Happy Friday!
Here’s a recap of the top stories from the week. Have a great weekend!
In Today’s Newsletter:
- Wichita held a forum for residents to meet candidates for District 1 race
- Good Trouble comes to Kansas City
- FBI files regarding Martin Luther King Jr. have been released
- A federal judge has reversed a rule to remove medical debt
- Cowboy Carter tour sparks Black Western fashion revival
💡 Black Trivia Question: What R&B and soul music legend has a popular food brand that reportedly sells a sweet potato pie at Walmart every two seconds?
A. Chaka Khan B. Patti LaBelle C. Gladys Knight D. Stephanie Mills *See answer after “In Other News”*
🤩 Name In Lights: Many thanks to Renee Deggs, one of our donors! Financial support from our readers underwrites the work we do and allows us to keep our news free. Will you support us?
ELECTIONS
1. Equity — in Housing, Safety and Access — Dominates Wichita City Council Candidate Forum
Equity — across topics ranging from housing to safety to access to healthy food — was at the center of discussion for Wichita City Council candidates as more than 200 people joined in on the conversation.
KANSAS CITY NEWS
2. Good Trouble Continues: KC Joins Nationwide Day of Action
Hundreds gathered at Swope Park’s Bandstan to remember John Lewis on the fifth anniversary of his passing and push Congress to pass voting rights legislation in his name.
See more photos from the event
A MESSAGE FROM THE COMMUNITY VOICE
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NATIONAL NEWS
3. Trump Administration Releases Records on FBI’s Surveillance of Martin Luther King Jr.
The release involves an estimated 200,000 pages of records that had been under a court-imposed seal since 1977, when the FBI first gathered the records and turned them over to the National Archives and Records Administration.
PERSONAL FINANCE
4. Black Americans Hit Hard as Medical Debt Rule Tossed
A Trump-appointed federal judge has blocked a key rule that would have removed medical debt from the credit reports of roughly 15 million Americans, dealing a harsh blow to struggling families already burdened by the high cost of health care, particularly Black Americans who carry a disproportionate share of that debt.
CULTURE
5. Beyoncé’s Tour Spurs Black Western Fashion Revival
Black fashion designers are taking advantage of the trend providing western with a cultural flair, but the name bands are trying to cash in as well, with concert parking lots and arenas becoming makeshift runways of Black cowboy and cowgirl style, blending tradition, swagger, and reinvention.
Get Out This Weekend:
KANSAS CITY
MIXER: Jambeeree. Sip, snack & vibe! Beer, jams, music & fun at Vine Street Brewery. (July 25, 5p.m.)
PARTY: Leo’s All White Day Party X’Perience. Calling all Leos, it’s your season! Get ready to dance the day away in your freshest all-white outfit. (July 27, 5p.m.)
WICHITA
COMMUNITY: Convoy of Hope. Join us for one of the best FREE community events of the year! FREE Backpacks (Child must be present). FREE Groceries (July 26, 9a.m.)
ARTS: Gordon Parks: Breaking Frames: The Black Cinematic Movement In Kansas. See the exhibition Homeward to the Prairie I Come: Gordon Parks Photographs from the Beach Museum of Art, 4:30 PM. Cash bar opens 5-6 PM. (July 26, 4p.m.)
FESTIVAL: Sunset Summerfest 2025. Come out and enjoy music performances, resource vendors (health & wealth), food trucks, and more! (July 26, 4p.m.)
See more events on our new online calendar!
Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s daughter was not in the water with him when he drowned, police clarify. In an updated statement, Costa Rica police clarified details of the drowning incident that led to Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s death. (The Grio)
French president and first lady sue Candace Owens for defamation. French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte are suing a U.S. influencer for claiming that the first lady was born male. (NPR)
ICE Arrests Black Migrant Green Card Holder At Canadian Border Over Minor Marital Status Discrepancy. Vermont resident Esther Ngoy Tekele was arrested and detained by ICE at the Canadian border for allegedly lying about her marital status. (NewsOne)
💡Trivia Answer: B. Patti LaBelle. According to the brand, Walmart sells an average of 36,000 Patti LaBelle Sweet Potato Pies every single day. This translates to 1,500 pies every hour or about 25 pies per minute. The sales figures are indeed close to one pie sold every two seconds.
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