The Flint Hills Union

10/06/2025

Empty Bowls Wichita: Fighting Hunger through Clay, Community & Connections – One Bowl at a Time

Wichita, Kansas, October 6, 2025 – Empty Bowls Wichita, an international artist-driven grassroots movement to combat hunger, is proud to announce its annual Empty Bowls Wichita Chili Cook-Off on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at Wichita State University’s Woolsey Hall.

Now celebrating more than a decade of fighting hunger in Wichita, the Empty Bowls Wichita Chili Cook-Off has become a beloved local tradition where art, food, and community unite. At the heart of the event are over one thousand handcrafted bowls made by regional artists, local artists, students, and citizens, each bowl a symbol of hope and community connection. Attendees will select a bowl to keep and enjoy a lively Chili Cook-Off featuring twenty local restaurants and chefs such as First Mile Kitchen, Wichita Marriott, Tanya’s Soup Kitchen, Local Flavor and Great Harvest alongside the camaraderie of friends, families, and neighbors gathering for a shared purpose.

This year’s proceeds will benefit HumanKind Ministries, the ICT Food Fridge Project at Wichita Public Schools through the Pando Initiative, and the WSU Shocker Support Locker Pantry, organizations addressing hunger and food insecurity throughout the community.

“Empty Bowls is about so much more than food and bowls,” said Brenda Lichman, Founder and Executive Director of Empty Bowls Wichita. “It’s about creating a culture of care where we use our hands to create, build partnerships, and show compassion through action to fight hunger in our community. I am proud that Empty Bowls Wichita has been 100% volunteer run for over a decade, and I am deeply grateful for all the hands and hearts that have come together to make a difference…one bowl at a time.”

Event Details

Empty Bowls Wichita: Chili Cook-Off

Wichita State University, Woolsey Hall
Saturday, October 18, 2025
11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Tickets: $35 general donation / $15 student donation / Kids 5 & under free (includes a kids’ bowl) New VIP Ticket: $100 (includes early entry at 10:30 a.m. and first pick at bowls) Tickets available online at www.EmptyBowlsWichita.org or at the door starting at 10am.

Empty Bowls Project is an international, artist-driven grassroots movement to help combat hunger. Join us for our annual chili cook-off.

10/06/2025

10/06/2025

Kansas students celebrate Walk and Roll to School Day on Oct. 8

Schools across Kansas will be celebrating International Walk and Roll to School Day on Oct. 8, with support from the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program. This annual event promotes safe behaviors and community connection by encouraging students and families to walk, bike and/or roll to school.

Currently, there are 27 schools across the state participating. Schools are encouraged to register for the event and download free materials at saferoutes.ksdot.gov/iwrsd.

October is also National Pedestrian Safety Month, a time to focus on enhancing safety for people walking. Pedestrians of all ages are vulnerable, especially children. By promoting awareness of people walking and using other active modes, Walk and Roll to School Day contributes to improving roadway safety roadways for everyone.

A few safety tips to keep in mind this October and all year long:

All: Follow the rules of the road; obey signs and signals.
Drivers: Watch for pedestrians, yield to pedestrians in or at crosswalks and never pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk. Always use caution when backing up or driving in hard-to-see conditions.
Pedestrians: Stay focused, cross streets carefully at marked crosswalks when available, make eye contact with drivers who are slowing or stopped at a crossing and walk on sidewalks when available.

Join us October 8th for Walk and Roll to School Day!Every October, schools across Kansas, the country, and the world celebrate International Walk and Roll to School Day. The celebration is designed to encourage students, families, and school communities to walk, bike, and roll to school. The 2025 Wa...

10/06/2025

From Manhattan to Black & Veatch: K-State student gains real-world engineering experience

