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Brian Grimmett / Kansas News Service

Kansans Who Got Coronavirus Still Struggling Weeks Or Months Later

WICHITA, Kansas — More than 26,000 people in Kansas have contracted COVID-19. Roughly 350 of them have died. While that’s a low death rate, survivors talk of the brutality of the disease, and how full recovery can prove elusive even months after getting infected.

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KMUW/File photo

Primary Election 2020: What You Need To Know Before You Vote

Despite Settlement, Family Of Kansas Football Player Who Died After Practice Is 'Sad Every Morning'

People And The Pandemic, Episode 5: Slai Hung

By & • 2 hours ago
Corinne Boyer / Kansas News Service

One western Kansas resident's recovery from COVID-19 was made worse by an unpleasant health care experience.

Kansas Has Lost A Greater Share Of Revenue Than Many States Due To COVID-19

By • 9 hours ago

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This story is part of an NPR nationwide analysis of states' revenue and budgets during the pandemic.

Another Round Of Layoffs At Spirit AeroSystems

By • Jul 31, 2020
Hugo Phan/KMUW

Spirit AeroSystems announced another round of layoffs on Friday as the Wichita aerospace company continues to get battered by the grounding of the 737 Max and the pandemic.

Spirit said in a news release it will cut another 1,100 jobs from its commercial programs. That represents 450 new layoffs in Wichita when taking into account previous reductions and employees moving to other programs, such as defense. Some employees also previously agreed to take voluntary layoffs.

Kansas Secretary Of State Opposes Trump’s Suggestion To Delay November Election

By • Jul 31, 2020
LaRissa Lawrie / KMUW/File photo

TOPEKA — Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab said Thursday his office opposes President Donald Trump’s suggestion to postpone the November election and urged the Kansas delegation to Congress to do the same.

More than 300,000 Kansans received advance by mail ballots for this year’s primary elections, and the state expects there may be higher use of mail ballots for the general election.

The Range | July 31, 2020

By • Jul 31, 2020
Nadya Faulx / KMUW

This week on The Range, after a steady drumbeat of bad business news, we're focusing on the sunnier side of things, including what's keeping one local economist optimistic.

Even In Wichita's Pandemic-Weary Economy, Some Bright Spots Remain

By & • Jul 31, 2020
Hugo Phan / KMUW

Since the pandemic started in March, The Range has chronicled the economic difficulties of a variety of industries and businesses: restaurants, airlines, musicians, nonprofits, theaters.

It’s been a pretty steady drumbeat of hard times.

But believe it or not, there are some bright spots in this pandemic economy.

Feds Say Filth, Hazards At Kansas Group Homes Put Foster Care Children At Risk

By Celia Llopis-Jepsen • Jul 30, 2020

Kansas let foster care children live in group homes with broken windows, mold, exposed electrical wiring, trashed porches and rodent droppings.

That’s according to an audit by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. Federal inspectors dug into the state’s system of group homes in 2018 and 2019, but their final report only came out this week.

The Kansas Primary Election Could Say A Lot About Whether The State Expands Medicaid

By • Jul 30, 2020

TOPEKA, Kansas — Control of the Kansas Legislature could turn on dozens of down-ballot races in the Aug. 4 primary election, in which many of the contests, particularly for the Kansas Senate, pit conservative Republicans against moderate incumbents.

In Republican Senate primaries, moderates facing their first re-election test since 2016 can no longer use former Gov. Sam Brownback as a foil. And while taxes remain an issue, two perhaps counterintuitive issues are at the core of this year’s legislative contests: Medicaid expansion and abortion.

KU Med And Children’s Mercy To Lead Clinical Trials Of Promising COVID-19 Vaccine

By & Dan Margolies • Jul 30, 2020

A COVID-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University and pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca will be tested locally as part of a clinical trial seeking to enroll 30,000 participants nationwide.

The University of Kansas Medical Center and Children’s Mercy Hospital will lead the local effort, which calls for the recruitment of 1,500 participants in Kansas and Missouri.

In Sedgwick County Commission Primary, Dennis And Larkin At Odds Over COVID-19 Response

By • Jul 30, 2020
Courtesy photos

Hunter Larkin says he decided to run for the Sedgwick County commission in January, when Commissioner David Dennis voted to appoint the board’s lone Democrat, Lacey Cruse, as vice chair.

