Despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, overall property values in Douglas County increased in 2021. However, some areas saw significant declines, including the lodging industry and downtown businesses. According to a report from County Appraiser Steven Miles, the property values throughout ...
Douglas County will move forward on a county jail maintenance project estimated to cost about $4 million after the County Commission on Wednesday signed off on the plan. The County Commissioners also explored an idea that would have paired the maintenance projects with a larger remodel of the ...
Several maintenance projects costing up to $4 million could soon be coming to the Douglas County Jail. The County Commission on Wednesday will discuss a list of possible maintenance projects at the jail, including HVAC improvements that were originally to be completed alongside a ...
Lawrence city officials say a bill that Kansas legislators are referring to as the “Energy Choice Act” is an attempt to limit local governments’ ability to move toward more renewable energy sources and combat climate change. Last year, Lawrence joined other communities across the nation ...
A new diversion program from the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office that aims to serve as another alternative to incarceration in the local criminal justice system could initially help dozens of people stay out of jail. Deputy District Attorney Joshua Seiden told the County Commission ...
The Evergy energy company is planning to build an $8.5 million substation in central Lawrence that it says will improve electricity service in the community and strengthen the regional power grid. Evergy purchased land near Kasold Drive and Bob Billings Parkway, near the University of ...
The Douglas County Commission will soon get its first look at a new local criminal justice program that aims to divert suspects in criminal cases away from incarceration. The County Commission on Wednesday will meet with Douglas County district attorney’s office staff during a work session ...
A propane gas delivery business will soon build a 30,000-gallon tank in rural Douglas County near Baldwin City. The County Commission on Wednesday unanimously approved Heartland Propane’s site plan to build the tank on land located on the southeast corner of North 300 Road and East 1260 ...
A propane gas delivery business wants to build a 30,000-gallon tank in rural Douglas County to help with local deliveries. The County Commission on Wednesday will consider a site plan for the business, Heartland Propane, to construct the propane bulk plant on land located on the southeast ...
Former County Commissioners Nancy Thellman and Michelle Derusseau tackled a lot of big projects in their time in county government — a new behavioral health campus, criminal justice reform efforts, a revamped set of land use regulations — but some of their proudest achievements are a lot ...
Two new Douglas County officials on Wednesday quickly stepped into leadership roles just days after they were sworn into office. Commissioners Shannon Portillo and Shannon Reid were unanimously elected as chair and vice chair of the County Commission during its regular meeting. Both were ...
Douglas County's new law enforcement leaders shared their to-do list with other local criminal justice officials on Tuesday, and they're envisioning new diversion programs for defendants, making better use of space in the county jail and a variety of other criminal justice reforms. District ...
The Douglas County Commission will meet for a brief agenda on Wednesday as two new commissioners take their seats. The commission will consider electing new leadership for 2021 and consider approving some items on a consent agenda, including authorizing the Public Works Department to solicit ...
Despite the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, Douglas County’s new drug court program was able to find its footing in 2020 and began helping a handful of people who are working toward becoming drug free. Douglas County District Court Judge Kay Huff, who presides over the program, ...
Douglas County officials who won elections in November were sworn into office Monday at the county courthouse. Douglas County Commissioners Shannon Reid and Shannon Portillo, District Attorney Suzanne Valdez, Sheriff Jay Armbrister and Register of Deeds Kent Brown were among the newly elected ...
New private docks built on Lone Star Lake will now need to follow specific regulations aimed at preserving the lake and keeping the structures safe. The County Commission on Wednesday approved new regulations related to private structures built in Lone Star Lake Park, a county-owned park in ...
For the first time in Douglas County history, property owners along Lone Star Lake may need to follow specific guidelines when building docks on the water. The County Commission on Wednesday will consider adopting regulations for docks and decks on the southwestern Douglas County ...
After more than four decades of helping young people stay in school, advocating for people with disabilities and inspiring her colleagues, University of Kansas professor Jan Sheldon is hanging up her hat. Sheldon, a professor of applied behavioral science, retired last week. During her more ...
As Douglas County and its community partners were racing to make sure all of their coronavirus relief funds were spent by the end of the year, the federal government provided a deadline extension just days before it was set to expire. Both Gov. Laura Kelly’s office and the National ...
Despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and fears it would lead to a significant economic recession, Douglas County will begin its 2021 budget with $6 million on hand, showing that it avoided dipping far into its reserve funds this year like many residents, businesses and other organizations ...