Good morning, Wichita!
We hope you enjoyed your weekend. As we prepare for election day, tomorrow Nov. 4, take some time to learn what’s on your ballot. These local races might not make national news, but they shape the everyday life of our community. Be informed and make your vote count.
In Today’s Newsletter:
- Q&A with candidates for Wichita’s District 1 City Council, LaWanda DeShazer and Joseph Shephard
- How previous Kansas elections have been impacted by poor voter turnout
- Q&A with candidates for Wichita School Board USD 259 Diane Albert and Mackenzi Truelove
- Open enrollment for Affordable Care Act health insurance now available
- Top 5 excuses people give for not voting
💡 Black Trivia Question: Who was the first African American U.S. Secretary of State?
A. Shirley Weber B. Condoleezza Rice C. Colin Powell D. Barack Obama
*See the answer after “In Other News”*
🤩 Name in Lights: Many thanks to Ann Garvey, one of our generous donors. Financial support from our readers underwrites the work we do and allows us to keep our news free. Will you support us?
ELECTION 2025
Wichita District 1 City Council: The Candidates in Their Own Words
Hear from the two candidates running for Wichita’s District 1 City Council, LaWanda DeShazer and Joseph Shephard. In this Q&A, we summarized the candidates’ responses to the questions they were asked during a forum held on Tues., Oct. 14. Election day is tomorrow, Nov. 4!
KANSAS STATE NEWS
We Snooze, We Lose: Kansas Elections Prove It’s True
In local elections across Kansas, razor-thin margins are shaping our communities. And when our communities sit out these races, our neighborhoods feel the consequences.
A MESSAGE FROM THE COMMUNITY VOICE
We’ve created one place for you to see events happening around Wichita and the entire state. Check out The Link Up today, our new online calendar!
ELECTION 2025
Wichita District 1 School Board: The Candidates in Their Own Words
This race faces off incumbent board member Diane Albert against newcomer MacKenzie Truelove. Both advanced from a primary race with four candidates. In this Q&A, we summarized the candidates’ responses to the questions they were asked during a forum held on Tues., Oct. 14. Election day is tomorrow, Nov. 4!
NEWS
ACA Enrollment Opens Amid Uncertainty Over Subsidies and Rising Rates
Open enrollment for Affordable Care Act (ACA) health plans is now underway, and despite all the political back-and-forth in Washington, the clock is ticking for Kansans and Missourians who want to stay covered. You can shop and enroll now through January 15, 2026. To have coverage begin on January 1, you must enroll by December 15.
NATIONAL NEWS
Top 5 Stupid Reasons People Give For Not Voting
One powerful tool Black and Brown people can use is the vote. However, some of us contend voting is stupid. Well, here are five stupid reasons by our friends at The Houston Defender these non-voters use to justify not voting.
One year out from Election Day 2026, Tuesday’s results could shape 2026 midterms. The results from Tuesday’s off-year elections will give voters an opportunity to weigh in on the state of the country and their communities. (ABC)
Judge says Trump administration must fund SNAP. The program ran out of money on Saturday, and it is unclear how quickly the administration could restart the program. (NPR)
Trivia Answer: C. Colin Powell. Colin Powell was the first African American U.S. Secretary of State, serving from 2001 to 2005 under President George W. Bush. A distinguished military leader, Powell was also the first African American to serve as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
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