for 2027 at what the current budget proposal recommends – but they said the rate might get lower as budget conversations continue. They also decided to put a question on the November ballot about whether to increase the city’s transit sales tax. The commission voted 4-1, with Commissioner Kristine Polian opposed, to set the maximum mill ...

Lawrence City Commission starts process of developing data center rules, imposes 24-month moratorium

Over the coming months, City of Lawrence planning staff will be studying what new rules for data centers should be in the city’s code – and data center development will be on hold while they do that work. The City Commission on Tuesday, after hearing from a crowd of advocates, voted unanimously to initiate two text amendments on data centers in the city's Land Development Code and to impose a 24-month ...

Would an Algerian sister city work? Only if Lawrence does the work, those with experience say

There are healthy sister city pairings, says Bill Keel, chair of Sister Cities Lawrence. And then there’s Polittourismus. That’s German for “political tourism,” says Keel, a professor emeritus of German studies at the University of Kansas. “You’re just kind of a political bigwig, you make a junket overseas to visit this city and vice versa. But the citizens aren’t involved; there’s nothing that ...

For Lawrence city staff, 2027's budget is a 'full-circle moment' in more ways than one

Just how long has Lawrence’s city staff been working toward its 2027 budget proposal? The answer to that question might be a year, a few years – or even, in Acting City Manager Casey Toomay’s case, a whole career. “More than 25 years ago, as I mentioned, I was a graduate student interning in the city manager’s office, and I worked on the city’s budget for the year 2001” Toomay told the Lawrence ...

'Pure joy': Youth with disabilities shine in Theatre Lawrence's Penguin Project production of 'Alice in Wonderland Jr.'

Asher loves Theatre Lawrence's Penguin Project shows. So much, she says, that she dropped another play she was going to be in to take part in this year's Penguin Project performance of “Alice in Wonderland Jr.” Theatre Lawrence is one of more than 50 organizations across the country that participate in The Penguin Project, a theater program for young people with special needs. This year's show is this week, ...