State Government Archives – The Wichita Beacon

A photo of a KVC Kansas building. KVC has therapists that provide mental health treatment.

A 15-year-old’s suicide while in Kansas foster care came amid a shortfall in mental health care

by Blaise Mesa November 27, 2023November 22, 2023

Takeaways: A 15-year-old took his own life in October while in the care of a private Kansas foster care agency. That agency, KVC Kansas, fell short of court-mandated benchmarks for getting mental health treatment for children in its care. Yet KVC actually comes closer to hitting the mark than other agencies hired by the state […]

Evergy's Lawrence Energy Center. A coal-fired power plant. Evergy's electric rates are controlled by the Kansas Corporation Commission.

Economics

Kansas regulators give Evergy a smaller electrical rate hike than it asked for

by Blaise Mesa November 21, 2023November 21, 2023

Empty couches in a clinic's waiting room.

State Government

Kansas judge blocks 24-hour waiting period for women seeking abortions

by Rose Conlon October 31, 2023October 31, 2023

Robyn Adams, a grocery vendor from Newton, Kansas, is one of 82,000 Kansans who lost Medicaid benefits during the nationwide post-pandemic contraction – known as the “unwinding.”

State Government

Red tape and income limits have booted 82,000 Kansans off Medicaid since May. How can they get back on?

by Sawyer Belair October 24, 2023October 23, 2023

The Kansas state Capitol in Topeka. Kansas is one of 37 states that has a law preventing large state contracts from being taken out with companies who boycott, divest or sanction Israel.

State Government

Kansas uses the power of the pocketbook to prevent divestment in Israel

by Meg Cunningham October 24, 2023October 23, 2023

At a recent memorial event, Val and Mark Sandoval, far right, join others who lost family and friends to drug overdose from fentanyl in the past few years. Since 2018, more than 500 people in the Wichita area have died from what was a nearly nonexistent threat before then. (Alex Unruh/The Beacon)

Health

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

by Sawyer Belair September 19, 2023September 21, 2023

Wichita assistant city attorney Nathaniel Johnson answers a question from the Kansas Supreme Court. The case tests whether a law used to prosecute a Wichita protester violates free-speech protections. (Miranda Moore/The Beacon)

State Government

Kansas Supreme Court to decide if Wichita’s ‘noisy conduct’ ban violates First Amendment

by Miranda Moore September 15, 2023September 15, 2023

Several dozen voters stand in line on a sidewalk. A lawn sign that says "Vote here, ID required" stands in the foreground.

State Government

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

by Miranda Moore August 22, 2023August 22, 2023

A hand holding a phone opened to a betting app.

State Government

Kansans can lose big on sports betting with a single click. Experts want more protections

by Dylan Lysen August 11, 2023August 11, 2023

State Government

Kansas taxpayers — not casinos — are underwriting ‘free’ sports bets that entice gamblers

by Dylan Lysen August 11, 2023August 11, 2023