When one cabinet door closes, another opens. That may not be exactly how the old adage goes, but it is how Douglas County Sheriff Ken McGovern embarked on a long career in law enforcement that is now winding to a close. McGovern had been working for a cabinet company that closed in March of ...
The only Republican in the race for the Douglas County Commission 2nd District seat has dropped out. Brett LaRue announced in a Thursday news release that he was “withdrawing” his candidacy and endorsing incumbent Commissioner Nancy Thellman. However, LaRue’s name will remain on the ...
Criminal justice leaders have heard the call to find ways to decrease their usage of the Douglas County Jail, but finding new solutions so far has been a struggle. District Attorney Charles Branson and Chief Judge James McCabria told County Commissioners during a Wednesday work session that ...
Black inmates in Douglas County generally spend more time in the county jail than white inmates, and this problem is more pronounced in Douglas County than the national average, according to a new analysis presented to the local Criminal Justice Coordinating Council on Tuesday. Matt Cravens, ...
Douglas County's criminal justice coordinator says the county jail's inmate population could become a crisis in the second half of the year because of COVID-19, and the County Commission will continue discussing what to do about it on Wednesday. During Tuesday's Criminal Justice Coordinating ...
The Douglas County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council will meet via Zoom Tuesday to discuss issues including racial disparities and the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on the local jail, according to its agenda. Matt Cravens, data analyst for the CJCC, will give a presentation on racial ...
A longtime Douglas County public servant who has overseen some of the county's unsung improvements will soon retire. Public Works Director Keith Browning, 66, will leave the position later this month after having served the county for 31 years over two stints, where he has overseen the ...
The Douglas County Commission will soon begin discussions to further explore the viability of its plan to expand its jail. During their meeting on Wednesday, the commissioners came to a consensus to have further discussions on the controversial project, noting they believe the circumstances ...
Though city leaders voted to approve plans and permits associated with the county's expansion of its jail, some commissioners said they were not endorsing the project. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission voted 4-1, with Commissioner Courtney Shipley opposed, to the ...
The Douglas County Commission at its Wednesday meeting will consider allowing the consolidation of two county departments. The commissioners have a short agenda for the meeting. All of the items that they will consider are listed for the meeting’s consent agenda, which allows them to ...
The election races are set. On Monday, the deadline to file for election to Douglas County and local state offices passed, setting up some primary elections later this summer. Primary elections are scheduled for Aug. 4. Primary winners will head to a general election on Nov. 3. While the ...
Story updated at 8:04 p.m. Monday: On the last day to file for Douglas County Commission races, five new candidates threw their hats in the ring — but one incumbent county commissioner who hadn't yet filed wasn't among them. Commissioner Michelle Derusseau, a Republican who currently holds ...
Though Lawrence city leaders showed some concern about yearly reports missing from the police department, Douglas County leaders said they believe they have the information they need about the sheriff’s office from various other reports. As the Journal-World reported May 17, the Lawrence ...
If the economic downturn associated with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic affects Douglas County’s tax revenues, it has cash on hand to help it get through the current budget year. But how a decrease in those revenues may affect the county’s budget in the years to come is not yet ...
A former law enforcement officer and current business owner is running for a seat on the Douglas County Commission. Brett LaRue, who owns and operates a home inspection service, filed for the county’s Second District seat as a Republican, according to a tweet from the Douglas County ...
Douglas County Undersheriff Gary Bunting has withdrawn from the race for Douglas County sheriff, he said Friday. “While I feel that I could have done an outstanding job for our community, its citizens, and our employees; health and family issues take a priority over the campaign,” Bunting ...
A public servant with experience in record keeping and a love for land management has decided to run for the office of Douglas County register of deeds. Kim Murphree, who has served as a records manager for the Lawrence Police Department for the last 18 years, recently filed to run for the ...
Story updated at 1:29 p.m. Thursday With just a few days left before the election filing deadline, only one of the two Douglas County Commissioners who are up for reelection have officially stepped up to retain their seats. On Thursday, Commissioner Nancy Thellman filed to run for reelection, ...
The Douglas County Commission could hold its meetings in person next month. During the commission’s meeting on Wednesday, which was held on an online conference call, County Administrator Sarah Plinsky told the commissioners she recommended they resume in-person meetings after the third ...
The Douglas County Commission will convene for a meeting with a brief agenda on Wednesday. All of the items the commissioners will consider are listed for the meeting’s consent agenda, which allows the commissioners to consider and approve several items in one motion, unless a commissioner ...