The Topeka Capital-Journal
U.S., Iran trade attacks on infrastructure
DUBAI – The United States struck bridges and an airport in Iran on July 17 and Tehran responded by hitting a power and desalination plant in Kuwait, as the warring foes risked further escalation by expanding their targets to include infrastructure. In...
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Festival is on the move
The upcoming For the Culture KS festival will celebrate Black culture, history and excellence. h Rodney Harmon, co-founder of the festival, said when For The Culture first began, the vision was for the festival to begin in Topeka for a couple of years...
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Hunger rises in Topeka as SNAP benefits disappear
Topeka is seeing a spike in families needing food assistance in recent months, with food insecurity experts pointing to federal spending cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the merging of two local organizations that prompted a...
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Hopefuls debate data centers
When it comes to data centers, the political divide is not Republican versus Democrat. The Kansas governor’s race features candidates of both parties who want a statewide moratorium — a term for a pause during which data center projects can’t move...
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Game encourages starting early savings
The story behind a Rubik’s Cube given to a Kansas state government official illustrates a goal of financial literacy being for all Kansans. It starts with a $1 Rubik’s Cube — as in a cube where the six sides are adorned with the image of a dollar bill...
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City eyes landlord registry program
Topeka could be the next city in Kansas to implement a landlord registry. As renters have faced fires, trash piling up and other unsafe housing conditions, leaders have considered whether a landlord registry could be the solution to keeping...
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Club helps empower women
Owning a gun is more than pointing and shooting. It requires consideration into what kind of gun to buy. It requires education on how to clean, maintain and shoot a gun. Susan Fuller, founder of Topeka’s A Girl and A Gun chapter, said women often get...
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Ceasefire falls apart as Iran buries slain leader
The fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran appeared to have fallen apart over continued strife over the Strait of Hormuz as Iranians buried their supreme leader, killed by U.S.-Israel forces at the outset of the war. There were no new...
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Kansas town goes penniless
After the federal government stopped making pennies last November, at least one municipal government in Kansas stopped accepting them. The city of Liberal in the southeast part of the state did that effective March 16, it said on its website. The...
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Residents urge Topeka to pause data center plans
It was standing room only in the Topeka City Chambers as residents spoke out against the possibility of a data center coming to the community. “Topeka is saying no to data centers tonight,” said Meghan Ryan, founder of Protect Kansas. “We are...
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Bakery serves up Australian treats
From head to toe, Sue Roberts is covered in flour before the end of each workday. The work never stops for the South Australia-born bakery owner, who starts the heavy lifting in the early morning hours — but not before her morning cup of coffee — and...
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SNAP cuts hurting Kansas grocers
Kansas grocery stores are missing out on millions of dollars worth of sales because of federal cuts to the food stamp program. Significantly fewer Kansans are getting food benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program since the passage...
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Tilton’s Market keeps it local
A longtime family-owned business in Topeka is closing in on a century in operation by putting its loyal customers first. Tilton’s Market opened its doors to the Oakland Community in 1935 and began as a street produce stand. Since then, it has operated...
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THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS
Americans are restless. We sought independence 250 years ago as a nation in pursuit of unalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. h We moved across the land in covered wagons searching for prosperity. h We raced toward space,...
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The Onion launches new InfoWars with 2 shows
The Onion has pressed ahead with its takeover of InfoWars, the conspiracy-laden media empire formerly owned by far-right provocateur Alex Jones. The satirical news site debuted its initial slate of programming just in time for America’s 250th birthday...
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Sustainable living made simple
Full Circle Sustainability is a hub built around living a full life, without creating waste in Topeka. The nonprofit organization, founded by Robert Riley and Justine Greve, developed after they felt there was a need for easier access to local...
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Downtown church sells Tiffany stained glass window
Topeka’s First Presbyterian Church has sold a Tiffany Medallion window it owned to a private buyer for $1.5 million to help address financial challenges it faces, its senior pastor confirmed June The sale — arranged by Sotheby’s, one of the world’s...
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‘WE NEED TO DECIDE’
Topeka’s utility department is $386,160,564 in the hole, with 25% of its budget in 2026 going to pay off more than $30 million of debt. Those eye-popping numbers could mean raising rates again, the sixth year in a row. How the increase is implemented...
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New law looms over clemency decisions
Amid public outcry about death row inmates applying for clemency, the government board that handles the process is being overhauled by a new state law with provisions taking effect July 1. Under the Kansas Constitution and state law, the governor has...
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Downtown Topeka flood problems back in spotlight
Topeka’s flood problems, which flew under the radar as the city saw belowaverage rainfall for four straight years, are back in the spotlight after recent downpours soaked soil, stranded motorists and damaged houses. Recent flooding has affected many...
