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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
All content by Jackson Barton
It's hard to sift through every daily breaking story for what really matters.

Fight the Cycle

Jackson Barton, Online Editor in Chief
April 24, 2018
Consultant Tajma Stetson (Michael Tolbert) applies lipstick to Angela Mansbury (Scott Ireland) to prepare for the evening gown contest. "There’s a women inside of us all" Stetson said. "Some of us get lucky enough to put them on stage."

Bringing on the Men

Jackson Barton, Online Editor in Chief
February 6, 2018
A photo of Dr. Anthony Lewis included with the district press release.

Lawrence Board of Education selects new superintendent

Jackson Barton, Online Editor in Chief
January 30, 2018
Ruth and Chris pose with some of their mentors and LHS candidate Hasiya Asuku. Names L to R... Ruth, Monica Dittmer (one of Ruth’s mentors), Kendra Noll-Schierer, Laura Wagner (one of Ruth’s mentors), Colby Wilson, Chris, Lindsay Simms (one of Chris’s mentors), Hasiya Asuku (candidate from LHS), Amy Hill and Trei Dudley.

Junior declared Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year

Jackson Barton, Online Editor in Chief
January 29, 2018
Interim superintendent Dr. Anna Stubblefield opens the evening conversation with district accomplishments since the previous conversation last January. Attendees were handed sticky notes to write an issue they wanted discussed on.

District hosts second Community Conversation, administrators absent

Jackson Barton, Online Editor in Chief
January 19, 2018
Livestream: Band of Angels surprise

Livestream: Band of Angels surprise

Jackson Barton, Editor in Chief
December 12, 2017
Junior Gabriel Leverette uncases his new trumpet for the first time. Purchasing the instrument himself would have been impossible according to Leverette.

Band students gifted new instruments, scholarships from Band of Angels

Jackson Barton, Editor in Chief
December 12, 2017
Mason works on his verses in the studio.

Interview: Senior opening for rapper Ugly God

Jackson Barton, Editor in Chief
November 10, 2017
Sophomore Ashton Mcknight and fellow protestors block a car from entering the Burger King parking lot. The car eventually forced its way through, but left immediately afterwards.

[Photo] Community members protest Burger King after senior's controversial firing

November 8, 2017
Prominent Black Lives Matter Lawrence member Caleb Stephens argues with area director Anthony Robinson.

Michael McKinney-Scott livestreams the demonstration and deliberation with area manager Anthony Robinson. His Facebook livestream attracted thousands of viewers.

Storm surges seep into an office complex in Houston. Over 6 days, the storm dumped 27 trillion gallons of rain over Texas and Louisiana.

Hurricanes affects students, families

Katy Coats and Jackson Barton
October 17, 2017
Homecoming candidate Teddy Carttar attempts to light the fire. Due to the wood being wet, the fire was unable to remain lit.

Gallery: Homecoming Parade and Bonfire

Rylee Roberts and Jackson Barton
September 21, 2017
Librarian Leslie Campbell and principal Myron Graber attempt the light the bonfire. The fire wouldn't stay lit Monday night.

The Free State marching band performs at the bonfire. The band performance followed a show by the student band "Oxford Remedy".

Senior football players Gage Foster, Gabe Del Valle, Gabe Clark, Jalan Robinson, Taylor Royal, Caden Johnson, Tanner Cobb, Jake Rittman, and Bo Miller ride the senior football float. The float was a decommissioned firetruck with a working horn and siren.

Junior Sophie Johnson and freshmen Emily Bial carry the Free State Theater banner in the homecoming parade. A float for the musical "Anything Goes" followed behind them.

FCCLA members Caroline Kelton, Joplin Kean, Kaya Shafer, and Anna-Maya Hachmeister "saddle up" on their float. The homecoming parade began at Overland Dr. and Queens.

Coach Kelly Barah speaks with the team before the game begins. The Firebirds won 5-4 in overtime.

Boys varsity soccer dedicates overtime win to Keith Loneker

Jackson Barton, Editor in Chief
September 12, 2017
Class Size Breakdown

Class Size Breakdown

Elise Gard, Evan Cornell, and Jackson Barton
September 3, 2017
A large crowd gathers in South Park for the Sunday night vigil. The vigil was hosted by The Resistance LFK.

Alumni attend Charlottesville vigil, show solidarity

Jackson Barton, Editor in Chief
August 16, 2017
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Finnelly keeps an eye on the @LawrenceKS_PD twitter feed while working. The account had over 35,000 followers.

Drew Finnelly: the man behind @LawrenceKS_PD

Jackson Barton, Editor in Chief
July 29, 2017
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Pie perspective

Pie perspective

Jackson Barton, Editor in Chief
June 14, 2017
Ladybird's industrial mixer is important in maintaining a constant output of pie dough. "Building the bakery was key to a more seamless operation," Heriford said.

The bakery

Jackson Barton, Editor in Chief
June 14, 2017
A chocolate cream pie in the display case cooler. Because of their staggered production scheduled, this pie took four days to complete.

The pie

Jackson Barton, Editor in Chief
June 14, 2017
A blackberry pie sits on the counter. All fruit fillings were made in house at Ladybird.

