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I have talked often of my love for very spicy food. I like to eat things so chili-hot that my eyes water and I get a sort of sparkly endorphin rush. I don’t like heat for heat’s sake, though, so the dish itself has to be delicious and well made, and the chilies need to enhance rather than obscure the flavors within. You aren’t going to see me judging jalapeno eating contests any time soon. I’d much rather be slurping up Thai noodles and curries at Chiang Mai.

A data management company plans to add more than 400 jobs in Wichita over the next five years.

The Kansas department of Commerce and the Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition announced Thursday that NetApp, a provider of storage and data management solutions, will significantly expand its Wichita facility.

The plan to add more than 400 jobs over the next five years will nearly double its workforce in Wichita, when added to their existing 450 employees.

Alexander Calder was an American sculptor best known for his large mobiles – kinetic sculptures that use simple air currents to bring life to line, color and shape. A Calder sculpture is instantly recognizable by its awkward geometric shapes delicately balanced on long spindly wires, giving it an almost skeletal look.

There’s been a noticeable trend away from using jingles in TV commercials. This really doesn’t bother me too much; jingles are designed to lodge themselves into your brain, and an effective one can have the same effect as a toothache. I’m interested, though, in how jingles have been replaced.

When shovels are outlawed only outlaws will have shovels. I guess that’s the predominant attitude in certain circles these days. As for me, I’m all for some sane shovel-control laws in this country.

In spite of the best efforts of many fine, upstanding, super-colossal maxi-conservatives, we have gone down a slippery slope. Not the slippery slope that they were so worried about—you know, the one that leads to more and more restrictive gun laws. We avoided that one, thank the Lord.

Kansas has the 4th highest Sudden Infant Death syndrome or SIDS rate in the US, and it’s even higher for black children.

An area group organized community baby showers to be held in Wichita Saturday, to promote good health and safe sleep for babies.

Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer Tuesday issued a proclamation at the City Council meeting recognizing “A Healthy Baby Begins With You Day”.

SIDS Network Director Christi Schunn says the infant mortality rate in Kansas among black infants is the highest in the country.

On July 1, John Bardo became the 13th president of Wichita State University. 

He previously served as the chancellor of West Carolina University for 16 years.

KMUW's Carla Eckels talks with President Bardo about his ties to WSU and formulating a strategic plan for the future.

Each week, Fletcher Powell finds the independent and non-commercial films showing in Wichita and the surrounding areas and brings them to you in this handy guide.

Coming up: Marilyn Monroe’s farewell, a true-life mystery, and The Dude.

Hutchinson voters in November might face ballot issues that would either repeal gay rights or broaden them. 

In June, the Hutchinson City Council added protections against discrimination in housing and employment for gay, lesbian and bisexual people.

After the vote, opponents began gathering signatures on petitions to require a November vote to repeal that ordinance. Today, the Kansas Equality Coalition announced it would gather signatures on a ballot question asking voters to approve wider protections for gays, lesbians and bisexuals.

When we hear the word “noise,” we think annoyance and distraction. And that makes perfect sense. Noise is essentially interference, something that disrupts our experience with everything from radios and televisions to images on digital cameras. But our ears have a unique relationship with colorful noise.