Wichita

Many Kansas students are getting excited about girls’ flag football, which was launched in the state with help and funding from the Kansas City Chiefs. Learn about the sport and its rising popularity.

Wichita’s headcount for the 2025-26 school year is 45,075, down from 46,556 last year. The state’s largest district has lost about 6,000 students — a nearly 12% drop — over the past decade.

The Kansas State High School Activities Association has not sanctioned girls' flag football as a full varsity sport, but this year’s pilot program could set a path for that to happen.

A new report reflects how Kansas is falling short of some its commitments to improve the state's foster system.

Union leaders say Diane Albert and Hazel Stabler have changed significantly since they joined the board as part of a conservative wave of candidates who focused on mask mandates, critical race theory and other culture war issues.

The COVID-19 pandemic boosted the microschool movement across the country, as families sought alternatives during shutdowns and remote schooling. The trend has continued post-pandemic, as part of a broader desire for educational choice.

A three-day National Transportation Safety Board hearing about the collision of a flight from Wichita, Kan., and a U.S. Army helicopter dug into problems with altimeters, chopper routes and busy airspace.

The January midair collision of an Army helicopter with a flight from Wichita, which killed 67 people, is the topic of a three-day investigative hearing by the National Transportation Safety Board.

Local leaders are addressing AI’s impact on water, surveillance, transparency and more. A mostly hands-off approach at the federal level means regulating complex AI issues is–so far–evolving in a patchwork of laws.

Congregate care facilities house foster children in settings ranging from drop-in day programs to inpatient mental health care. Advocates say these buildings need more oversight to curb suspected abuse of children.

Wichita district officials say another bond issue is the only reasonable way to finance needed repairs and upgrades. Board members gave initial approval to put a new bond issue on next year's general election ballot.

The Wichita Board of Education unanimously approved a three-year contract with Kelly Bielefeld. It includes a new agreement that the concept for a microschool launched last fall is Bielefeld’s intellectual property.