Bobby Harlan gazed over the shuttered grounds of Park Elementary School, which he attended 32 years ago, and shared his disappointment about its future. “How can it be a homeless shelter?” he said. “This neighborhood needs a school.” First came the news in March that Wichita schools would be closing the school to save on […]
Local Government
The latest news about local government in Wichita and Sedgwick County, and how it affects your community, from The Wichita Beacon.
Posted inLocal Government
Downtown parking changes leave Wichita businesses worried
Stewart’s Jewelry and the Hilton Garden Inn don’t compete for customers — just for parking. The Hilton, on the corner of South Topeka Street and Douglas Avenue, dwarfs the family-owned jewelry store next door. Customers of both businesses — and sometimes employees — compete for spaces in front of the two establishments. “If I don’t […]
Posted inLocal Government
Wichita Mayor Lily Wu supports nondiscrimination ordinance, but faces skepticism
Chris Pumpelly, founder of Proud of Wichita, said the LGBTQ+ community needs convincing that the mayor elected less than a year ago has their back.
Posted inLocal Government
Why 35,000 Sedgwick County residents will be paying more for internet next month
Jamie Nix regularly sees people turning to the internet to help them answer the most critical questions in their lives. “I’ve had people come to the library with a brand new medical diagnosis,” said Nix, Wichita’s director of libraries. “They are just wanting to use the computer to learn more about what it is.” A […]
Posted inLocal Government
Wichita ransomware attack shuts down multiple services. What comes next?
Wichita finds itself tossed back in time for a couple of weeks by a cyberattack on City Hall that’s upended basic ways of doing business online. So now residents need to head to Walmart or Dillons to pay their water bills. Parents who want to enroll their kids in swimming lessons must go to a […]
Posted inHousing, Local Government, Wichita Journalism Collaborative
Wichita’s mayor backs municipal IDs, but city council objects they weren’t consulted
Some Wichita City Council members were surprised Thursday night when Mayor Lily Wu and City Manager Robert Layton announced to a large crowd the city’s commitment to municipal IDs and other initiatives that haven’t been voted on. One such commitment was to implement a municipal ID program, an initiative started by previous Mayor Brandon Whipple […]
Posted inLocal Government
Wichita’s bus riders want better service, but money is short
Samantha Richardson just started her new job at Pratt Industries in Park City. The only problem? Her 12-mile commute without a car. So she takes the bus. It gets close and it’s cheaper than Uber or Lyft. But Wichita’s bus network can feel anemic. Its flaws sometimes force Richardson to choose between putting in some […]
Posted inLocal Government
The Wichita police citizens board checked more complaints this year than the last five years
The Wichita Police Department closed nearly twice as many complaints about officer conduct in 2023 as it did five years ago, but the department says that shouldn’t set off alarms. Instead, it’s a sign of progress. The department resolved 359 complaints in 2019 compared to 646 last year. The increase stems from gradual changes with […]
Posted inLocal Government
Wichita will remove 3,517 names from gang list after lawsuit. Here’s what else it will do
The 3,517 people previously classified as “inactive gang members” and “gang associates” will be struck from the list under a settlement agreement approved by the City Council earlier this month, meaning they legally can no longer be subjected to heightened police scrutiny and harsher punishments. Under the supervision of a court-appointed special master, police will […]
Posted inKansas State Government, Local Government
Wichita roads could just get bumpier. Eco-friendly cars are chipping away at street repair funds
The signs of springtime are among us: The smell of new flowers, the sight of children playing at the park and the sound of metal scraping against asphalt as cars kerplunk into potholes.
It’s a perpetual complaint in Wichita, particularly this time of year, as we emerge from street-destroying winter weather.
Kansas can’t shake its pothole problem. And now fuel-efficient cars — and the slow, steady invasion of electric vehicles — makes the problem more daunting.