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Business Journals
8 hours ago
- Business
- Business Journals
How WSU Tech helps develop a thriving aviation workforce pipeline
Coming out of MRO Americas, one message was clear: The aviation industry is ready to grow, but only where the workforce is ready. Over 17,000 aviation maintenance professionals gathered in Atlanta, with more than 1,000 exhibitors showcasing what's next in maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO). There were major expansion announcements and reviews of new technology. But in nearly every conversation, the biggest concern wasn't just hangar space or equipment; it was talent. As companies look to grow regionally and nationally, they're asking: Where will we find the people to do the work? In Wichita, we're answering with action. Wichita shows up on the national stage This year, thanks to sponsors AAR Component Services, Bombardier, Textron Aviation, and the Greater Wichita Partnership, Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (WSU Tech)'s MRO student team competed at MRO Americas. Five students tackled 27 real-world aviation maintenance challenges alongside active-duty military and professionals from industry giants like American Airlines, Boeing, and Southwest Airlines. These challenges are designed from real applications in the MRO world. The team excelled, placing 24th out of 90, and taking first place in the Barfield Air Data Tester event for the second time in their history of competing. But the bigger story? On the way, while sitting in the airport, we overhead 'war' stories of the prior days. By the last day of the conference, several had already made meaningful industry connections, and a few were sharing where they might land their dream job. 'For us, this experience isn't just about the competition. It's about students learning,' says James Hall, vice president of aviation strategy at WSU Tech. 'They build connections, compete alongside top talent, and learn directly from the best in the field.' These students represented more than their school; they represented Wichita. WSU Tech: A pipeline with momentum Wichita's strength in aviation has always been rooted in our ability to build. Today, we ensure that success by intentionally developing the talent pool. WSU Tech has become one of the region's most critical economic development enablers. Over 300 aviation maintenance technicians graduate each year, and that number is growing. This isn't accidental growth. It's a strategic alignment between education and industry. 'Building the workforce for today and tomorrow is a priority for WSU Tech, and as the industry grows, so must we,' said Hall. WSU Tech embraces partnerships with companies like Bombardier and Textron Aviation to ensure the programs stay closely in tune with employer needs. One standout program is the Bombardier A&P Apprenticeship Program; the first of its kind in Kansas.* This 18-month model blends classroom learning and hands-on experience. By graduation, students are certified and ready to contribute on day one. Workforce development starts early WSU Tech understands that the talent pipeline starts well before students step on campus. Programs like Kansas Choose Aerospace bring aviation coursework and technical pathways directly into high schools, giving juniors and seniors a direct path into post-secondary aviation programs. The initiative is already active in Dodge City and Goodland, with three more schools slated for 2026. Wichita Public Schools, in partnership with WSU Tech, is investing in Future Ready Centers, connecting students to real-world skills and career paths in aviation, health care, and advanced manufacturing. This K–12 and post-secondary alignment is the kind of collaboration that fuels long-term community success. Our education ecosystem isn't just responding to change, it's driving it. Why this matters for economic growth The labor challenges won't disappear. The demand exists, but that growth hinges on talent. Communities aligning education with industry will thrive, ensuring that talent pool, will thrive. That's where Wichita shines. 'The No. 1 cost to any business operation is the workforce. And when companies are considering a new facility or office, labor costs and capabilities are often at or near the top of their criteria.' said Andrew Nave, executive vice president, economic development at the Greater Wichita Partnership. 'Our educational institutions are helping drive our competitiveness for new investment and job creation every day.' Investing in education is investing in economic development. A more skilled workforce leads to higher-earning jobs, a stronger tax base, and a better quality of life for everyone. It all compounds into long-term, sustainable growth. Workforce readiness Workforce readiness isn't a buzzword, it's a commitment. At McCownGordon, we're proud to help clients build the future. Because it's not just about the next project. It's about building a region that attracts investment, retains talent, and inspires the next generation. And in Wichita, we're doing just that. McCownGordon was established to redefine the construction industry by prioritizing client needs. From the beginning, we built a team committed to transparency, long-term relationships, and a values-driven approach. Integrity, performance, and relationships have always been more than just words—they are the foundation of how we do business. Let's build.