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WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT NEW LAWS
Lawmakers enacted 157 new laws in 2026. Of those, 126 take effect — either wholly or in part — on July 1. It was a busy legislative session in the capital city for the Kansas Legislature. Lawmakers enacted 157 new laws in 2026. Of those, 126 take...
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Trump sees wins on immigration, guns
WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court handed President Donald Trump victories in two immigration cases June 25. In the divide between gun rights and gun violence, the justices struck down another state law, this one in Hawaii, aimed at curbing guns in public...
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Hats have it at new store
The opportunity to purchase a cap — just about any cap — is back in the capital city. h Located on the lower level of West Ridge Mall, Pro Image Sports is now open, offering a variety of hats to purchase. h Casey Richardson, general manager and...
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New law means your license plate frame could be a crime
If you have a license plate frame on your car, you may want to check it before July 1. A new Kansas law takes effect that day, and you could be breaking the law if your frame partially blocks the state name on your license plate. Senate Bill 403 had...
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KTWU finds new path
Topeka’s KTWU is fully funded and operational. Over the past year, the local public broadcasting services has faced challenges after federal funding was stripped. Then Washburn University restructured the station’s status leaving them to finance...
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Kickstart Saloon proves more than a biker bar
Just off US-24 highway in North Topeka sits a crimson red building. Sometimes dotted with motorcycles in its parking lot, a beer poster hangs pinned to the exterior. It reads “Kickstart Saloon” in orange capital letters, the words centered around an...
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Fire transforming West’s public lands
Wildfires are affecting our public lands at an accelerating scale and increasing intensity. Yet how fire affects recreation has remained poorly understood. Colorado’s two largest fires on record, the Cameron Peak and East Troublesome fires, burned...
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Care partners find footing
Health care hopefuls are getting a chance to dip their toes into the workforce with a role aimed at getting health care workers into the field at an early age. h “I feel like it’s just such a good learning experience because we get good hands-on work...
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Israel, Hezbollah agree to ceasefire
Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire that was set to begin at 4 p.m. local time June 19 after escalating violence between Israel and Lebanon complicated President Donald Trump’s efforts to reach a final peace agreement with Iran. Still, the next...
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OVERCROWDED SHELTER NEEDS AID
Topeka’s Helping Hands Humane Society is home to dogs, cats and even “pocket pets” like guinea pigs and hamsters. The shelter, which totaled 310 adoptions in May, takes in about 6,000 animals each year and provides a range of community services,...
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Sunflower Summer back, with smaller budget
Despite another budget cut by state lawmakers, Sunflower Summer is returning with free tickets for Kansas kids to visit state attractions. This year, 230 tourism attractions are participating in the program, which will run from July 9 to Aug....
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Olive Cafe returns with new look and menu items
After a two-year hiatus, Olive Cafe is returning to Topeka to serve customers their favorite Mediterranean-based meals. Instead of downtown Topeka, the restaurant will be located at 1700 SW Fairlawn Road. It will feature a modern chic cafe-style...
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Fake AI image ended up on a state website
A state government agency tasked with promoting public trust in law enforcement used a fake image of the Kansas Statehouse for its website. The Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training website, kscpost.gov, had been using an image...
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Zoning rules target data centers
Joni Thadani, Shawnee County land use and development director, spoke at the June 11 Shawnee County Commission meeting about a proposal to change zoning regulations regarding data centers. When Jimmy Bullocks Sr. moved to Topeka 66 years ago, he was...
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‘THE SKY REALLY IS THE LIMIT’
A Topeka native serves on the team of top-notch meteorologists who made high-stakes decisions earlier this spring on whether to clear the Artemis II spacecraft for takeoff on its historic trip around the moon. Mark Burger, a 1994 Topeka High School...
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Status of Iran deal hazy after Trump’s statement
Confusion abounded June 12 on the status of a possible end to the war with Iran. President Donald Trump announced June 11 that peace could come as soon as this weekend with the signing of a memorandum of understanding. “Discussions and final points...
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Bringing dream to life
Isaiah Thomas, better known to the public or those on the streaming platform Twitch as @Hmblzayy, made a stop in Topeka on his journey to raise money for underserved kids. In late March, Thomas began a 3,000mile faith walk from Philadelphia to...
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14 businesses failed May inspections
Rodent droppings, improper water and food temperatures and food debris on utensils are some of the issues Kansas inspectors found at Topeka establishments in May. Those were among violations cited during food safety and lodging inspections last month...
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SAVE act flags ‘three or four’ in cases of noncitizen voting
Seven months after telling reporters they expected to find hundreds if not thousands of noncitizen voters, the state’s top election official and top prosecutor have publicly identified three total criminal cases. The most prominent of the noncitizen...
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Changing course of twisters
Tornado Alley since the early 1950s has dissected the central Great Plains, including the states of Nebraska, central Oklahoma, northwestern Texas and Kansas. The fierce storms produced in the region included the 1966 tornado that carved across...