Dennis joined one of his Republican colleagues in that vote, but Larkin says the decision was enough to make him question Dennis’ conservative principles.

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Commentary & Podcasts

Book Review: Susan Minot Returns To Short Fiction With 'Why I Don't Write'

It’s been three decades since author-playwright Susan Minot has published a collection of short fiction. So perhaps it’s fitting that her new one, which is being released this week, is titled “Why I Don’t Write: And Other Stories.”

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Photo by Anna Webber, courtesy of Jon Regen

A Musical Life: Jon Regen

Jordan Kirtley / KMUW

Haplology: Why We Drop Sounds |YSIW

KMUW Music

John The Revelator, Back To Paradise

By • 8 hours ago
Album Cover Art Courtesy Conqueroo

Monday, August 3

John The Revelator is the new album from acclaimed screenwriter, author and musician John Fusco. Accompanied by The X-Road Riders, Fusco has delivered a double album that ranges from deep blues to Randy Newman-style ballads. We’ll hear selections from that release as well as selections from Lydia Loveless, Dustin Arbuckle & The Damnations and more.

Tuesday, August 4

Listen for featured music from Old 97’s and Chris Stamey as well as selections from John Fullbright, Son Volt and others.

Wednesday, August 5

We’ll hear selections from Songs From Robin Hood Lane by Alex Chilton as well as music from Gillian Welch and David Rawlings’ latest, All The Good Times.

Thursday, August 6

Listen for music from upcoming release by Old 97’s Twelfth as well as selections from the upcoming tribute to the music of Oklahoma, Back To Paradise: A Tulsa Tribute To Okie Music.

Friday, August 7

It’s our new month, new music episode with music from John Fusco and The X-Road Riders, Chris Stamey, Gillian Welch and more.

Saturday, August 8

Listen for live music from John Prine, Townes Van Zandt and others.

August New Blues Releases

By • 9 hours ago

Friday, August 7 and Sunday, August 9

It’s “New Month/New Music” time as Crossroads teams up with Global Village and Strange Currency at the beginning of every month to feature the best in new blues releases.

Among the albums featured this time:

  • New releases from Dion, J-W Jones, the Lucky Losers, Bettye LaVette, Savoy Brown and, celebrating their 50th anniversary, the Downchild Blues Band
  • Reissues from Little Junior Parker, the Five Keys, and Big Mama Thornton

Bird’s Centennial And Birthdays Of Kat Edmonson, Eric Alexander, Dorothy Ashby, Charlie Haden & More

By • 9 hours ago

Monday, August 3

Night Train kicks off a new month’s feature marking the centennial birthday of jazz great Charlie Parker. We’ll also mark birthdays of vocalese pioneer Eddie Jefferson, bassist Ben Wolfe, and singer and songwriter Kat Edmonson (featured in a special in hour two of the show). Plus new music from the Tampa trio La Lucha, the tuba/guitar duo of Jim Self and John Chiodini, and pianist John Di Martino.

Tuesday, August 4

The Night Train Bird Centennial feature continues with music from a Charlie Parker tribute album from alto saxophonist Stefano di Battista. Also tonight birthday salutes to drummers Terri Lynn Carrington and Jeff Hamilton, jazz legend Louis Armstrong, and tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander (featured in a concert special in hour two of the show). Plus the latest from Tim Ray. Thomas Marriott and Dr. Michael White.

Wednesday, August 5

In conjunction with the August Charlie Parker Centennial feature,  Night Train showcases classic and contemporary alto sax players – along with Bird and a tribute to him from Lee Konitz, we’ll hear selections from Johnny Hodges, Cannonball Adderley, Phil Woods, Kenny Garrett, Richie Cole, Hank Crawford, and Steve Slagle. Also on tap, vocalists Joe Williams, Abbey Lincoln and Ernestine Anderson, organist Joey DeFrancesco, and the Afro Bop Alliance Big Band.