USA Today
20 hours ago
- Science
- USA Today
1-in-30 million gold lobster saved from all-you-can-eat New England seafood restaurant
1-in-30 million gold lobster saved from all-you-can-eat New England seafood restaurant A Rhode Island aquarium took in the crustacean after a local all-you-can-eat seafood restaurant called 'out of the blue.' Show Caption Hide Caption Rhode Island restaurants you have to try Prime dining-out season is here. It's time to catch up with friends over dinner or have a date night while the kids do homework. NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI – A lobster's extremely rare gold color saved it from the dinner plate in seafood-loving New England. How unique is a gold lobster? About 1 in 30 million, according to Mark Hall, owner of the Biomes Marine Biology Center, in Kingstown, Rhode Island. Earlier this week, the aquarium took in the crustacean after a local all-you-can-eat seafood restaurant called 'out of the blue,' Hall said. A genetic mutation gives gold lobsters their color, the National Science Foundation says. "The blue [lobster] is everybody's favorite, but there's something about the gold that really jumps out at you," Hall said. "Most people assume it's a different kind of lobster.' The rare mutation for gold lobsters isn't to be confused with orange lobsters, Hall wrote in a Facebook post. Their orange counterparts 'are slightly more common, and a darker orange color." On May 27, the Nordic seafood restaurant in Charlestown donated the lobster. Within about an hour of the restaurant calling, bartender Joel Humphries delivered it to its new home, where it's now in a tank, Hall said. Humphries happens to be a former volunteer and employee at Biomes, an education facility and hands-on aquarium, which features marine animals from Narragansett Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The morning of May 29, about 50 fourth-grade students visited the aquarium. As Hall worked, he could hear the kids reacting to the marine life. They sounded impressed by the golden lobster, he recalled. In its new tank, the lobster shuffled to and fro with hefty golden claws. It looked out with two piercing black eyes, videos showed. Eduardo Cuevas of USA TODAY contributed to this report.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Cubs-Cardinals Trade Idea Sends $275 Million Slugger to Chicago
The Chicago Cubs started the season with Matt Shaw at third base, but the top prospect was optioned to Triple-A Iowa after hitting .172 with a .535 OPS in his first 18 Major League Baseball games. Since then, multiple infielders have taken their turn at third, with Jon Berti, Vidal Brujan, Justin Turner, Gage Workman, and Nicky Lopez all receiving an opportunity. Advertisement Despite the Cubs' offense being just one run behind the Los Angeles Dodgers (257) for most runs scored in the league, there's potential for the front office to look for an offensive upgrade at the hot corner while Shaw improves his game in the minors. Garret Kerman of Clutch Points believes the Cubs' options for players they could target in a trade may be limited. One candidate Kerman does not rule out is St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado. "For the Cubs, the fit is obvious. Their infield defense and offensive production at third base have lagged behind the rest of the roster, and adding Arenado would instantly transform a weakness into a strength," Kerman wrote about how a Cubs trade for Arenado could benefit the team. "Pairing Arenado with Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner would give Chicago arguably the best defensive infield in baseball, while his bat would lengthen a lineup already featuring Kyle Tucker and Seiya Suzuki." St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) fields a ground ball against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the sixth inning at Busch Curry-Imagn Images In the trade idea, the Cardinals receive three prospects: Second baseman James Triantos, right-handed pitcher Cade Horton, and right fielder Kevin Alcantara. The package of players the Cubs trade in this hypothetical deal is steep, but that may be the price point to acquire a future Hall of Fame player like Arenado. Advertisement "For the Cardinals, the return is exactly what they need. Triantos can step in as the third baseman of the future, Horton gives them a potential frontline starter, and Alcántara brings star potential to the outfield," wrote Kerman. "The salary relief allows St. Louis to reallocate resources and address other areas of need, all while restocking a system that's been thinned by years of contention." A trade between the NL Central division rivals is rare, but the Cubs may become desperate to improve at third base. Related: Cubs Outfielder Putting up Historic Team Numbers
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Detroit prom send off turns chaotic when shots ring out near MLK High School
The Brief A Detroit high school's prom sendoff turned terrifying for students after shots rang out on the city's west side. Approximately 20 rounds were fired near MLK Senior High at a time when students were taking pictures. Detroit police are now searching for a person-of-interest who was caught on security footage. DETROIT (FOX 2) - High school students gussied up in their dresses and suits were celebrating their prom at a Detroit high school when shots rang out. Police are now looking for the man accused of firing approximately 20 rounds on Detroit's east side. What we know An individual fired approximately 20 rounds near a Detroit high school early Thursday evening. No one was injured, but dozens of students getting ready for their senior prom were sent fleeing. It happened in the 3200 block of E. Lafayette, near Martin Luther King High School around 8:30 p.m. Police are searching for a Black male who was wearing a white zip-up, identifying him as a person-of-interest. Local perspective Davon Hall was among those near the school when shots rang out. He said the scene was "hectic, scary" and chaotic with kids running in different directions. Kids flying out of here in all type of cars, traffic everywhere. Police just sitting there," he said. "It was a secure area but it turned crazy like a movie real quick." Hall was taking photos and videos of the students decked out in suits and dresses, readying up for prom, when the shots rang out. "I recorded just instantly and I start seeing the kids running around and following them. I was trying to be as aware as I could," he said. He was left dejected by the picture the tarrying scene painted for the area. "We are not like this. King high school has been elevated and has been bringing nothing but good news to the community. This is something that is so depressing," said Hall. Dig deeper Maurice Hardwick, who goes by Pastor Mo and frequently commentates on community violence and the impact it has on young people, echoed Hall's sentiment. "When bullets fly people die. We can't have a shooting around a school, around a prom, around a graduation - anything like that," Hardwick said. "You didn't deserve to be scared like that, you didn't deserve to have bullets ring out on your one night of celebration like that." Hardwick works with Living Peace Movement. He said more mentorship is needed to stamp out the kind of gun violence that rang out Thursday evening. "Celebrate and keep on achieving and use this as a tool to say 'I'm not going to be involved in violence,'" he said. What you can do Police are searching for the individual and want anyone who was in the area at the time to give them a call. They may also ring Crime Stoppers at 1-800 Speak Up. The Source Interviews with witnesses and video of the scene was used while reporting this story.
