General News in the 316

[SubGod22]

KSN - Turnpike Troubadours coming to Wichita in May 2024

The Turnpike Troubadours are coming to Wichita in May 2024 with special guests Trampled By Turtles and The Red Clay Strays.

They will be performing on Friday, May 3, 2024, at Intrust Bank Arena.

According to Intrust Bank Arena, the Turnpike Troubadours formed in 2005, assembling a lineup that eventually included frontman Evan Felker, lead guitarist Ryan Engleman, fiddle player Kyle Nix, bassist R.C. Edwards, drummer Gabe Pearson, and steel guitar and accordion player Hank Early.

Intrust Bank Arena says their debut album, Bossier City, was released in 2007 and the first of five studio albums the group would release. Their self-titled 2015 album peaked at number 17 on the Billboard 200 and inside the Top 5 of U.S. Country, Folk, Rock and Indie charts. 2017’s A Long Way from Your Heart would peak at number 3 on the Billboard Top Country chart.

Tickets go on sale Friday.

[SubGod22]

KSN - Where Wichita ranks in list of 'Fun Cities in America'

When you think of the most fun cities in America, what comes to mind?

WalletHub compared more than 180 U.S. cities based on 65 pertinent metrics. The three key dimensions were entertainment and recreation, nightlife and parties, and overall costs.

“WalletHub compared 182 cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state,” WalletHub stated.

Wichita came in at No. 69 with a score of 35.13. It did especially well in terms of pricing, ranking No. 9 in costs.

Overland Park ranked No. 95 on the list of most fun cities, while Kansas City, Missouri, came in at No. 49.

Las Vegas, Nevada, topped the list as the most fun city in America, with a score of 71.38

Better than I would have guessed prior to clicking on the link.

[shocktown]

KSN - Where Wichita ranks in list of 'Fun Cities in America'



Better than I would have guessed prior to clicking on the link.

Just being 69 implies a good time, at least it does to me!

[Kung Wu]

Just being 69 implies a good time, at least it does to me!

[SubGod22]

WBJ - State grant to help fund key piece of the Orpheum's restoration progress

There's much work ahead for the continued restoration of the Orpheum Theatre — and a state grant is set to play a key role in the next step of the process.

In November, the Kansas Department of Commerce announced the historic downtown Wichita venue as one of 14 recipients across the state of an Attraction Development Grant, part of a state program aimed at supporting tourist attractions.

The Orpheum received roughly $67,200, and the theater's executive director, Rachel Banning, said it will be used to add HVAC units to the stage and balcony.

"This was a big piece of the puzzle that had to be done before the rest of the puzzle can get done," Banning said.

That puzzle includes raising $9 million to tackle extensive renovations to the main auditorium, which Banning called the 101-year-old venue's "most urgent need." She said currently there is only one unit for the auditorium, which makes climate control on the stage and balcony difficult.

A lot of work being planned to update this magnificent piece of Wichita and hopefully all funds that need to be raised will be.

[SubGod22]

WBJ - Wichita native gets ready to launch a worldwide influencer business

After graduating from Life Prep Academy in 2012, Wichita native Nick Rotola's trajectory has been anything but ordinary — from professional baseball to promoting cryptocurrency to starting up a new platform.

The former Oral Roberts University and Wingnuts player retired after a few professional seasons, but baseball and the entrepreneurial spirit were in his blood. Along with obtaining an MBA from his alma mater, he started a baseball camp and bat company.

Both remain active, and like his new startup, We3, are based out of Wichita.

A global internet platform business based in Wichita


Because of his past success, Rotola is ready to try his hand at a new venture — one that gives "influencers" a place to shine and make money.

He and his new business partner, Sebastian Harris, plan in April to launch We3. The two have assembled several backers, influencers and industry-leading marketers. Harris recently left a company he helped make public on the New York Stock Exchange.

The premise of We3 is to amplify creators or influencers, especially those in Gen Z and Gen Alpha, who Rotola said were feeling isolated even with the internet. By joining these creators in a community, he hopes to help them make money and become connected.

"Social-media companies promised to connect us, but they left us feeling only more alone," Rotola said of Gen Z and Gen Alpha. "I want to create a place where people can rally together — where algorithms can't stop them."

It's an interesting concept to connect creators and propel brands. Having it based in Wichita of course isn't a bad thing for Wichita.

It will be interesting to see how this does.

[SubGod22]

I love the potential of this. I have no idea how many jazz fans live in the metro and how many of them would get out and support this, but I hope it happens. Would love to see more jazz and blues love around town.

