The top elections official in Kansas is pushing to make the state’s central voter registration database more secure by changing how counties tap into it. Some local officials are nervous about what they see as a big project in an unusually busy election year.

Secretary of State Scott Schwab has told county election officials that he wants them to use dedicated tablets, laptops or computers not linked to their counties’ networks to access the state’s voter registration database. He is promising to use federal funds to cover the costs. But some county election officials are nervous about such a huge undertaking in an election year.

Sedgwick County election commissioner Tabitha Lehman talked to county commissioners earlier this month about the change, which is expected to be in place before the primary election in August.   
(Read more: KFDI 101.3)

Residents of northeast Wichita and members of the NAACP Youth Council are asking the city to help in finding and developing a grocery store for their area.

Northeast Wichita was identified as a “food desert” by a 2013 study and the Health and Wellness Coalition of Wichita is working on a ten-year food system master plan that will look at improving access to healthy foods. The Coalition is now looking for community input as they develop the plan for presentation to the city council later this year.

Youth Council member Martel Carter told council members that in northeast Wichita there are more liquor stores than grocery stores, and people have to travel farther to find a store with healthy foods.

(Read more: KFDI 101.3)

The community organization Together Wichita has chosen artists and teams that will be working to design and paint 13 Keeper of the Plains sculptures as part of a tribute to the city’s 150th birthday.

The project is called Keeper 150, and it will have ten-foot-tall Keeper sculptures that will be placed at city parks.   More than 50 artists attended an informational meeting in January and and submissions were accepted through February 3rd.

(Read more: KFDI 101.3)