Dodge City Public Schools will have nearly 7,000 students returning to school in less than a month.  The Board of Education voted 6-1 Monday to start school on August 25 with teachers reporting on August 17. USD 443 reached out to their teachers through a survey asking if teachers would be able to conduct face-to-face instruction, 78% of the teachers responded to the survey with nearly 95% percent responding ‘yes’ saying they want to get back into the classroom. Those who responded ‘no’ due to health concerns may have the option to teach online.
(Read more: KSN-TV)

Local hospitals have seen a rising number of COVID-19 cases over the last several weeks and an increase in ICU patients. This second wave that we are dealing with now, its doubled and tripled than the first wave,” said Ascension Via Christi Medical ICU Manager, Jenifer Phelps. “We are having a lot more traffic coming through and the traffic we are having the patients are a lot sicker and they’re staying here a lot longer in the ICU.” Sedgwick County Manager, Tom Stolz said the public hospital system in Wichita has a total of nearly 200 ICU beds. The county met with Wesley, Via Christi, the VA and McConnell Air Force base on Monday to discuss what they’re seeing and to get an understanding of how much space is available for COVID patients.
(Read more: KSN-TV)

Almost three weeks after the City of Wichita was presented with a petition to “Save Century II,” the City has responded with legal action challenging the validity of the petition. The Save Century II group delivered the petition with 17,000 signatures to Mayor Brandon Whipple on July 10. Today, the City of Wichita filed a petition in the 18th Judicial District Court seeking declaratory judgment challenging the validity of the petition. In a news release, the City says it supports the petition process and the right of citizens to express their opinion. But the City believes the petition is legally invalid and does not serve the citizens’ best interests.
(Read more: KSN-TV)