The Douglas County District Attorney’s Office became aware of an issue that arose with the digital ticket system used by the Kansas Highway Patrol and overseen by the Office of Judicial Administration (OJA). With the closure of the Douglas County District Court this past Spring due to COVID-19, all tickets issued by Kansas Highway Patrol during that time were set on the first available court date in July. The digital ticket system never moved on to the next hearing date.

District Attorney Charles Branson wants to hear from Douglas County residents who believe that employees at the Lawrence Kia dealership inflated or misrepresented their income on their loan applications when purchasing a new or used automobile. As the Lawrence Journal-World recently reported, at least one person has alleged that someone at the dealership overstated her income when submitting her loan application. It is unknown at this time how many customers have been impacted.

Nonprofit agencies providing housing, health and human services are key stakeholders in preventing and protecting against COVID-19 in Douglas County. Many of these agencies are serving our communities most vulnerable populations including individuals experiencing physical and mental disabilities, homelessness, and domestic violence.

Here are some resources to assist agencies in mitigating the risks associated with COVID-19 and responding to incidents related to this serious public health threat:

Registration is now open for the Virtual 2020 Douglas County Behavioral Health Prevention Summit, July 27-August 7. A session will be held each weekday from noon to 1 p.m. 

Topics include: drug abuse prevention, mental health impact of COVID, Good Behavior Game, working with youth who engage in self-harm, brain science and trauma, and prevention in the age of vape.

Registration is free for anyone working or living in Douglas County and $25 for others.

Douglas County Data Analyst Matt Cravens provided a presentation about racial disparities in the local criminal justice system during the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council’s June 9 meeting, which was held using Zoom.

Cravens was hired in December 2019 to help support the work of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC). To meet the group’s challenges, Cravens collected and analyzed data on bookings and length of stay in the Douglas County Correctional Facility.

The recent murder of George Floyd has sent shockwaves through our nation.  Protestors flood the streets and remind us all that the fight for racial justice in America is still ongoing.  Just last month, hundreds of our community members marched from City Hall to the Judicial and Law Enforcement Center. They chanted, shouted, and carried signs, demonstrating their hunger for lasting societal change.

Earlier this week we witnessed another horrific act of racism. Believing that our Board of Douglas County Commissioners meeting on Wednesday night (June 3) would be an appropriate place to say a few words addressing this tragedy, I had planned to speak then. A few people for whom I have tremendous respect encouraged me not to wait, but to speak up now. To them, thank you. Your encouragement helps me to see that my privilege gives me the choice to wait. Waiting is something not afforded to the vulnerable, including those who live in fear due to the color of their skin.

Route 1055 (East 1500 Road) — from Route 458 (North 1000 Road) to North 1175 Road — will be closed to through traffic beginning Monday, June 15, weather permitting, for construction of a road rehabilitation project.  The project includes pavement rehabilitation and safety improvements including paved shoulders, flatter roadside slopes, and replacement of narrow culverts.

Douglas County is soliciting formal proposals from qualified individuals to complete structural assessments of five or six barns that have been identified as eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

The consultant will check the adequacy, structural integrity and soundness of structures and their components and will prioritize recommended repairs. Completion of the assessments will aid the barn owners in preservation efforts and assist Douglas County in preserving the rural character of the county that reflects its natural and cultural history.

Douglas County Government’s offices will be closed Monday, May 25, for Memorial Day.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Dispatch Center, and Criminal Justice Services will be operating. If you have an emergency, please call 911. If you have a non-emergency, call 785-843–0250

Douglas County’s Unified Command structure that has been responsible for leading the comprehensive COVID-19 pandemic response since March will transition next week to an expanded COVID-19 Recovery Coordination Team to help manage the community’s long-term recovery.

The COVID-19 pandemic required the closure of Douglas County District Court earlier this spring. All traffic cases scheduled before June 1, 2020 on the Traffic Docket, held every Friday morning in the ProTem Division, were continued. The Court has since mailed notices and new dates to all of the impacted individuals. When District Court reopens in June, individuals with traffic cases will likely face significant wait times during the Traffic Docket.