Topeka News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!

Topeka’s 2027 budget just passed with a $10 million cut — and it went over the revenue-neutral mark, but taxes and the mill levy remain unchanged for the 15th straight year. Public safety gets 70% of the funds, covering police, fire, and code enforcement amid rising personnel costs. The city won’t renew its contract with USD 501 for school resource officers — though those positions are still funde...

Kansas 4-H teens got a real-world retail crash course at Casey’s convenience store in Topeka, stepping into employee roles as part of a national career experience program. Partnering with Casey’s for three years, the initiative has raised nearly half a million dollars through customer rounding up—and it’s helping rural youth build practical skills while preparing them for future careers. Listen in...

A Topeka choir, Sonus Chamber Choir, is set to represent the entire U.S. on the global stage at the Montana International Choral Festival next July — and they need your help to make it happen. Before the big performance, they’re hitting the road across Montana for a warm-up tour, but it’s going to cost $75,000. Visit SonusKS.org to learn more and support their dream of bringing Kansas’s musical ta...

John Robinson Sr., a death row inmate for over 25 years, is back in the spotlight as his latest legal battle heats up. Convicted in 2002 for three murders under the alias “Slavemaster,” he also pleaded guilty to five additional killings in Missouri. Now, the Kansas Supreme Court is weighing whether his original trial violated state law and the Eighth Amendment, with his current lawyer arguing that...

A mobile health clinic is rolling through Topeka, offering free blood pressure checks, screenings, and health education—perfect for those without insurance or struggling with healthcare costs. Powered by Washburn University nursing students gaining real-world experience under faculty supervision, the clinic provides vital screenings without diagnoses or prescriptions. Students see firsthand how es...

Get ready to scream under the stars at the 22nd Annual Slash and Bash Horror & Sci-Fi Film Festival in downtown Topeka! Kick off with a free drive-in movie night Friday, Sept. 18, at 7:30 PM behind Cosmos Court. Then dive into the main event Saturday, Sept. 19 — all day screenings from 10:30 AM to 10:30 PM, plus meet the filmmakers, costume contest, and only $5 admission. Your ultimate haunt-and-t...

Get ready to eat, learn, and network at the Economic Outlook Breakfast in Topeka on October 8th—where top minds like Dr. Paul Byrne, Jeremy Hill from the Federal Reserve, and Jeff Kuzbel of FHLBank Topeka break down local, national, and housing market trends over breakfast. Hosted by the Greater Topeka Partnership, this is your chance to stay ahead of the curve with real insights that matter for y...

Step into the roaring twenties speakeasy for a wild new twist on Shakespeare’s “Measure for Measure” — now reimagined as “Measure for Measure: A Nightclub Experience.” Forget Elizabethan England, this cabaret-style production brings the drama to life with sultry jazz, glittering lights, and a powerhouse emcee in Mary Franz as Mistress Overdone. Set in a smoky nightclub, it’s a bold, intimate reinv...

Thirteen-year football fanatic Lilyia and her family drove over 20 hours to Kansas City for her first NFL game — and it was worth every mile. After missing out on an autograph before kickoff, she got her dream moment when Patrick Mahomes spotted her, waved, and signed her jersey as they headed toward the tunnel. Her dad called Mahomes a role model, and Lilyia called it a one-in-a-thousand dream co...

Four local business titans — Jon Haas, Carlos Cortez, Kurt Kuta, and the late Maggie Warren — are being honored in the 2027 Topeka Business Hall of Fame for their entrepreneurial grit, community impact, and leadership. Selected by past honorees for excellence and inspiration, they’ll be celebrated at Junior Achievement’s 25th annual event next April — a chance to spotlight their legacy and ignite...

Thirty-five lives lost to homelessness in Topeka were honored in a moving ceremony, all once connected to the Moving Ahead Partnership — a five-year lifeline offering meals, showers, and critical support services. For many, it was their only community. Despite the pain, the program continues twice weekly, standing as a beacon of hope and humanity in the face of isolation and hardship. Listen in co...

Washburn women’s golf just shattered its own ceiling—securing their first-ever outright tournament championship with a jaw-dropping 16-stroke domination at the Missouri Southern Fall Invite. The team shot 12-over par as a unit, while standout performances from Susana Granados Carrion (second overall), Keira Ronsick, and Aliyah North (first career top five) sealed the deal. Built from the ground up...

