
USDA grant funding for farms, wineries and Lawrence school district bakery frozen per federal order
The future is murky for a Lawrence school district bakery project as well as projects at four local farms and vineyards after their grant funding was frozen this week under orders from Trump and DOGE.

Kansas Senate budget ties $4 million to ending DEI, use of preferred pronouns in emails
The Kansas Senate’s budget committee wants to hold $4 million hostage from Gov. Laura Kelly until state agencies proved they eliminated diversity, equity and inclusion jobs and programs as well as ended use of pronouns in email signatures.

Feds investigating KU over pro-diversity business school partnership
KU is among 45 schools now under federal investigation because one of its graduate programs has been part of a partnership aiming to serve people of color.

Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day Parade coming up
Community members can kick off spring break with a downtown celebration as the Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day Parade is set to return Monday.

Lawrence City Commission to consider altering occupancy limits weeks before development code set to take effect
The Lawrence City Commission will soon consider a major change to the new land development code that could hinder the code’s intended goal of helping people find and afford housing, weeks before it’s set to go into effect.

Feds investigating KU over pro-diversity business school partnership
KU is among 45 schools now under federal investigation because one of its graduate programs has been part of a partnership aiming to serve people of color.

Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day Parade coming up
Community members can kick off spring break with a downtown celebration as the Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day Parade is set to return Monday.

Lawrence City Commission to consider altering occupancy limits weeks before development code set to take effect
The Lawrence City Commission will soon consider a major change to the new land development code that could hinder the code’s intended goal of helping people find and afford housing, weeks before it’s set to go into effect.

Feds investigating KU over pro-diversity business school partnership
KU is among 45 schools now under federal investigation because one of its graduate programs has been part of a partnership aiming to serve people of color.

Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day Parade coming up
Community members can kick off spring break with a downtown celebration as the Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day Parade is set to return Monday.

Lawrence City Commission to consider altering occupancy limits weeks before development code set to take effect
The Lawrence City Commission will soon consider a major change to the new land development code that could hinder the code’s intended goal of helping people find and afford housing, weeks before it’s set to go into effect.
LAWRENCE NEWS

Haskell faculty, many employees who were fired in federal budget cuts reinstated
Haskell Indian Nations University faculty members and many employees who were terminated in baseless federal job cuts have been reinstated.

Young artists of Van Go planning mural for downtown Lawrence building
A beige office building in downtown Lawrence will soon get a bold splash of color from young local artists.

Douglas County commissioners approve plan for Franklin Cemetery, final letter to feds
Cemeteries in Lawrence are nearing capacity, but Franklin Cemetery will someday soon start accepting burials — more than 100 years after the last person was buried there.

Douglas County to close Stull recycling dropoff site
Douglas County will close a public recycling dropoff at the Stull church permanently on Friday because of frequent illegal dumping.
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STATE NEWS

Kansas health officials report measles case in Stevens County
State and county officials say a Stevens County resident has tested positive for measles and that they don’t yet know if the infection is linked to outbreaks elsewhere in the country.

Kansas Democratic unity fractures with fetal child support debate in Senate
Republican legislation to establish child support for pregnancy costs — and, in turn, establish “fetal personhood” — revealed tension among legislators as a Democratic senator representing part of Lawrence inserted a bipartisan tax credit provision.
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COMMUNITY VOICES (OPINION)

Lawrence school board President Kelly Jones: Schools must be safe, welcoming amid anti-trans onslaught (Column)
“The USD 497 Board of Education resolutely wants transgender students, staff, and their families to feel all love the whole school day and be afforded the right and dignity to show up to school as they are — especially now,” Lawrence school board President Kelly Jones writes in this column.

Watkins Museum of History: Curtis Marsh book talk set to celebrate KU’s 160th anniversary
“Over the course of his 30-plus years of service to the University of Kansas, (Curtis) Marsh has amassed a wealth of knowledge about Jayhawk stats, history, and traditions,” Will Haynes writes in this piece from the Watkins Museum of History.
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LAWRENCE LIFE

The Raven Book Store’s bestsellers for March 11, 2025 (Sponsored post)
“Marian Washington dominated the sales these last two weeks! … ‘On Tyranny’ remains a consistent bestseller, with ‘1984’ slowly creeping up the list,” the Raven Book Store writes.

The Lawrence Times is now 4 years old. Please help us shape our future
Thanks to the support of this community, The Lawrence Times launched four years ago and continues to flourish. We’re sharing some highlights and asking our readers to please help us shape our future by filling out a quick survey.

LINK’s lease has skyrocketed and expired, but it isn’t leaving, board president says
Lawrence Interdenominational Nutrition Kitchen continues to serve free meals four times a week, but it’s facing a 286% cost increase to continue using space in the basement of First Christian Church.

