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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
Maria Mosconi

Maria Mosconi, News Editor-in-Chief

Maria is a senior and Editor-in-Chief of the Free State Free Press newsmagazine. This is her fourth year on staff. Outside of journalism, she is president of Free State’s National Honor Society chapter. Outside of school, she spends her time in the dance studio or getting food with friends.

All content by Maria Mosconi
Design by Abbie Veeder.

NEWS: Frozen with Fear

Maria Mosconi and Evie Chancy
September 26, 2025
Digital illustration by Lucas Smith.

FREE PRESS NEWSMAGAZINE: Edition 29, Issue 1

Evie Chancy and Maria Mosconi
September 26, 2025
Design by Baila Love. Photos by Miles Beaty, Kinley Gigous, Nathan Kramer, Baila Love, Julia Velasco and Eden Weber.

PACKAGE: Summer Through Our Eyes

Baila Love, Evie Chancy, and Maria Mosconi
August 18, 2025
Photos by Nathan Friedman, Nathan Kramer and Sydney Brozik.

FREE PRESS NEWSMAGAZINE: Edition 28, Issue 8

Evie Chancy and Maria Mosconi
May 20, 2025
Standing together, the 2025-2026 news editor staff, Nathan Kramer, Maria Mosconi, Phoebe Morris, Rakshan Ossen, Evie Chancy, Lauren Jackson, Cecilia Bennett, Lucas Smith, Julia Velasco, and Meredith Shryock, welcome you to their first issue.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: News Editors

Nathan Kramer, Maria Mosconi, Phoebe Morris, Rakshan Ossen, Evie Chancy, Lauren Jackson, Ceci Bennett, Lucas Smith, Julia Velasco, and Meredith Shryock
May 19, 2025
Design by Willow Marable

NEWS: The “Drill, Baby, Drill” Agenda

Maria Mosconi, News Managing Editor
April 25, 2025

VIDEO: The Nest Video PSA

Nathan Friedman, Nathan Kramer, Maria Mosconi, and Phoebe Morris
April 10, 2025
Students hobbies laid out. Photo by Nathan Kramer and Mallory Thompson.

FEATURE: Breaking The Mold

Arianna Waller, Meredith Shryock, Maria Mosconi, Lauren Jackson, Evie Chancy, and Ember Klein
April 8, 2025
Strumming on her guitar, musical therapist Tonya Wahl plays the "Welcome Song."

FEATURE: Music Therapy Harmonizes Education

Phoebe Morris and Maria Mosconi
April 3, 2025

VIDEO: Club Spotlight – Hacky Sack Club

Nathan Kramer, Nathan Friedman, Phoebe Morris, and Maria Mosconi
February 7, 2025
A neon green light titled "Delta" shines out the window of the Lawrence Tobacco and Vape Shop located at 8. W 9th St. The store is located a block away from downtown Lawrence, easily able to pick up foot traffic during the day. "There are a lot in town but I know some smoke shops that won't ask for my ID from me or my friends when we go. I go to the ones that will get me what I want, plus most are cheap and easy," an anonymous senior said.

OPINION: Selling Addictions

Maria Mosconi and Phoebe Morris
February 4, 2025
Design by Geneva Sabatini

NEWS: Opting for Neutrality

Maria Mosconi, News Managing Editor
December 3, 2024
Digital Illustration by Willow Marable

EDITORIAL: Who is to Blame?

Maria Mosconi, News Managing Editor
November 27, 2024
Graphic designed by Zoe Kaul.

ELECTION COVERAGE: Kansas State Board of Education

Maria Mosconi, News Managing Editor
November 5, 2024
Photo collected from USD497's press release on Aug. 12.

NEWS: A Swift Transition

Maria Mosconi, News Managing Editor
September 30, 2024
Individual getting into their car in the Free State parking lot.

FEATURE: Protecting The Parking Lot

Maria Mosconi, News Planning Team
April 17, 2024
Illustration by Geneva Sabatini.

EDITORIAL: Age Cutoff for Political Office

Evie Chancy, Phoebe Morris, and Maria Mosconi
March 29, 2024
Schedule that was sent out to teachers this morning on March 7. Teachers were informed of the schedule change at 10:52 p.m. March 6.

