Kansas making headlines across the U.S.

Several accomplishments highlight Kansas's growing reputation in education, affordability, and community vibrancy.

Schools in Kansas have earned recognition, with Garfield Elementary and Sunflower Elementary holding prestigious Blue Ribbon awards for high performance.

And, the city shines in retail, with local candy stores like The Farris Wheel Candy Co. ranking among the nation's best.

NO. 1: TWO KANSAS STORES NAMED TOP 5 CANDY SHOPS IN THE NATION. ONE IS BASED IN WICHITA

Have you tasted these shops’ goodies? | Published July 6, 2024 | Read Full Story by Lindsay Smith

NO. 2: 4 KANSAS SCHOOLS WIN PRESTIGIOUS AWARD FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE. HERE’S WHERE THEY ARE

Is your child’s elementary school on the list? | Published September 24, 2024 | Read Full Story by Lindsay Smith

NO. 3: THE COST OF LIVING IN WICHITA IS ONE OF THE LOWEST IN THE US, REALTOR.COM LIST SAYS

See where Wichita ranked on Realtor.com’s affordable cost of living ranking. | Published November 1, 2024 | Read Full Story by Lindsay Smith

NO. 4: WICHITA, 2 OTHER KANSAS SPOTS NAMED AMONG 100 BEST US CITIES TO LIVE IN THIS YEAR

This ranking gave a “livability” score to American cities based on amenities, housing, cost of living and more. | Published April 30, 2025 | Read Full Story by Lindsay Smith

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported and written by Lindsay Smith and edited by McClatchy journalists.