The Board of County Commissioners will begin public hearings on the proposed 2027 budget at 9 a.m. Monday, July 6, in the commission meeting room on the second floor of the historic courthouse, 1100 Massachusetts St.

The proposed $201.5 million budget includes a mill levy of 40.669 mills, which remains flat compared to last year. One mill equals $1 per $1,000 of assessed property value. Commissioners may consider lowering the tax rate and adding services during the review process.

The Douglas County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), which also serves as the Douglas County Emergency Management Board, announces the recipients of the 2026 Preparedness Partner Awards. Presented annually, these awards recognize individuals and organizations whose dedication to planning, collaboration and community preparedness has strengthened Douglas County's ability to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies.

Consolidated Fire District No. 1, in partnership with the Kansas State Fire Marshal and American Pyrotechnics Safety & Education Foundation, has launched the Bucket Brigade program in Douglas County. This program is designed to reduce fires caused by improper fireworks disposal following Independence Day celebrations.

With Independence Day approaching, Douglas County is reminding residents of the rules for using fireworks in unincorporated areas. Fireworks may be discharged only on private property with the owner’s permission and supervision. Their use on public streets or roadways is prohibited.

Fireworks are permitted during the following times:

Score Lawrence HQ on Massachusetts Street opens to the public June 12 as a space for visitors and locals alike to connect with Lawrence activities related to the World Cup. The opening coincides with the first Score Lawrence soccer viewing party.

Located at 1026 Massachusetts St., the headquarters for Score Lawrence will feature:

Douglas County has partnered with Lawrence Public Schools to offer a summer meal site at the Douglas County Fairgrounds in the Open Pavilion. Families can pick up a weekly meal kit for children, ages 1-18. Each kit includes five days of breakfast and lunch items that can be prepared at home.

Registration is required and can be completed by filling out this online form.

In honor of America at 250, the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, the Watkins Museum of History, the City of Lawrence, and Douglas County are partnering to celebrate the public servants who help our community thrive.

The new "Douglas County, Kansas Public Servants Past & Present Tribute Gallery" will debut at Summerfest on July 4 and will honor current and former public servants from across Douglas County, including educators, first responders, military service members and veterans, city and county employees, university staff and faculty, and state and federal workers.

Douglas County Commissioners recently approved an engineering services agreement with HNTB Corporation to complete an environmental assessment for the Wakarusa Drive extension project at a maximum cost of $276,835. They unanimously approved the agreement during their May 13 business meeting.

Today, the Douglas County Clerk’s Office is being recognized for excellence in election administration with a national Clearinghouse Award. The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) presents these awards annually to highlight best practices. This year’s winning programs took place during the 2025 election cycle.

The Douglas County Clerk’s Office was honored in the small-jurisdictions “Innovations and New Practices in Election Administration” category for innovation in workflow using Microsoft 365. The multi-year project was led by Deputy County Clerk Ed Healy.

Douglas County Public Works announces that N 1400 Road, also known as County Route 442, will be closed starting Monday, May 18, between E 2300 Road and E 2400 Road for a bridge replacement project. The area is east of Eudora, near the Johnson County line.

Access will be maintained for nearby properties throughout the project.

Douglas County officials are warning residents about fraudulent text and email messages that appear to be from District Court regarding a traffic summons. These messages are not from Douglas County District Court.

Residents should be skeptical of unsolicited messages, especially those claiming legal action. Do not click on any links. Instead, contact the court or law enforcement agency directly using an official phone number listed online.

On May 5, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission announced that Douglas County Clerk Jamie Shew was elected chair of the Standards Board executive committee during its annual meeting April 28-29 in Washington, D.C. He is the first representative from Kansas to serve as chair of the board.