Category: Top Right

Win tickets to Jim Brickman Concert

October 30, 2024 | By The Active Age

The Active Age is giving away three pairs of tickets to the Jim Brickman “Comfort & Joy” holiday concert at The Orpheum on Thursday, Dec. 5.  To enter our drawing for tickets,  fill out the entry form below. Or you can mail your entry to The Active Age, 125 S. West St., Suite 105, Wichita, […]

Read Article

Kansans more positive about state’s quality of life

October 28, 2024 | By The Active Age

Kansans have a more positive view of the state’s overall quality of life than they did a year ago, according to a new survey. Their view of the economy was also brighter although a majority felt they’d been significantly affected by inflation. Former President and current Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump and Gov. Laura Kelly, […]

Read Article

Sedgwick County to open 20 early voting sites by next week

October 25, 2024 | By The Active Age

Sedgwick County will operate a total of 20 early voting centers from Tuesday, Oct. 29 through Saturday, Nov. 2. These will operate daily from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. through Friday, Nov. 1 and from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2. Click here for a complete list. “We are thrilled by the record turnout we’ve seen at the […]

Read Article

Wichita Transit to offer free rides on Election Day

October 24, 2024 | By The Active Age

Wichita Transit is again providing free rides on Election Day — Tuesday, Nov. 5 — no matter where you’re going. The offer proved popular last year, as ridership jumped over 10 percent. Wichita Transit will offer free bus rides on all traditional bus routes and paratransit service. Free rides are valid for everyone riding to or from polling locations as well as any other trip during the day. Riders do not […]

Read Article

United Way seeks volunteers to help prepare tax returns

October 16, 2024 | By The Active Age

United Way of the Plains is recruiting 160 volunteers for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program that will operate Feb. 1 through April 15 in 2025. According to a news release, the service is offered at no charge to households making $64,000 or less annually. Funded through an annual grant secured from the Internal […]

Read Article

Sedgwick County counting homeless deaths for first time

October 14, 2024 | By Stefania Lugli/The Journal

The deaths of more homeless residents are being counted this year after local officials implemented a formal process to identify them – the latest symptom of the intensifying conversation around homelessness in Wichita. As of September, 46 homeless people had been confirmed dead by Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center investigators. That’s more than the 42 that […]

Read Article

Important election dates coming this month

October 11, 2024 | By The Active Age

Sedgwick County Election Commissioner Laura Rainwater is reminding voters of several important dates this month, including next week’s voter registration deadline, in preparation for the 2024 General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Tuesday, Oct. 15 – Last day that Sedgwick County residents can register to vote and be able to cast a ballot in the […]

Read Article

Social Security benefits to rise 2.5% in 2025

October 10, 2024 | By The Active Age

Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments for more than 72.5 million Americans will increase 2.5% in 2025, the Social Security Administration announced today (Oct. 10). On average, Social Security retirement benefits will increase by about $50 per month starting in January. Over the last decade the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase has averaged […]

Read Article

Woman sentenced for stealing from great uncle

October 9, 2024 | By The Active Age

A woman who stole thousands of dollars from her great uncle has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison, according to a news release from the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s office. Sedgwick County District Judge David Kaufman sentenced Stephanie Bracks, 43, of Dallas, Texas to 47 months in prison and ordered her to pay […]

Read Article

Forecast: Wichita home prices to rise by nearly 8% next year

October 3, 2024 | By The Active Age

Wichita home prices will rise by nearly 8 percent next year, slightly more than the statewide average,  according to the 2025 Kansas Housing Markets Forecast series published by the Wichita State University Center for Real Estate. “Inventories of homes available for sale remain quite tight,” said Dr. Stan Longhofer, director of the WSU Center for […]

Read Article

Cheney Lake is drying up. Wichita says the drought plan is working

September 30, 2024 | By Meg Britton-Mehlisch/The Beacon

One big rainstorm won’t fix Wichita’s water shortage. Dark storm clouds that hovered over Wichita one mid-September softened the ring of cracked dirt that’s inched wider around Cheney Lake each week, but it didn’t erase the underlying problem. Kansas is in a drought. For much of the last year, Cheney Lake, Wichita’s primary water source, […]

Read Article

Property tax dominates housing forum in Sedgwick County Commission District 3 race

| By Chance Swaim/The Wichita Eagle

The two candidates for Sedgwick County Commission District 3 have different visions for how county government should raise and spend money in the face of increasing property taxes and a housing shortage in the Wichita area. Celeste Racette, a fiscally conservative Democrat with a background in accounting, said she wants to offer property tax relief […]

