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Thursday, October 29, 2026

Sedgwick County sets a midterm record for early in-person voting

Plus, $23 million reaches Medova fraud victims and a fire engine crash on Greenwich Road

The Daily Wichita team7 stories26 sources9 min read

ElectionsTop story

Sedgwick County sets a midterm record for early in-person voting

34,000ballots cast in person in Sedgwick County by 6 p.m. Tuesday

That's a record high for a midterm election in the county, KNSS reports.

Source: KNSS

If you haven't voted yet, Election Day is Tue., Nov. 3, and Sedgwick County is already seeing a record high for a midterm: 34,000 ballots cast in person by 6 p.m. Tuesday. At the Derby Public Library, one of 17 satellite locations, the line stretched into the library at various times Tuesday afternoon.

If you have a mail-in ballot, Sedgwick County Election Commissioner Laura Rainwater says to turn it in as soon as possible. As of Wednesday morning, nearly 12,000 of about 22,000 mail-in ballots had come back in the county. Statewide, nearly 60,000 of more than 106,000 had been returned.

Mail-in ballots are coming back in Sedgwick County and across Kansas

12,000Returned (nearly)60,000
22,000Sent out (county about, state more than)106K

Source: KWCH

  • Races: governor, U.S. Senate and U.S. House
  • Questions: a Kansas Constitution change and a Wichita schools bond issue

Asked

Tap an answer to see how Wichita answered.

Asked

How are you planning to vote this year?

Be the first to answer.

Courts

About $23 million from Medova's forfeited assets is going to 7,000 fraud victims

If you were a customer, federal prosecutors say money is going back to victims. The U.S. Attorney's Office announced Wednesday that payments from forfeited assets were distributed Oct. 23 to 7,000 people. Medova marketed itself as a third-party administrator offering a level-funded group health plan for companies and employees.

Unpaid claims and expenses topped the $23 million recovered

Sources: KSN.com, KWCH

View as table
Value
Unpaid claims and expenses$32 million
Recovered for victims$23 million

KSN reports that customers had paid their premiums, but Medova didn't pay their claims. Authorities said the money went to other uses, including personal expenses. Health care providers sent payment demands, and some accounts went into collections.

Prosecutors recovered about $23 million toward $32 million in unpaid claims and expenses

$23MRecovered for victims, in millions of dollars

Sources: KSN.com, KWCH

View as table
Value
Recovered for victims, in millions of dollars$23M
  • Unpaid claims and expenses: $32 million, per a court-appointed fiduciary
  • Labor deal: Medova agreed to stop running plans subject to federal law
  • Case litigated by assistant U.S. attorney Annette Gurney

Public Safety

A 79-year-old Wichita man died after his SUV collided with a fire engine Tuesday

A 79-year-old Wichita man died after his Honda CR-V and a Wichita Fire Department engine collided Tuesday morning. Police say it happened around 8:50 a.m. at Lincoln Street and Greenwich Road. Engine 20 was northbound on Greenwich with its lights and siren on, responding to a call about a person having difficulty breathing.

Engine 20 struck the CR-V as it tried to turn onto Greenwich

VehicleWhat it was doing
Wichita Fire Engine 20Northbound on Greenwich, lights and siren on
Honda CR-VWestbound on Lincoln, turning south onto Greenwich
Dodge Ram pickupStruck after both vehicles left the roadway

Sources: Hutch Post, KNSS, KAKE

James Mattson was driving the CR-V, and the engine struck its driver's side, according to a WPD release. Capt. Aaron Moses told KAKE the vehicles then hit the pickup, and its driver wasn't hurt. Mattson was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Hutch Post reports.

None of the four firefighters on Engine 20 reported injuries

4 of 4

  • firefighters reported no injuries
  • 0 firefighters were hurt

Sources: Hutch Post, KNSS, KAKE

View as table
CountShare
firefighters reported no injuries4100%
firefighters were hurt00%
  • Investigators: WPD Critical Accident Team, with the Kansas Highway Patrol
  • Tip line: 316-350-3689, if you haven't spoken with investigators

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Education

Wichita State plans a campus talk after two sexual assault reports in October

Wichita State is set to host a campus community talk after two unrelated sexual assault reports this month, the Wichita Eagle reports. Neither man booked in the cases had been formally charged as of Wednesday evening, according to online court records. The Eagle typically doesn't identify people unless they're charged.

