General News in the 316

[RoyalShock]

KSN - Kansas 50th Anniversary Tour coming to Wichita

Already got my tickets. I was hoping to see them in Salina this month, but I failed to order early and their two shows at Steifel sold out. Hopefully Phil Eheart, their original drummer will have recovered from his recent heart attack and be back touring with the band.

[SubGod22]

Yahoo! - Feedback sought on planned K-96 improvements project

The Kansas Department of Transportation, the Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program, the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, the City of Wichita, and Sedgwick County are hosting a second open house in April on the K-96 Improvements Project.

The project includes expanding the highway from four to six lanes, replacing the pavement, and improving the seven interchanges along K-96, including Hillside, Oliver, Woodlawn, Rock, Webb, Greenwich, and 21st Street North.

KDOT says more than 50,000 vehicles travel through the area daily. Traffic is expected to expand to nearly 100,000 over the next 25 years.

The second open house is Thursday, April 11, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in room 180 at Wichita State University’s Eugene M. Hughes Metropolitan Complex at 5015 E. 29th Street N.

Not sure what kind of feedback they're seeking here.

I also can't wait for this project to get going. It's going to be a pain in the ass while they do it, but much like the North Junction and the new exit to 96 that they're still working on, it will be well worth it when completed.

K96 can already be a bit of a nightmare at times and going to six lanes and improving the exits will go a long way in making it a better avenue to get places in NE Wichita, especially as that part of the city continues to grow.

[SubGod22]

I know everyone loves to hate them, but more things happening in Goddard.

WBJ - Genesis Health Clubs adds an apartment complex to Goddard project

This summer, Goddard will have another residential development started in its backyard.

Genesis Health Clubs, a Wichita-based health and fitness company owned by Rodney Steven II, is expanding its footprint around its youth sports complex located between 199th West and 183rd West, south of U.S. 400, with an apartment complex near the Hampton Inn hotel at 455 N. Crowne Dr., along with its 6S Sand Sports Bar and Grill already in the works.

The apartment complex will have 108 class A single- and multi-family units. The opening date for the apartment complex was not disclosed.

The 6S Sports Bar and Grill — a sister restaurant to the northwest Wichita location on 21st Street — will open sometime in late summer or early fall, according to Genesis marketing vice president Jake McCabe.

"It is a phased project," McCabe said. "We wanted to get the baseball and swim tournaments, health club, hotel, and water park up and running first, as they will help feed the sports bar."

[SubGod22]

Heads up for travelers this year.

KWCH - I-135 southbound ramp to westbound US 54 to close next month

The exit ramp from southbound I-135 to westbound U.S. 54 will close on Monday, April 8, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation.

The project will involve milling, patching and a concrete overlay being placed on each side consecutively. Rehabilitation work on the bridge will happen Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Work on this bridge is one of four bridge rehabilitation projects scheduled this year at the I-135/U.S. 54 interchange.

The bridge work will take place consecutively. This first project is set to conclude in late May, then the second bridge project and closures will begin. It is estimated the last bridge in the four-phase project will conclude by late November, conditions permitting.

[SubGod22]

Wichita by EB - Wichita Riverfest announces button price increase for 2024

In a press release post on the Wichita Riverfest website, it was announced that button prices would be increasing this year.

The buttons which go on sale beginning Monday, April 15 will be $20 for adults and $10 for children 6-11, while children 5 and under are free. The last time button prices went up was in 2022 when adult buttons went from $10 to $15. There will also be no early bird pricing this year.

Buttons are a big source of revenue for the 9-day event.

Gonna be a lot of internet warriors in Wichita about this.

In good news, Hunter Hayes will be performing at Riverfest on June 1. If you're not familiar, he's a fantastic country artist that's been nominated for multiple Grammy Awards.

[SubGod22]

WBJ - Spirit AeroSystems selected for $13 million defense contract

A contracting agency for the U.S. Department of Defense has awarded a $13-million contract to Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita to lead work on high-speed wing research.

The cost-plus-fixed-fee contract is for the Caliente program.

“The Caliente program will design, build, instrument and test a representatively large high-speed wing and control surface test structure," a spokesperson for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency said. "This structure will be tested under combined thermal and mechanical loads to provide fundamental insight and model validation data for thermally driven structures.”

[SubGod22]

WBJ - Chase Koch-backed hangar headed for Wichita's Jabara Airport by 2025

The Wichita City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a privately built hangar at the airport that will bring in an income of slightly more than $180,000 annually in leasing fees. Though privately built, the $7-million improvements to the airport, including the hangar, will be owned by the city.

Chase Koch, Koch Industries' executive vice president and son of Charles Koch, is privately funding construction through Hangar LLC, a spokesperson representing Chase Koch confirmed.

"Chase has a passion about building and investing in Wichita and in the community," the spokesperson said.

Wichita's director of airports Jesse Romo explained to the Council on Tuesday the advantages of a private hangar.

"There's always been challenges as relates to road access utilities and additional airfield infrastructure that's needed," Romo said during the meeting.

Hangar LLC project manager Doug Johns said there are no tax incentives or benefits associated with the deal.

"We are leasing the land. We will be spending the funds to make all of the improvements on airport property," Johns said. "We'll be using the facilities we've constructed, but Jabara will own all the improvements we make on their property."

The lease agreement allows for Hangar LLC to lease about 17.4 acres.

Private investment. Publicly owned.

This should be good for Jabara

[SubGod22]

KWCH - Wichita already preparing for 2025 NCAA Tournament

The first round of the NCAA Tournament tips off Thursday, but Wichita State administrators are spending their week preparing for next week’s tournament.