UPI
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- UPI
Lena Hall: 'Neighbors' sis opposite of Miss Audrey from 'Snowpiercer'
1 of 5 | Lena Hall's "Your Friends & Neighbors" wraps up its first season on Friday. Photo courtesy of Apple TV+ NEW YORK, May 30 (UPI) -- Lena Hall says Ali, the open-hearted, mentally ill woman she plays on Your Friends & Neighbors, couldn't be more different than the tough chanteuse she depicted on the post-apocalyptic Snowpiercer. "This is like the polar opposite of what Miss Audrey was. I went from 22-inch corsets to no corset at all. It's just sweatpants [to play Ali]," Hall, 45, told UPI in a recent phone interview. "It's a lot less time in the makeup and hair chair, which is nice." The energy of the characters is also very different, she noted. "Miss Audrey was so knowing and wise beyond her years and had 'queen' energy and Ali is the opposite. She's just trying to survive day-to-day," Hall added. "I guess they were trying to survive day to day on Snowpiercer, but Ali's just trying to survive day-to-day in the regular world built for someone who is not like her and she's got a great sense of humor about herself," she said. "She's very intelligent and she knows her flaws, but she hides everything with a big dose of humor and I like how real she is. I love how real she is and how down-to-earth she is." Wrapping up its first season on Apple TV+ Friday, the dark comedy series follows Coop (Jon Hamm), an unemployed hedge fund manager who turns to robbing his rich neighbors to keep up with his former lifestyle. Hall plays Coop's sister, a struggling musician who moves in with him because he can no longer pay for her to have her own apartment. Amanda Peet plays Coop's cheating ex-wife Mel and Olivia Munn plays Sam, the married woman with whom Coop is now having an affair. "I love that, in this show, it's like she's the one who's supposed to be broken, but she is probably the most normal one out of everyone," Hall said. Because Coop is always busy with his extracurricular activities, he doesn't have much time to spend with Ali, so she is closest to Coop's troubled son, Hunter (Donovan Colan). "She sees a lot of herself in her nephew," Hall said. "He is highly creative, musical, but also is having a hard time fitting into the world and he feels unseen. He says that in the show. He's feeling like he doesn't fit in and Alice sees that, for sure. She's there to kind of nurture him and make sure that he's protected in a way," she added. "They're connected." Unfortunately, Ali's naivete sometimes puts herself and her family in awkward situations. "There's a child-like innocence to her," Hall said of her character, who has a restraining order preventing her from stalking an ex-beau. "She's very smart. She's an adult, but she still holds this trust in everyone that most people don't have when they're older. So, she's not bitter," Hall added. "There's not a sense of, 'Everyone's trying to screw her over, right?'" So, of course, Ali blithely attends Mel's birthday bash with no resentment toward her because Mel left her brother for another man. "She's just like: 'You're cool and I still love you no matter what. We're still friends,'" Hall said of Ali's relationship with her former sister-in-law. "I'm going to be here, even though I don't fit in at all," she said of Ali's way of thinking. "Ali doesn't fit in anywhere. So, she's very much her own little microcosm and the one person who really understands her well is her brother and I think she probably had a really good relationship with Mel." Leading a double life tends to catch up with you.#YourFriendsAndNeighbors - Now Streaming Apple TV (@AppleTV) May 30, 2025 One of the most memorable moments from this season is Ali singing an acoustic version of the Thompson Twins' "Hold Me Now" at Mel's party, which Mel and Coop listen to from afar while they jump on a trampoline and remember better days together. "It's so cool to have this music that you're singing be a part of a scene and help lift it emotionally into a place that it needs to be," Hall said. "Ali is singing really about her own missed opportunity when she was supposed to get married. That was her wedding song. And [Coop and Mel's] marriage is falling apart. It's just a double meaning there." Hall said she sometimes is cast in roles that have a musical component, while other characters are tailored to her talents. "A lot of times, my comfort level of singing is much higher than my comfort level in acting," she said. "So, being able to sing in my comfort level then helps me walk into a character much better." TV, film star Jon Hamm turns 54 Jon Hamm attends the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's annual installation luncheon in Beverly Hills, Calif., on July 30, 2008. The "Mad Men" star said in an interview that he's "no Don Draper." Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