Two reports in two weeks led to a planned campus talk

  1. Oct. 11Wichita State reports a sexual assault on campus.
  2. Oct. 24Another sexual assault is reported at the Shocker Hall dormitories.
  3. Oct. 28The Eagle reports the school is set to host a campus talk.

Source: Wichita Eagle

KWCH spoke with students, and many said they haven't seen safety changes from the university. Student Becca Truitt said she has seen fewer officers than when school started.

“I would see an officer’s car by my dorm like every night.”

Becca Truitt, Wichita State student

Two reports this month each ended with a man booked

2
sexual assaults reported at Wichita State in October
18
age of the man booked after the Oct. 11 report
19
age of the man booked after the Oct. 24 report

Source: Wichita Eagle

  • Both men were booked and later released
  • Police are investigating both cases, KWCH reports

Community

Funeral for Nick Schafer, killed in the Stryker Sports Complex crash, is set for Nov. 6

Nick Schafer, killed when a pickup went onto a field at Stryker Sports Complex on Oct. 17, will be laid to rest next week. The McPherson man was 35, a husband, a father of three and a Navy veteran, KWCH reports. He was watching his son's soccer game when it happened.

Schafer's visitation and funeral are set for Nov. 5 and Nov. 6

  1. Oct. 17A pickup goes onto a soccer field at .
  2. Nov. 5Visitation runs 6 to 8 p.m. at Countryside Covenant Church in McPherson.
  3. Nov. 6Funeral begins at 10 a.m. at the church.

Sources: KSN.com, KWCH

Six-year-old Cole Adrian, also from McPherson, was killed too. Police took the 34-year-old woman in the truck into custody but released her without charges, and the Sedgwick County District Attorney's Office hasn't made a charging decision. KAKE reports police have “no updates” in the case.

The Oct. 17 crash killed 2 people and injured 10 others

Sources: KSN.com, KWCH, KAKE

View as table
Value
Killed2
Injured10
  • Burial: McPherson Cemetery, with military honors
  • Fundraisers: one from the Mac Wrestling Club, one for emergency relief
  • Flowers or a tree: Wiggins Funeral Home and Cremation Services website

Around Kansas

President Trump will hold a Halloween rally at Salina Regional Airport on Saturday

If you're heading to Salina, here's the plan. President Donald Trump will hold a Saturday morning rally in a 27,000-square-foot hangar at Salina Regional Airport. Doors open at 8:30 a.m., and he's expected to speak at noon.

Doors open at 8:30 a.m., and Trump is expected to speak at noon

Salina Regional Airport hangar

Midnight6 a.m.Noon6 p.m.8:30 a.m.to noon
  • 8:30 a.m. to noonDoors open until Trump is expected to speak
Date
Sat., Oct. 31
Crowd
Upwards of 10,000 expected

Sources: KMUW, KSN.com

View as table
WhenWhat
8:30 a.m. to noonDoors open until Trump is expected to speak
DateSat., Oct. 31
CrowdUpwards of 10,000 expected

“We are creating history, this is gonna put us on the map more so than we already are.”

Pieter Miller, executive director of the Salina Airport Authority

KAKE talked with Miller, and KSN reports Air Force One is expected to land at the airport and taxi near the rally site. Attendees can gather inside the hangar or outside, where bleachers will be set up.

The rally hangar covers 27,000 square feet

Floor area of the Salina rally hangar, beside places you know

The Salina rally hangar27,000 sq. ft.
A football field57,600 sq. ft.end zones included
A basketball court4,700 sq. ft.NBA size

6 basketball courts would fit inside the Salina rally hangar

Source: KMUW

View as table
Floor area
The Salina rally hangar27,000 sq. ft.
A football field57,600 sq. ft. (end zones included)
A basketball court4,700 sq. ft. (NBA size)
  • Rally backs Sen. Roger Marshall, who faces Democrat Adam Hamilton
  • Vice President JD Vance held a rally in Topeka on Monday
  • Miller says airport staff are working with the Secret Service and local law enforcement

Courts

A Derby man got 121 months in federal prison for distributing child sexual abuse images

Cody Bingham, 25, of Derby was sentenced Wednesday, KSN reports. Investigators say he shared child sexual abuse images in an online chat room and encouraged others to create fake images of a child.

