Remarkable stories uplifting the heart of Wichita
These curated stories highlight how Wichita faces challenges as a community and finds ways to persevere. Each story shows individuals and organizations working to build, restore, or support their city and each other.
NO. 1: CHASE KOCH’S MUSICAL PASSION PROJECT COULD HAVE A PROFOUND IMPACT ON DOWNTOWN WICHITA
Have you heard that Chase Koch has been on something of a buying spree of downtown properties? Here’s what his plans are so far. | Published January 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Carrie Rengers
NO. 2: SIXTY YEARS LATER, WICHITA STATE 1965 FINAL FOUR TEAM CHERISHES THEIR TIME TOGETHER
The inside story of the 60-year reunion this past weekend to celebrate the WSU basketball team that reached the 1965 Final Four. | Published February 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Taylor Eldridge
NO. 3: WICHITA MUSEUM TAKES A LEAP: ‘I JUST WANT TO SEE LOTS OF PEOPLE THERE ALL THE TIME’
The 42-year-old Great Plains Transportation Museum has hired its first-ever employee, and that could mean big changes for the downtown Wichita nonprofit. | Published March 30, 2025 | Read Full Story by Carrie Rengers
NO. 4: AARON WIRTZ TALKS METH, PRISON AND REDEMPTION: ‘THE STORY IS ABOUT GOD’S HOPE’
What has Aaron Wirtz been doing since getting out of prison? To answer that, you have to look at his time incarcerated. | Published June 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Carrie Rengers
NO. 5: MOTORCYCLING DOGS? A TRAFFIC TURKEY? ICT IN 70 WILL FEATURE THESE UNIQUELY WICHITA TALES
You may have heard about the traffic turkey at Central and Greenwich, but do you know who started his Facebook page? A new Eagle mini-documentary series delves into stories that make Wichita unique. | Published July 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Carrie Rengers
NO. 6: HE RAN IN THE DARK TO EARN HIS SPOTLIGHT. THENGVALL AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP AT WSU
Wichita native Henry Thengvall went from walk-on to scholarship, earning his moment through years of hard work behind the scenes. | Published July 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Taylor Eldridge
NO. 7: DESPITE LOSING VISION, KANSAS MAN PAINTS A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR SIGHT-IMPAIRED CHILDREN
Legally blind and largely retired, Balbir Mathur sits quietly in the basement of his Wichita home, dripping bright-colored paint onto canvas he can barely see. | Published October 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Allison Campbell
NO. 8: ROUNDHOUSE REVIVAL: AFTERSHOCKS’ TBT TITLE REMINDS WICHITA WHAT IT CAN BE AGAIN
Markis McDuffie sat alone, a black towel draped over his head, tears streaming down his face. | Published August 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Taylor Eldridge
NO. 9: FROM KANSAS TO TOKYO: STERLING TENNIS STAR MAKES USA DEAFLYMPICS TEAM
Chelsie Brown has never flown on an airplane, never seen the ocean and has spent most of her life in a town of roughly 2,000 people. | Published October 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Taylor Eldridge
The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.