County News

Lawrence, Kansas - On July 8, 2015, Home Rule Resolution No. HR-15-7-3 was passed by the Board of County Commissioners. This resolution changed the process of burn bans in unincorporated areas and was necessary to promote fire safety and to protect persons and property from the dangers of open burning. After feedback from the community, Douglas County Emergency Management and the Douglas County Fire Chiefs provided recommended changes to the resolution which were approved by the County Commission on March 29, 2017.

The Kansas River bridge at Lecompton will have one lane closed beginning April 24 through mid-May, weather permitting.  The one open lane will be narrow with an 11’ width.  The narrow open lane will restrict vehicles over legal width (8.5'), including wide agricultural equipment, from crossing the bridge.  Alternating one-lane traffic will be controlled by temporary traffic signals with anticipated delays of 3-5 minutes. 

On December 9, 2016, Lawrence Police Department officers were dispatched to a report of property damage at 545 Wisconsin Street, Lawrence, Kansas.  Upon arrival, officers contacted a female who claimed the car she was driving had been damaged by a known person and other unknown individual(s).

Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announces that this afternoon Jared L. Wheeler, 21, of Oklahoma was sentenced following his earlier no contest plea to aggravated battery, a level seven, person felony.  The Court sentenced Wheeler to an underlying sentence of 13 months in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections.  The Court ordered him to serve 60 days jail time to be followed by 24 months probation with Community Corrections, the maximum sentence the Court could give.  The Court remanded him into custody to immediately begin serving the jail time.