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500 dead and counting from fentanyl as Wichita struggles to curb overdoses

Under Wichita’s towering landmark, the Keeper of the Plains, a group of grieving Wichitans gathered at dusk, lighting candles for loved ones lost to fentanyl.  Among the dozens of mourners at the recent memorial were Mark and Val Sandoval, who lost their son just weeks before his high school graduation after he took a single…

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Data dive: What spending more money on elections means for voter turnout

A county-by-county examination by The Beacon showed counties that spent more per voter got some payoff on turnout — with limits. Counties that spent less than $20 per registered voter tended to see turnout of about 40%. Those that spent more than $30 per voter could generally expect turnout north of 50%. 

Kansas economy depends on Latinos and Hispanics, state’s fastest growing demographic

Hispanic people represent 18% of residents in Wichita and the fastest growing segment of the Kansas population — making them an integral part of the state’s workforce, critical to the state’s overall economic success. On July 29, the Kansas Hispanic and Latino American Affairs Commission held a Latina Leadership Summit at  Wichita State University. It…

‘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…

The month the Chiefs won the Super Bowl, Kansans bet $194 million on sports but the state got only $1,134

Update: Following publication of this story, Gov. Laura Kelly’s office issued a statement via Brianna Johnson, her communications director: “Governor Kelly agrees there are aspects of the sports betting legislation that could be improved. She will continue to discuss any potential changes with legislators.” It may not surprise you that in the same month the…

Fentanyl test strips will finally be legal in Kansas. Here’s why that matters.

Kansans will soon be able to use fentanyl test strips without fear of being prosecuted after Gov. Laura Kelly signed Senate Bill 174 earlier this month, a measure that addiction experts hope will prevent deaths from accidental fentanyl poisoning.  “By decriminalizing fentanyl testing strips, we are helping Kansans protect themselves from a deadly poison that…

2023 Kansas legislative session: What passed, what didn’t, what was vetoed

Kansas lawmakers concluded this year’s legislative session last Friday after a three-day flurry of veto overrides and finalizing budgets for both public schools and the state, but without passing any of the tax relief policies each party wanted at the start of the session.  Neither did Gov. Laura Kelly achieve the major priorities she laid…

‘Storm of Addiction’ Part 2: Sober and ready to fight

This is the second part of a two-part series. Read the first part here: “How a Kansas woman emerged from the storm of addiction to fight fentanyl.” This story contains references to drug use, addiction and overdose. When Ashley Alexander found her fiance, Dustin Gotham, lying on the bathroom floor with a needle in his…

Is support for legal medical marijuana in Kansas coming in 2023?

Recreational marijuana is legal to the west in Colorado and to the east in Missouri. Medical marijuana is legal to the south in Oklahoma. But Kansas remains one of three states where possession for any purpose remains illegal — despite the fact that nearly 90 percent of Americans support legal use for at least medical…

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