The Raven Book Store’s bestsellers for March 11, 2025 (Sponsored post)
“Marian Washington dominated the sales these last two weeks! … ‘On Tyranny’ remains a consistent bestseller, with ‘1984’ slowly creeping up the list,” the Raven Book Store writes.

The Lawrence Times is now 4 years old. Please help us shape our future
Thanks to the support of this community, The Lawrence Times launched four years ago and continues to flourish. We’re sharing some highlights and asking our readers to please help us shape our future by filling out a quick survey.

LINK’s lease has skyrocketed and expired, but it isn’t leaving, board president says
Lawrence Interdenominational Nutrition Kitchen continues to serve free meals four times a week, but it’s facing a 286% cost increase to continue using space in the basement of First Christian Church.
MORE …
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT …

Judge dismisses frequent public commenter’s lawsuit against Lawrence City Commission
A federal judge on Thursday ruled in favor of the Lawrence City Commission in a lawsuit that had alleged commissioners violated a frequent public commenter’s freedom of speech.

Lawrence couple feels impact of new federal anti-trans policies
Claven Snow’s birth certificate has reflected his name and male gender identity for more than a decade, as does his current driver’s license. But his renewed passport, issued after Trump’s recent executive orders, came back with an “F” sex marker.

Haskell students, supporters protest firings, demand government keep its ‘Hands off Haskell’
Holdings signs that read “My education is not your budget cut” and “Culture erasure is not progress,” about three dozen people marched Friday morning down Massachusetts Street to South Park in protest of recent firings at Haskell.

Haskell community divided over federal legislation that would shift oversight of university
The firing of three dozen Haskell employees last week following Trump administration orders is putting a new focus on attempts to shift control of the university to its Board of Regents. But some students worry that could alter the qualities that make Haskell unique.

Judge dismisses frequent public commenter’s lawsuit against Lawrence City Commission
A federal judge on Thursday ruled in favor of the Lawrence City Commission in a lawsuit that had alleged commissioners violated a frequent public commenter’s freedom of speech.

Lawrence couple feels impact of new federal anti-trans policies
Claven Snow’s birth certificate has reflected his name and male gender identity for more than a decade, as does his current driver’s license. But his renewed passport, issued after Trump’s recent executive orders, came back with an “F” sex marker.

Haskell students, supporters protest firings, demand government keep its ‘Hands off Haskell’
Holdings signs that read “My education is not your budget cut” and “Culture erasure is not progress,” about three dozen people marched Friday morning down Massachusetts Street to South Park in protest of recent firings at Haskell.

Haskell community divided over federal legislation that would shift oversight of university
The firing of three dozen Haskell employees last week following Trump administration orders is putting a new focus on attempts to shift control of the university to its Board of Regents. But some students worry that could alter the qualities that make Haskell unique.
MORE …
MORE COMMUNITY VOICES
The opinion pieces in this section are generally written by members of the Lawrence community and those who have close ties. In addition, we’re offering some space for area organizations and organizers to provide updates and attempt to reach other folks who might share their mission.
Want to submit a letter to the Times? Great!
Click here to find out how.

Tom Harper: What’s old is new again at Liberty Hall (Column)
Repertory movies have made a comeback, cultivating community in downtown Lawrence, and “During these uncertain times, we need Liberty Hall as much as Liberty Hall needs us,” Tom Harper writes in this column.

Shawn Alexander: Black history prevails, despite persistent threats (Column)
“Despite backlash, the Black community has consistently pushed to teach Black history, whether sanctioned or not. … We should all champion their efforts,” Shawn Alexander writes in this column.

Letter to the Times: A message from the Haskell Faculty Senate
”To our incredible students, we say be strong and together we will get through this. We must. … To the public, rest assured we will communicate soon ways you may enact your support,” the Haskell Faculty Senate writes in this letter.
The opinion pieces in this section are generally written by members of the Lawrence community and those who have close ties. In addition, we’re offering some space for area organizations and organizers to provide updates and attempt to reach other folks who might share their mission.
Want to submit a letter to the Times? Great!
Click here to find out how.

Tom Harper: What’s old is new again at Liberty Hall (Column)
Repertory movies have made a comeback, cultivating community in downtown Lawrence, and “During these uncertain times, we need Liberty Hall as much as Liberty Hall needs us,” Tom Harper writes in this column.

Shawn Alexander: Black history prevails, despite persistent threats (Column)
“Despite backlash, the Black community has consistently pushed to teach Black history, whether sanctioned or not. … We should all champion their efforts,” Shawn Alexander writes in this column.

Letter to the Times: A message from the Haskell Faculty Senate
”To our incredible students, we say be strong and together we will get through this. We must. … To the public, rest assured we will communicate soon ways you may enact your support,” the Haskell Faculty Senate writes in this letter.