City of Wichita

Spirit AeroSystems announced a plan Wednesday to add 1,000 new jobs and invest $1 billion in its Wichita facility over the next five years.

Wichita residents will pay higher water and sewer rates starting next year after City Council members voted to move forward with planned infrastructure improvements.

The overall utility rate will go up just over 6 percent: For residential customers, that means $2.69 to $6.72 more on their monthly water and sewer bills. 

It's slightly higher than last year's rate increase, and higher than the base increase anticipated this year. The additional revenue will go toward funding Phase II of the city's infrastructure maintenance and improvement project.

Wichita has been selected to participate in a nationwide program focused on advancing racial equality.

The National League of Cities chose just 15 cities for the program, part of its Race, Equity and Leadership initiative.

Along with Wichita, the inaugural group includes cities such as Gary, Indiana; Boston; and Philadelphia. Over the next 18 months, city leaders will work together to find ways to strengthen equity and ease racial tensions in their communities.

The Wichita Park and Recreation department is getting closer to the design phase of its Aquatics Master Plan, which city council approved in February.

The City of Wichita is responding to a handful of complaints from people in west Wichita and north of downtown noticing a distinctive taste and odor in their tap water.

City leaders are recommending expanding and renovating Century II in downtown Wichita instead of building new facilities.

The preliminary ideas presented at a special workshop Tuesday night are based on a consultant’s report.