Sedgwick County

The nation learned who won the presidential race before people in Sedgwick County saw a single result posted from local elections. FactFinder 12 has learned Secretary of State Kris Kobach's is now sending a team to investigate issues with Sedgwick County election results. "That's very sad. I think we owe that to the residents of Sedgwick County. This is unacceptable," says Bob Dool, chairman of the Sedgwick County Republican Party.  "I think the circumstances call for a thorough review of the office," adds Dool.

The Sedgwick County Zoo, Westar Energy and the City of Wichita have teamed up to give away free firewood and mulch this winter. The wood is what's left from Westar's tree-trimming efforts and the city's forestry tree pruning and removal operations. The public can pick up free firewood and wood chips in the Sedgwick County Zoo parking log between now and February from 7:00 am and 5:00 pm.  Wood is normally delivered between 3:30 and 4:30 pm. Organizers as that you refrain from using chainsaws, splitters or other mechanical equipment when picking up the wood.

It's a good idea to check that your ballot is for the correct precinct if you're voting in advance. There's been an issue with some voters receiving the wrong ballot. At least a few dozen people in Sedgwick County may have gotten ballots intended for voters in Derby. At least 26 others in a south Wichita precinct also received the wrong advanced voting ballots. Sedgwick County Election Commissioner Tabitha Lehman says she's working to fix the mistake. "It's our job to make sure people vote and vote on the correct thing.

The Sedgwick County Election Office expects big turnout when it opens Wednesday for advance voting. Registered voters can cast their ballots in advance at the election office at 501 N. Main Street starting Wednesday.  You can cast your ballot a at one of the many remote sites starting on October 30. Click Here for Advance Voting Sites Tabitha Lehman with the election office says 11,000 mail-in ballots have already been...

There's something new to see at the Sedgwick County Zoo, baby red pandas. The two cubs were born in June but their mom has kept a close eye on them.  She's kept them in their nest boxes, so the public rarley saw them. Click Here for Baby Red Panda Photos Their births are a first time occurrence at the zoo. The pandas names are Teja and Pai. The two cubs are now old enough to explore the exhibit on their own.

Fluoride opponents upset about a recent fact-sheet from the Sedgwick County Health Department spoke out to commissioners Wednesday. "It looks like the purpose of it was to influence the election," said Fluoride opponent Mark Gietzen. Sedgwick County Commissioners took the fact-sheet off the health department's website earlier this month, but they allowed both sides a chance to speak about fluoride. It created a mini-debate on the issue. "My singular purpose is to protest the illegal use of my tax dollars to promote a campaign," said Fluoride opponent Julie Simpson.

“We're not the city dump, these are our homes, our neighborhood,” said Sedgwick County Township Association VP Paul Matzek. Just outside east Wichita's city limits, residents wake up to roads littered with tires. Photos of Tires Along Roadway “What a mess! It's ridiculous someone would have that much disregard for the environment and other people's property,” said a neighborhood runner. Neighbors discovered between 100 and 200 tires scattered all over the countryside.

Sedgwick County Commissioners approve two grants to help the Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center. Both grants come from the federal government through the KBI. One $65,000 grant will be used to help pay for a forensic scientist/toxicologist. The other $50,000 grant will be used to remodel an office into a DNA lab and upgrade computers to better use the FBI's DNA database. It's technology the facility's director says is invaluable in solving crimes. "It seems like every week I get an e-mail notice that through (the FBI program)

Sedgwick County Commissioners approve a request to add four part-time jobs to help the county tag office. The need stems from problems with the state's new vehicle registration computer system. Wednesday morning, Sedgwick County Treasurer Linda Kizzire told commissioners thousands of records didn't transfer from the state's old computer system to the new one. She says those records now have to be entered by hand, and her department needs the extra help to do it. Kizzire says some records are only available from the state as microfilm.

Thousands in Sedgwick County have already requested a mail-in ballot for the up coming general election and thousands more are expected to do the same before November 6. This past week, the elections office sent out mail-in ballot applications to every active voter in Sedgwick County. It's the third time the election commissioner has done a mass mailing like this. "We're trying to make it more convenient for people to vote," said Sedgwick County Election Commissioner Tabitha Lehman.