WRITER: Kim Callahan

Lawrence school district investigating possible carbon monoxide exposure at elementary school

Updated at 2:42 p.m. Monday The Lawrence school district is investigating possible carbon monoxide exposure at Kennedy Elementary School that may have affected the health of at least two staff members. The two employees informed the district that they had tested positive for elevated carbon monoxide levels. As the district inspected Kennedy Elementary, 1605 Davis Road, it discovered that a natural gas hot ...

21-year-old Lawrence resident killed in 5-vehicle crash on I-70

A 21-year-old Lawrence resident died in a multiple-vehicle accident Sunday on Interstate 70 in Leavenworth County, according to a Kansas Highway Patrol report. The 21-year-old, Tristan Kuritz, was driving a 2014 Chevrolet Cruze. Kuritz's vehicle was one of five involved in the accident, which occurred shortly after 3:30 p.m. Sunday near mile marker 213, about two miles east of the Leavenworth County Road 1 ...

Painting underway on women of color mural at Lawrence Public Library

Updated at 4:13 p.m. Saturday A mural depicting women of color is well underway on an exterior wall of the Lawrence Public Library. The vividly colored "Wak’ó Mujeres Phụ nữ Women Mural" spans much of the library’s lower south wall and celebrates women of color past and present who made noteworthy contributions to the area’s history and culture. The women depicted on the mural were chosen through a ...

Lawrence scientist facing deportation wins opportunity to present case to immigration judge

After a seven-month ordeal of facing imminent deportation and separation from his family, a Lawrence scientist and father of three has finally won the opportunity to present his case to an immigration judge. “We are all mightily relieved,” Syed Jamal said Tuesday at a news conference at his attorney’s office in Kansas City, Mo. Jamal, originally from Bangladesh, was arrested by Immigration and Customs ...

10-year-old takes gun to science camp in Johnson County, accidentally discharges it

A 10-year-old who brought a gun to a science camp in Johnson County accidentally discharged the weapon Tuesday, causing the evacuation of the room where the camp was being held. Approximately nine to 10 children were in the room at the New Century Fieldhouse in Johnson County when the incident occurred around 11 a.m., according to Capt. Rob Weber of the Johnson County Parks and Recreation Department ...

Lawrence dog smacks down hawk eyeing family's backyard chickens

A Lawrence dog is being credited with an act of backyard heroism — or maybe with just being a darn good dog — after batting a hawk out of the air to save his people's chickens. Lawrence residents Taylor and Kailey Petrehn, who own 1900 Barker Bakery and Cafe, were having dinner Sunday evening in their North Lawrence home when their dog Cooper, a 110-pound Anatolian shepherd-Great Pyrenees mix, saw the hawk ...