A free email newsletter breaking down the issues that affect Wichitans the most.
Delivered every Tuesday and Thursday morning
LATEST NEWS

Wichita LGBTQ+ advocate Jackie Carter: Parents are ‘just terrified’ for their children
Get our free newsletter every Tuesday and Thursday morning. We share our in-depth reporting and the best local stories to help you understand what’s going on in Wichita.

In Wichita, a bad headlight can lead to jail
How can a traffic ticket ruin a life? A traffic ticket for something as simple as a broken headlight or a missing taillight can snowball into a jail sentence in Kansas for low-income people who can’t afford car repairs or fines. And according to some activists and state representatives, it’s more likely to happen to…

Did a cost-cutting move reduce voter turnout in 2022?
Is Sedgwick County doing enough to ensure voting in elections is accessible to all? Nancy Brown, a leader of the Wichita League of Women Voters, doesn’t think so. She and other voting rights advocates believe people who have difficulty going to the polls were harmed by the Sedgwick County Commission last year. In the 2022…

DIY Democracy: How to run for City Council or mayor in Wichita
Candidates who want to run for City Council or mayor have a lot of information to dissect and understand and a lot of tasks to complete. A detail as small as where you place your yard sign can be dictated by city ordinances. Getting the essential information isn’t easy. It’s not readily available online. It…

Wichita’s new task force will address homelessness. Who’s involved and what are their goals?
Update: the location of the meeting has been changed to Hughes Metropolitan Complex, 5015 E. 29th Street N., Room 138. Text in the story has been changed to reflect this. Concerned about the number of unhoused people living in Wichita and what is – and isn’t – being done to help them? A new task…

Has your family experienced unexplained illness? A Black neighborhood group will survey its members on MLK Day
A federal holiday since 1986, Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be observed in Wichita on Monday, Jan. 16. Local celebrations are planned featuring opportunities for prayer, volunteerism and community fellowship. One neighborhood activist hopes to use the opportunity to survey Black community members about any unexplained health problems.

A few steps forward, a few steps back: Update on the Cedric Lofton task force recommendations
One notable change is Sedgwick County has launched a pilot program embedding mental health workers among the 911 emergency response team. On the opposite side, Sedgwick County has decided to not include “Stand Your Ground” law reform in its legislative agenda.

Know your rights: How to protest in Wichita
Want to protest to make your voice heard? Before you organize a protest, it is important to know what rights you have and how to use them. It’s also helpful to know what can and won’t get you in trouble with the law. Here is a quick guide on how to protest in Wichita.

Cedric Lofton’s missing headstone and the slow road of justice
In a Wichita cemetery, an unmarked grave is decorated with flowers, pictures and stones that say, “We miss you.” This is where Cedric Lofton is buried. This weekend, as on most holidays, Lofton’s brother Mark Teetz will visit and remember his baby brother.

Wichita has 44 square miles of food deserts. Here is a way to help.
Government officials are currently recruiting members for a Food and Farm Council to guide a master plan to address problems within the community’s food system.

Un año después, Wichita trabaja en base a 60 recomendaciones para evitar otra tragedia como la de Cedric Lofton.
En respuesta a la muerte de Cedric “CJ” Lofton, de 17 años, hace un año, el condado de Sedgwick pidió a 23 miembros de la comunidad que formaran un grupo de trabajo para explorar qué problemas sistémicos en el cuidado temporal de menores, la respuesta de emergencia y la aplicación de la ley contribuyeron a…

Who’s behind the big-money push to retake Sedgwick County District 4?
Ryan Baty, the Republican, both outraised and outspent Lacey Cruse, the Democrat, by more than 2 to 1 during the reporting period, which covers July 22 through Oct. 27.

Sedgwick County District 5 represents SE Wichita, Derby and Mulvane. Where do commission candidates stand on key issues?
Jim Howell, a Republican, is the current county commissioner representing District 5. He is being challenged by John McIntosh, a Democrat. Where do they stand on key issues like marijuana, mental health and diversity.

Sedgwick County commissioner District 4 candidates give stances on fentanyl, mental health and marijuana
Lacey Cruse, a Democrat, is the current county commissioner representing District 4. She is being challenged by Ryan Baty, a Republican.

Marijuana, mental health and diversity: Where do Sedgwick County commissioner District 1 candidates stand?
Pete Meitzner, a Republican, is the current county commissioner representing District 1. He is being challenged by Kelli Grant, a Democrat.

Community members want fishing lake near toxic site tested, but state says it’s not necessary
The lake is directly north of a toxic site contaminated by a large chemical spill, which state officials estimate happened in the 1970s or ’80s.
Loading…
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.