Several local candidates on Tuesday were on the path to win election to Douglas County positions as they earned votes in uncontested races. While most faced party challengers during the August primary elections, the Democratic candidates for the county’s sheriff, district attorney, clerk, ...
Even before polls opened Tuesday, Douglas County residents were on track to cast a record number of ballots in the 2020 general election. Strong advance voting in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic put the county above 50% voter turnout before Election Day, and it looked as if the county ...
The construction of a new church and the reclamation of a rock quarry in rural Douglas County are on tap for the County Commission to consider this week. During their meeting Wednesday, the commissioners will consider a site plan for Clinton Presbyterian Church to build a 4,244-square-foot ...
A Democrat running for a Douglas County Commission seat traditionally held by Republicans has a steep financial advantage over her opponent. Shannon Portillo, a Democrat running for the County Commission’s 3rd District seat, reported raising about 10 times more money than her Republican ...
The Douglas County Commission has scheduled a public hearing to consider installing new water drainage standards for a watershed in the northern part of the county, which may affect future development projects in the area. However, some of the commissioners said they have concerns about the ...
Over the past two weeks, the University of Kansas has confirmed only 30 new cases of COVID-19, a significant drop from the rates recorded earlier in the semester, data released Tuesday shows. KU has confirmed 1,101 total cases of COVID-19 since the school year began in August, an increase of ...
The Democratic primary winners of Douglas County’s top law enforcement positions on Monday affirmed their commitment to work with a national nonprofit organization focused on criminal justice reform. Suzanne Valdez, the presumed next district attorney, and Lt. Jay Armbrister, the presumed ...
Douglas County could soon establish new water drainage standards for a watershed in the northern part of the county, which would affect future development projects in the area. The County Commission on Wednesday will review a proposed set of stormwater management standards for the Maple Grove ...
Douglas County voters hoping to vote by mail have one day left to request a ballot. The deadline to request an advance mail ballot for the Nov. 3 general election is Tuesday, according to the Douglas County Clerk’s Office. Along with the races for the U.S. presidency and Congress, voters ...
The word “love” is not often associated with county government, Douglas County Commissioner Nancy Thellman said Friday. But she said that was the only word that fit regarding the work Douglas County and local health organizations have done toward establishing a new campus focused on ...
Douglas County will take on debt to pay for costs associated with the construction of a behavioral health campus and refinance some of its current debt to save almost $1 million. The County Commission on Wednesday authorized the sale of general obligation bonds to cover $8.8 million of the ...
Douglas County could take on debt to cover $8.8 million of the construction costs for a new behavioral health crisis center. The County Commission on Wednesday will consider authorizing the sale of general obligation bonds for the project, which would establish a 20,000-square-foot facility ...
With election day nearing, Douglas County Clerk Jamie Shew told the Journal-World that his office has been working to dispel misinformation that has been getting to voters. As residents are being asked to cast their general election ballots during a global pandemic, Shew has answered questions ...
An attorney quizzed local public health experts during a hearing Friday about studies and data they’ve cited to support a Douglas County health order that restricts the hours that bars can be open and serve alcohol. Meanwhile, the attorney for the county posed the question of whether just ...
Douglas County issued a statement Thursday in support of an embattled health order that, among other things, limits the hours that bars can be open amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. In addition, attorneys John Bullock and Bradley Finkeldei, of the law firm Stevens & Brand, filed a ...
A Douglas County mental health leader on Wednesday said he was on the verge of tears when the County Commission was set to approve the financial plans for a long-proposed behavioral health crisis center. Patrick Schmitz, CEO for Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, told the commissioners ...
The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council focused most of its meeting Wednesday on discussing the next steps to address disparities that have led to Douglas County’s incarceration rate for Black people being nearly five times that of white people. Looking forward, the council hopes to see ...
Douglas County’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Council on Wednesday will discuss racial and ethnic disparities and hear an update on statewide criminal justice reform, according to the council’s online agenda. Lawrence Mayor Jennifer Ananda will lead the CJCC in a discussion on goals and ...
The creation of a Douglas County behavioral health crisis center could take another step toward reality this week when the County Commission considers a roughly $10.5 million financial plan for the project. During their meeting Wednesday, the commissioners will consider approving a total ...
As young artists ran paint brushes over a concrete wall in southern Lawrence, Rick Wright explained the types of brush strokes that would suit the project. Wright, the art director for Van Go Inc., told one teenager she could make the strokes move in a direction to suggest a breaking wave, and ...