Young People

by Cindy Klose (WICHITA, Kan) A Kansan  told the Republican National Convention Wednesday night, rural America can help John McCain win. Carolyn Dunn is a farm wife from St. John, Kansas. She previously worked in Washington, D.C. for the Department of Agriculture and also for Kansas lawmakers. Her speech talked about the importance of repopulating rural areas, keeping young people in the small towns that cultivate a strong work ethic and personal responsibility.

With the game on and drinks in hand, you'd assume the group of young people gathered at Loft 150 Thursday to watch the Shocker's game. That wasn't the case.  They were there to listen to Wichita City Council and mayor candidates.  The local election is Tuesday April 5. "It really shows the commitment that young professionals have getting involved politically and understanding the climate in our community," said YPW Board Chair Sommer...

Do you remember your parents having "the talk" with you? Maybe they let you find out about sex from a class at school. Health officials in Florida want young people to have the talk with parents who may be dating again. People in the 50+ age group represent  20 percent of new HIV cases in Florida and officials think children might be the right ones to education their parents. Read more about it from the Miami Herald.

The number of Americans 30 and younger who believe in God is dropping. A new survey by the Pew Research Center finds 68 percent believe in a higher power. That's down 15 percent in just the past five years. Click to See Survey Breakdown The survey finds more young people are expressing doubts about God than at any time since Pew started asking the question a decade ago. Among older generations, belief in God ranges from 81 to 89 percent.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A new study suggests that all that young energy and enthusiasm that helped get Barack Obama elected in 2008 is withering. The study by the Pew Research found that fewer 18-to-29 year olds are identifying themselves as Democrat -- 54 percent this past December, compared to 62 percent in 2008. The findings are significant because they offer further proof that the diverse coalition of voters Obama cobbled together in 2008 - including high numbers of first-timers voters, minorities and young people - are not Democratic Party voters who can necessarily be counted on. Also, voting enthusiasm for young adults has crumbled.

"We walk five miles every morning so I think I'm fit," says Arneatha Martin. It isn't an easy walk, but if it wasn't challenging folks outside Tabernacle Bible Church say they wouldn't do it. "Its not just we're walking and everybody go home and count your blessings," says David Gilkey. Instead, David Gilkey and hundreds of others in the Wichita community are counting on sending a message. "This is prevention, what we're doing today," says Martin.

It's a tradition for many young people. Summer camp. All of its sights and sounds. But what if those sounds aren't available to you? Thanks to a summer camp near Wichita, no one has to be left out. It's the YMCA's Camp Hyde, which may look and sound like your typical summer experience. But this week, the camp is also welcoming more than a dozen youngsters who are deaf or hard of hearing. Most importantly, they're treated just like everyone else. Camp assistant director Greg Hullinger says, "We don't separate them and say, because you're deaf or hard of hearing here is a very limited list of things you can do out here.

It's a celebration at headquarters for Sunflower Community Action for young undocumented immigrants who want to live the American dream.  Among them is recent Emporia State grad Belvia Urbina who grew up in Wichita. "I know nothing of Mexico," Urbina says.  "I haven't been back since I was three.  I feel sometimes as if that isn't even my country.  America is my country.  I love America!" But President Obama's plan to allow young people like Urbina to legally work in the United States comes at a time when unemployment is high.  It's back up to seven percent in Wichita.  We went to the Wichita Workforce Center to ask American citizens who are struggling to find work what they think about the new policy.

By Megan Strader Without even a full week of class under their belts, students at Wichita State University are being pressured to do more than just study. "Not enough young people actually get out to vote because they don't think their voice is heard," says College Democrats President, Drew Steadman.  That's why he and other club members are hoping students will hear their voices and change the traditional low election turnout for people their age demographic. They aren't doing it alone.

The President's shaken the hands of international leaders. But ,probably not with the same enthusiasm he shook Buddy Shannon's. "I thought that he would be nice," says the Volunteer Service Award recipient. "I heard that a lot. But he was even nicer than I was told he would be. And he told me to keep up the good work, and that he was really proud of what we were doing. "     Shannon is one of 32 Real Men, Real Heroes, an organization that serves as role models for Wichita youth.

