A new type of zoning for “very high density” housing now is a step closer to being approved in Lawrence for the first time ever. On Wednesday night, the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend that the City Commission rezone four properties in the Oread neighborhood from their current zoning category of R-4, or high density residential, to R-5, or very high density ...
The taste of victory was sweet on Tuesday night for staff at the Clinton Water Treatment Plant as they accepted the trophy for the top tap water in the state of Kansas. The city learned in September that the plant had won the best-tasting tap water award, which is given by the Kansas section of the American Water Works Association and the Kansas Water Environment Association. But it wasn't until Tuesday night's ...
Citing the “sacrifices” that the city has had to make in a difficult budget year, the Lawrence City Commission on Tuesday broke an impasse between the city and the fire medical union by siding with the city’s pay proposal. The commission voted 3-1, with Commissioner Amber Sellers opposed and Commissioner Brad Finkeldei absent, to accept management’s proposal, which includes a 3% general wage increase ...
The City of Lawrence and the union that represents firefighters and other emergency personnel are at an impasse on wages, and the City Commission will be asked to resolve it at its meeting on Tuesday. Last year, the city and the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1596 came to a working agreement that would cover the years 2025 through 2027. But this year, they reopened it solely to discuss wages ...
Last November, when Lawrence and Douglas County planning officials set their traffic safety targets for 2025, their target was to have under 8.3 fatal crashes in Douglas County. So far, the county is under that, with just five. Now, they're considering a target for 2026 that looks a lot lower: 6.4 fatal crashes. You might think that planners hope to see a drop in crashes because of the county's performance so ...
As someone who helps turn people into frogs, squirrels, hares and more, Jane Pennington might sound like a bit of a mad scientist. And on Thursday, while preparing for Theatre Lawrence's annual costume sale, she really looks the part — showing off a wild white wig, white coat and bug-eyed goggles that were used in the theater's production of "Young Frankenstein" in 2024. Pennington, the theater's ...