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What happens when 911 doesn’t speak your language?

When you dial 911, every second counts. Be prepared to give your address, the nature of your emergency and — your language to the 911 dispatchers. If you don’t speak English, be ready to wait.  The Sedgwick County emergency response system relies on third-party translation services to handle foreign language calls. Connecting a call to…

Language barriers shut some Wichitans from local government services

Roughly one in 14 people in Wichita say they speak English — the primary language used to access taxpayer funded services — less than “very well.” Ask Ana Lopez. She is the Spanish-speaking community services representative for City Council District 6 that covers the heavily Hispanic North End neighborhood in North Wichita along Arkansas Avenue. …

Is Oaklawn Wichita’s forgotten neighborhood?

Para leer este artículo en español, haga clic aquí. Andree Sisco’s entry into public service came about when she couldn’t find anyone willing to mow the grass. Sisco moved to Oaklawn, an unincorporated community sandwiched between Wichita and Derby, in 1981. Nestled between the Arkansas River and Kansas 15, Oaklawn sits on 260 acres, a…

Wichita general election ballot takes shape for Nov. 7

With the primary election results in, the candidate lineup for the 2023 general election in Wichita has taken shape. There will be 16 candidates total spread across seven races: Wichita mayor, City Council Districts 2, 4 and 5; and USD 259 school board Districts 3 and 4 as well as the at-large seat.  To help…

Housing, fentanyl and worker shortages: Where do Wichita’s City Council candidates stand?

Last month, The Wichita Beacon surveyed our readers to find out what they most want to know about candidates running for local office.  Questions for City Council candidates centered on four themes: homelessness; the city’s worker shortage in areas of policing, health care and education; fentanyl deaths; and diversity and inclusion.  Only one district, District…

Diversity, transparency and leadership: Where do the Wichita’s mayoral candidates stand? 

Last month, The Wichita Beacon surveyed our readers to find out what they most want to know about candidates running for local office.  Questions for the 2023 mayoral candidates centered on four themes: leadership style, commitment to transparency in government, relationships with developers, and commitment to diversity and inclusion. We asked the nine mayoral candidates…

What should voters know about the Wichita 2023 primaries?

The Sedgwick County Election Office — responsible for all voter registration and elections within the county — is heading into Wichita 2023 primary elections with a new commissioner, following a fair amount of controversy and turnover in recent years.  In 2020, Secretary of State Scott Schwab, whose responsibilities overseeing elections include appointing county election commissioners,…

‘Nothing to fear’: Wichita police chief, county sheriff on HB 2350’s impact on undocumented people

Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan and Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter say Wichita’s immigrant community should not fear HB 2350, an anti-smuggling bill that takes effect July 1.  Since its passage, the bill has come under fire from state politicians and immigration advocates for its vague language. Many people were concerned the law could be…

‘It’s a terror to the community’: How Wichita police training in public housing affects the neighborhood

The city’s predominantly Black neighborhoods — which already see a disproportionate police presence — are now seeing police show up in tactical gear to raid vacant buildings even when nothing is wrong. Officers dressed in military-style fatigues, carrying riot shields and displaying weapons began using the vacant housing for training exercises a year ago, part…

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