Kansas legislators introduced several bills in the opening weeks of the legislative session that would bring reform to the state’s criminal justice system, such as prohibiting the use of restraints on children in hearings and setting a new standard for search warrants. The 2022 legislative session opened on Jan. 10. The Wichita Beacon is highlighting […]
Stefania Lugli
Lugli is a community watchdog reporter at The Wichita Beacon. She is a Report for America corps member.
Posted inLocal Government, Watchdog
As vacancies grow, Wichita’s police review board cancels meeting
The Wichita Citizen’s Review Board canceled its meeting last week over growing vacancies on the panel and to allow more time to propose changes to its structure. The police review board was set to review two cases of alleged misconduct against Wichita Police Department officers as well as possible changes to how the board operates, […]
Posted inCivic Engagement, Watchdog
‘Stay safe and alive’: How Wichitans are helping their unhoused neighbors this winter
Last February, a historic cold snap shocked Wichita, plunging temperatures below zero and forcing people inside — including those without homes. As winter again tugs temperatures down and whips wind gusts up, advocates and nonprofits serving the unsheltered are working to protect them. In the shadow of St. John’s Episcopal Church on Topeka Street in […]
Posted inLocal Government, Watchdog
Wichita police’s new contract ignores appeals for more transparency in misconduct cases
A new three-year union contract for the Wichita Police Department includes pay raises and retention bonuses, but critics say it fails to address demands for improving transparency around police misconduct. The contract with the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) will cost the city at least $9 million more than budgeted, in part to fund salary […]
Posted inWatchdog
A child in crisis died in juvenile custody. How can Wichita prevent it from happening again?
Update: Sedgwick County corrections employees involved in the death of Cedric “C.J.” Lofton won’t face criminal charges, District Attorney Marc Bennett said during a press conference on Jan. 18, 2022. Lofton, 17, died after becoming unresponsive as Department of Corrections staff restrained him face-down for over 30 minutes. An autopsy ruled Lofton’s death a homicide. […]
Posted inWatchdog
Kansas is challenging the federal vaccine mandates. Spirit and Textron are moving forward with them.
Editor’s note: We updated this story on Nov. 29 to clarify that Spirit and Textron are following a mandate for employees of federal contractors to be vaccinated by Jan. 4. The story, including the headline and a subhead, were also revised to clarify that there are three federal mandates related to vaccine mandates. Also, the […]
Posted inWatchdog
After hundreds of 911 calls, police and advocates for people without shelter struggle to address a downtown crisis
The corner of Second and Topeka streets in downtown Wichita recently received an onslaught of attention regarding its unsheltered residents. On Oct. 5, the city’s Public Works & Utilities department painted white lines around United Methodist Open Door, a social services organization, and nearby buildings to disperse encampments and respond to an increase in violence […]
Posted inCivic Engagement, DIY Democracy, Local Government, Watchdog
How to cast your ballot in Wichita school board, city council races
Voters are already trickling into the Sedgwick County Election Office to cast their ballots. Early voting runs through Nov. 1 and Election Day is Nov. 2. Ready to exercise your right to vote? Here’s a nonpartisan guide to make it as easy as possible. I’m an in-person voter in Sedgwick County. What do I need? […]
Posted inWatchdog
Fentanyl-laced drugs are in Wichita. Here’s what can be done to keep residents alive.
Dr. Heather Roe has a front-row seat in watching a generation of parents bury their kids. She’s an addiction medicine specialist running Harmony Medical Clinic, a facility that specializes in medical treatments for people addicted to opioids, alcohol and other substances. Drug addiction has been a national concern for years, but she’s seeing a dramatic […]
Posted inWatchdog
Hurdles too high for some Kansans seeking emergency rental assistance
Sheila Sager doesn’t know if she should pack her bags. Her twins caught COVID. The electric company was threatening to shut off the lights. Her landlord was preparing to sell the house she rented, irritated with her pleas to get his cooperation on rental assistance paperwork. Sager was unemployed and behind on her bills — […]