About 250 homeowners in the special taxing districts set to pay millions of dollars for improvements to Queens Road have signed onto protest petitions opposing the districts, but the city says the petitions are not enough to stop the process. According to state law, 51 percent or more of property owners — whose properties also represent more than half of the geographic area of the taxing district — must sign a protest petition to prevent a taxing district from being established. A review by the city indicates the Queens Road petitions did not meet those requirements. Read more: LJWorld.com.

Lawrence city commissioners will soon consider whether to adopt a more comprehensive approach to neighborhood traffic problems that would go beyond adding speed bumps or other devices to streets. Earlier this year, the city announced it was re-evaluating its traffic calming program, which attempts to address issues such as speeding and cut-through traffic by adding physical devices such as speed bumps or traffic circles. At its meeting Tuesday, the commission will consider a new traffic calming policy that also includes traffic enforcement and monitoring, among other ways to address problem traffic. Read more: LJWorld.com.

City leaders will consider adding three issues to their list of legislative priorities, including a statement opposed to making the South Lawrence Trafficway into a toll road. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will consider approving its Lawrence Legislative Priority Statement, which it sends annually to the state legislative delegation. The proposed statement comprises 21 priorities, three of which are new additions: one against using tolls to fund the expansion of the SLT; one in favor of giving municipal court judges greater flexibility to consider defendants’ ability to pay when imposing penalties; and one against changing property [...]

In accordance with Executive Order 10-12, and following the proclamation of President Donald J. Trump, Governor Jeff Colyer has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff immediately for 30 days due to the death of former President George H.W. Bush. “I was saddened to hear last night of the passing of President George H.W. Bush, whom I had the privilege to serve under as a White House fellow. His hard work and dedication over decades of public service was matched only by his love and devotion to his wife Barbara and his children. His contributions at every level of his personal [...]