WRITER: Sylas May

If you have a galvanized water line, you could soon get a free replacement from the City of Lawrence

Even if they're not made of lead, your old water lines could be a health hazard, and starting this year, many homeowners in Lawrence will be able to get theirs replaced by the city at no cost. Earlier this week, the City of Lawrence released a report on what it's doing to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency's Lead and Copper Rule. Lead is a neurotoxin, and the EPA's rule is intended to reduce ...

In collaborative show 'Breeders,' Lawrence artists capture the chaos and the fun of parenthood

One thing artist Mona Cliff has learned in 16 years as a stay-at-home mom is that parenting, like art, is chaotic – and that’s OK. “When they were younger, you really think that you would have a plan for the whole day,” said Cliff, whose three kids are all in their teens now. “‘I’m gonna do this, and I’m gonna go do that, and we’re gonna have a plan!’ “And then, you know, one kid throws ...

Hear about the bizarre side of biology with acclaimed author Mary Roach at Liberty Hall

Mary Roach isn’t just a fan of science – she’s made of science, and you are, too. “The whole world is science,” said Roach, a New York Times best-selling author who’s written about the science of cadavers, digestion, sex and a host of other topics. “Your body, your computer, your house, it’s all science.” So she thinks it’s “kind of weird” that much of what she writes about grosses ...

Lawrence City Commission interested in moving public comments to the start of its meetings once a month

Once a month, the Lawrence City Commission is hoping to put public comments first – literally, as the first thing on its meeting agenda. At its meeting on Tuesday, the commission asked staff to bring back a new meeting structure that would move the general public comment period, currently at the very end, to a 45-minute block at the very start on the second Tuesday of every month. It would be a bit of a ...

When Lawrence's public works campus opens, employees say the difference will be 'night and day'

It's 5:45 a.m. at Lawrence's Solid Waste facility, and the noise would wake anyone up. “You haven’t seen all the people yet,” says Mike Lawless, deputy director of Lawrence’s Municipal Services and Operations, as dozens and dozens of workers in yellow gear chatter and get ready for their shifts. “Give it another 2 to 3 minutes and another half of them will come in.” The break room they’re in was ...

Proposal would let some speakers comment near the start of Lawrence City Commission meetings — but only if they registered in advance

The Lawrence City Commission could soon hear public comments near the start of its meeting agenda — but only from a limited number of speakers who have registered in advance. This period for “scheduled public comment,” as well as a “pledge of civility” that would be read before the public comment period, are among the changes to the meeting order that the commission will be considering at its meeting ...