Wichita's Early Edition

Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit are known for their award-winning songs and albums. Guitarist Sadler Vaden says that Isbell likes to keep the other musicians on their toes when it comes to recording his songs. KMUW's Jedd Beaudoin spoke with Vaden about the group - which plays tonight in Wichita. We'll have that interview, plus news from Wichita and around the state.

Just two years after Kansas lawmakers reshaped the state’s four congressional districts, there’s an open seat in the 2nd District. Now, there’s a scramble on both sides of the aisle to secure that seat as the two major parties compete for control of the U.S. House. We'll have that story, plus new from Wichita and around the state.

States across the Midwest have tightened abortion access in the past two years. Nebraska’s 12-week ban left one couple feeling deserted when complications arose during a pregnancy. We hear one couple’s story including how they traveled to Kansas for an abortion, plus news from Wichita and around the state.

The voyages of Captain James Cook have inspired many in the arts: Coleridge's "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner;" Herman Melville's "Moby-Dick," and even the character Captain James T. Kirk of Star Trek's USS Enterprise. "There are a lot of similarities and it is widely thought that the creators of Star Trek were directly patterning the show after Cook's incredible voyages," says author Hampton Sides. KMUW's Beth Golay spoke with Sides about his new book about Cook, "The Wide Wide Sea." Plus news from Wichita and around the state.

Homelessness in Kansas is rising, and some state lawmakers want to help communities by funding shelters that serve unhoused people. But some rural legislators are not convinced that taxpayers from small towns should be helping fix what they believe is an urban problem. We’ll hear how Kansas groups helping unhoused people are frustrated with the lack of support from the state. Plus news from Wichita and around the state.

In her newest thriller, "The God of the Woods," author Liz Moore uses an ensemble cast of characters to orchestrate the slow release of information throughout the book. KMUW's Beth Golay visits with Moore about the new release, plus we have news from Wichita and around the state.

Finding a buyer for a small business can be hard… especially in rural areas. And that problem is likely to get worse. Business owners in rural areas are struggling to find younger buyers. We'll learn more, plus news from Wichita and around the state.

Daily newscast from KMUW news.

KMUW's Fletcher Powell says a new movie perfectly captures a specific time and place, and that a movie doesn't have to make you feel good to be essential viewing. We'll hear why. Plus we have news from Wichita and around the state.

More than 30 years ago, a group of southwest Kansas counties tried to secede and form their own state called West Kansas...it was prompted by cultural divisions and disagreements over tax and education policy. Calen Moore tells us what happened to the movement and how it previewed the political divisions that remain today. Plus news from Wichita and around the state..