The Douglas County Heritage Conservation Council, in collaboration with Coneflower Consulting, is conducting a countywide needs assessment to better understand the strengths and challenges facing local heritage organizations.

To ensure this effort reflects the values of our community, residents are encouraged to share their perspectives on local history and the organizations that preserve it, such as museums and historical societies.

The primary election is Tuesday, Aug. 5, for the Lawrence City Commission. The top four vote-getters will move on to the general election in November. Polling locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

Advance mail-in ballots can be placed in a secure drop box at one of the following Lawrence locations:

UPDATE: Water services were restored in the Judicial and Law Enforcement Center on Thursday afternoon, July 31. The water line break was due to an old pipe.

Streamline Coffee owner Katie Hoke participated in a six-week online program called the Douglas County Foodpreneur Bootcamp last fall. The program covered licensing, food and labor cost, menu management, marketing, company culture, guest experience and ownership mindset, among other topics.

As a hot air balloon pilot, Douglas County IT employee Darrin Harrison gets to explore the countryside from a unique perspective.

“Geese fly around us. In the fall when the Monarch butterflies are migrating through, depending on where you’re at, you might find yourself in a cloud of butterflies,” he said. “People will come out when they hear the balloon burners, so you can talk to people 400 feet below you.”

The Board of County Commissioners reached a tentative agreement July 16 on an approximately $202.6 million budget for 2026. Commissioners agreed on a mill levy of 40.669 mills, a decrease of 0.629 mills from last year.

For the fourth consecutive year, the County Commission has lowered the mill levy. In 2024, the Commission approved a reduction of 2.9 mills for the 2025 budget, building on previous reductions of 2.0 mills in 2023 and 1.2 mills in 2022. These reductions total 6.7 mills over four years. One mill is one dollar per $1,000 assessed value.

Beginning Monday, July 21, a portion of U.S. 40 in Douglas County will be closed to traffic while Kansas Department of Transportation maintenance crews replace a drainage structure under the roadway.

U.S. 40 will be fully closed between mile markers 375 and 376 from Monday, July 21, until Friday, July 25, conditions permitting. The area is just east of the East 600 Road intersection.

No detours will be posted, and motorists will need to use alternate routes.

A team of archaeologists from Augustana University and the University of Kansas has launched a yearlong survey aimed at uncovering Douglas County’s historic past.

The project, which began in June, is focused on identifying and documenting archaeological sites across the county. Researchers will analyze existing artifacts and conduct field surveys to better understand the area’s history.

The Douglas County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) today recognized firefighter and paramedic Tiffany Saturday and Douglas County Consolidated Fire District No. 1 with the 2025 Preparedness Partner Awards during a meeting at the county’s Public Works building.

The awards highlight exceptional service and leadership in emergency preparedness over the past year.

The LEPC, composed of about 50 representatives from local agencies and businesses involved in emergency response, also functions as the board for Douglas County Emergency Management.

Public Works has contracted with Vance Brothers to apply chip seal on 26.5 miles of roads in the southeast portion of the county. Work is expected to start in mid-July and take three to four weeks.

Flaggers and a pilot car will control traffic through one lane, so expect up to 15-minute delays to pass through the project. The work zone will be roughly two miles each day. Other roads will remain open.

The Board of County Commissioners will begin public hearings on the proposed 2026 budget at 9 a.m. Monday, July 7, in the Commission meeting room on the second floor of the historic Courthouse, 1100 Massachusetts St.

The proposed $191.4 million budget includes a mill levy of 41.298 mills, which remains flat from last year. One mill equals one dollar per $1,000 of assessed property value. Commissioners may consider lowering the tax rate and adding services during the review process.

Starting July 14, North 900 Road will be closed between East 1050 Road and East 1100 Road for a bridge replacement project. Access will be maintained for nearby properties. Public Works will provide detailed notification to emergency services.

The existing narrow bridge was built in 1935 and carries vehicles over a tributary to Washington Creek. The project (2022-31) is included in Douglas County’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and is estimated to cost $1 million. The project is expected to take four months, weather permitting.