Wichita daily local headlines: Fire-station mold impacts, DA decision, and sales-tax vote timeline

Fire-station mold remediation could sideline more stations

Wichita Fire Station 15 (near Lincoln and Rock) is expected to remain closed for at least two more weeks as mold remediation continues. City officials have also warned that additional stations could be taken out of service as work expands.

The concern is twofold: firefighter health and coverage. When stations temporarily go offline, crews are reassigned, which can stretch response times in the neighborhoods those stations normally serve.

DA: No criminal charges for eight officers in 2024 fatal shooting

Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett released a report concluding eight Wichita police officers will not face criminal charges in a March 2024 fatal shooting tied to a pursuit and confrontation that ended near 21st Street and Arkansas.

The report says the officers were justified under Kansas law and are immune from prosecution based on the circumstances described, including the suspect firing at officers during the encounter.

Sales-tax special election: mail-ballot deadline passed, in-person options widen

Wichita’s citywide special election on a proposed 1% sales tax is now in its final stretch. Tuesday, Feb. 24, was the last day to request an advance ballot by mail. Early in-person voting continues at the election office, and satellite early-voting locations are set to open Thursday.

• Thu–Fri: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (satellite locations)
• Sat: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (satellite locations)
• Election Day: Tuesday, March 3 (ballots due by 7 p.m.)

Also in town: a rehabilitated bald eagle returns to the sky

A bald eagle known as Freedom was released back into the wild in Wichita this week after rehabilitation for an injury. Wildlife rehabilitators involved in the release said the bird’s recovery took months of care before it was ready to fly again.

Sources

• https://www.firerescue1.com/fire-stations-and-firehouses/mold-remediation-continues-at-kan-fire-station-as-more-may-be-closed
• https://www.kwch.com/2026/02/23/sedgwick-county-da-8-wichita-police-officers-immune-2024-deadly-shooting/
• https://www.kwch.com/2026/02/24/tuesday-marks-last-day-request-advance-ballot-1-sales-tax-special-election-early-voting-satellite-locations-starts-thursday/
• https://www.wibw.com/2026/02/24/freedom-takes-flight-bald-eagle-released-after-rehabilitation-injury/
• https://www.kmuw.org/podcast/wichitas-early-edition/2026-02-24/tuesday-february-24-2026