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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 2023-2024

Illustration by Allison Mayhew

NEWS: Delayed FAFSA Release

Lilly Wall, News Editor-in-Chief March 4, 2024

For many students, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, takes a large financial burden off their shoulders throughout the college application process. Often, FAFSA can decide if a student...

Seniors Molly Nuckolls and Sophie Racy and junior Kinsey Lake rehearse their Encore featured act, “Ex-Factor”, for the performances to come at the end of this next month. As this is an exciting, anticipatory time for these Free State Choir participants, it also invites a great deal of stress into the lives of these busy students.

FEATURE: A Look into Encore Auditions

Phoebe Morris, News Planning Team March 4, 2024

Behind the scenes of the fan favorite, Encore, singers put in numerous hours of work leading up to the final performance. The first time-consuming stressor is prepping for a weekend long of auditions. Singers...

Illustration by Mylie Brillhart

NEWS: TikTok Goes Silent as Artists’ Music is Removed

Corinne Kingsley, Reporter March 4, 2024

On Feb. 1, the Universal Music Group failed to reach their licensing agreement with TikTok. Content creators on TikTok no longer can create videos using music made by artists in UMG, and many TikTokers’...

Illustration by Luna Hu

FEATURE: Black Hairstyles and their Origin

Arianna Waller, Reporter March 4, 2024

Hair has been used as a symbol of identity in many African cultures around the globe, rooting in the 1960’s when the ‘Natural hair movement’ came to be. Supported by activists Marcus Garvey and Angela...

SPORTS: Boys swim and dive competes at state

SPORTS: Boys swim and dive competes at state

Chloe Cook, News Photo Editor March 4, 2024

On Thursday, Feb. 15, senior Isaiah Wilkins competed in the 1-meter dive preliminaries and semi-finals. Coming into State, he was ranked #13 but quickly rose his way up. After placing 6th in prelims, Wilkins...

A student scrolls through Instagram while hiding their phone in a book. Many students employ similar tactics to get out of reading.

FEATURE: No One Reads Anymore

Meredith Shryock, Reporter March 1, 2024

There is an increasing concern in The Student Library Advisory Board about declines in reading among teenagers. According to a study done by the American Psychological Association, less than 20% of high...

Digital Illustration by Allison Mayhew

FEATURE: (Pen)demic

Allison Mayhew, News Editor-in-Chief February 29, 2024

With just the click of a button and a few hits, weed pens can be used to get high at any time or place. Different from traditional forms of marijuana, they are portable, rechargeable and produce only a...

Photo illustration by Allison Mayhew.

NEWS: Businesses Sue City

Evie Chancy, News Planning Team February 29, 2024

Amidst the visible crisis of homelessness in Lawrence, frustrations are brewing behind the scenes as Johnny’s Tavern and 25 other businesses have convened to sue the city for the disruptiveness of the...

SPORTS: Hometown Heroes

SPORTS: Hometown Heroes

Nick Sprecker and Lilly Wall February 29, 2024

For many football athletes, their hard work and aspirations are driven by the hunger to ultimately compete at a higher level. While there are plenty of Division I football schools throughout the country...

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

Free State High School opened in 1997, approximately a century and a half after Kansas joined America as a “free state,” or a state where slavery was illegal. At the heart of this movement was Lawrence,...

Illustration by Mallory Thompson

FEATURE: Grammy Fallout

Phoebe Morris, News Planning Team February 28, 2024

In response to allegations of racism and sexism following previous Grammys, this year’s event publicly proved that The Recording Academy tried to display musicians talent, but failed to accurately represent...

The Bachelor Season 28 Aired February 12.

REVIEW: The Bachelor

Emi Stone, Reporter February 28, 2024

On Feb. 12, the first episode of The Bachelor Season 28, an infamous romance reality television show, aired. In the episode, the viewers got a little glimpse of every woman up for Joey Graziadei, our bachelor....

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