I've been reporting news in Lawrence since 1992. Before joining the NewsCenter, I was editor, publisher and owner of the Lawrence Business Ledger and the Baldwin Ledger newspapers. I've been with The World Company since 2001, when I sold my weekly newspaper business to the company.
I mainly cover city government and neighborhoods, but I've also previously served as business editor for the Journal World, and have undertaken a variety of first-person journalism projects. In parts of 2007 and 2008, I received some national publicity for a series of articles detailing how I purchased a handgun, received a concealed carry license from the state, and carried the weapon around for a few days.
I also enjoy writing profiles on area people, ranging from a promient nightclub owner to the corner hot dog vendor to a 91-year old woman who still goes to work six days per week. If you know of someone interesting, send me an e-mail.
And from time to time, I like to take people to places that they don't often get to go. Sometimes I even take a video camera, like the night I hung out with a bunch of mixed martial artist competitors.
I have my degree in journalism from Kansas University, and also did some undergraduate work at Emporia State University. I'm a native of the small Kansas town of Melvern, which is about an hour away from Lawrence in Osage County.
My wife and I have two children. In my spare time, I work on writing what I hope will be my first novel, play pool, boat, umpire Little League baseball, and barbecue.
Recent Stories
Stull residents wary of rock guitarist Slash's film project
According to reports in The Hollywood Reporter, a trade publication that covers the movie industry, Slash’s newly formed film company has signed a deal to produce a horror movie with a plot that centers on the Stull Cemetery and the urban legend that the cemetery about 10 miles west of Lawrence is one of the seven gateways to Hell.
Appetite for production: Slash to make film about Stull cemetery
Former Guns N' Roses' guitarist Slash will produce a film about the cemetery in Stull, rumored to be a gateway to Hell.
Final Fridays organizers envision full-time city position to promote arts
Final Fridays may just be the beginning. Organizers of the year-and-a-half-old monthly arts event in downtown Lawrence are now envisioning a new full-time city position that would promote the arts and work to bring “creative industries” to the city.
Theatre Lawrence raises more than $5 million needed for new $6.2 million building
Group needs to raise rest of funds by end of September
If we were at the theater, the lights now would be flickering to signal the start of the third and final act.
Theatre Lawrence awarded $497,600 challenge grant from Mabee Foundation
Efforts to build a new Lawrence Community Theatre in West Lawrence have received a nearly $500,000 boost.
Two Asian restaurants, Mexican grill, shoe store set to join Lawrence dining and retail scene
A host of new restaurants — plus a shoe store — are open now or slated to open soon around Lawrence.
Another downtown property owner expresses concerns about late-night food cart operations
The idea of late-night food carts on Massachusetts Street may have an early demise.
Lawrence Community Theatre to kick off fundraising campaign for new building on West Sixth Street
Plans to move the Lawrence Community Theatre to a new site near Sixth and Wakarusa soon will take center stage.
Lawrence businesses hope Final Fridays program will draw art lovers to downtown
'Lawrence could be the Santa Fe of the Midwest'
Lawrence tourism leaders are hoping that Friday eventually will be remembered as the day that Lawrence took its first big step in becoming known as the art capital of the Midwest.
Performers to entertain on Downtown Lawrence streets during this week's Busker Fest
El Gleno Grande will be doing a horse act without a horse. Mentoc the Mentalist will bend a spoon with nothing but his mind. And Mama Lou Strongwoman will rip through a phone book before you can tear even a single page.
