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The student-run news site of Lawrence Free State High School

Free Press Online

The student-run news site of Lawrence Free State High School

Free Press Online

The student-run news site of Lawrence Free State High School

Free Press Online

News

Digital illustration by Ava Talbott.

NEWS: Back To Mac

Ebi Hegeman, Yearbook Managing Editor August 18, 2025

After two years of iPads as the primary device, the USD 497 School Board announced that the two high schools would be returning to updated MacBook Airs in April of 2025. While some students had access...

Digital illustration by Ava Talbott

NEWS: Summer Lunch Program Reduction

Odelia Colvin, Online Managing Editor August 18, 2025

This year free lunch was only offered three days of the week at Woodlawn Elementary School. In previous years, free lunch was offered at multiple locations (Lawrence Public Library, Lawrence Arts Center,...

The Forensics State team poses with the state championship trophy. Photo collected by Eli Roust

NEWS: Six Tournaments of Success

Evie Chancy, News Managing Editor May 19, 2025

Since 2019, forensics has placed first in sweepstakes consecutively at the last six state competitions, predating all members of the state team and new speech and debate coach Parker Hopkins. Sweepstakes...

Sitting together, Frankie and his nurse, Julie Govier, smile for the camera.

NEWS: Medicaid Cuts Impact Local Family

Phoebe Morris, News Managing Editor May 19, 2025

Student Frankie Fergus, 15, and his family have relied on the Home and Community Based Technology Assisted Waiver to qualify for Medicaid; however, a recently passed house budget resolution targets $880...

Protesting, a group of individuals join together on Easter to continue their weekly Sunday protest. “Our constitution is being decimated by the Trump administration. They only care about their billionaire friends,” Anda Arms said.

NEWS: Students Protest the Trump Administration

Baila Love, Online Managing Editor May 16, 2025

Since President Donald J. Trump began enacting his discriminatory policies in February, Lawrence citizens have been protesting on Massachusetts Street against his administration. Despite high attendance,...

Design by Sarah Masterson

BREAKING NEWS: Soft Lock-In

Arianna Waller, Yearbook Mods Editor May 7, 2025

Today, around 10:00 a.m., Free State High School entered a soft lock-in due to a potential threat near campus. Principal Amy McAnarney said Lawrence Police investigated a student report of seeing three...

Giving a speech, juniors Julia Velasco and Kyle Sikes explain their policies.

BREAKING NEWS: Vanquishing The Votes

Dylan Tenbrink, Reporter May 2, 2025

The votes are in! Juniors Julia Velasco and Kyle Sikes are Free State's student body presidents as of May 2. Julia Velasco, a junior, runs for the Free State cross country and track & field teams,...

During work time, English teacher Josie Clark helps junior Katie Campbell, her teacher aide.

NEWS: Clark Says Goodbye

Arianna Waller, Yearbook Mods Editor May 2, 2025

With the end of the school year around the corner, English teacher Josie Clark is leaving the nest to make her move back to Missouri, ultimately concluding her final year at Free State, and her fifth year...

Joining in a chant during the weekly protest on Easter Sunday, Kelly Barth protests the importance of democracy. “We need to stop this rogue presidency, and the people need to rise up,” Barth said.

NEWS: Weekly Sunday Protests Continue

Jonah Frye, Reporter May 1, 2025

The crowd seen at Ninth and Massachusetts streets every Sunday from noon to 1 p.m. was first organized by Robin Gingerich and her husband in response to actions taken by the Trump administration. Since...

Monarchs preparing for migration. Digital illustration by Lucas Smith

NEWS: Monarch Watch

Phoebe Morris, News Editor-in-Chief April 25, 2025

Beginning around the second week of September, hundreds of monarch butterflies from Canada will migrate through Kansas to Mexico during the winter months. Monarch Watch, a local migration biology program,...

Photo by Elinor Russo. Design by Bella Lylo.

NEWS: Federal Land Workers Experience Extensive Staffing Cuts

Jonah Frye, Reporter April 25, 2025

On Feb. 14, as part of an extensive budget cut, the Trump Administration directed numerous layoffs in the National Parks Service and US Forest Service. According to The Guardian, 3,400 U.S. Forest Service...

Design by Willow Marable

NEWS: The “Drill, Baby, Drill” Agenda

Maria Mosconi, News Managing Editor April 25, 2025

In 1947, the first hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, experiment took place in Grant County, KS. Since then, according to the Kansas Geological Survey, one million fracking wells have been drilled into...

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