The philosophy

Jackson Barton, Editor in Chief
June 14, 2017
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Lemon cream pie is cooled in the refrigerated display case. Cream pies take considerably less labor than the fruit pies according to Heriford.

Coconut cream pie. Ladybird sold whole pies, as well as by the slice.

Stuart Strecker receives the $10,000 check from Lawrence Schools Foundation board of director's president Scott Morgan. This year is the Bobs Award twentieth anniversary.

[Photo] Spanish teacher selected for Bobs Award by Lawrence Schools Foundation

May 16, 2017
Stuart Strecker receives the $10,000 check from Lawrence Schools Foundation board of director's president Scott Morgan. This year is the Bobs Award twentieth anniversary.

Spanish teacher selected for Bobs Award by Lawrence Schools Foundation

Maddy Johnson and Jackson Barton
May 16, 2017
Superintendent Kyle Hayden announced that he would be resigning from the position in a district wide email on Friday. The resignation comes one year shorter than his contract.

Superintendent to transfer to chief operations officer

Chris Pendry and Jackson Barton
May 12, 2017
Junior Adam Ziegler and anthropologist Donald Blakeslee are recognized in front of the Kansas House of Representatives. The site near Arkansas City was recently recognized by the state.

Student’s discovery leads to location of second largest Native American city

Jackson Barton, Editor in Chief
May 7, 2017
Junior Nicole Ahn, junior Juliana Wilches-Merchan, senior Abena Peasah, senior Lane Weis, senior Meredith Shaheed and senior Ella Spillman listen to club captains during the first meeting.

New club focuses on equity, student action

Darby Gilliland and Jackson Barton
April 14, 2017
Undiagnosed students typically acquire focus stimulants from their friends.

Illegal focus stimulants common during finals

Jackson Barton, Online Editor in Chief
January 5, 2017
Erb and Flynn watch Shi and Pultz-Earle present their argument on student debt.

Young Democrats and Young Republicans Clubs hold first debate

Jackson Barton, Editor in Chief
November 22, 2016
It's easy to be distracted by the airship igniting before crashing to the ground.

Review: “Battlefield 1”

Jackson Barton, Online Editor in Chief
November 15, 2016
Lawrence High Senior Crosby Dold recounts her experiences as a member of the LGBT community during high school. She explained that participating in musicals helped her discover her true identity

School board hosts LGBTQ+ panel, shares plan of action

Rowan Plinsky and Jackson Barton
November 2, 2016
Photo Gallery: Girls tennis places seventh at State

Photo Gallery: Girls tennis places seventh at State

Kaya Shafer, Riley Paradise, and Jackson Barton
November 1, 2016
Senior Blake Hoffman, Cooper McHatton and Aaron Funk cheer for Owen Kapfer during the city showdown.

High schools unite to support Kapfers

Jackson Barton, Online Editor-in-Chief
October 14, 2016
Online Editor-in-Chief Jackson Barton mourns over his spilled mug of pens. The 5.4 magnitude earthquake occurred around 7:30 am on Saturday, September 3rd.

Earthquake sways student body, community

Jackson Barton, Online Editor-in-Chief
September 28, 2016
National Merit Semifinalist seniors, Erin Schel, Lane Weis, Abena Peasah, Hazel Scott, Calvin Yost-Wolff, Sayuz Thapa, Mary Reed-Weston, Tarini Singh, Ian Putz-Earl, Cailyn Zicker, Sarah Mechem, Adelaide Wendell, Jialun Wang, Paige Lawrence, Katie Lane, Jonathan Leslie, Charlotte Crandall, and Michael Braman gather to recognize their achievements. Free State had its largest number of National Merit Semifinalist 17 students in total. “I figured we would have a good number (…) it’s nice to see the kids you work with succeed,” Advisor Larry Wolf said.

Record number of Free State National Merit Semifinalists announced

Jackson Barton, Online Editor-in-Chief
September 14, 2016
Pokemon GO players plan trips downtown to catch pocket monsters and battle other trainers. “There were groups of fifty people at each intersection at 3 a.m. after the bars let out," Frager said.

Pokemon GO catches attention of students, community

Jackson Barton, Online Editor-in-Chief
September 7, 2016
Possible Repurposing of Black Box

Possible Repurposing of Black Box

Jackson Barton, Online Editor-in-Chief
May 6, 2016
eSports enthusiasts will often spend hours gripping their video game controllers as they work towards the next level. In recent years eSports has reached a larger audience of both amateurs and professionals.

“eSports” prove popular among student body

Jackson Barton
March 29, 2016

College and Career Center introduces principles, projects, pig heads to upperclassmen

Jackson Barton
February 1, 2016
After the Firebirds score a touchdown, senior Bryce Torneden celebrates with a fist pump.

Free State senior chosen to play in Kansas high school all-stars game

Jackson Barton and Sydney Gard
January 29, 2016
Bottles of soda are highlighted by the afternoon sun at Mass Street Soda on 1330 Mass Street. 1,300 varieties of craft soda are displayed on their shelves.

Mass Street Soda manager discusses plans for expansion

Jackson Barton, Reporter
November 2, 2015
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