The Lawrence Times

When a person requests a copy of an electronic public record under the Kansas Open Records Act, public agencies must provide that copy in electronic format, the Kansas Supreme Court ruled Friday. This means, for instance, that agencies can’t print off copies of Excel spreadsheets — they must provide the spreadsheets themselves. “The opinion ushers in a new era of presumed and prompt access to electronic records in Kansas,” said Max Kautsch, the Lawrence attorney who argued the case and president of the Kansas Coalition for Open Government. Source: The Lawrence Times

As Kansas faces the worst teacher shortage it’s ever known, one group says the state needs to raise teacher pay, elevate the profession and offer student teachers a paycheck. “Part of the problem is our salaries in education stink,” said Rick Ginsburg, dean of education at the University of Kansas. “Add to that working conditions that are challenging, a public that is rather critical. … So what you end up with is something that is awfully challenging.” Ginsburg heads a task force created by the Kansas Board of Regents that’s looking at strategies to ease the teacher shortage. The group includes [...]

After more than a year spent questioning the process and legality of how the city allocates its special alcohol tax revenue, an advisory board will meet Friday to discuss a staff memo that says the city’s appropriation of the money adheres to the law. Members of the Special Alcohol Fund Advisory Board (SAFAB) have asked city leaders and staff since 2021 to make more transparent the process of how the city distributes revenue from the special alcohol tax. Source: The Lawrence Times

A man died Friday at the North Lawrence campsite for people experiencing homelessness. At least two camp residents tried to perform CPR to resuscitate the man. One of them was a woman who trembled from shock afterward. She said she wished the camp had access to Narcan — an opioid overdose reversal drug. “We need Narcan in here,” she said. “Tell them to send in Narcan. Please.” Some other camp residents who asked not to be named said they thought the man had overdosed. Source: The Lawrence Times

The community is invited to three public meetings on proposed revisions to the chapter of Lawrence city code that deals with conservation of historic resources. Chapter 22 of the city code creates the Lawrence Register of Historic Places and the Lawrence Historic Resources Commission, according to a news release from the city. “The Lawrence Register is the City’s official list of properties that represent all socioeconomic strata, residences, businesses and industries that illustrate the diversity that has been prevalent in Lawrence since its inception,” according to the release. “The chapter also sets design standards and criteria for the review of building [...]

Lawrence Transit passengers can ride fare-free in 2023, starting Monday, Jan. 2. The yearlong, fare-free pilot program is supported by state and federal transit funds and sales tax revenue. It applies to fixed-route buses, T Lift, Night Line, and future Sunday microtransit. To be clear, “This means anyone can use any of the Lawrence Transit services for free throughout all of 2023,” according to a recent news release from the city. In other communities, fare-free programs have resulted in ridership increases of 20% to 60%, according to the city. Source: The Lawrence Times

Eudora machinist Wayne Neis wasted no time when it came to fixing the historic Douglas County courthouse clock. A busted gear had left the 117-year-old clock defunct since August. And it wasn’t as if someone could order the broken part — the part no longer existed. Word traveled to Jason Grems, of Eudora, who owns a welding shop as a side gig from his work as a captain at the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. Grems sought out Neis, knowing the project had more moving parts than he could take on alone. “I knew (Neis) could do it,” Grems said. “I’ve seen [...]

Assistant Lawrence City Manager Diane Stoddard is leaving her position effective Jan. 13, according to a city news release Wednesday afternoon. She has accepted a position as city administrator in Leawood, according to the release. Stoddard’s role with the city manager’s office began in October 2007, according to the release. She also served as the interim city manager from June 2015 to March 2016. “It has been an honor to serve as both Assistant City Manager and, on one occasion, Interim City Manager for Lawrence over the last 15 years,” Stoddard said in the release. “As my hometown, Lawrence will always [...]

Lawrence city commissioners approved a resolution Tuesday that will allow some downtown establishments to derive up to 90% of their sales from liquor for the next couple of years. The resolution stems from a request from John Brown’s Underground designed to skirt a long-standing city rule that requires many downtown establishments with liquor licenses to derive no more than 45% of their sales from liquor — the rest must come from food. The ordinance was originally passed to prevent downtown from becoming a problematic bar district. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, many smaller downtown businesses “struggled and continue to struggle to comply with the 45% cap,” [...]

Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday will vote on a resolution that would allow some small downtown establishments to derive up to 90% of their sales from liquor for the next few years. It stems from a request from John Brown’s Underground designed to skirt a long-standing city rule that requires many downtown establishments with liquor licenses to derive no more than 45% of their sales from liquor — the rest must come from food. The ordinance was originally passed to prevent downtown from becoming a problematic bar district. Source: The Lawrence Times