Wichita's Early Edition

Musician Freedy Johnston once sang that he had "sold the dirt to feed the band," referring to leaving behind his hometown of Kinsley, Kansas to pursue a career in music in New York City. Now, he's returned home to paint a mural celebrating Kinsley. Something he says will help shed light on how art can impact rural communities. Plus news from Wichita and around the state.

It was a late night waiting for some election results. So we'll keep this short. Here's the latest news.

Even before the COVID pandemic, Kansas school districts were doubling down on technology and buying laptops or tablets for every student. But now, concerns about too much screen time have some schools rethinking the value of computers in the classroom. We’ll hear how some Kansas districts are scaling back on technology and what that means for students and teachers. Plus we have news from Wichita and around the state.

Wichita is currently in the process of selling all of its single-family public housing units. But at least 100 families were still living in the homes as of last December. Where will they go? KMUW's Celia Hack speaks with several current or former Wichita public housing tenants about how the move impacted their lives. And we have news from Wichita and around the state.

Gene Zaid is a business owner and chemist with over 70 U.S. patents. He lives in Hutchinson, but his journey started in a Palestinian refugee camp. No matter how much his life has changed, one thing has stayed the same. More on his life. Plus news from Wichita and around the state.

Southwest Kansas is known as a center of beef and grain production. But there was a time when this region was known for watermelons. The fruit crop spurred on a multibillion dollar ag industry that sustains Kansas today, but the water used to help Kansas farmers survive back then eventually ran dry. And modern farmers today may face a similar fate. We'll hear about the rise and fall of watermelons in western Kansas. Plus news from Wichita and around the state.

Drones are increasingly buzzing over farm fields and ranchland. Farmers are using the technology to make their operations more efficient. We learn how. Plus news from Wichita and around the state.

When writing her new novel, "The Most," author Jessica Anthony drew inspiration from female writers from the 1950s. "I wanted the novel to feel almost like an undiscovered or previously unknown from that time period," Anthony says, "like, 'Oh, how did this get lost?' Ya know?" KMUW's Beth Golay spoke with Jessica Anthony about the new novel. Plus we have news from Wichita and around the state.

After nearly a century, an important part of the Kaw Nation's culture and history has been returned. We'll hear about Grandfather Rock - and our weekly book review by KMUW"s Suzanne Perez. Plus news from Wichita and around the state.

Country musician Logan Mize has a new album titled “Her Heartland.” The album reflects Mize’s experiences after he and his family left Nashville to return to Kansas. Mize says that he didn't have to think too long about the change. KMUW’s Jedd Beaudoin speaks with Logan Mize. Plus news from Wichita and around the state.