General News in the 316

[SHOCKvalue]

NBC New York - Wichita, Kansas is the most affordable U.S. city for single renters, according to new report



New York's median studio rent for comparison is $3,308.

They should probably come look at what that $538 median rent gets in Wichita before jumping on the bandwagon. That’s gonna be a ROUGH apartment complex.

[SubGod22]

They should probably come look at what that $538 median rent gets in Wichita before jumping on the bandwagon. That’s gonna be a ROUGH apartment complex.

And that $3300 in NYC is probably 150 sqft with communal bathrooms

[ABC]

I do understand the viability for certain highly populated areas. Especially the northeast corridor of the country. But here? Just for fun, I checked around the AAC tourney. As long as I don't mind driving to Newton at 3am, then enduring an 8+ trip with change of train in OKC, and paying for transportation once I get there, then basically having no way back to Newton for a week (at least) and paying $250 a head for the privilege....like you said, who exactly are they catering to?

Even if there's a Wichita station, who will use it? You couldn't find a corporate person to take the train. College students? I suppose best case scenario 300 DFW area students going home 3 or 4 times a school year, if they don't mind the price. The Amtrak site itself is actually as useless as you'd expect a government subsidized site to be...it's not user friendly, AT ALL, certainly not compared to say United Airlines. Imagine that..private sector doing a better job.

I would find it hard to believe that more than a dozen people outside largely populated commuter destinations would willingly take the train for anything other than nostalgia or something crazy, like fear.

If the Wichita departure times are not in the middle of the night, I can see folks using it to get to OKC for Thunder games and MAYBE Ft Worth.

But it is hard to justify the ROI.

I, and friends, have taken the train from KC to STL for the MVC tournament two times. The drive from KC to STL is about 3 1/2 hours. The train is 5:15.

I also some a few friends who have business in STL and will take the train so they can work there and back, rather than drive.

Taking Amtrak from almost any point to point in the NE corridor is almost always easier and better than flying. No security, no advance purchase etc. Basically trains leave every hour.

[Kung Wu]

The drive from KC to STL is about 3 1/2 hours. The train is 5:15.

Does the 5:15 include the drive to the train station, getting your ticket, and then waiting around for the train to show up -- at both stations? Or is the 5:15 pure travel time once it departs? (Even with the additional lost hours, it might still be worth it if you are exhausted and don't feel like driving, but I'm curious if you already added that stuff in?)

[ABC]

Does the 5:15 include the drive to the train station, getting your ticket, and then waiting around for the train to show up -- at both stations? Or is the 5:15 pure travel time once it departs? (Even with the additional lost hours, it might still be worth it if you are exhausted and don't feel like driving, but I'm curious if you already added that stuff in?)

that does not include any of that.

[Kung Wu]

that does not include any of that.

Oof. Still might be worth it (even just for fun), but that's a time killer.

[SubGod22]

WBJ - Department of Defense taps Novacoast in Wichita for cybersecurity project

Novacoast, which has its cybersecurity and operations headquarters in Wichita, will serve as a partner in new technology for the Department of Defense, U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., announced on Tuesday.

Moran hosted Department of Defense leaders at the Novacoast headquarters on Monday.

The Department of Defense’s Office of Operational Test and Evaluation named Novacoast to help with browser security plugin research. The partnership will aid the department in improving its cybersecurity measures.

Definitely not a bad thing for a Wichita company.

Moran, a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, secured the funding for the project in the fiscal year 2023 appropriations. Five million dollars was appropriated to the Department of Defense to address this cybersecurity challenge. The amount that Novacoast is getting has not been disclosed.

“Novacoast’s expertise will be a tremendous asset to the Pentagon as they work to fortify cybersecurity across the military through this partnership,” Moran said. “A recent newcomer to Wichita, Novacoast is utilizing the talented workforce in Wichita to support our national security while bringing new cybersecurity jobs to the region.”

Have to wonder how much of that pot they're getting. Government contracts are usually pretty profitable.

