News

Protest organizers pleased with local turnout

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

Last Saturday saw an estimated more than 5 million people participate in No Kings Day protests against recent actions from the Trump Administration in more than 2,100 cities and towns throughout the U.S., and more protests took place in U.S. territories including Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands. Even more protests took place in multiple foreign countries, including Canada, Japan, and Mexico, among others.

One of the U.S. protests took place in Liberal, and coordinator Sheryl Hall said it was not a hard decision to put the event together.

Enjoy a Day in the Park July 4

Special to the Leader & Times

The community is invited to celebrate Independence Day in style with this year’s 4th of July Day in the Park, taking place at Light Park beginning at 11 a.m., immediately after the annual parade.

The event promises a full day of family-friendly fun, with local vendors offering food, handmade crafts, lemonade, snow cones, and a variety of other festive treats. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets, relax, and enjoy the summer atmosphere with family and friends.

Aguilera receives master's degree

ROBERT PIERCE

• Leader & Times

Seeing a need for bilingual therapists locally, Sarahi Aguilera began her higher education journey by graduating with an associate’s degree in criminal justice in 2018 from Seward County Community College.

The next stop for Aguilera was made at Wichita State University, where she graduated with a bachelor’s in criminal justice, along with a minor in psychology.

After graduating from Wichita State, Aguilera took some time off before coming back to Southwest Kansas and working with victims of physical and sexual violence as a victim advocate at the Liberal Area Rape Crisis/Domestic Violence Services (LARC/DVS)

KDWP seeks input on State Wildlife Action Plan

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) is seeking public comment on a revised draft of the Kansas State Wildlife Action Plan, which serves as a blueprint for conserving Kansas’ most at-risk wildlife and habitats.

The 2025 draft updates the state’s 2015 plan, as required by Congress for continued eligibility for state wildlife grants. These grants support proactive efforts to conserve wildlife before they become more scarce and costly to protect.

SCCC votes to add women’s wrestling for 2025-26 season

Seward County Community College

Seward County Community College will add women’s wrestling as its 10th NJCAA sport, beginning competition in the 2025-26 academic year. The SCCC Board of Trustees voted to approve the addition at its monthly meeting on Monday.

Cody Cole, SCCC associate vice president of athletics, who will also coach the team, expressed excitement and enthusiasm for the upcoming season.