The Douglas County Clerk’s office will offer advance voting July 15-Aug. 3 in leased space at 2329 Iowa Street, Suite M, next to Texas Roadhouse restaurant, for the 2020 elections in addition to the County Courthouse. The new location is more than 8,000 square feet and will provide more space for election workers and voters to social distance.
County News
News items from county departments and groups.
Posted Tuesday, July 7, 2020 - 5:00pm
Posted Friday, July 3, 2020 - 8:00am
Douglas County Government's general offices will be closed Friday, July 3, for the holiday.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Dispatch Center and Criminal Justice Services will be operating. If you have an emergency, please call 9-1-1. If you have a non-emergency, call 785-832-7509.
We wish everyone a safe holiday!
Posted Thursday, July 2, 2020 - 5:44pm
Monday afternoon, law enforcement officers with the Lawrence Police Department and Douglas County Sheriff’s Office made six arrests and issued three citations while attempting to clear protesters from Massachusetts Street. The protesters in question had been asked to leave the roadway but declined to follow the officers’ orders in violation of K.S.A. 8-1503. Later that same evening, law enforcement closed the street for continued use by protesters.
Posted Tuesday, June 30, 2020 - 8:38am
The proposed 2021 Douglas County budget is $125.5 million and has a flat mill levy of 46.430 mills.
Seventy percent of Douglas County’s revenues are from ad valorem taxes and 9% are from sales taxes. Staff has proposed a 10% reduction, or $6 million, in sales tax revenues for the remainder of 2020 and all of 2021 due to economic hardship.
To meet a potential decrease in sales tax revenues beyond the estimated 10%, the county has $6 million available in fund balance.
Posted Monday, June 29, 2020 - 1:07pm
Chief Judge James McCabria announced today that the Douglas County District Court YouTube channel appears to have been well-received by the public.
Posted Friday, June 26, 2020 - 5:00pm
Fireworks can be legally discharged in the unincorporated areas of Douglas County as long as the property owner has given permission and provides supervision. Fireworks are allowed at the following times:
- Wednesday, July 1 - 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Thursday, July 2 - 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Friday, July 3 - 7 a.m. to midnight
- Saturday, July 4 - 7 a.m. to midnight
Fireworks should not be discharged on a public street or roadway.
Posted Thursday, June 25, 2020 - 12:24pm
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.
Posted Monday, June 22, 2020 - 4:12pm
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.
Posted Friday, June 19, 2020 - 10:40am
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:
Posted Tuesday, June 16, 2020 - 1:12pm
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.
