Public housing in Wichita is coming to an end. In late January, the Wichita Housing Authority announced plans to sell its 352 single-family public homes. And last September, the authority closed on a deal to convert its 226 other public housing units, which are apartments for seniors, into Section 8 housing. Section 8 units receive […]
Wichita joins other Midwestern cities in moving away from public housing
Posted inEducation
Which colleges are worth the cost? How to navigate the lists and rankings for KC-area schools
There’s no set formula for figuring out college value. So The Kansas City Beacon combed through a few college value rankings and talked with local universities to give you a starting point.
Posted inEducation
Community college students get free KC bus rides, but long commutes can cramp college life
All KC-area community colleges except the Longview campus of the Metropolitan Community College system are within walking distance of bus lines. Yet parking lots still fill up with cars when classes are in session.
Posted inWichitans You Should Know
Eddie Sandoval shares his culture through his business, Pinole Blue
Growing up in Solomon, a small town about 90 minutes north of Wichita, Eddie Sandoval kept himself busy with sports and running his own lawn mowing company. It was the first taste of entrepreneurship for Sandoval, who recalls growing up as part of the only Mexican family in the town of less than 1,000 people. […]
Posted inLea en Español, Wichitans You Should Know
Cinco preguntas con Eddie Sandoval, propietario y CEO de Pinole Blue
Al crecer en Solomon, un pequeño pueblo a unos 90 minutos al norte de Wichita, Eddie Sandoval se mantuvo ocupado con los deportes y dirigiendo su propia compañía de corte de césped. Fue la primera prueba de emprendimiento para Sandoval, quien recuerda haber crecido como parte de la única familia mexicana en la ciudad de […]
Posted inEducation
Missouri schools to finally get $1.9 billion in COVID relief funding after bill passes
The bill’s passage is a relief for local school districts, which had urged the legislature to appropriate most of the money before a March 24 deadline.
Posted inCivic Engagement, Watchdog
Wichita nonprofit strives to vaccinate at least 400 unsheltered people by June
Social distancing is not a homeless shelter’s strong suit. But several mobile clinics are popping up in shelters in Wichita to vaccinate as many unsheltered people as possible against COVID — especially as winter temperatures force scores of people inside. The city of Wichita approved a $50,000 grant for United Way of the Plains to […]
Posted inHealth
Sheltered workshop or community jobs? Inside Missouri’s debate over disabled adults in the workforce
Robert Petrie takes pride in his job. The 38-year-old started working as a Walmart cart attendant in Sedalia, Missouri, nearly two years ago. He made the move when he said his old job with McDonald’s wasn’t challenging enough anymore – the same reason he decided to move on from the job he held before that. […]
Posted inEducation, Kansas State Government
Kansas lawmakers file bills about transgender athletes, remote learning, vaccines and parents’ rights
Proposals also include back-to-school tax holidays and benefits for retired teachers.
Posted inLocal Government
A neighborly solution to Wichita’s problems with bulky waste, inoperable cars and too-tall grass
Chelsea Lee’s home had never received a nuisance citation from the city of Wichita before last year. But 2021 was rough for her. First, she spent a week in the hospital in critical condition with a liver infection — and, without health insurance, a pile of bills. Later that year, her back started acting up. Lee, 44, […]