Beginning August 21, 2017, weather permitting, portions of N 1500 Road, N 1550 Road, and E 1625 Road east of the Lawrence city limits will be closed to all traffic for a construction project.  N 1500 Road (E. 15th Street extended) will be closed from just west of the BNSF railroad tracks to approximately 300 feet east of the E 1625 Road intersection.  N 1550 Road (E. 11th Street extended) will be closed just west of the E 1625 Road intersection.  E 1625 Road will be closed between N 1500 Road and N 1550 Road.

The Douglas County Community Health Assessment Steering Committee is seeking input on health issues in our community. Forums are offered around Douglas County.

KDOT plans to temporarily close access to K-10 highway from E 1200 Road (Kasold extended) for installation of new centerline delineators on K-10 at the intersection.  The closure will begin Thursday, July 13, and will end Friday, July 14, weather permitting.  E 1200 Road will be closed on both north and south sides of K-10. 

Route 458 from the E 800 Road (Route 1/1039) intersection to just south of Clinton Dam will be opened to traffic through construction over the upcoming holiday weekend beginning at 5:00 PM, Friday, June 30, through Tuesday, July 4.  There will be a 45-mph construction zone speed limit in place during this period.  Drivers should use extreme caution through the construction zone.  Beginning Wednesday morning, July 5, Route 458 will again be closed for continued construction of a major road rehabilitation project.

Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announces that Danny W. Queen, 36, has been charged in Douglas County District Court with one count of Murder in the First Degree for the death of Bo Matthew Hopson, 32, and two counts of attempted Murder in the First Degree. Kansas statute defines Murder in the First Degree as the killing of a human being committed intentionally and with premeditation. It is an off-grid person felony punishable by a sentence of 50 years to life in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Subject to weather delays, Route 1029 south of N 100 Road will be closed to through traffic on June 21st, for a period of 36 to 48 hours. There will not be a posted detour for this closure, so drivers will have to follow an alternate route.

This road closure will allow our contractor to place a polymer surface overlay on the recently reconstructed bridge located 0.36 miles south of N 100 Road. The contractor will work through the night to complete the work in one continuous operation.

Route 458 south of Clinton Dam was closed to through traffic earlier today, Thursday, June 8, for a major rehabilitation project.  The project’s limits are from the E 800 Road (Route 1/1039) intersection to approximately 1,000 feet north of the N 1156 Road intersection.  We anticipate Route 458 being closed to through traffic through September 2017.

The Douglas County Commission recently received a resignation letter from the Trustee of Palmyra Township, and it is the responsibility of the Commissioners to appoint a replacement. The responsibilities of the township trustee are set out in in Article 3 of KSA Chapter 80.

Route 458 south of Clinton Dam will be closed to through traffic on Thursday, June 8, at 8:00 AM.  Route 458 will remain open to through traffic through June 7.  Douglas County’s contractor, King’s Construction, is currently working on portions of the project that are not in the existing road alignment.  .  

Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announces today that Marquis J. Young, 28, Lawrence, entered pleas to aggravated battery and abuse of a child on Monday, May 22, 2017, in the Division 5 courtroom of the Douglas County District Court.

Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announces that this afternoon a jury convicted Lawrence resident Derek J. Edmonds, 25, of felony abuse of a child and aggravated battery.

After careful review of the prior trial testimony in State of Kansas v. Galen Satoe, 2014CR000948,  and all evidence available to the State, a decision has been made not to proceed with a third trial at this time.  The State remains convinced this crime occurred; however, without additional evidence to present to a jury, we cannot conclude that another trial would result in a different outcome.

The District Attorney’s Office will offer no additional comment.