Wichita was set to host the first two rounds of the 2021 men’s NCAA Tournament, but that got consolidated to Indiana due to the pandemic.

Intrust Bank Arena last hosted the men’s tournament in 2018, and it hosted the regional rounds of the women’s tournament in 2022.

12 News reporter Max Dutton spoke Thursday about how WSU is already getting ready for next year’s event.

[ky-mike]

KSN - Kansas 50th Anniversary Tour coming to Wichita

Pretty much a Kansas Tribute band at this point, given the current line-up (drummer Phil Ehart is out recovering from a heart attack). Saw them a couple of years ago. OK, but nothing like they were in the 70s and 80s.

[SubGod22]

WBJ - Textron Aviation gives $3 million to major Exploration Place outdoor expansion

Monstrum, a global play manufacturer out of Denmark, is the designer of the playscape, and Dondlinger Construction is the general contractor. Schaefer Architecture and Kansas City-based Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects are additional firms on the project team.




Along with Textron Aviation Flight Adventure, the playscape is set to feature nine additional themed play areas:

• Junior League Water Play Cascade
• Cargill Agriculture Overlook
• Slide Hill/Slide Forest
• Bison Hill
• Sensory Garden
• Sunflower Meadow
• Prairie Play
• Spider Climber
• Foggy Hills

There will also be food and beverage concessions, a picnic grove and Star Lumber Programming Plaza.

The Wichita Foundation Amphitheater portion of the outdoor expansion project broke ground earlier this month and is expected to wrap construction this fall. Conco Construction is the general contractor on that effort.

Exploration Place said that, with the Textron Aviation contribution, it is 80% toward its fundraising goal for the overall $22-million project.

[SubGod22]

KSN - Wichita women's football team gets new name, new league

The women’s tackle football team that just started in Wichita has changed its name and is in a new league.

Kaitlyn Stout, the new owner and head coach, says the team that was the Wichita Knights is now Wichita Wisdom. The Knights were in the National Women’s Football League. Stout says she bought the team from the league, and the team qualified to get into the American Women’s Football League.

“Wichita Wisdom will be traveling to Houston, Detroit, and Kansas City this season,” she told KSN News. “We are guaranteed a play-offs spot in this league this year, so we will probably be traveling to a lot more bigger cities this season as well.”

For what it's worth.

[SubGod22]

While Towne West continues to struggle to pay their electric and water bills, Towne East is adding tenants.

KAKE - Towne East Square set to open new store, restaurants this year

owne East Square announced Wednesday that it will be welcoming three new retailers later this year.

Towne East says it will be welcoming two new eateries: KPOT, a unique, hands-on, all-you-can-eat experience that merges traditional Asian hot pot with Korean BBQ flavors and bb.q chicken, a Korean fried chicken restaurant that operates thousands of stores across the globe.

Both KPOT and bb.q chicken are expected to open in late 2024.

Also coming in 2024 will be MINISO, a variety store chain that specializes in household and consumer goods including cosmetics, stationery, toys, and kitchenware. They are expected to open on the upper level, Dillard’s wing across from American Eagle in early summer of 2024.

In 2023, Towne East Square welcomed five new retailers, including SCHEELS.

[SubGod22]

KAKE - Historic horse racing facility under construction at former Greyhound Park set to open next year

During a House committee meeting Wednesday, the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission shared a timeline update for construction on a historic horse racing facility in Park City.

Golden Circle, which will feature 1,000 horse racing machines and a simulcasting facility, is expected to open on the site of the former Wichita Greyhound Park in September 2025. In addition, they will have a restaurant, deli, smoothie bar, rooftop patio, and an entertainment amphitheater.Future construction includes a 96-room name brand hotel.

The facility is currently in the selection process for machine vendors.

[SubGod22]

KSN - Exploration Place is getting an aviation playground

Wichita’s love of airplanes is about to play out on a playground in the heart of the city. Exploration Place says the Textron Aviation Flight Adventure should be ready for children in the fall of 2025.

The 6.5-acre playscape will have 10 individual playgrounds. Exploration Place says Textron Aviation is the naming sponsor of the central and largest one. The Textron playground will feature a Beechcraft Staggerwing biplane sculpture on a towering control tower and an explorable Cessna Citation business jet. The goal is not just for children to climb and play but for their imaginations to take flight.

Exploration Place believes the new destination playscape will attract thousands more visitors each year. Last year, the science and discovery center welcomed 403,543 visitors. With the addition of the play area, that number could soar to one million.

Officials say some of Exploration Place’s goals are to elevate the quality of life for residents and bolster STEM education resources.

[SubGod22]

KSN - Wichita Wind Surge to change their name, at least for a weekend

The Wichita Wind Surge will change its name again, at least for a weekend.

On April 19 and 20, the Wind Surge will play as the “Wichita Chili Buns” as they face the Tulsa Drillers. The name change honors the staple of Midwest school cafeterias: Chili and Cinnamon Rolls.

It’s not the first time the team has temporarily changed its name. The team has temporarily adopted the names Turbo Tubs, Tumba Vacas, Monrovians, and even the Wranglers.

Players will wear a cream-colored hat with a crimson brim, adorned with the logo of a bowl of chili and a cinnamon roll. The same symbol will be on the left sleeve of the jersey, which will be crimson with cream-colored borders and “Wichita Chili Buns” scripted across the chest. The Wind Surge Logo will be featured on the right sleeve.

In addition, the concession stand will be selling cups of chili with a cinnamon roll on the side. The Wind Surge says there will also be several special promotions that weekend that pair with the food.

The Wichita Chili Buns hat and jersey will also be available at the team store. Tickets for the April 19 and 20 are on sale now.