Douglas County may have the legal authority to use a sales tax approved by voters in 1994 to finance a nearly $30 million expansion of its jail, but that doesn't mean it's ethical, community activists argued on Wednesday. Joanna Harader, a member of the faith-based social activist group ...
The Douglas County Commission will learn during its next meeting how county staff proposes to pay for a nearly $30 million jail expansion. County Administrator Sarah Plinsky is expected to lay out the financial plans for the proposed $29.6 million expansion project during the commission’s ...
An outgoing member of the Douglas County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council believes more needs to be done to address the issue of race in the local justice system. Crafting a comprehensive plan to address such issues would be a good place to start, said the Rev. Edith Guffey. “It ...
The man who is currently second in command to the Douglas County sheriff filed Friday to run for the office, also ensuring a Democratic primary in the race. Gary Bunting, 44, has worked for the sheriff’s office since he and his wife, Theresa, moved to Lawrence in 1996, according to ...
The Lawrence chamber of commerce has named two former Douglas County public servants as winners of the organization’s most prestigious awards. The chamber recently announced Craig Weinaug, former Douglas County administrator, as the winner of the 2020 Citizen of the Years award, and Jean ...
A new accessible viewing platform will soon be constructed at Wells Overlook Park. The Douglas County Commission on Wednesday accepted a $44,000 grant to help fund the construction of a viewing platform compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility guidelines at the site, which ...
The Douglas County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council has put together a work group to research alternatives for a previously proposed “step-down” unit expansion for the Douglas County Jail. But when the work is done, the CJCC will not provide an official recommendation to the Douglas ...
Douglas County may soon begin work on the construction of a new accessible viewing platform and picnic shelter at Wells Overlook Park. The County Commission during its meeting on Wednesday will consider approving the acceptance of a federal grant worth up to $44,790 to fund part of the ...
With poor crop prices and even worse weather, the farming community in Kansas dealt with a lot of stress last year. “It all seems to pile up on you all at once,” says Lowell Neitzel, a Douglas County farmer, in a new video produced by Douglas County and presented by the local K-State ...
In an effort to help address mental health struggles among Kansas farmers, the K-State Research and Extension Office of Douglas County will soon release a video to help raise awareness about the issue. Mallory Meek, an agent for the extension office, will present the locally produced video to ...
Douglas County does not yet know how a new plan to expand its jail will affect the annual operating costs of the facility. But county staff hopes to have an idea by the end of the month, County Administrator Sarah Plinsky recently told the Journal-World. “I’m hoping to have some round ...
After his mother died in a car accident in 2010, Ehren Schwarz said he began to slip into a spiral of addiction that eventually led to homelessness. Instead of taking advantage of a scholarship to attend and play football at Washburn University in Topeka, Schwarz said he gave into the ...
A new court focused on helping people overcome substance abuse is set to begin operating this week. Douglas County will launch its drug court on Thursday by taking referrals for the program, county officials told the Journal-World on Monday. Shannon Bruegge, who will serve as the drug ...
The past year was good for the Douglas County government in terms of bringing in revenue, allowing the Douglas County Commission to recently authorize the ability to spend an additional $3.1 million. However, County Administrator Sarah Plinsky said the county expected to receive more money in ...
Providing state funding for a planned behavioral health crisis center is the top issue the Douglas County Commission wants lawmakers to consider when they return to Topeka next month. In its recently approved Legislative Priority Statement for the 2020 session, the commission said its No. 1 ...
Douglas County will take over management of a human services facility next year with plans of keeping rent flat for the tenants of the building. The county-owned facility, at 2518 Ridge Court, is currently managed by the United Way of Douglas County, which is also a tenant. During its ...
A planned expansion of the Douglas County Jail is expected to cost nearly $30 million, and construction could begin as early as March, county leaders learned Wednesday. Representatives for Turner Construction, the construction manager for the project, told the Douglas County Commission during ...
Douglas County officials will soon learn how much the planned expansion of the Douglas County Jail will cost. The Douglas County Commission will receive an update on the expansion plans during its work session at 4 p.m. Wednesday. County staff is expected to present an estimated cost for the ...
Several residents of Big Springs voiced opposition to changes to the Douglas County zoning regulations, arguing the proposed changes may hinder their ability to operate businesses in that community. The Lawrence-Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Commission on Monday heard their concerns ...
Although several programs meant to provide alternatives to incarceration and decrease the number of inmates in the Douglas County Jail have garnered some positive results, county officials say the jail still needs to be expanded to address overcrowding. Since those programs — including ...