Armando Minjárez was once an undocumented immigrant, a status that put him on a path to both art and activism. The multidisciplinary artist and organizer moved to Wichita in 2012 to co-found the grassroots organization The Seed House/Casa de la Semilla. But he is best known for directing Horizontes, the public-art and documentary project that […]
Armando Minjárez hopes to highlight the humanity of Wichita’s immigrants
Posted inState Government
KC got the cup. What does that mean for Arrowhead Stadium?
Kansas City has reason to celebrate. After years of constructing a bid to host a portion of the 2026 World Cup, FIFA officials announced that the city will be one of 11 host cities in the United States. GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium will be the host venue for Kansas City’s portion of the series […]
Posted inCivic Engagement
25 Ways to celebrate Juneteenth in Kansas City, and to keep supporting Black communities
Editor’s note: Click here for a 2023 guide to celebrating Juneteenth in Kansas City. Juneteenth is a holiday commemorating the official ending of slavery in the United States. Although enslaved people were emancipated throughout the Confederacy by Abraham Lincoln on Jan. 1, 1863, it wasn’t until June 19, 1865, that federal troops arrived at Galveston, […]
Posted inState Government
What’s to come for Missouri’s use of federal COVID relief funds?
For months, cities across Missouri and the Kansas City region have been eyeing the billions of dollars sent to states as part of the American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, an effort by the federal government to provide some relief from the strains caused by COVID-19. The money is so expansive that many city officials […]
Posted inCivic Engagement, Local Government
KC has few trans women of color in leadership. This nonprofit is changing that.
In the eight years that Merrique Jenson has worked in trans activism in Kansas City, she’s been invited to join nonprofit boards and government projects to represent trans women of color in KC. Not all of those experiences turned out well, Jenson said. She was criticized for talking about race, and she felt that her […]
Posted inHousing, Local Government
Kansas has $56 million to help homeowners struggling to pay their mortgage following pandemic
In the first quarter of 2022, the state of Kansas had nearly 10,000 past-due mortgages. Six of 10 of those mortgages were at least three months late and considered seriously delinquent, according to Marilyn Stanley, the program director for the Kansas Homeowner Assistance Fund. A new $56.6 million statewide program funded by the federal American […]
Posted inEnvironment
During severe weather, language and ability barriers can increase dangers
Colin Olenick, legislative liaison for the Self Advocate Coalition of Kansas, advocates for people with disabilities in a variety of areas, including emergency preparedness.
Olenick uses a wheelchair, and he says he is fortunate not to have faced a dangerous situation in severe weather.
Posted inHousing, Local Government
Animal control, paved streets, water fountains: What City Council members want in the 2023 budget
As budget season approaches for the city of Wichita, the mayor and City Council members must decide: How should they spend taxpayer money? The Wichita Beacon asked each council member and the mayor to list their top three budget priorities for this year. Investment in neighborhoods and their infrastructure, especially in the center of the […]
Posted inLocal Government, Wichitans You Should Know
Why Reggie Davidson is the city of Wichita’s 2022 Public Service Award winner
For Reggie Davidson, working as recreation superintendent for the city’s Park and Recreation Department looks different every day. Some days, he may be at city hall, working in the office. Others, he’s at a golf course or a city pool. But his favorite days are when he gets to fill in as a camp counselor […]
Posted inEducation
KCPS has more money to spend next year. Here’s what students, staff can expect to see
Erin Thompson said priorities this year were driven by the academic division, which pushed to have reading and math interventionists in each building to help struggling students and raise test scores.