For the usual Free State coffee-drinker, their first option is Starbucks. It’s close and claims to have great coffee. However, the prices are quite steep. Free State has introduced a new option. During...

For students, snow days can offer a unique opportunity for students to focus on their personal lives and enjoy a day to themselves. So far, the Lawrence school district has had four snow days in 2024....

On Saturday, Jan. 13, 21 orchestra members attended state auditions. The results came back soon after; 11 students from Free State were selected to play and one was selected as an alternate on the harp....

Click here to access playlist!       1. Femininomenon - Chappell Roan This song is one of my favorite lead tracks for an album. It encapsulates how it feels to get out of a long slump and I thought...

With the previous caucus in Iowa and the primary in New Hampshire, the 2024 election season has officially begun. Students who will be 18 next Nov. have a lot on their minds when it comes to the election. “Since...

This past Monday, Jan. 22., the Lawrence School Board met in order to decide on what new graduation requirements they are going to implement. Initially, this decision became part of the committee’s...

On Jan. 20, Junior Grayson Hagen recorded his 100th win as a Free State wrestler. Hagen joins only five previous firebirds to accomplish this impressive feat. Three of those wrestlers, Matthew Marcum,...

On Jan. 25, senior La’Ron Williams was awarded the 2024 Lawrence Youth of the Year Award by the Boys & Girls Club. This was Williams' second year competing for Youth of the Year which is awarded...

In the face of fierce competition, the Free State boys wrestling team exemplified their determination to carry the program’s legacy after placing eight as a team and having two wrestlers earn the state...

While the girl's wrestling team has struggled with numbers in previous years, the team has doubled in size since the 2022-2023 season climbing, from six to 13 wrestlers. Nationwide, girls wrestling has...

According to Verywell Health, 80% of people consume caffeine on a daily basis of which 73% are children. One energy drink typically contains 500 mg of caffeine, which is equivalent to 14 cans of soda....

Throughout USD 497, teachers in various departments are large contributors to student success, and take on sizable chunks of responsibility. AP Art and Design and drawing teacher Rachel Downs is amongst...