Thursday, August 6

It’s a jazz birthday bonanza tonight on the Night Train as the show celebrates those of violinist Regina Carter, vocalist Abbey Lincoln, bassist Charlie Haden, saxophonists Ravi Coltrane (John’s son) and Victor Goines, harpist Dorothy Ashby, and harmonica player Hendrik Meurkens (featured in a special in hour two of the show. And in conjunction with the August Charlie Parker Centennial Birthday celebration, Night Train dips into some of his Latin jazz work.

Mandolin Month, Lucky Dube And New Releases

By • 9 hours ago

Monday, August 3

Global Village remembers South African reggae legend Lucky Dube for his birthday; kicks off the August Mandolin Month feature with music from Brazilian mandolinist Hamilton de Holanda (featured later in the month on the next Global Village at the Savannah Music Festival show); and highlights the latest from next generation roots reggae artist Jah9, Brazilian group Aquarela with Oboman, Al DiMeola with new world jazz-inspired versions of classic Beatles tunes, Mali’s Bamba Wassoulou Groove, and eclectic London world music collective Lokkhi Terra.

Tuesday, August 4

Global Village marks the birthday of singer and harpist Moya Brennan with music she did as part of the acclaimed Irish group Clannad, on a solo release, and as a special guest with the Chieftains and Ry Cooder. We’ll also hear the latest from world chamber group the iYATRA Quartet, tango duo Ben & Winnie, gnawa-rock band Bab L’ BLuz, and Japanese guitarist Atsumi Yukihiro. And as the August mandolin month feature continues, we hear music from David Grisman and Carlo Aonzo, along with guitarist Beppe Gambetta.

Wednesday, August 5

In conjunction with the August feature, Global Village highlights world mandolins– with influences from Brazil (Hamilton de Holanda, featured later this month on Global Village at the Savannah Music Festival), Western and Arabic classical (Avi Avital) and traditional music (Solas, MandolinMan and Runa). We’ll also get in some ‘good vibes’ courtesy of vibraphonists Cal Tjader, and Dave Samuels with the Caribbean and Jazz Project.

Thursday, August 6

Global Village celebrates Jamaican Independence Day with a show devoted to music from the island nation, including Bob Marley & the Wailers and solo projects from original Wailers Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh, ska from the Skatalites and associated musicians, a rock steady hit from the Paragons, guitar legend Ernest Ranglin, and conscious reggae classics from Culture and Burning Spear.

Friday, August 7

It’s New Month/New Music time in the Global Village. Each month, Global Village devotes an entire show to the best of recently released and forthcoming world music albums. 

Among the highlights this time:

  • A tour de force of Cuban music from pianist Gonazalo Rubalcaba and singer Aymee Nuviola
  • Music from Hawaii from the Aloha Radio Hawaii project and Jim Kimo West
  • Brazilian sounds from Putumayo and Ceu
  • And Gaudi’s intriguing meeting of dub and the theremin.

Global Village Top 40 For July 2020

By • Aug 1, 2020

  1. Nohe & Sus Santos – Tempistad (Avokado)
  2. Aquarela – A Bela Vida (Buda Musique)
  3. Lokkhi Terra – Cubangla (Funkiwala)
  4. Ojibo Afrobeat – Ojiboland (Ojibo Afrobeat)
  5. Bab L’ Bluz – Nayda! (Real World)
  6. Son Rompe Pera – Batuco (Aya)
  7. Matthieu Saglio – El Camino de los Vientos (ACT)
  8. Alhousseini Anivolla & Girum Mezmur – Afropentatonism (Piranha)
  9. Liga Latina – Liga Latina (Multination)
  10. John Doyle – The Path of Stones (Compass)

Award-Winning KMUW News

Gordon Parks Collection, Special Collections & University Archives, Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kansas.

Gordon Parks' 'The Learning Tree' Still Resonates After 50 Years

The landmark motion picture "The Learning Tree" turns 50 years old this year. Noted photographer Gordon Parks directed the movie, based off his 1963 semi-autobiography. The film is set in Parks’ hometown of Fort Scott, Kansas. Parks became the first African-American to produce and direct a major motion picture for a Hollywood studio.

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Pacific Coast League

Branch Rickey III On Baseball, Wichita's New Team And The 'Beautiful Legend' Of Jackie Robinson

Stephan Bisaha / Kansas News Service

Kansas Is In Danger Of Losing A Generation Of Hunters And Their Conservation Money