Wichita by EB - Walker's Jazz Lounge opens in Old Town this weekend

A new place to catch live music opens this weekend when Walker’s Jazz Lounge celebrates their soft opening at 252 N. Mosley in the former Oasis staffing space.

It’ll be a new venue in Wichita for music lovers, especially in a city where there aren’t too many options to find jazz.

Located at the southeast corner of Second and Mosley, Walker’s Jazz Lounge will have a soft opening from December 8-10, a week ahead of their grand opening on December 15 when Donna Tucker will perform a Christmas show.

There will be a drink menu featuring craft cocktails, wine, beer and a limited food menu mostly of charcuterie and hummus boards.

You can access their live music calendar in the link

[WstateU]

I love the potential of this. I have no idea how many jazz fans live in the metro and how many of them would get out and support this, but I hope it happens. Would love to see more jazz and blues love around town.

Wichita by EB - Walker's Jazz Lounge opens in Old Town this weekend



You can access their live music calendar in the link

I believe Aargh is a local jazz musician. The Mrs. and I enjoy jazz and will have to check it out.

[WstateU]

I believe Aargh is a local jazz musician. The Mrs. and I enjoy jazz and will have to check it out.

Another one of my 'jazz' favorites...

[SubGod22]

WBJ - Commissioners approve purchase of downtown Wichita building for COMCARE

COMCARE of Sedgwick County is poised to get a new building on the doorstep of the planned $300-million biomedical campus in downtown Wichita.

On Wednesday, in a move to help COMCARE expand behavioral health services and centralize multiple programs, the Board of County Commissioners approved an agreement to purchase the two-story building at 235 S. Topeka and two lots just to its north for $5.4 million.

That's next to where the biomedical campus — led by the KU School of Medicine-Wichita, Wichita State University and WSU Tech — is set to break ground in 2024 and within what has been described as a biomedical corridor in the heart of the city.

The new building for COMCARE, which focuses on helping those with mental health needs and substance abuse issues, will be the home of multiple programs including the Community Crisis Center, Substance Abuse Center of Kansas and the Sedgwick County Offender Assessment Program.

This is literally in the same square block (is that a term?) as the L shaped portion of the BioMed Campus. Which really would make it convenient for students to get easy, hands on experience in this field. It's in the former Mid-States Fitness building.

[SubGod22]

WBJ - More passengers, more seats and more flights for Wichita's airport

Wichita's airport is continuing to grow its footprint in sales and passenger activity.

Eisenhower National Airport broke its passenger record for the month of October, increasing its passenger base over October 2019 and 2022.

More than 78,000 passengers flew out of the airport in October, representing a slightly less than 8% increase compared to the same time last year and a 2% increase over October 2019's rate.

Because of the increase in commercial air flights, airlines flying in and out of Wichita have added more seats and increased the amount of flights, with the amount of seats increasing by 12% and flights by slightly less than 7% compared to October 2022.

November's rates are projected to increase, as American Airlines began daily nonstop service to Phoenix on Nov. 5 and direct service to Miami on Nov. 11. Southwest Airlines resumed daily service to Las Vegas.

In January, American Airlines will begin daily nonstop service to Washington, D.C.

[SubGod22]

I'm considering flying out of Wichita to travel to Florida for the game at USF and to see a friend in Orlando. Haven't committed to it yet. Haven't flown anywhere in about a decade.

[Cdizzle]

Eisenhower is nice. It was done well for what it needs to be.

[ShockBand]

Eisenhower is nice. It was done well for what it needs to be.

It really is. And if we ever did need more gates, it would be pretty easy to lengthen the airside concourse.

[SubGod22]

KSHB - Feds approve $500K grant for planning, development of extension of Amtrak Heartland Flyer route

The Federal Railroad Administration announced Friday a $500,000 grant that will help pay for the planning and development phase of an extension of Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer Route.

Sen. Jerry Moran (R - Kansas) made the announcement Friday morning in a press release.

The extended route would connect passenger rail service between Newton and Wichita in Kansas to Oklahoma City and Fort Worth, Texas. Under the proposal, the route would have additional stops in Wichita, Newton an Arkansas City, Kansas.

Currently, the Heartland Flyer offers service between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City.

By connecting Newton to the Heartland Flyer route, rail passengers using Amtrak’s Southwest Chief between Los Angeles and Chicago, with a stop in Kansas City, would have the ability to switch trains in Newton and head south.

Moran described Friday’s grant as a first step and plans to engage local stakeholders moving forward.