General News in the 316

[ky-mike]

Monopoly Wichita coming to stores this fall

KAKE - MONOPOLY: Wichita Edition coming to stores this year



I'd get this just for the novelty of it all.

What from Wichita should be included in the game? I'm not sure how many spots are available to be filled off the top of my head.

The Keeper of the Plains
Old Town
Exploration Place
Epic Center
The Orpheum

Instead of Go to Jail you get sent to Towne West?

We have the "Sunfloweropoly" Kansas version which we have played probably once. Gotta be 30+ years old.

[SubGod22]

KSN - Wichita's own 'Rosie the Riveter' turns 100

Wichita’s own “Rosie the Riveter” turns 100 today.

Connie Palacioz, a Newton native, was one of millions of women who contributed to the war effort in World War II. She went to work at Boeing at the age of 18, driving rivets into B-29 aircraft on the production line, including the iconic “Doc.”

Women entered the workforce to replace the millions of men who went off to serve in the Armed Forces in World War II. Rosie the Riveter became an inspiring symbol when posters featuring the slogan “We Can Do It!” were distributed nationwide.

The idea for Rosie the Riveter began in 1942 with a song, which you can hear on YouTube.

[SubGod22]

WBJ - A GOLD-MEDAL YEAR FOR WICHITA SPORTS

U.S. Figure Skating Championships kick off a big 2025 for Wichita sporting events

A national sports spotlight is about to shine on Wichita — with big economic implications.

For the first time, the city is hosting the U.S. Figure Skating Championships next week. The high-profile event, with competitions running from Jan. 21-26 at Intrust Bank Arena, is expected to bring thousands of ice skating fans downtown along with hundreds of athletes, coaches and others associated with the event.

"For Wichitans, and the region, this is going to be really a special, special week," Visit Wichita president and CEO Susie Santo said.

Two months later, on March 20 and 22, the first and second rounds of the NCAA men's basketball tournament return to the arena for the first time since 2018, when an estimated $6.2 million in economic impact was generated.

"I would say, from January to March — these two events almost back to back — it's unprecedented," said Josh Howell, vice president of sports development at Visit Wichita, an organization tasked with promoting tourism, sports and convention activities in the city.

Figure skating championships apparently had an economic impact of more than $8M for Columbus, OH last year.

Visit Wichita spent six years working with US Figure Skating to land the event.

The week long event will be aired on NBC, USA Network, and streamed on Peacock.

[SubGod22]

WBJ - AAR Corp plans 100,000 square-foot Wellington aviation services facility expansion

AAR Corp.'s Sumner County presence is about to get much bigger.

The global aviation aftermarket services company, headquartered in the Chicago area, will invest up to $9.5 million expanding its Wellington facility by 100,000 square feet, the Kansas Department of Commerce announced Wednesday.

Up to 100 jobs are set to be added at the location, which focuses on component services.

"We are excited to strengthen our operations and contribute to the local economy by increasing our workforce," said Ben Murrell, AAR's Wellington general manager of component services, in a news release. "This growth will enhance our ability to service our global customers and meet the demand for an even larger aviation presence in Kansas."

Sounds like this should be big for Wellington and Sumner County.

WSU Tech has a partnership with AAR and Wellington HS.

[SubGod22]

WBJ - Park City approves incentives for Phil Ruffin's Golden Circle as costs increase

Phil Ruffin's Golden Circle project has received a financial incentive from Park City as it nears completion this year.

On Tuesday, Park City's City Council approved 7-1 the issuance of up to $110 million in industrial revenue bonds and a sales tax exemption on construction materials to cover the remaining costs for the billionaire's 70-acre development at the former Wichita Greyhound Park site at the northwest corner of 77th and Hydraulic.

Tim Merrill, senior vice president of operations at Ruffin Co. and general manager of the Park City facility, said in the meeting that the development is slated to open in the latter half of Q4 this year. He noted that the cost of the project has increased from $54 million to $142.5 million.

"This would be very helpful for us to get us across the finish line," Merrill said in the meeting. "When they originally scoped the project, they thought it was a very simple redo. In reality, all the plumbing had to be replaced, the roof had to come off and we added 20 feet to the back of the building with a $2 million warehouse on the side.... It's been a sizable change in direction since we took over."

[SubGod22]

Chase Koch has plans for downtown.

WBJ - Chase Koch nonprofit purchases central Wichita properties with music in mind

Chase Koch-backed nonprofits have purchased 13 properties over a two square-block area of downtown Wichita over the last two years, according to Sedgwick County records.

The mix of buildings and parking lots — including a nine-story building formerly home to the Shirkmere Apartments — are located between 1st and 2nd streets, Topeka Avenue and St. Francis Ave.

Koch's aim, according to a media report, is to grow a musicians development program and the 1-year-old music collaboration Elsewhere Fest and Conference through Movement Musick, a 501(c)4 nonprofit.

The properties are valued at a little over $2M.

[Veritas]

Chase Koch has plans for downtown.

WBJ - Chase Koch nonprofit purchases central Wichita properties with music in mind



The properties are valued at a little over $2M.

Performing arts center/concert hall?

[Veritas]

Looking more into this, it could be more of a”music campus” with rehearsal, creative, instructional, and. meeting space for musicians along with a few smaller venues to perform for the public. As one investor mentioned, the properties’ value are closer to $10-20m.
One of the areas near Boston where I once lived was down the street from Berkelee College of Music. I enjoyed walking through the neighborhood during a spring or fall day, windows open, and hearing the musicians practicing their craft.
Could be a performing arts hub/campus.
Great to see him invest in Wichita and looking forward to how this turns out.

[JVShocker]

Koch's aim, according to a media report, is to grow a musicians development program and the 1-year-old music collaboration Elsewhere Fest and Conference through Movement Musick, a 501(c)4 nonprofit.


Wow. Not impressed at all. I know its development, but my god, has anyone seen what has happened to the building they purchased for that ridiculous Elsewhere fest? It has become the largest graffiti magnet on the planet earth.

[BAShocker]

School of Rock

[shocktown]

Shirkmere Dorm of Rock!