MANHATTAN — When McKinley Robb, a sophomore in electrical engineering at Kansas State University, walked into her first day as an intern with Black & Veatch, she carried with her more than a resume. She brought the skills, confidence and support network she built at K-State — resources she credits with helping her earn and thrive in the competitive position.
Robb, a Carl R. Ice College of Engineering's Solar Club member and an Engineering Ambassador, spent the summer contributing to large-scale projects at the global engineering and construction company. Her work focused on substations connected to renewable energy sources, particularly solar farms, and was built directly on concepts she first encountered in her coursework at K-State.
A foundation in the classroom and beyond
Robb said the preparation began early in her college career. As a first-year student, she leaned on the K-State Career Center for resume feedback and interview practice before the university's career fair. Those resources, she said, not only sharpened her materials but also gave her the confidence to present her skills to Black & Veatch.
"I was only in my second semester as a freshman, so I was taking introductory courses like calculus and physics," Robb said. "However, how K-State's degree map is laid out allows me to develop marketable skills, so I am a competitive candidate."
One of those skills came from Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering, a required course for engineering majors. Robb learned digital logic and logic drawings — knowledge she applied almost immediately at Black & Veatch.
"That course introduced me to concepts that became a big part of my work this summer," Robb said. "Having that foundation meant I could jump in and contribute to projects without learning a new topic."
Bridging classroom concepts with industry challenges
At Black & Veatch, Robb saw firsthand how classroom theory translates to professional practice. She contributed to projects involving substations, transmission lines and protective systems, learning how technical decisions are influenced by cost, time and client needs.
"This internship gave me real-world experience applying the concepts I've learned in class to large-scale projects," she said. "Working with clients taught me the importance of analyzing past projects to spot improvements and applying those insights to make future projects more effective."
Robb said the experience helped her identify her career goals, particularly in substation design. She also plans to take courses like Power System Protection, offered through the College of Engineering, to further connect her academic path with industry demands.
"I was told that having a good understanding of protection and design will help me bridge gaps between teams in the future," she said. "That's why I'm happy I accepted the challenge of working in an unfamiliar group. It will help me become a more well-rounded electrical engineer."
A supportive K-State environment
Looking back on her K-State experience so far, Robb said the university's culture of communication and support has been key. Engineering students are required to take a public speaking course — a requirement she believes sets K-State apart.
"K-State fosters a communicative and supportive environment," Robb said. "That attitude carried into my environment at Black & Veatch as well. I knew how to communicate concerns or improvements that could be made properly, and I was not afraid to ask questions when I did not know things because of the K-State environment I was already used to."
She said that resources such as Scholars Assisting Scholars, which provides peer tutoring in engineering courses, and professors' office hours have also made an impact.
Next-generation impact
With more than 4,000 students, the College of Engineering is the most extensive engineering program in Kansas and a key driver of the university's Next-Gen K-State strategic plan, which focuses on advancing economic prosperity and workforce development across the state.
For Robb, that means pursuing renewable energy and substation design while building on the foundation K-State has provided.
"My end goal is to work more on substation design," she said. "This internship helped me understand what areas of electrical engineering I enjoy most, like working on renewable energy projects, and how I can shape my coursework at K-State to pursue that path."

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As the nation's first operational land-grant institution, Kansas State University has served the people of Kansas, the nation and the world since its founding in 1863 — and it continues to set the standard as a next-generation land-grant university. K-State offers an exceptional student experience across three physical campuses and online offerings, meeting students where they are and preparing them to achieve their personal and professional goals. The university is committed to its mission of teaching, research and service through industry-connected programs, impactful research-driven solutions, and a sharp focus on community engagement and economic prosperity.

10/06/2025

Washburn celebrates growing enrollment, including milestones at Tech and Law

Topeka, Kan. – Washburn enrollment is climbing for a third consecutive year across the entire University, fueled by record-shattering numbers from Washburn Institute of Technology (Washburn Tech) and the largest incoming class in 15 years at Washburn School of Law.

Overall, Washburn’s full-time equivalency (FTE) climbed 5.8% with the University seeing a spike of 3.5% and Tech recording an increase of 15.5%, including a 31% increase in postsecondary or adult students. Washburn’s enrollment is 7,722 students with 6,170 at the University and 1,552 at Tech.

“Washburn’s message is resonating with more students and families who are looking for excellent academics, low student debt and a personalized experience,” said Dr. JuliAnn Mazachek, president, Washburn University. “We live our mission every day, creating educational pathways to success for everyone – from certificates and undergraduate degrees to graduate work and law school.”

