City of Wichita

A first responder team that handles mental health crisis calls in Sedgwick County is expected to be back on duty this month.

The Integrated Care Team, known as ICT-1, disbanded when a trial period for the program ended in October.

A special first responder team is no longer available in Sedgwick County to handle 911 calls that involve a mental health crisis.

Organizers with the group “Save Century II” support a city of Wichita recommendation to build a new performing arts center. They also say there is an opportunity to preserve the blue-domed round building.

Greg Kite with the Historic Preservation Alliance and community arts supporter Celeste Racette started the campaign to bring awareness of the historical value of Century II, and to keep the process of determining the future of Century II open to the public.

In a few months, the latest plan for developing downtown Wichita’s riverfront area will be released.

The details and recommendations are supposed to help guide the city to a final decision about the Century II complex. One aspect has already been decided: The city of Wichita has determined that it can’t transform the 50-year-old building into a modern performing arts venue.

Stormy weather last week affected overall attendance at this year’s Riverfest in Wichita.

Wichita Festivals, the nonprofit that runs Riverfest, says about 445,000 people took in concerts, activities and fireworks during the nine-day downtown celebration that wrapped up Saturday.

This story was updated on Thursday, May 16

A change in leadership is coming to Wichita’s arts and cultural services division.

Longtime manager John D’Angelo resigned April 26. City officials say he left to take a similar job in Oxnard, California, but that might not have happened. This week, Oxnard announced layoffs in arts and culture, and proposed closing its performing arts center and a museum, according to the Ventura County Star.

A famous Wurlitzer pipe organ has been based at Wichita’s Century II for about as long as the performing arts center has been open. With Century II’s future in question, the organ’s caretakers are working to increase public and city support so the Wurlitzer can remain in Wichita.