121 monthsfederal prison sentence for Cody Bingham, 25, of Derby

The sentence is just over 10 years, the Wichita Eagle reports.

Sources: KSN.com, Wichita Eagle

The Eagle reports an undercover agent also messaged privately with Bingham, who sent photos of the same minor. KAKE reports that FBI agents raided his home.

Bingham pleaded guilty to one count and received 121 months

121 months
in federal prison, his sentence on Wednesday
1
count of distribution of child pornography, to which he pleaded guilty
25
years old, Bingham's age

Sources: KAKE, KSN.com, Wichita Eagle

“Those that deal in this disgusting material can expect to serve long sentences when they are brought to justice.”

U.S. Attorney Ryan Kriegshauser
  • Charge: one count of distribution of child pornography, guilty plea
  • Case began in 2025, when FBI agents entered the chat room
  • Devices seized at his home held images of children as young as infants

News Notes

Flock cameras

Wichita plans to extend its contract with Flock, the maker of automatic license plate readers, for six months, City Manager Dennis Marstall said. The extension is set for the City Council agenda next week and, if approved, would run through the end of March. KMUW

Halloween rides

Wichita Transit will offer free bus rides to and from the College Hill neighborhood on Halloween. KMUW

School bond

Wichita's proposed $615 million school bond issue includes a $28.2 million FutureReady Center for Trades at East High School. That project is in Question 1, which totals $407.1 million on its own. KMUW

Volleyball

Kansas high school volleyball state championships begin Thursday, with Maize seeded third in Class 6A. The Class 5A and 6A tournaments are at AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk in Overland Park. KSN.com

Maize thefts

Maize police arrested one person and are looking for a second suspect after thefts from unlocked vehicles in the Eagles Nest neighborhoods and the 500 block of East Plantation. If your camera caught anything from 1 to 2 a.m. Sunday, call Detective Jeff Piper at 316-425-3356. KWCHHutch Post

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Question 1 on its own totals $407.1 million of the $615 million bond issue

$407.1MQuestion 1's total, in millions of dollars

Source: KMUW

View as table
Value
Question 1's total, in millions of dollars$407.1M

Quoted

I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.

— Louisa May Alcott

The Buy

Around Kansas

Hamilton visit

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Adam Hamilton campaigns in the Wichita area Thursday, after a stop in Topeka on Wednesday. KSNT

Governor's race

Sen. Cindy Holscher, the Democratic nominee for governor, hopes to carry momentum from the national attention on the Senate race into another election win. Kansas hasn't elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1932, but the governor's office has gone back and forth since George Docking's election in 1956. KAKE

Kansas hasn't elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1932

  1. 1932Kansas last elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate.
  2. 1956Democrat George Docking was elected governor, starting a back-and-forth between the parties.
  3. Nov. 3Kansas holds its general election.

Sources: KAKE, KSNT

Asked

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Asked

How are you getting to College Hill on Halloween?

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Today’s puzzles

A new puzzle in each one every morning, played right here.

All 13 games

Things to Do

Things to Do

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Thursday, Oct. 29

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Neighbors

I just want to share an experience at Dillons at 21st and Maize today.

“I bought a single package of Pepperidge Farms brioche bread that had a large yellow sign up that it was on sale for $4.19. I went through the self checkout and it rang up for $4.99. I asked the assistant about the discrepancy and she scanned my package and condescendingly told me it scanned for $4.99. I paid but then…”

— A neighbor, Timberidge

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The Wrap

Halftime just got tastier. Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers is opening a concession stand inside Wichita State's Koch Arena for the 2026-27 basketball season, across from the Aetna Multi-Purpose Center. Look for steakburgers and shoestring fries, plus a $5 value menu with popcorn, chicken tenders, hot dogs, fries, and drinks.

What's your go-to Freddy's order?

