Wichita daily: sales tax voting deadline, flight return after battery fire, and more

Wichita heads into a busy civic week with voting deadlines, a travel scare at ICT, and a reminder to stay alert to online scams.

Sales tax vote: mail-ballot request deadline is today

Tuesday, Feb. 24 is the last day for Wichita voters to request an advance (mail) ballot for the March 3 special election on a proposed 1% city sales tax. In-person early voting is already underway at the Sedgwick County Election Office during weekday business hours.

Satellite early-voting sites are set to open Thursday, Feb. 26, with additional days through the weekend, giving voters more neighborhood options before Election Day. City and county election pages also list key dates and basic background on the ballot question and how voting will work.

Flight turns back after battery fire onboard

A passenger battery caught fire mid-flight Sunday on a plane departing Wichita for Seattle, prompting the crew to return and land safely at Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport. Airport emergency personnel evaluated three people, and one person was taken to a local hospital for further treatment.

The incident is another cautionary note about lithium battery risks in the cabin. Officials said external batteries are allowed in carry-ons, but overheating and damage can trigger dangerous thermal runaway events.

WPD warning: rental-home scams on Facebook Marketplace

Wichita police say they are seeing more cases where scammers copy photos from legitimate real estate listings and repost homes as rentals online. Victims may be asked to pay an application fee or deposit before seeing a property, sometimes through gift cards or cash apps.

Police are urging renters to tour properties in person, verify who controls the listing, and walk away from deals that feel rushed or too good to be true.

Community remembers Melody McCray-Miller

Wichita is mourning Melody McCray-Miller, an elected school board member and longtime public servant. She previously served on the Sedgwick County Commission and in the Kansas Legislature, and she was known for advocating community school models that connect families to services beyond the classroom.

Sources

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.sedgwickcounty.org/elections/election-office-calendar-of-important-dates/
https://www.wichita.gov/ballotquestion
https://www.kwch.com/2026/02/23/flight-returns-wichita-after-battery-fire-mid-flight/
https://www.airportia.com/news/horizon-e175-at-wichita-on-feb-22nd-2026-power-bank-s-thermal-runaway/
https://www.kwch.com/2026/02/23/wichita-police-warn-scam-involving-rental-homes-facebook-marketplace/
https://www.kmuw.org/local-news/2026-02-22/wichita-school-board-member-melody-mccray-miller-dies