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Featured Story
Beyond payday loans: What other options exist when you need financial help?
Consumer advocates say there are better ways to deal with household emergencies. Wichita nonprofits and banks are teaming up to help.
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State Government
Featured Story
Who represents me in the 2023 Kansas Legislature?
Six newcomers will join the two most powerful lawmakers in Topeka as part of the Wichita-area legislative delegation.
The Beacon Newsletter
Public service journalism delivered every Tuesday and Thursday, straight to your inbox.
Housing
Here’s how you can help ensure funding for Wichita housing programs
100 volunteers needed to visit the city’s homeless encampments for an official count that determines how much money local homeless programs receive.
Surviving the winter without shelter: What it’s like for one Wichita couple
Denise and Richard Dodd live next to the river in a tent made from tarps. They say difficult circumstances make this their best option.
At least 49 unhoused Wichitans died in 2022
The number of Wichitans dying while homeless surged compared to previous years. A community group is memorializing them and pushing for more volunteers.
Local Government
Has your family experienced unexplained illness? A Black neighborhood group will survey its members on MLK Day
The survey hopes to find whether a chemical in Wichita’s groundwater has caused negative health effects in some of Wichita’s majority Black neighborhoods.
A few steps forward, a few steps back: Update on the Cedric Lofton task force recommendations
The community task force had their 180-day update meeting. Here is what has been implemented and what has not.
Know your rights: How to protest in Wichita
What you can do depends on where you protest. Learn about local ordinances, the cost of permits and more. Here is a quick guide.
DIY Democracy
Kansas Legislature asked to focus on life-and-death issues
When the Kansas Legislature returns in January, some people want lawmakers to focus on preventing deaths from gun violence, overdose, DUIs and excessive force by police.
DIY Democracy: How to follow the Kansas Legislature
From committee hearings to floor debate, The Beacon shows you how to follow along from home.
Here is how to get involved with and understand your Wichita public school’s budget
School board President Stan Reeser says parents should not be intimidated by the budget process. All they need to do is bring their ideas forward.
About Us
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