At Washburn University, enrollment continues its upward trend and is building on strong scholarship and academic initiatives. Among the academic majors marking significant increases:

Allied Health – nearly 18% increase in students pursuing degrees that support healthcare careers, underscoring Washburn’s vital role in preparing graduates for the region’s expanding medical and health services
Biology – nearly 16% increase in students who are seeking pathways to careers in environmental sciences and medicine
Education – more than 11% increase in aspiring teachers, helping address the urgent need for qualified educators in our community and beyond

Enrollment at Washburn School of Law increased by 9.2% with an incoming law class of 139 students, the largest since 2010. It is also the highest credentialed class in Washburn Law’s storied history. Washburn Tech is also celebrating a milestone, reporting total enrollment of more 1,500 students which is the highest in its history.

“Students are embracing the value and opportunities that accompany career and technical education, as indicated through Tech’s record enrollment,” Mazachek said. “Our classrooms and labs are full, and more than 400 prospective students are on waitlists for the programs we deliver. It is a testament to the instructors who take great pride in passing along their trade to the next generation as well as our area business and industry partners who are waiting to hire our graduates.”

10/06/2025

Fire Prevention Week: Protect your family by practicing home fire escape plan, testing smoke alarms

Home fires claim more lives in a typical year than all natural disasters combined

During Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 5-11), the American Red Cross of Greater Kansas reminds everyone of the dangers of home fires, which claim seven lives every day in the U.S. To help protect your household, test your smoke alarms each month and practice your escape plan until everyone can get out in less than two minutes.

“Home fires can occur any time, any place,” said Jane Blocher, Executive Director of the Red Cross of Greater Kansas. “The sooner an alarm alerts you to a fire, the sooner you can get out. This is critical because fire experts say you may have less than two minutes to escape a burning home before it’s too late.”

Tips for creating your home fire escape plan and practicing your 2-minute drill:

* Everyone in your household should know two ways to escape from each room in your home.
* Smoke is dangerous. Get low and go!
* Decide where to meet once you get outside. Select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home, such as a neighbor’s home or landmark like a specific tree in your front yard, where everyone knows to meet.
* Get out and stay out. Never go back inside for people, pets or things.
* If a fire starts, you may have less than two minutes to get to safety. Time your fire drill and find out: what’s your escape time?
* While practicing your escape plan, teach children what a smoke alarm sounds like. Talk about fire safety and what to do in an emergency.

Smoke alarm safety:
* Place smoke alarms on each level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas.
* In addition to testing your alarms once a month, change the batteries at least once a year, if your model requires it.
* Also check the manufacturer’s date of your smoke alarms. If they’re 10 years or older, they need to be replaced because the sensor becomes less sensitive over time. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Local Red Cross Disaster Action Team volunteers provide emotional support, financial assistance, and information to help families begin the process of recovery. Most of the 65,000 emergencies that the Red Cross responds to each year are home fires. So far this year, local Red Cross Disaster Action teams have responded to more than 135 home fires.

GET HELP If you need smoke alarms, visit SoundTheAlarm.org/kansas to sign up for a free installation. For help after a home fire, call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767), 24 hours a day.

GET INVOLVED For emergencies like home fires, our volunteers provide comfort during what can be the worst days of people’s lives. Learn how you can volunteer for our Disaster Action Team at redcross.org/DAT.

Thanks to donations, our services are free and available for all those in need. Help families prepare for, respond to and recover from home fires by giving at SoundTheAlarm.org or texting the word HOMEFIRE to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

HOME FIRE CAMPAIGN SAVES LIVES Since October 2014, the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, working with community partners, has saved at least 2,489 lives by educating families about fire safety, helping them create escape plans and installing free smoke alarms in high-risk areas across the country. To learn more about the campaign and how you can get involved, visit redcross.org/homefires.

The American Red Cross Serving Kansas Home Fire Campaign helps save lives by installing free smoke alarms, home fire safety education. Learn more.

10/06/2025

Summary of Activities for the 48-hour period from Saturday October 4th, 2025, 0700 hours through Monday October 6th, 2025, 0700 hours.

The Geary County Sheriff’s Office responded to or self-initiated a total of (54) Incidents, resulting in (11) cases, (5) citations and (2) arrests.

On 10042025 at 2051 hours-Deputies arrested Todd Woodburn of Wichita, KS in the 12500 block of Lower McDowell for Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and Improper driving on laned roadway.

On 10052025 at 1354 hours-Deputies arrested Josef Vallon of Milford, KS in the 100 block of River Street for Possession of Ma*****na with the Intent to Distribute to a Minor within a 1000 feet of a School Zone, Possession with the Intent to Distribute Drug Paraphernalia within 1000 feet of a School Zone.