For complete transcript, including assistant coach and player quotes, please visit www.k-statesports.com .   Head Coach Bill Snyder On players' summer preparations… “Not bad. Never as good as I would have liked, and it varies because some of them are very well conditioned. More of them are well conditioned. More of them have got through the first two practices indicating to me that they took their conditioning seriously during the summer, but not all of them.“   On the leadership of Collin Klein and Arthur Brown… “I think the young people in our program accept Collin as a strong, reliable leader in our program throughout both sides of the ball.

“THEL.A. COMPLEX” Small fish.  Big pond.  Huge dreams.  Every day, young people with stars in their eyes get off the bus in Los Angeles in search of fame and fortune.  THE L.A. COMPLEX centers on a group of aspiring performers pursuing stardom in the City of Angels.  Living in an apartment-style motel for displaced dreamers, each dubbed “most likely to succeed,” they all face the challenges and opportunities of...

It's a celebration at headquarters for Sunflower Community Action for young undocumented immigrants who want to live the American dream.  Among them is recent Emporia State grad Belvia Urbina who grew up in Wichita. "I know nothing of Mexico," Urbina says.  "I haven't been back since I was three.  I feel sometimes as if that isn't even my country.  America is my country.  I love America!" But President Obama's plan to allow young people like Urbina to legally work in the United States comes at a time when unemployment is high.  It's back up to seven percent in Wichita.  We went to the Wichita Workforce Center to ask American citizens who are struggling to find work what they think about the new policy.

The number of Americans 30 and younger who believe in God is dropping. A new survey by the Pew Research Center finds 68 percent believe in a higher power. That's down 15 percent in just the past five years. Click to See Survey Breakdown The survey finds more young people are expressing doubts about God than at any time since Pew started asking the question a decade ago. Among older generations, belief in God ranges from 81 to 89 percent.

Do you remember your parents having "the talk" with you? Maybe they let you find out about sex from a class at school. Health officials in Florida want young people to have the talk with parents who may be dating again. People in the 50+ age group represent  20 percent of new HIV cases in Florida and officials think children might be the right ones to education their parents. Read more about it from the Miami Herald.

With the game on and drinks in hand, you'd assume the group of young people gathered at Loft 150 Thursday to watch the Shocker's game. That wasn't the case.  They were there to listen to Wichita City Council and mayor candidates.  The local election is Tuesday April 5. "It really shows the commitment that young professionals have getting involved politically and understanding the climate in our community," said YPW Board Chair Sommer...

When Ronald Reagan ran for his second term, he had this to say about whether or not age was a liability: "I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience. " But almost 30 years later, some candidates for various positions in Wichita say their youth and inexperience is their greatest asset. Carly Miller is a 22 year old candidate for Wichita Public School's Board of Education.  "I don't think my youth is a factor that's going to hold me back," says Miller.

It's a tradition for many young people. Summer camp. All of its sights and sounds. But what if those sounds aren't available to you? Thanks to a summer camp near Wichita, no one has to be left out. It's the YMCA's Camp Hyde, which may look and sound like your typical summer experience. But this week, the camp is also welcoming more than a dozen youngsters who are deaf or hard of hearing. Most importantly, they're treated just like everyone else. Camp assistant director Greg Hullinger says, "We don't separate them and say, because you're deaf or hard of hearing here is a very limited list of things you can do out here.

"We walk five miles every morning so I think I'm fit," says Arneatha Martin. It isn't an easy walk, but if it wasn't challenging folks outside Tabernacle Bible Church say they wouldn't do it. "Its not just we're walking and everybody go home and count your blessings," says David Gilkey. Instead, David Gilkey and hundreds of others in the Wichita community are counting on sending a message. "This is prevention, what we're doing today," says Martin.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A new study suggests that all that young energy and enthusiasm that helped get Barack Obama elected in 2008 is withering. The study by the Pew Research found that fewer 18-to-29 year olds are identifying themselves as Democrat -- 54 percent this past December, compared to 62 percent in 2008. The findings are significant because they offer further proof that the diverse coalition of voters Obama cobbled together in 2008 - including high numbers of first-timers voters, minorities and young people - are not Democratic Party voters who can necessarily be counted on. Also, voting enthusiasm for young adults has crumbled.