FREE MASKS AT WPD STATIONS
Free KN95 masks are available at Wichita Police Dept. sub-stations while supplies last, thanks to a partnership with Air Capital Distribution and City of Wichita Housing’s summer youth program. Masks can be picked up 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday- Friday. Please call ahead before you go to pick up a mask.
Patrol North – 3015 E. 21st St. N., 316-350-3400 / Patrol South – 211 E. Pawnee, 316-350-3440 / Patrol East – 350 S. Edgemoor, 316-350-3420 / Patrol West – 661 N. Elder, 316-350-3460
Youth employed for the summer at Air Capital Distribution made the 10,000 masks as part of the city’s The Way to Work Program.For info visit positiveinteractions.org.
NEW DRIVERS LICENSE OFFICE
A new driver’s license office has opened in Wichita at West Kellogg and Tyler Road, inside the Kellogg Crossing strip mall. Until July 20, services will be limited to only new drivers. This includes drive tests, written tests, and the accompanying credentials. On July 20, the office will start full-service operations including license renewals and out-of-state transfers.
The 10,000-square-foot office includes 17 work stations for processing licenses and helping with licensing matters outside of issuance. The office is the third in Sedgwick County, along with Derby and the Wichita Twin Lakes Shopping Center.
All driver’s license offices across the state now require an appointment. Customers can schedule at http://getinline.kdor.ks.gov/webappt or by calling their local office.
NAACP FREE YOUTH LEADERSHIP CLASS: MONEY, LAW & MEDIA SKILLS
A free four-session leadership class for students 1st grade thru 12th grade from the NAACP-Wichita Chapter puts a focus on the law/court system, being a business owner/entrepreneur, financial literacy, and media skills.
Each in-person leadership class session for the Knowledge Is Power Series runs 9:30 a.m. to noon on Saturdays – July 18, July 25, Aug. 1, and Aug. 8 – at Sunflower Community Action, 1751 N. Ash in Wichita. Only 65 spaces are available, and masks are required for all participants. Register your youth at MyVoiceTix.com
July 18: The Law & the Court System with Attorney Robert Moody and U.S. Magistrate Judge Gwynne Birzer with guest Kevin Myles, NAACP national regional director / July 25: Becoming an Entrepreneur-(Small) Business Owner with Marquis Murphy, CEO of YEEP / Aug. 1: How to Create a Bill with Kansas State Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau and intern Kristen Stinnett / Aug. 8: Financial Literacy & Media Matters with news anchors Ty Hawkins and Braxton Jones. The series is co-sponsored by Local Roasters Co. coffee, 2828 E. Douglas, Wichita – LocalRoasters.com.
DISCUSS YOUR POLITICS ON the RADIO
Public radio station KMUW 89.1 FM, in partnership with national nonprofit StoryCorps, is inviting people to talk one-on-one with someone you might not otherwise have a chance to talk with and with whom you might even disagree politically.
It’s part of One Small Step, a nationwide project by StoryCorps to break down boundaries created by the difficult time in America right now. KMUW is one of six stations across the country to host the program.
It’s free to participate, and you can join virtually from your own home. Ask and answer questions like: Was there an event or person in your life that shaped your political views? Have your political views changed over time? Was there something specific that made you change?
KMUW encourages residents of south central Kansas to take part in this limited-time opportunity. With participant permission, conversations are preserved for future generations at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. KMUW plans to broadcast edited versions of some submissions.
For info, visit kmuw.net/shorturl/oss
WPD MAY GIVE REPAIR VOUCHERS VS. FIX-IT TICKETS
The Wichita Police Dept.’s participation in the national Lights On! Program aims to heal relationships between communities and law enforcement agencies by putting a twist on the old “fix-it ticket” traffic stop. WPD officers on traffic stops can provide a voucher for a free repair on mechanical problems with the vehicle rather than citing the driver. Some common mechanical violations include burned-out light bulbs, broken turn signals, etc.
WPD is partnering with the following businesses: Auto Mech, 4615 E. 13th St. N. / G&L Garage, 2502 E. 13th St. N. / and Nail’s Auto Service, Inc., 1402 N. Hillside “For some families, a broken taillight or turn signal can sometimes mean choosing between a minor auto repair and buying groceries,” Police Chief Gordon Ramsay. “A citation for these minor offenses can lead to further financial strain and will most likely lead to additional confrontations with law enforcement. This is a well-intended effort to help, versus hurt community members.”
WPD’s Lights On! will launch first in the 67214 ZIP code. WPD hopes to expand the program citywide in coming months. Lights On! is supported by community in-kind and financial donations. To learn more or donate, visit LightsOnUS.Org.