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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

Archives 2022-2023

Varsity Boys Basketball head coach, Sherron Collins joins in with Cortez Overstreet and Zeek Brown in the traditional Alma Matter celebration played after the first home game win against Gardner-Egerton. Starting the season, one of Collin's biggest goals was to connect with the players off the court on a personal level.

FEATURE: Sherron Collins First Year Coaching

Nick Sprecker January 28, 2023

When former Kansas standout Sherron Collins was announced as the boys’ basketball head coach, it sent a wave of excitement throughout the Firebird fanbase. The start of the season aroused curiosity throughout...

Members of Dance Hues Studio’s STAMPP [Shine Through Adversity Move Past Prejudice] Performance and Competition Company performed choreography by Paris Spotted Tail and Azia Gambrell to “Cry Your Heart Out” by Adele. The four performers at Ovation are in the company’s pre-professional track which consists of ten or more hours of training per week as well as other learning and advancement opportunities.

FEATURE: Ovation! USD 497 Performance for Students

Lilly Wall January 27, 2023

Ovation!, an annual district-wide talent show including student dancers, musicians and more took place on Jan. 22. at the Lied Center. Students from local high school and middle schools took the stage,...

NEWS BRIEF: Reported Bomb Threat at West Middle School

NEWS BRIEF: Reported Bomb Threat at West Middle School

Natasha Torkzaban January 26, 2023

Editor's note: This story has been updated as new information comes to light. Earlier today, the USD 497 district evacuated students from West Middle School as a safety precaution after receiving...

 Being able to witness the women's squad prevail after years of adversity is both inspiring and motivating t his experience will continue to stick with the girls.

FEATURE: Learning From the Elite

Greyson Heiman January 26, 2023

Due to the University of Kansas [KU] women’s basketball team's early season success, they were ranked No. 23 in the Associated Press [AP] top 25 poll as of Jan. 9. With major victories over Baylor, Oklahoma...

USD 497 Board of Education president Shannon Kimball, speaks at last nights board meeting.

NEWS: District Votes to Transition to iPads

Allison Mayhew and Lilly Wall January 24, 2023

Last night, the USD 497 Board of Education voted to transition high school student devices from MacBooks to iPads in the fall. The vote passed six-to-one.  The USD 497 news release from last night's...

Senior Lily Otter smiles while performing on stage at an improvisation show. Otter and her fellow teammates prepared for the festival by using their shows in the black box theatre as a learning experience

NEWS: Kansas Thespian Festival

Lilly Wall January 19, 2023

The competitive improvisation [improv] team traveled to Wichita and took first place at the Kansas Thespian Festival Jan. 5-7. Additionally, the theatre department extended their success, receiving a Gold...

News Brief:  Futures Planning Committee Proposes Budget Cuts

News Brief: Futures Planning Committee Proposes Budget Cuts

Natasha Torkzaban, Lilly Wall, and Cici Hunter January 18, 2023

In an attempt to bridge the budget gap of $9.6 million, the USD 497 Futures Planning Committee (FPC) is deciding on a series of proposed cuts. The main objectives are to achieve competitive wages for...

REVIEW: SZA Album Review

REVIEW: SZA Album Review

Lady Ortega-Perez and Mallory Thompson January 11, 2023

SZA’s sophomore album, “SOS” is reflective and sharply self-aware, but loose and confident. On the opening title track, SZA presents a theme for the album and tells listeners that even through struggles...

EDITORIAL: Andrew Tate's Social Media Influence

EDITORIAL: Andrew Tate’s Social Media Influence

Natasha Torkzaban December 18, 2022

“Why would you be with a woman who’s not a virgin anyway? She is used goods. Second hand.” —Andrew Tate, in a interview from Love 2 Fight Magazine  You could argue that people like Andrew Tate...

Sophomore Everett Essman gets back on his feet after diving for the ball.

FEATURE: Students Form After School Spikeball Club

Lilly Wall December 13, 2022

After playing his first game of spikeball this summer, sophomore and co-founder Marvin Kapfer was hooked. Spikeball is a game played in teams of two in which the pair has three contacts to hit the 12 inch...

FEATURE: Festival of Trees

Maura Langland and Allison Mayhew December 12, 2022

  This year was the 35th Festival of Trees, an annual tradition in Lawrence that raises money for the O’Connell Youth Shelter here in town. The festival lets local communities and groups...

Senior Julie Ruddy flips her hair enthusiastically while acting in a scene. Ruddy performed as Evil Tina in the 2021-2022 school year spring production of She Kills Monsters. "Being a villain takes more effort because you have to empathize with them as a character and truly believe you are justified in being an awful person," Ruddy said.

FEATURE: Student Actors Manage Careers

Becky Coston December 12, 2022

Jasmine Clock   Movie stars walking around a high school in Kansas seems like something out of a dream, but it isn’t so far from the truth. With a passion for acting, some students are on the path...

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