[WstateU]

Oof. Still might be worth it (even just for fun), but that's a time killer.

Many moons ago we took a 'party' train to Santa Fe New Mexico... in fact, the large group of 50+ people drank so much beer and liquor, they made a stop in eastern Colorado and sent the Porter to the local liquor store to stock up.

Sorry, back to your regular programming...

[SubGod22]

This isn't a bad thing. Trees are generally a positive in multiple ways.

KWCH - City of Wichita announces tree planting initiative to tackle 'heat islands'

The City of Wichita is moving forward with a plan to keep the city cooler by going green. Wednesday, the city announced a tree-planting initiative to address “heat islands,” spots in the city that are hotter than surrounding areas due to a lack of shade. A study by NASA found 17 such spots in Wichita, largely due to a lack of tree cover.

The city is working with a company to plant more than 1,000 trees, stretching from Central and Broadway to 21st and Hillside. The NASA study identified this stretch as Wichita’s worst heat island.

More greenery also generally helps clean the air and can limit the effects of smog/pollution on the city.

[SubGod22]

Wichita by EB - Exploration Place will be open until 8 p.m. until the end of the year

Aside from staying warm and cozy inside the science museum, you’ll find exhibits, live science shows and dome films available.

And to make things even more convenient, Exploration Place will be open late until 8 p.m. every day from now until the end of the year. The exceptions are Christmas Eve (5 p.m. closing) and Christmas Day (closed all day).

Arctic Adventure is the museum’s special seasonal exhibit, containing interactive games and a sock-skating rink. The Fire & Ice live science show is a battle of polar opposites with experiments determined by the spin of a wheel.

A good chance to get the kids out to EP for some educational fun while they're out of school. Later hours are most definitely a good thing this time of year.

[JJClamdip]

This isn't a bad thing. Trees are generally a positive in multiple ways.

KWCH - City of Wichita announces tree planting initiative to tackle 'heat islands'



More greenery also generally helps clean the air and can limit the effects of smog/pollution on the city.

The problem is they plant new trees but then they neglect to water them, very little chance a lot of them are going to survive.

[SubGod22]

The problem is they plant new trees but then they neglect to water them, very little chance a lot of them are going to survive.

The company they're working with is committed to that per the article

[JJClamdip]

The company they're working with is committed to that per the article

Glad to hear that, but the responsible parties in the past have been lacking.

[SubGod22]

Eagle - Wichita Art Museum opens new, colorful space called Play

Twenty years after it was created, The Living Room at the Wichita Art Museum has undergone a $60,000 makeover and name change.

The 3,000-square-foot area, which reopens Friday, Dec. 22, is now called Play.

Since closing in November, the area, which remains a space for families and visitors of all ages to be creative, got a vibrant new paint job and underwent a redesign. The Living Room was created in 2003 when the museum underwent major renovations.

Another space that underwent renovations at the same time as Play — the galleries housing WAM’s permanent collection — reopened on Wednesday, according to Molly McFerson, who joined the WAM staff last year as the director of learning, engagement and partnerships.

Museum staff had seen an uptick in the number of visitors to The Living Room ever since WAM stopped charging general admission fees a year ago — on Dec. 22, 2022. Previously the museum had free admission only on Saturdays. Admission fees now only apply to see major traveling exhibitions.

[SubGod22]

KSNB - A hippopotamus for Christmas: Zoo welcomes baby pygmy hippo

An animal zoo and safari park in Kansas has introduced its newborn pygmy hippopotamus.

The Tanganyika Wildlife Park announced the 13-pound male calf was born on Dec. 14. His parents, Posie and Pluto, came to the zoo from different zoological facilities in Florida and have become key in safeguarding the critically endangered species.

The park said the birth of the calf is important since there is a strong need for male hippos in the breeding program, which is designed in hopes of preserving the species. Currently, it is reported that there are fewer than 3,000 known pygmy hippos worldwide.