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The Wichita Beacon
Kansas has considered ending taxes on period products since 2022. Why has nothing passed?
Cutting taxes on period products was supported by both key Republicans and Democrats in 2022. Kansas still hasn’t passed the cut. Some people argue for broader tax cuts. Democrats say the tax cut has stalled because of political games. The 2022 gubernatorial election in Kansas was close. Gov. Laura...
The proposals to whittle down a 10-year waitlist for Kansans with intellectual disabilities
Parents of children with intellectual disabilities need additional support, but the wait for state subsidies can take 10 years. Gov. Laura Kelly wants to allocate $23 million to assist 500 families on disability waivers. Republicans are proposing double that. A proposed community support waiver in Kansas aims to alleviate the...
‘We’re unionized. You can’t ignore it.’ Wichita nurses vow another strike again if they don’t get a contract
Nurses at two Wichita hospitals have told hospital management they are ready to strike for the third time in less than a year. The nurses reflect a national trend of health care workers unionizing to demand better pay and beefed-up staffing. The more than 900 nurses say they will fight...
Despite some parents’ pleas, Wichita USD 259 board votes for closing 6 schools
Wichita school board members voted 5-2 Monday to close six schools at the end of the academic year. USD 259 faces a $42 million budget deficit due to falling enrollment, the end of federal pandemic relief funds and a $1.2 billion maintenance backlog. Administrators estimate the district will save $16 million next year from shutting […] The post Despite some parents’ pleas, Wichita USD 259 board votes for closing 6 schools appeared first on The Wichita Beacon.
Despite some parents’ pleas, Wichita USD 259 board votes for closing 6 schools
Wichita school board members voted 5-2 Monday to close six schools at the end of the academic year. USD 259 faces a $42 million budget deficit due to falling enrollment, the end of federal pandemic relief funds and a $1.2 billion maintenance backlog. Administrators estimate the district will save $16 million next year from shutting […] The post Despite some parents’ pleas, Wichita USD 259 board votes for closing 6 schools appeared first on The Wichita Beacon.
Meet the group offering dinner with a side of community in a downtown parking lot
As the sun set on the parking lot of St. John’s Episcopal Church on North Topeka Street, volunteers began arriving, setting up tables, playing music and rolling out coolers. Every Thursday night, people from different walks of life congregate with a shared purpose: to meet the needs of downtown Wichita’s homeless population and anyone else […] The post Meet the group offering dinner with a side of community in a downtown parking lot appeared first on The Wichita Beacon.
Wichita plans to close 6 schools. Does the district’s math add up?
The Wichita school district faces a difficult math problem — how to close a $42 million budget shortfall without laying off any teachers or staff, the district’s largest expense. USD 259 is being put to the test by a state requirement to balance its budget, combined with less...
Artificial intelligence is already at work in Wichita hospitals, but without much regulation
AI is regularly used in health care, from helping doctors take notes during patient appointments to monitoring the availability of hospital beds. People in the health care industry say the technology has potential to cut costs, reduce staff burnout and improve patient care. Regulators are starting to look at how...
Missouri legalized weed last year, yet Kansas saw little increase in drug arrests
Takeaways: More than 1 million Kansans live within an hour’s drive of Missouri and its dispensaries selling legal cannabis at seemingly every strip mall. Yet even with that new, easy access to legal weed, fewer people face arrest in Kansas on marijuana charges. Prosecutors and police remain obliged to enforce the state’s prohibition on cannabis […] The post Missouri legalized weed last year, yet Kansas saw little increase in drug arrests appeared first on The Wichita Beacon.
Will Sedgwick County homeowners see tax appraisals increase again? Here’s what to expect
Sixty percent of Sedgwick County homeowners face higher tax appraisals, but that is the fewest since 2018. Property values rose by an average of 8%, driven by housing supply-demand imbalances. Higher valuations may lead to increased property taxes unless county commissioners adjust the mill levy. Homeowners can appeal assessments if...
What is the state of tax cuts in Kansas?
– Kansas lawmakers are in a deadlock over tax cuts, primarily centered around Republicans advocating for a flat income tax. – Republicans are making a second attempt at a flat tax through an amended bill. The second attempt has fewer Social Security tax cuts. – The fate of sweeping tax...
A new specialized court aims to help Kansas families dealing with substance abuse to get kids out of foster care
Substance abuse contributes to around 13% of children entering foster care. Kansas will have a specialized court to support families dealing with substance use issues, potentially improving treatment completion and family reunification. The pilot program in rural counties aims to collect data and potentially create a model for other jurisdictions.
Kansas City hospitals had long dreaded, and prepared for, a day of shootings like this
The burst of gunfire that killed a young mother and wounded almost two dozen others could have turned out even deadlier. But one critically injured young man made it to the operating room at University Health Kansas City within minutes after being hit. Had he not been triaged at the scene and rushed to the […] The post Kansas City hospitals had long dreaded, and prepared for, a day of shootings like this appeared first on The Wichita Beacon.
One of the best things for a child traumatized by Kansas City’s mass shooting? Experts stress routine
Some children, the experts say, need to talk about their concerns. That, they say, needs to be balanced against dwelling too much on what happened or trying to force conversations that could backfire. The post One of the best things for a child traumatized by Kansas City’s mass shooting? Experts stress routine appeared first on The Wichita Beacon.
After witnessing a deadly mass shooting, lawmakers want to take action on gun control
Takeaways: Update (Feb. 16, 2024): In response to Wednesday’s shooting, Missouri House Republican Majority Leader Jon Patterson told The Kansas City Star, House Republicans abandoned two gun-related bills. One would allow guns to be carried inside churches and on buses and another would eliminate sales taxes on firearms and ammunition. “While I do think both […] The post After witnessing a deadly mass shooting, lawmakers want to take action on gun control appeared first on The Wichita Beacon.
Six USD 259 schools will shutter in 2024 if the Wichita school board approves the plan
In making school closure recommendations, administrators focused on schools with low enrollment, bad building conditions and small classrooms, said Susan Willis, the district’s chief financial officer. The post Six USD 259 schools will shutter in 2024 if the Wichita school board approves the plan appeared first on The Wichita Beacon.
Kansas GOP eyeing election changes, targeting drop boxes and mail votes
Only 19.7% of Kansans surveyed strongly agreed that the winner of statewide elections actually won. Bills, such as some requiring mail-in ballots to arrive by 7 p.m. on Election Day and making all drop box ballots provisional, face strong opposition. Despite negligible instances of voter fraud, some lawmakers continue to...
Wichita is getting a new psychiatric hospital amid fears it’ll be too small
Kansas sits on the verge of building its first new state mental hospital in more than a century, even as officials acknowledge the original plans may not meet the region’s needs. The $40 million 50-bed facility planned for a spot at Meridian Avenue and MacArthur Road in southwest Wichita...
These bills could change funding, hiring and enrollment in Wichita Public Schools
Pending education bills could hurt Wichita Public Schools by changing how to count enrollment — and allot state tax dollars. The district is pushing for alternative ways to certify teachers amid a shortage in classrooms. The district wants the state to fulfill its commitment to funding 92% of special...
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