WRITER: Kim Callahan

Police oppose release of Gridley investigative file to civil litigants, citing potential harm to criminal case against speech pathologist accused of molestation

The Lawrence Police Department is asking a Douglas County district judge to quash a subpoena for its investigative file on a speech pathologist accused of child molestation at a Lawrence elementary school. LPD says, in a motion filed Wednesday, that releasing its full file on Mark Gridley to parties in a civil lawsuit would potentially interfere with the current criminal prosecution of Gridley by the Douglas ...

With booze in the blender, Theatre Lawrence wraps up season with Jimmy Buffett's 'Escape to Margaritaville'

Theatre Lawrence is ending its season with what Mary Doveton calls a perfect beginning to summer: “Escape to Margaritaville.” It’s a jukebox musical — directed by Doveton — featuring the biggest hits of the late tropical troubador Jimmy Buffett, including “Margaritaville,” of course, “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” “Why Don’t We Get Drunk” and other tipsy takes on life and how best to ...

A 'horrible' and avoidable death: Lone Star Lake resident finds great blue heron entangled in fishing line

As Jeff Lewis worked on his dock at Lone Star Lake on Sunday, something half-submerged in the water caught his eye. "I kept looking over there, going 'What is that?'" he said. "So I went over closer, and then I saw what it was": a great blue heron. At first he thought it might still be alive, and his heart pounded with the necessity to save it, but then he realized that it was dead, and he saw the reason why: ...

Lawrence honors its loved ones and its thousands of veterans on Memorial Day weekend

With lots of rain expected in coming days, Lawrence residents lucked out Saturday morning with near perfect conditions for honoring their loved ones at area cemeteries. Green grass, blue skies and a perfect 70 degrees greeted them as they laid flowers and other decorations — balloons, photos, crosses, candles and various ornaments — on graves. The thousands of deceased military veterans at cemeteries in ...

New York sex offender accused of preying on Lawrence girl pleads not guilty; trial set for December, and 2nd defense attorney appointed to help

A violent sex offender from New York who is accused of aggressively preying on a Lawrence girl pleaded not guilty Friday in Douglas County District Court to 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of electronic solicitation. The defendant, Kyle Elder, 35, has waived his right to a preliminary hearing, as well as his right to a speedy trial in the case. Had he not waived the latter, his trial ...

Investigations underway after nude photo of special-needs student taken in Free State bathroom and reportedly shared

On May 6 five boys went into a bathroom at Free State High School, and a short time later all five came out. That much is certain from cameras in the school’s hallway. What happened inside the bathroom, however, is less certain. Cameras are obviously not allowed in school bathrooms, but on this day at least one camera, a student’s cellphone, was briefly pulled out to snap a picture — a nude picture — of ...