Democratic lawmaker Dennis “Boog” Highberger, of Lawrence, does not intend to seek another term in the Kansas Legislature after his current term expires, he told the Journal-World Wednesday. Highberger, who recently won reelection — unopposed — to the 46th District in the Kansas House of Representatives, was first elected to that body in 2015, taking over the seat vacated by Paul Davis, who chose to ...
A woman who has been charged with setting multiple fires at North Lawrence businesses — one of which reportedly caused more than $1 million in damage — just days earlier was responsible for a serious structure fire at a west Lawrence business, according to a newly released affidavit in the case. On the morning of Nov. 13, according to the affidavit, which details probable cause for her arrest, Abie ...
When Maggie Shermoen graduated from Missouri State University with a degree in theater, she figured on moving to New York to try her hand at professional acting. Shermoen had lived and breathed the stage from a young age — one might almost say from conception, considering her musical-loving parents met while performing in a production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “South Pacific.” But just as she was ...
A Topeka man was arrested Thursday evening in eastern Lawrence after he allegedly stole a woman's cellphone by force and injured a person who was attempting to help the woman. The man, Anthony Duane Harris, 56, was arrested early on Thanksgiving evening in the 1600 block of Haskell Avenue on suspicion of robbery, aggravated assault and battery. According to Laura McCabe, a spokesperson for the Lawrence Police ...
A Missouri woman was sentenced Tuesday in Douglas County District Court to six months in prison — which was suspended to probation — for a crime that was originally charged as criminal sodomy but that was reduced through plea bargaining to two counts of felony theft. As the Journal-World previously reported, Michalia D. Williams, 25, of Liberty, Missouri, and her husband, Joshua Michael Williams, of Belton, ...
A Kansas City, Missouri, man on Tuesday pleaded no contest in Douglas County District Court to assaulting a police officer. The man, Carlos Garcia Gaspar, 43, entered the plea to one felony count of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer as part of a plea deal that saw multiple other felony charges being dropped. The case against Gaspar arose on Aug. 30, when he was alleged to have damaged a car and ...