Douglas County will soon get its first look at how it could spend nearly $25 million of federal coronavirus aid. The County Commission on Wednesday will review a plan for its allotment of round-one funding from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as ...
Despite an unprecedented global health crisis, Douglas County appears to be on pace to far surpass any previous voter turnout for a primary election. Douglas County Clerk Jamie Shew told the Journal-World Tuesday that projection is based on several factors, but most notably the county’s ...
Many primary races for public office will soon come to an end, and voters have one last day to make a decision. Tuesday is election day in Kansas, which is the final day for Douglas County voters to cast a ballot for many county, state and federal primary races. Voters have until 7 p.m. to ...
A candidate for Douglas County Commission listed a residential address on her candidate filing form for a property that she does not own, which has led to her receiving questions about whether she is legally running for election. But Shannon Portillo, who is one of two Democratic candidates ...
The Douglas County Jail has reached its functional inmate capacity amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic faster than originally expected, a sheriff's office official said. Capt. Stacy Simmons, of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, reported to the County Commission on Wednesday that the ...
An incumbent Douglas County commissioner who is running for reelection is leading the way in fundraising efforts, according to financial reports published by Douglas County this week. Democratic candidate Nancy Thellman, who is running to earn a fourth term as the County Commission’s 2nd ...
The Douglas County Commission will again hear how local criminal justice leaders are working to decrease the number of people they are booking into the county jail. Criminal Justice Coordinator Mike Brouwer said in a memo to the commissioners that he is meeting with local criminal justice ...
Douglas County voters hoping to cast a ballot in the upcoming primary elections from the convenience of their homes have one day left to request an advance mail ballot. Douglas County Clerk Jamie Shew said the deadline to request an advance mail ballot is 5 p.m. Tuesday. To vote by mail, a ...
Much like other industries nationwide, the Douglas County arts and culture community has been slammed by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. But leaders of local nonprofit arts and culture organizations said that the most challenging part about the pandemic is the uncertainty. “The problem ...
Douglas County has reported 561 cases of COVID-19 as of Thursday, an increase of 19 cases since Wednesday. In Douglas County, 427 out of the 561 cases are inactive or beyond the infectious period, according to Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health. Four patients at Lawrence’s hospital had ...
A group hoping to reignite a community conversation on the future of Robinson Park and a boulder located within it will soon be placing temporary signs there to highlight those efforts. On Wednesday, the Douglas County Commission approved a request from representatives of the “Between the ...
Douglas County will soon receive nearly $25 million in federal COVID-19 relief, and the local chamber of commerce this week is hosting webinars to explain how businesses can apply for some of that funding. Steve Kelly, the chamber of commerce’s vice president for economic development, said ...
A local group may soon place signs in Robinson Park to highlight how a boulder in the park is sacred to the Kanza tribe. The Douglas County Commission during its regular meeting on Wednesday will consider the group’s request to place the temporary signs in the park. The request for new ...
New Douglas County Sheriff Randy Roberts was sworn in Monday morning to fill the remainder of the elected term of now-retired Sheriff Ken McGovern. Gov. Laura Kelly approved the Douglas County Republican Party’s nomination of Roberts as sheriff, according to a social media post from the ...
Lots of big local offices are up for election this year — Douglas County commissioners, sheriff, district attorney and more — and quite a few of them will be decided in the primaries on Aug. 4. We’ll help you get to know the candidates before you mail in your ballot or head to the ...
Ron Thacker wants to make sure rural communities of Douglas County have a voice on the County Commission. Thacker, 52, lives in rural Douglas County in Lecompton Township. He said he noticed many of the candidates running for the County Commission this fall reside in Lawrence, which could make ...
The Douglas County Commission’s decision earlier this year to approve a $29.6 million expansion of its jail after voters rejected such a project in 2018 left Shannon Reid feeling the county leaders were not listening to their constituents. Reid, 35, said she chose to run for the County ...
Watching the Douglas County Commission in January vote to approve a plan to expand its jail as many residents voiced opposition to the project made Shannon Portillo realize she had to act. Portillo, 35, a University of Kansas associate professor and administrator who has extensively studied ...
During the 2016 election cycle, Karen Willey said she noticed the fractured nature of politics and realized she needed to do something to bring people together. Willey, 44, who currently serves on the Lawrence-Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Commission as a county appointee, said she ...
A public servant with experience in record keeping and a love for land management wants to see the Douglas County Register of Deeds office become more accessible for not only personal business, but also historical information. Kim Murphree, 61, who has served as a records manager for the ...