Sedgwick County Commission

The Sedgwick County Commission voted Tuesday to let public and private K-12 schools opt out of the county’s latest health order.

Sedgwick County’s new COVID-19 public health order relaxes some business restrictions and allows larger gatherings.

Health Officer Dr. Garold Minns issued the six-week health order Tuesday. It takes effect Sunday after current safety restrictions expire.

Minns recommended the changes due to the continued local decline in new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

Former Sedgwick County Commissioner Michael O’Donnell was fined $25,000 by the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission for violating campaign finance laws.

O’Donnell admitted to nine campaign finance violations during two elections. The state panel said the fine will be cut in half if O’Donnell pays within 90 days.

Sedgwick County Republicans selected their former leader to serve the remainder of the term for the 2nd District seat on the county commission.

The tumultuous tenure of Michael O’Donnell on the Sedgwick County Commission has ended.

O’Donnell resigned immediately late Friday afternoon after the District Attorney’s Office released a statement saying it was prepared to initiate ouster proceedings next week.

O’Donnell, a Republican, knocked off a four-term incumbent in 2016 to win his seat. Since he took office, he was indicted on federal charges related to the spending of campaign finance money and became embroiled in a political scandal involving a false attack ad in the 2019 mayoral campaign.

When voting ended Tuesday night, Sarah Lopez – the Democratic challenger trying to unseat Michael O’Donnell from the Sedgwick County Commission – was losing by nearly 600 ballots.

But a wave of mail-in ballots has now vaulted Lopez into a 125-vote lead.