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Early voting opens at 20 Sedgwick County sites, with a record turnout

Read yesterday’s edition

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Every source in this edition26 links · 10 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. KNSSaudacy.com
  3. KWCHkwch.com
  4. KSN.comksn.com
  5. KWCHkwch.com
  6. KAKEkake.com
  7. KNSSaudacy.com
  8. Hutch Posthutchpost.com
  9. Wichita Eaglekansas.com
  10. KWCHkwch.com
  11. KSN.comksn.com
  12. KWCHkwch.com
  13. KAKEkake.com
  14. KMUWkmuw.org
  15. KSN.comksn.com
  16. KAKEkake.com
  17. KSN.comksn.com
  18. Wichita Eaglekansas.com
  19. KAKEkake.com
  20. KMUWkmuw.org
  21. KSN.comksn.com
  22. KWCHkwch.com
  23. Hutch Posthutchpost.com
  24. KSNTksnt.com
  25. KAKEkake.com
  26. Wichita events calendardailywichitanews.com

Past issues

  1. Mon., Nov. 2Severe storms, tornado risk in Wichita this afternoon and evening
  2. Sun., Nov. 1Storms and Election Day wind headed for Wichita Monday
  3. Sat., Oct. 31The Oct. 31 edition
  4. Fri., Oct. 30Voter-eligibility amendment explained; state soccer finals move to Topeka
  5. Wed., Oct. 28Early voting opens at 20 Sedgwick County sites, with a record turnout
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Daily Wichitato me · Thurs., Oct. 296:00 a.m.

Sedgwick County sets a midterm record for early in-person voting

Plus, $23 million reaches Medova fraud victims and a fire engine crash on Greenwich Road

The TLDR

  1. Sedgwick County sets a midterm record for early in-person voting
  2. About $23 million from Medova assets goes to 7,000 fraud victims
  3. A 79-year-old man dies after his SUV collides with a fire engine
Read this edition

More stories this week

From Daily Wichita’s other editions

All the news
WeatherSevere storms could hit Wichita Monday afternoon and evening, with tornadoes possibleIf you're heading out today, check the sky first. The National Weather Service says Wichita has a good chance of severe weather Monday as two rounds of storms come through, with tornadoes, gusts over 70 mph and half-dollar-size hail possible.Today’s editionRead SportsWashburn and Emporia State will meet in Wichita for the MIAA soccer semifinals FridayIf you like college soccer, mark Fri., Nov. 6. No. 1 seed Washburn faces No. 5 seed Emporia State in the MIAA semifinals at the Scheels Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita, and kickoff is set for 3 p.m.Today’s editionRead SportsK-State women open the basketball season tonight against Wichita StateIf you're a Shockers fan, basketball season starts tonight. Jeff Mittie and the 'Cats host in-state foe Wichita State on Monday night to open 2026-27. KSNT says K-State senior Taryn Sides talked about the Wildcats navigating injuries and their goal of returning to the NCAA Tournament.Today’s editionRead

Around Wichita

From KWCH, KSN.com and 2 more newsrooms, gathered by TMI, 6AM City’s local news service.

More local news

  1. KWCH1 hour ago

    Weather Alert - evening severe threat

    Evening severe threat continues

  2. KSN.com1 hour ago

    Contiendas y preguntas en elecciones de medio termino en Kansas

    WICHITA, Kan. (TELEMUNDO KANSAS) – Contiendas y preguntas en elecciones de medio termino en Kansas.

  3. KSN.com1 hour ago

    Noticias Telemundo Kansas lunes 2 de noviembre de 2026

    WICHITA, Kan. (TELEMUNDO KANSAS) – A continuación, le presentamos el breve informativo Noticiero Telemundo Kansas con cobertura continua. Para más noticias locales, internacionales y del tiempo, recuerde acudir a nuestras plataformas de redes sociales y sintonizarnos siempre en Noticiero Telemundo Kansas. Arranca Noticias Telemundo Kansas a las 5 PM y a las 10 PM

  4. Salina Journal2 hours ago

    Tornado watch issued for areas that include Salina, Hutch

    The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch lasting until 10 p.m. Nov. 2 for 26 Kansas counties, including Reno and Saline counties.

  5. News Radio KMAN2 hours ago

    K-State women open season at home versus Wichita State

    By Tim Everson It may seem a little earlier than usual, but Kansas State women’s basketball kicks off its 59th season Monday evening when in-state foe Wichita State comes to Manhattan. Led by seniors Taryn Sides and Nastja Claessens, the Wildcats start their journey towards a return to the NCAA Tournament after ending last season

  6. KSN.com2 hours ago

    Medical helicopter called to crash on Interstate 70 in northwest Kansas

    A 911 dispatch supervisor told KSN that the crash involved a truck and a motorcycle.