When a Topeka family faced crisis with a justice-involved youth, One Heart stepped in—offering mentorship, life skills, and hope to break cycles of failure. Since 1997, this Kansas-based nonprofit has empowered at-risk teens with tools for stability and success, often where systems fall short. Now, they’re rallying communities across the state with “Community Conversation” luncheons this September...

Parents flooded a Shawnee Mission School District meeting in August, donning East Antioch gear and waving signs to fiercely oppose the proposed closure of their beloved elementary school. In response to the overwhelming community outcry, the district has paused all boundary work, canceled public input sessions, and shelved the 2031-2032 closure plan. A new Strategic Plan Action Team will revisit d...

A deadly chase on I-70 in Kansas ended with the death of 41-year-old Tawan Tatro, who was taken into custody after a high-speed pursuit that began near Salina and concluded in Dickinson County. Officers found suspected drugs and paraphernalia in his vehicle. While being transported, Tatro suffered a medical emergency—officers performed CPR but could not save him. Warrants from Dodge City and Salin...

Kenny Chesney is bringing his “Original Vibe Room Tour” to Kansas City for a massive July 24, 2027 show at Arrowhead Stadium — his ninth time rocking that stage. He’s not solo: Eric Church, Sheryl Crow, and Greylan James join him for a country supergroup experience fans are already hyping. After his Vegas residency, this full-stadium return proves huge demand. Tickets drop in phases: Vibe Room pre...

Belton High School’s kitchen is on hold after possible mold was spotted—prompting an immediate shutdown of all food prep to keep students and staff safe. Experts are now testing air quality and deep-cleaning the space while meals are being served at other district schools. No reopening date has been set; everything hinges on test results ensuring full safety before stoves reignite. Listen in comfo...

A dazzling sky spectacle swept across the Midwest early Tuesday, leaving residents from Kansas City to North Dakota stunned by a glowing object streaking at 15,000 mph. Meteorologists point to space junk—likely a rocket body burning up—as the most plausible explanation, given its prolonged visibility. While a rare meteor shower was considered, meteors typically vanish in seconds, making this less...

Harbor Freight Fire Incident in Topeka | Topeka News

Suspect Caught in Vacant Building Burglary | Topeka News

A 61-year-old woman, Linda Hutchinson, vanished from her Clinton home just before 1:30 AM on September 15th, sparking a high-priority manhunt. Authorities believe 45-year-old Robert V. Smith, described as 6’2”, 220 lbs, with brown hair and eyes, abducted her and is now on the run in a maroon 2008 Ford Taurus with Missouri plate ELOH3Z. If you see either Hutchinson or Smith, call 911 immediately. T...

A former Kansas City cop, Taquiza Johnson, just received a life sentence for shooting and killing 71-year-old Ronald Barnett in a Walmart parking lot—claiming self-defense over a verbal spat, but admitting Barnett had no weapon. Missouri law doesn’t allow deadly force for insults or threats alone, and the judge rejected his claim. Barnett’s family delivered emotional statements at sentencing, high...

A Kansas inmate, Tommie Baggett, just got 78 months in federal prison for plotting to smuggle meth into a state facility—despite already being locked up. While inside Hutchinson Correctional, he coordinated with an outside accomplice, Jermel Fleming, who tossed a 247-gram meth package over the wall… only to miss the mark and get caught. Fleming got 96 months; Baggett, with a prior felony record, n...

Residents of Neighbors of Walnut Grove LLC in Pottawatomie County can breathe easy—boiling water advisories have been officially lifted after lab tests confirmed no bacterial contamination. The alert was issued following a pressure drop in the water system, which can compromise chlorine levels and allow bacteria to enter. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment cleared the area after revie...

A 23-year-old driver in a 2011 GMC Acadia suffered serious injuries after failing to yield at an intersection in Cherokee County, Kansas, leading to a collision with a 2023 Volvo semitrailer. The SUV driver, not wearing a seat belt, was hospitalized, while the semi’s driver—wearing his seat belt—remained uninjured. Authorities blame the crash on failure to yield, underscoring the critical importan...