Dion Lefler
The Wichita Eagle
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Past articles by Dion:
Man smuggled meth in kids’ car seats to try to pay baby’s medical bills
A man who pleaded guilty to smuggling drugs in kids’ car seats to pay medical bills for his baby daughter has been sentenced to 51 months in federal prison. → Read More
Conservative Christians and LGBT supporters schedule competing rallies in Dodge City
A coalition of groups favoring LGBT and abortion rights has scheduled a demonstration in Dodge City on Saturday to counter a church rally and flag parade that will feature Rep. Roger Marshall. → Read More
1,000 rental scooters will hit Wichita streets in the next couple of weeks
Long-awaited electric rental e-scooters will be coming to Wichita in the next couple of weeks as two companies have applied to deploy 500 scooters each. → Read More
Citizen simulators say increase Wichita police and fire services, cut golf and arts
In a budget simulation run by 1,400 Wichita residents, fire and police departments got high scores while golf courses and cultural affairs placed low. → Read More
What’s up with the new airport hotel? Wichita scrambles to correct errors before vote
The Wichita City Council is scheduled to vote on a land lease for a $7 million hotel project at Eisenhower Airport. But errors surfaced in the lease document. → Read More
Kansas to allow transgender people to change their gender on birth certificates
With a consent judgment in a federal lawsuit, Kansas has become the 47th state in the country to allow transgender individuals to change their sex on their birth certificates. → Read More
What the heck is a speed table and how will it slow you down in downtown Wichita?
Wichita is experimenting with ‘speed tables’ as a way to reduce driving speeds downtown. → Read More
Clapp’s last gasp: final effort to save Wichita golf course falls short
The Wichita City Council voted to close Clapp Golf Course after more than 50 years and replace it with a more conventional park. But not before getting an earful from golfers. → Read More
T-Mobile sues Wichita to force City Council to allow Riverside cell tower
T-Mobile has sued the Wichita City Council, alleging that it has violated federal law by rejecting two attempts to build a cell tower in the Riverside neighborhood. → Read More
After emotional testimony, Wichita school board edges toward more LGBTQ inclusion
After hearing from about a dozen supporters of equality for LGBTQ students and staff, the president of the Wichita school board ordered a report on district policy that could lead to change. → Read More
Supreme Court says Kansas school funding now adequate, but will continue to monitor
Kansas public schools are constitutionally funded after a decade-long lawsuit forced the Legislature to add rounds of additional money, the Kansas Supreme Court ruled Friday. The court will continue to oversee the case. → Read More
$1 million in loans to be forgiven for Kansas students bilked by ITT Tech
A multistate settlement will bring debt relief for thousands of students who were steered into a shady student loan program by ITT Tech, a defunct school famous for recruiting through daytime TV ads. → Read More
Despite new law, you won’t be able to vote wherever you want in the mayoral election
A new law designed to eliminate confusion over polling places and make it easier to vote won’t be put into effect in time for city and school board elections this year. → Read More
Abandoned Joyland park could be reborn with carnival rides, weddings, paintball range
Joyland’s new owners want to create a mixed-use development on the south Wichita site with an event center, according to city filings. The amusement park at 2801 S. Hillside has been abandoned since 2006. → Read More
500 e-scooters hit a speed bump at Wichita City Hall when e-commuters question plan
The company that provides bikes to Bike Share ICT had planned to have electric scooters on the streets by the end of the month, but that’s been delayed because of concerns raised by suburban e-skaters. → Read More
Democrats plan to try ranked-choice voting in 2020 primary to select Trump’s opponent
The Kansas Democratic Party has a submitted a plan to the national party to ditch the traditional caucus for a primary featuring ranked-choice voting in their effort to unseat President Trump → Read More
Man who stole from Catholic church not a burglar because the church doors were open
A man who stole sacramental ware from a Wellington Catholic church couldn’t be charged with burglary because the church was open to people to come in and pray, the Kansas Court of Appeals ruled. → Read More
Guilty verdict for Wichita TV personality who honked his horn next to a motorcycle cop
A Wichita talk show host and TV producer has been convicted for “illegal use of horn.” → Read More
Wichita clears path for electric rental scooters to operate downtown
The Wichita City Council has approved a pilot program to allow motorized electric rental scooters to be deployed here for the first time. → Read More
This fall, you won’t have Westar Energy to kick around anymore
A year after their merger, Westar Energy and Kansas City Power & Light are poised to come out under their new name, Evergy. → Read More