BREAKING NEWS: Schedule Change

Evie Chancy and Maria Mosconi
March 7, 2024
In 1861, Kansas was established as a Free State. Now the school carries the namesake, however many feel the history is left unrecognized. Photo illustration by Allison Mayhew and Gregory Mayhew.

OPINION: Is Free State Living up to its Name?

Maria Mosconi, News Planning Team
February 29, 2024
On stage at the Lied Center, candidates react to the announcement of the Youth of the Year winner, La’Ron Williams. This was La’Ron’s second year as a candidate for the award.

NEWS: Youth of the Year Awarded to La’Ron Williams

Maria Mosconi, News Planning Team
February 1, 2024
At the Kansas Thespian Festival Showcase, seniors Natalie Riley and Liz Wyle improvise a conversation. The night before leaving for KTF the theater department held a showcase of the students who would be performing at the festival.

NEWS: Improv Team Becomes Back-to-Back State Champions

Maria Mosconi, Reporter
January 25, 2024
Free State sits covered in snow. On Tuesday, Jan. 16, a snow day was called due to the extreme freezing temperatures.

NEWS BRIEF: School Buses Down

Maria Mosconi, News Planning Team
January 17, 2024
Taking advantage of open lunch, sophomore Miles Beaty walks to Taco Bell. Taco Bell is a popular choice among students because it is close to the school and has reliably fast service. “I enjoy having the choice of open lunch because it is a nice opportunity for students to get some space and fresh air.” Beaty said.

NEWS: Clearing Up Open Lunch Rumors

Maria Mosconi, Reporter
December 14, 2023
Inside the building's auditorium are the lines of poem commemorating the fallen soldiers who went to LMCMS during WWI. LMCMS, which was originally constructed as a memorial, will be turned into a magnet school in the fall of 2024.

NEWS: Central Middle School Curriculum Change

Maria Mosconi
December 12, 2023
Collected by Geneva Sabatini.

NEWS: Wartime Doom Scrolling

Evie Chancy, Allison Mayhew, and Maria Mosconi
December 12, 2023
FEATURE: Hang12 Brings Art to the Community

FEATURE: Hang12 Brings Art to the Community

Maria Mosconi, Reporter
November 28, 2023
The franchise, Dirty Dough, made its opening on Nov 17. Off of Bob Billings, the business sits next to Subway. They offer many different flavors of warm, gooey cookies.

REVIEW: The Scoop on Dirty Dough

Maria Mosconi, Reporter
November 27, 2023
Taped on the window at a polling place in Rock Chalk Park, a sample ballot is displayed for people to preview before they place their votes in the booth.

NEWS: Local Elections Results

Evie Chancy and Maria Mosconi
November 8, 2023
NEWS: Domestic Violence Awareness Month

NEWS: Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Maria Mosconi
October 31, 2023
Jane Goodall, the recently escaped snake rests in the hands of one of science teacher Julie Schwarting’s students. Goodall is a ball python that is 2 feet long.

NEWS: Missing Snake Found In Closet

Maria Mosconi and Arianna Waller
October 5, 2023
Awaiting regular maintenance, the auditorium stage piano sits in the alcove of the auditorium. The school owns one grand piano, and a few upright pianos, which like this one are often out of tune. “Sometimes you just have to make do with what you've got a little bit longer than you'd like to,” choir director Joshua East said.

FEATURE: Budget Cuts Hit on Performing Arts

Maria Mosconi, Reporter
September 21, 2023
Armed with a multitude of water weapons, seniors begin the battle known as Water Warriors on Monday, April 3. This competition is a spring tradition among Free State seniors, with one winner claiming the ultimate prize of the collective entry fees and recognition of being the last warrior remaining.

FEATURE: Seniors Make a Splash

Maria Mosconi
May 17, 2023
Senior Wendo Kimori reads to children. Photo submitted by Wendo Kimori.

FEATURE: NAACP Youth Council is Revived and Helps Promote Equity

Maria Mosconi
February 19, 2023
Photo submitted by Evan White. Seniors Alyx Wood, Evan White, Londyn Miller and Mingda Zhang pose with cast member Goofy.

FEATURE: Student Council Trip to Disney

Maria Mosconi
February 6, 2023
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