🌻 Wichita Weekly (12/11)

Good morning, Wichita!

Well, after a few surgeries this year (… four… 😅) I’m back! — which won’t be a surprise to you if you follow me on Facebook. I’m now healthier, grateful, and excited to jump back into sending The Wichita Weekly every Thursday!

Thank you for the support, patience, and kind messages during the downtime. This community means more than you know.

And now — let’s jump into it!

This Week’s Poll

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WE’RE GETTING COLDER!

Weather

Thursday – 12/11 – 63°/39° – ☀️ Sunny

Friday – 12/12 – 47°/27° – 🌤️ Partly Cloudy

Saturday – 12/13 – 38°/16° – 🌤️ Partly Cloudy

Sunday – 12/14 – 29°/22° – ☀️ Sunny

Source: KWCH

TAXES, WATER, JONAS

Local News

Wichita City Council approves special election for 1% sales tax

• “The Wichita City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to hold a special election for an added 1% sales tax on all retail purchases in the city — including groceries.”

• “The state removed a 6.5% tax on groceries earlier this year. Sedgwick County’s 1% sales tax approved in 1985, a majority of which goes to the city of Wichita, has remained in place. If the new tax passes, taxes on groceries in Wichita would double to 2%.”

• “The sales tax increase would allow the city to cut property taxes by an estimated 4 mills, saving property owners $150 million over seven years. That would result in $46 of savings for every $100,000 of appraised value on a home and $100 in savings for every $100,000 of appraised value on a commercial property.”

• “Wichita Forward’s sales tax proposal faced strong opposition during its first informational meeting Monday night. More than a hundred people attended the meeting, with most of the speakers voicing opposition to the proposal and citing a lack of transparency.”

• “A second informational meeting for the sales tax proposal will be held at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 15 at the Advanced Learning Library.”

• Link: Read more

Wichita votes to raise water and sewer rates

• “According to the city’s calculations, the medium-level users would increase by about $6.15 each month next year. Low-end users would see an increase of about $4.10 per month.”

• “Council member Mike Hoheisel, on the other hand, argued raising rates over 7% would add costs at a time when affordability remains a major concern, particularly for the lowest earners. ‘If my cost-of-living increase was 2.8% last year, and my water bill is going up 7%, that’s a pretty big gap, so that’s less of my income that’s actually being able to go to other things, such as food [and] healthcare’ he said.”

• Link: Read more

Wichita native rallies community for week-long Jonas Brothers fundraiser

• “Ahead of the concert, one Wichita native is turning her long-time love for the group into a citywide celebration and an opportunity to give back. Sophie Beren is the CEO of The Conversationalist, a non-partisan educational platform. Her work with the platform landed her a spot on the Forbes 30-Under-30 List in 2023.”

• “Nearly 30 Wichita businesses are participating, each offering a Jonas Brothers-themed menu item, product, or promotion. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Kansas Food Bank.”

• Link: Read more

SPORTS, SPIRIT, RETAIL

Business News

Plans for $191.7M resort hotel, tennis and surf wave facility move forward

• “A $191.7-million multi-sport entertainment project that's an added phase of a successful STAR bonds district at K-96 and Greenwich Road was moved forward by the Wichita City Council on Tuesday with a public hearing.”

• “The 60-acre proposal would add a resort hotel, tennis complex, ice rink, immersive mini-golf, go-kart racing and stationary surf wave to an already bustling section of northeast Wichita.”

• “Marty Cornejo, Ron Cornejo and Dave Murfin joined property owner Ashley Cozine to form Family Destination Development LLC. The city said the developers will have about $120 million in private investment to go alongside more than $70 million in STAR bonds, which are a mechanism used by cities to recapture sales tax revenue to fund entertainment and tourism projects.”

• “A city feasibility study, Anderson said, showed the project is expected to create more than a quarter-million more visitors to the Wichita area annually, and more than 35% will be from beyond 100 miles from the area — 32% from out of state.”

• Link: Read more

Boeing finalizes $4.7B acquisition

• “Boeing said Monday it has completed a $4.7 billion purchase of key supplier Spirit AeroSystems, which builds fuselages for the giant aerospace company's 737 Max jetliners.”

• “Boeing previously owned Wichita, Kansas-based Spirit but spun it off in 2005. Reabsorbing the company, which is not related to Spirit Airlines, reverses a longtime Boeing strategy of outsourcing major work on its passenger planes — an approach that faced mounting criticism in recent years as manufacturing problems at Spirit disrupted production and delivery of popular Boeing jetliners, including 737s and 787s.”

• Link: Read more

Hospital can continue temporary operations in bankruptcy case

• “Derby's only hospital filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy this week in order to reorganize its debts while awaiting for a decision on a separate court battle with its landlord over a rent dispute and pending eviction.”

• “The hospital can continue operations until the final hearing in the bankruptcy case, which is scheduled for Jan. 6. Other ongoing disputes, such as the eviction and rent payment issues, will also be addressed at the final hearing. Over the next few weeks, the hospital also agreed to pay the landlord, CBC Derby LLC, $85,000 per week in rent. The judge's decision will also allow the hospital to pay its employees Friday, then on Dec. 26 and Jan. 9, according to the hearing.”

• “The hospital stopped admitting patients on an inpatient basis last Friday ahead the bankruptcy filing. It has continued to operate its emergency department.”

• Link: Read more

Walmart, Dillons and Target invested tens of millions in Wichita

• “Walmart, Dillons and Target collectively span 27 stores across the city and spent at least $30.7 million on store improvements this year, according to city-county building permits filed in 2025.”

• Link: Read more

SANTA, HOCKEY, TRAINS!

High-Graded Events

Bradley Fair Holiday Stroll

• Free family event with Santa, carolers and holiday cheer. Each Sunday in Dec (Dec. 14 this week) from 2–4pm, Bradley Fair hosts its Holiday Stroll. Children can ride the electric “Bradley Fair Express” train ($5 ages 5+, under 5 free) and visit Santa

• Proceeds benefit Ronald McDonald House.

• More Info

Wichita Thunder vs. Idaho Steelheads

• Local pro hockey at INTRUST Bank Arena. The Thunder host Idaho in a three-game series (Fri 12/12 7pm; Sat 12/13 6pm; Sun 12/14 2pm).

• Tickets start around $20.

• More Info

Watson’s Christmas Express (O.J. Watson Park)

• Polar Express–style train ride to meet Santa. Runs Fridays–Sundays through Dec. 21, 5:00–8:15pm (general adm. ride times 5:00–6:30pm).

• Tickets (General Admission): $15 per person (ages 2+) for the train ride; s’mores & cocoa are $5 each.

• Advance registration for VIP packages is available.

• More Info

“Peace Sings” Holiday Concert

• Family-friendly winter concert by Wichita Community Children’s Choir.

• St. Nicholas, Kwanzaa and other festive songs are performed in multiple languages.

• Sunday, Dec. 14 from 3–4pm at Plymouth Congregational Church (202 N. Clifton).

• Tickets: $10 adults, $5 students (ages 3+), free under age 3. Ticket info

• More Info

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The Wichita Weekly