Douglas County is proposing a quarter-cent sales tax that will generate an estimated $4.9 million annually to help finance and maintain a behavioral health recovery campus including a crisis center, supportive housing and prevention programs.

Lawrence, Kan.—The second of two full-scale emergency exercises in recent weeks will take place in Lawrence on Tuesday, Oct. 9. Tuesday’s exercise also will have a transportation-related hazardous materials theme, but this scenario will also focus on a response to a mass casualty incident, which will drive a more involved response, according to Teri Smith, Douglas County’s Director of Emergency Management. 

Is the criminal justice system broken? How have public policy failures resulted in issues that the criminal justice system is being forced to address? Do alternative justice programs really work?  

Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announces Elmoses Blackwell, 28, of Denver Colorado was sentenced today for his July 31, 2018 plea to aggravated criminal sodomy and two counts of robbery that occurred on May 28, 2017 and on June 7, 2017.  The plea consolidated two cases. 

The Kaw Valley Farm Tour Heritage Sites online tour provides a deeper understanding of the rich agricultural heritage of the area and to showcase historic buildings that were and continue to be part of the cultural fabric of Kansas. This tour is coordinated by the Douglas County Heritage Conservation Council and the Douglas County Heritage office which work to ensure the conservation of Douglas County’s natural and cultural resources.

Lone Star Lake will be closed to all boating activities on Friday morning, September 21, until 12:00 noon, and on Saturday, September 22, early morning through the afternoon.  The closure is to due to the CSCAA National Collegiate Open Water Swimming Championship being held at the lake.  All boat ramps will be closed Friday morning and Saturday morning through the finish of all race activities. 

On July 2, 2018, at approximately 9:35 p.m. Lawrence Police Department Sergeant Robert Neff located a vehicle believed to be associated with the report of a double shooting.  The vehicle was traveling eastbound on West 23rd Street.  Sgt. Neff started to follow the vehicle and attempted to make a car stop in the 2100 block of Louisiana Street.  The suspect sped off in the vehicle, ran the vehicle over a fire hydrant, and crashed it into a yard.

On June 29, 2018, Officer Charles Stewart of the Lawrence, Kansas Police Department was dispatched to a residence in the 400 block of Crestline Drive to investigate the report of a disturbance.  Upon arrival Officer Stewart observed a vehicle leaving the residence.  Officer Stewart attempted to stop the vehicle. The driver refused to yield to the officer’s lawful car stop until he parked the vehicle in the driveway of 620 Stowe Court.

Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announces that today a jury convicted Kansas City, Kansas residents Tyrone J. Carvin, 20, and Ramone Singleton, 23, of voluntary manslaughter, aggravated battery, and aggravated assault in the September 2017 homicide of Cameron Hooks at a local motel. 

On May 29, 2018, Officer Ian McCann with the Lawrence Police Department was on patrol enforcing the seat belt law as part of the annual Click it or Ticket campaign.

At approximately 5:03 p.m., Officer McCann was traveling South on New Hampshire Street when he encountered an SUV driving north on New Hampshire.   The SUV’s driver’s window was down and McCann observed the driver did not appear to be using a seat belt.  McCann made a U-turn and initiated a traffic stop of the SUV in the 100 block of West 6th Street.

Beginning Tuesday, August 14, Route 458 (N 1000 Road) will be closed from Route 1057 (E 1900 Road) to E 2000 Road.  This additional one-mile closure will extend the Route 458 closure length to two miles.  Route 458 is currently closed between E 1800 Road and Route 1057.  Route 1057, E 1800 Road and E 1900 Road will all remain open for north-south traffic. 

Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announces that 26-year-old Columbia, Missouri resident Scharron R. Dingledine appeared this morning in the Division Six courtroom of the Honorable Peggy C. Kittel for a non-evidentiary hearing.  Dingledine is charged with one count of first degree murder and one count of attempted first degree murder.