Local News

Both Mister Sleeves and Eighty-Eight are elusive creatures ... and candidates.

Michael Sweet, vocalist and guitarist for the Christian heavy metal band Stryper underwent surgery for thyroid cancer in 2023. Although he emerged from surgery with his voice intact, he says that it was a powerful reminder that with age, his voice has changed.

Incumbent Betty Arnold will face off against Jason Carmichel to represent District 8 on the Kansas State Board of Education. The area covers most of Wichita and five other school districts, including Andover, Derby and Haysville.

Three candidates are vying for the District 10 seat on the Kansas State Board of Education. They're fighting it out to represent an area that covers more than 30 districts in south-central Kansas, including Goddard, Maize and a portion of west Wichita.

Incumbent Ron Estes will take on Esau Freeman to represent the Congressional 4th District. The district stretches from Greensburg to Sedan, and includes Sedgwick, Butler, Harvey and Cowley counties.

Current District 3 Commissioner David Dennis, who has been in the role for the past eight years, is not seeking reelection. The district encompasses much of west Wichita, rural Sedgwick County and small cities like Goddard, Garden Plain, Colwich and Andale.

District 2 covers southwest Wichita, Haysville, Clearwater and other parts of south Sedgwick County. Incumbent Sarah Lopez is in a race with Jeff Blubaugh to represent the area on the Sedgwick County Commission.

The Midwest Newsroom and its partners found that homeless students eligible for enrollment, transportation and academic support in most rural school districts are not getting these services because the districts are undercounting students without stable housing and not applying for available funds.

More than 4,800 students are considered homeless in Nebraska, and school districts can do only so much to help. Many rely on partnerships with local organizations to support student needs outside of school.

Short-term rentals that have not acquired a license or taken steps to get one could face criminal charges, city officials say.