Read Article

In District 2 race, Lopez and Blubaugh disagree on property tax issues, and who’s to blame for higher taxes

| By Chance Swaim/The Wichita Eagle

Sedgwick County Commission District 2 candidates Sarah Lopez, the Democratic incumbent, and Jeff Blubaugh, the Republican challenger, disagree about how the county should address affordable housing in Sedgwick County. But they both said they think county property taxes play a key role. Lopez said she plans to offer property tax relief by consolidating services offered […]

Read Article

The Active Age welcomes new board members

September 26, 2024 | By The Active Age

Three new members have joined the board of directors of The Active Age newspaper. Steve Criser is one of the founders and owners of CGP Group, LLC, a tax and accounting firm. A Wichita native, he graduated from East High and Wichita State University. Criser jokes that a job he held during college — drawing […]

Read Article

Renovations, security upgrades in store for elementary school turned emergency shelter

September 25, 2024 | By Matthew Kelly/The Wichita Eagle

For the first time in over 100 years, Park Elementary School did not welcome students and teachers back for another school year. Instead, the recently shuttered elementary in the heart of Midtown is set to reopen around Thanksgiving as an emergency winter shelter. The Wichita City Council last month finalized its $1 purchase of Park […]

Read Article

County closes Swap & Shop during expansion

September 24, 2024 | By The Active Age

Sedgwick County is doubling the size of its Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 801 Stillwell and adding parking to the east side. According to a news release, the $1.9 million project is needed to handle growth in customer usage and to facilitate tours and school field trips in the future. Meantime, the facility’s Swap & […]

Read Article

City urges residents to cut back on water usage, may impose more restrictions

September 20, 2024 | By The Active Age

As Wichita’s drought continues, the city said this week that it will step up enforcement of water use restrictions — including the levying of fines when warranted — and may discuss prohibiting all outdoor watering in the future. “All water customers are urged to continue to find ways to cut back on water usage,” a […]

Read Article

Wichita puts $450 million bond issue on ballot

September 17, 2024 | By Suzanne Perez/KMUW

The Wichita school district will ask voters in February to approve a $450 million bond issue to finance school construction and other improvements — a plan leaders say will reduce the district’s overall footprint and make it more efficient. School board members voted 6-1 on Monday to hold a special election Feb. 25. It will […]

Read Article

State to provide grants to unpaid dementia caregivers

September 16, 2024 | By The Active Age

The state of Kansas will begin this fall to provide $1,000 to unpaid caregiers caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or another dementia, it was announced today (Monday, Sept. 16). The Kansas Respite for Alzheimer’s & Dementia Program (K-RAD) will be overseen by Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) but managed and administered by […]

Read Article

City may cite owners of short-term rentals for nuisance parties

September 9, 2024 | By Laura McMillan/KSN

The Wichita City Council has been looking for ways to prevent problems at short-term rental sites like Airbnb and Vrbo. Should the property owner or just the renter be fined and possibly arrested? On Tuesday, council members approved an ordinance allowing law enforcement officers to shut down nuisance parties at short-term rental properties. The ordinance states […]

Read Article

Orpheum to close for a year for major restoration; work to start in June 2025

September 5, 2024 | By The Active Age

Leaders of Wichita’s Orpheum Theatre on Wednesday announced its Second Century Campaign and plans to fully restore the interior of the historic venue. “We are proud to announce that the Second Century Campaign launched during our 100th anniversary (in 2022) is at 73 percent of its $9.5 million goal,” said Glen Nilsen, chairman of the […]

Read Article

Remodeled Wichita Dollar General Offers Fresh Meat, Fruits and Vegetables

August 23, 2024 | By Bonita Gooch/Community Voice

If you live near 21st and Grove in the heart of Northeast Wichita, walked to your refrigerator and you needed just one fresh ingredient in preparation for your evening meal, too bad.  The nearest store selling fresh meat and vegetables was 3 miles away. While 3 miles is an inconvenience for some, it’s nearly impossible for […]

Read Article

How to track campaign finance reports in Sedgwick County

August 22, 2024 | By Trace Salzbrenner/The Beacon

Money drives politics, fueling the same question every election: Who’s trying to buy influence with their donations? But finding out who funds city or county races can be a challenge if you don’t know where or what to look for. Mark Skoglund, executive director of the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission, said voters should look for […]

Read Article