Kansas
Kansas Hispanic Education & Development Foundation offers more than scholarships
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Hundreds of Wichita-area students have learned the steps they need to take after high school because of the Kansas Hispanic Education & Development Foundation.
Since 2008, the foundation has been doing whatever it can to give students the best chance at being successful after they graduate from high school.
In those 18 years, it’s given out around $1 million in scholarships, but that’s not all it does. It helps throughout the college or trade school application process.
“It’s not just like they get a scholarship, and then they go their own way,” said Yezmin Thomas, a mom of two KHEDF scholars. “No, they stay involved. Graduating from high school, leaving home, moving to a different city, and then starting your college journey that way, that can be a lot for a student.”
Executive Director Pablo Cruz said like with pretty much every nonprofit, volunteers are the key to the foundation’s success.
“I really am proud and honored to work with all of our volunteers,” Cruz said. “They all have the same passion and dedication. I think we’re all in the same spirit when it comes to serving our students and preparing the workforce for Kansas.”
Those volunteers said they just want these students to know that somebody is in their corner, especially since the process could be foreign not only to the students, but to their families as well.
Some of those volunteers are also former students who were helped by KHEDF. They believe paying it forward to the next generation is how they can keep growing the overwhelming success the nonprofit has had.
“I’ve seen students get jobs and graduate and seeing them all over the place,” KHEDF alum and volunteer Zayra Camacho said. “It’s pretty cool to see them, Especially on the news or social media, and seeing how big they’re getting. And it’s mostly because they started here at KHEDF.”
While the foundation has been mainly focused in the Wichita area, it is now expanding its reach to other parts of the state. Learn about that next Monday.
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KSHB 41 reporter La’Nita Brooks covers stories in Kansas City, Missouri, and stories offering solutions on crime. Share your story idea with La’Nita.
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Hundreds of people filled the streets of Kansas City, Missouri, on Saturday for the KC Pride 2026 parade. The route started in Westport and ended near Country Club Plaza.
This year’s theme, “It’s all ours,” represents everything Pride has built and all that is to come — a message that resonated deeply with many in the crowd.
Brian Luton
“I feel like today means like we matter, like as queer people,” said attendee Erynn. “I’m a lesbian but anyone who’s queer, trans — especially right now — it feels like they’re trying to make us matter less. They’re trying to almost reduce visibility. And something like this, to me, says you’re not going to silence us and we’re going keep being visible and keep being who we are, and we’re going to do it in a joyful fun-loving way.”
The parade drew people from across the region, including some who came to KCMO specifically for the event.
Brian Luton
“I’m from Pittsburg, Kansas, so we came up to spend the day and hangout and go to the parade,” Stan Forrest said.
For others, the day was about community and a decades-long journey.
Brian Luton
“I came out 50 years ago,” Fanny Mandelberger said. “So, obviously to be in community. To keep the not so much a fight just living your authentic self. I’m grateful to my ancestry that taught me resilience, (to) stand up for who you are.”
Those in attendance said they hope the celebration continues to grow.
“It was amazing,” Forrest said. “We had a lot of fun. Everyone here is so joyful, it’s really refreshing to see.”
Brian Luton
A social media post from Our Spot KC/KC Pride this week sparked discussion after it suggested Kansas City, Missouri, officials were banned from attending this year, due to the city council’s rescission of the city’s conversion therapy ban. The organizations responded with a new statement on social media and the original post has since been removed.
“We posted the wrong draft. We are human, after all, and we’ve been quite busy running our biggest weekend of the year,” KC Pride said in part on social media.
An excerpt from the new statement can be read below.
“As Our Sport KC’s staff and volunteers have been preparing for KC PrideFest and Parade 2026, we’ve heard from countless community members who feel betrayed and hurt by the recent repeal of Kansas City, Missouri’s conversion therapy ban and the vague replacement language that followed. We want to publicly give voice to those legitimate concerns and the impacts to LGBTQ+ youth, adults and families.
“We stepped away from PrideFest production to have several conversations this week and make sure our voices were at the table because that is what this work actually looks like. Showing up when it is hard, building relationships that last, and staying committed to real solutions over quick reactions. We have seen and heard apologies from some leaders for the way this was handled and we receive that accountability as a step in the right direction. We are working directly with the LGBTQ+ Commission, the mayor’s office, legal teams, community members and councilmembers to get the language right and get our community protected. We are hopeful that this moment also opens the door to getting the commission fully seated, supported and resourced with a dedicated full-time liaison, so it can function the way our community has always deserved…”
PrideFest continues at Theis Park through the weekend.
Below are more sights from the parade Saturday morning.
Brian Luton/KSHB
Brian Luton/KSHB
Brian Luton/KSHB Brian Luton/KSHB
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – The Kansas Highway Patrol has confirmed that two individuals died and one child was left seriously injured following a semi-vehicle crash on Friday, closing a portion of I-70.
According to the KHP Crash Log, the incident was reported around 3:47 p.m. on I-70 in Wabaunsee County.
A 2024 Kenworth Construction (semi) was eastbound on I-70 when, for an unknown reason, it crossed the center median into the westbound lanes of traffic.
The semi struck a 2020 Buick Envision, which was westbound in the right lane of traffic.
The Kansas Highway Patrol released the identities of the individuals involved.
The driver of the Buick, 70-year-old Barbara Krier, of Great Bend, died of a fatal injury. Another occupant in the Buick, 50-year-old Steven Reed, of Topeka, also died of a fatal injury.
A 7-year-old child was also in the vehicle at the time and suffered a serious injury. The child was taken to a hospital.
The semi driver, Jason Webb, 45, of Cheboygan, Michigan, was also taken to a hospital with a suspected minor injury.
View the full Kansas Highway Patrol Crash Log report HERE.
Copyright 2026 WIBW. All rights reserved.
NESS COUNTY – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), the Ness County Sheriff’s Office, and the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) arrested a Ness City man following the execution of a search warrant Thursday morning.
At approximately 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, KBI agents and Ness County sheriff’s deputies executed a search warrant at 609 S. School Street in Ness City. During the search, law enforcement discovered large quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, LSD, marijuana, and mushrooms, and seized 130 firearms. Explosive materials were also located, which required assistance from the KHP Hazardous Devices Unit to safely secure the scene before the search could resume.
Following the operation, the Kansas Department of Revenue’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Division (ABC) completed a tax assessment on the seized narcotics, successfully collecting over $118,000 from the suspect for the lack of required drug tax stamps.
Chad Sunley, 45, of Ness City, was arrested on requested charges of distribution of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school, distribution of marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school, distribution of LSD within 1,000 feet of a school, distribution of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school, distribution of mushrooms within 1,000 feet of a school, manufacturing explosive devices, possession of stolen firearms, felony possession of drug paraphernalia, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, and no drug tax stamp.
Sunley was booked into the Ness County Jail.
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