New Dillons, dinosaur fire, safest cities. Here are top suburban stories in April
The Wichita Eagle’s suburban coverage in April 2026 spanned new development, public safety rankings, a fiery loss at a popular attraction and debates over housing and policing.
Here’s a roundup of top stories from communities surrounding Wichita.
• Haysville offers $20,000 to open shops: Haysville is offering $20,000 incentives to entrepreneurs willing to open a coffee shop, dessert shop, steak house, fast food restaurant or franchise within city limits. No businesses have applied yet, said Economic Development Director Danielle Gabor.
Read more: Dream of opening a coffee or dessert shop? This town will pay you to do so
• Derby dinosaur destroyed by lightning: A lightning strike set the 100-foot Sauroposeidon animatronic at Field Station: Dinosaurs on fire, leaving the 60-ton attraction “beyond repair.” The park reopened the next day and plans to display the skeleton as part of an educational exhibit.
Read more: ‘Beyond repair:’ Derby dinosaur attraction shifting gears after fire
• Two suburbs ranked among Kansas’ safest: Mulvane ranked third and Bel Aire ranked fifth on Safewise’s list of the 10 safest cities in Kansas. The rankings are based on FBI violent and property crime data adjusted for population.
Read more: These 2 Wichita suburbs are ranked as the safest cities in Kansas
• Kechi police Facebook posts spark complaint: A mother filed a complaint with the city of Kechi after Police Chief Braden Moore wrote a poem on Facebook directed at her son, who had two outstanding warrants. Moore defended the posts as “modern day policing.”
Read more: ‘You commit crimes, we will make you famous.’ Kechi PD’s Facebook posts draw likes, concern
• Farmers market guide for the suburbs: Beyond Wichita’s two major markets, communities including Andover, Derby, Goddard, Haysville, Kechi, Maize and Valley Center are hosting their own farmers markets this season. Derby is launching a new market this year after losing its previous one.
Read more: Wichita area has more farmers markets than you think. Here’s your guide
• Derby and Goddard rethink duplex rules: After rejecting large duplex proposals last year amid community pushback, both Derby and Goddard are considering new standards limiting duplex density and requiring varied designs.
Read more: Two Wichita suburbs rejected new duplexes last year. Both consider future changes
• Dillons plans new store: Dillons filed a $17.5 million building permit at 6886 W. Village Circle in northwest Wichita near Maize, marking its first new store in more than 15 years. It would be the chain’s 16th Wichita location.
Read more: Dillons plans another Wichita grocery store, its first in more than a decade
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.
This story was originally published May 1, 2026 at 4:15 AM with the headline "New Dillons, dinosaur fire, safest cities. Here are top suburban stories in April."