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Senate GOP narrowly approves $70B for ICE
Democrats don’t have much leverage in Washington these days – until they do. A small, but significant, political window opened up briefly this week as Senate Republicans worked to pass a roughly $70 billion funding bill for Immigration and Customs...
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Inside Topeka’s old water tower
A rock-climbing tower? Indoor skydiving? Rooftop bar or restaurant? Those ideas may seem a bit pie in the sky, but longtime residents used to looking up at the iconic water tower in downtown Topeka have big dreams. The property — long the center of...
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Fresh, local, essential
HOLTON — Having a locally owned grocery store is vital for a small town in Kansas when the options are limited. Cecil K’s Hometown Market, 423 Arizona Ave. in Holton, has been serving its community since February 2018. Over the past eight years,...
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Evergy eyes county data center project
Electric-utility giant Evergy has been engaged in monthslong discussions to bring a data center to Shawnee County. GO Topeka President Rhiannon Friedman she was unable to divulge the company that Evergy is negotiating with, but added that GO Topeka —...
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Groups rally against changes to Court justice selections
A Kansas coalition made up of about 70 organizations launched a grassroots canvassing campaign against a constitutional amendment. Kansas United for Impartial Courts rounded up volunteer door-knockers in Lenexa and Wichita to encourage people to vote...
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Kobach breaks with Trump
Did you know Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach is suing President Donald Trump’s administration? “Kansans need to know I’m actually very independent-minded in these lawsuits,” Kobach said. Kobach spoke with The Capital-Journal following National...
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Black history in KS is significant, complex
Drawn by ads touting Nicodemus as a “promised land,” hundreds of former slaves fled southern oppression to settle beginning in 1877 in that all-Black community on the plains of northwest Kansas. Nicodemus residents voted in 1887 to pay cash to the...
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Judge blocks Trump’s ‘anti-weaponization’ fund
WASHINGTON – A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump from setting up a $1.8 billion fund to compensate people the Justice Department deems were investigated improperly. U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Virginia ordered the...
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Schwab defends SAVE intent
The top election official in Kansas doesn’t think any qualified voters would be disenfranchised by a federal proposal to require proof of citizenship, despite courts ruling that a state law he helped pass blocked thousands of Kansans from voting. When...
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Early TV ads signal pricey Kansas governor race
Even before the filing deadline, Kansas gubernatorial candidates are already getting on television. Republican businessman Philip Sarnecki has a pair of TV ads, and former Gov. Jeff Colyer now has one. Democratic Sen. Ethan Corson is asking donors to...
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Topeka has free family fun events this summer
As the school year winds down and summer commences, families are looking for ways to get out of the house and enjoy the summer without hurting their pockets. Several family-friendly events in Topeka this summer allow families to do just that, and all...
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‘It’s just good government’
Modernizing the paper-based regulation promulgation system in Kansas might not be the most interesting issue in state government and politics. Even Secretary of State Scott Schwab laughed when The Capital-Journal suggested the initiative he championed...
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Climate change imperils many global plant species
Some of the plants that make familiar landscapes recognizable may not survive by century’s end as climate change becomes an increasingly important driver of species loss, according to scientists, reshaping and often shrinking suitable habitats that the...
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TAKING HIS FINAL BOW
Be generous. Be fearless. Whether you’re performing on a stage or living your life day by day. That’s the advice Scott Kickhaefer shared with the hundreds of students he taught in his years of teaching. Kickhaefer spent 10 years at Topeka High...
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Pakistani official seeks breakthrough with Iran
WASHINGTON – Iran’s foreign minister met Pakistan’s interior minister on May 22 to discuss proposals to end the U.S.-Israeli war, Iranian media reported, with Tehran and Washington still at odds over Iran’s uranium stockpile and controls on the Strait...
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Marshall touts Panasonic factory after criticizing it
U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall is back to touting Panasonic after previously criticizing the manufacturer following initial praise for the plant. Marshall, R-Kansas, listed Panasonic among a handful of manufacturers while touting manufacturing in Kansas....
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Zoo to welcome black rhinos after last elephant’s death
As its elephant program ends, a program featuring black rhinos is set to begin at the Topeka Zoo. The zoo will renovate the space its elephants formerly occupied and make it the home of a breeding pair of black rhinos, zoo CEO Christina Castellano...
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Topeka distances itself from potholes
The Kansas Supreme Court on May 18 heard oral arguments on whether Topeka should be held liable or found negligent for the damage to a resident and his vehicle who hit a large pothole. Nearly seven years ago, Topekan Troy Alan Martin was in a major...
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Oasis Group rethinks vision
The Central Topeka Grocery Oasis Group has spent years trying to bring a grocery store to the central Topeka food desert area. Those efforts have included fundraising, signing a lease for land and more. Central Topeka Grocery Oasis was formed in 2018...
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Limited OK for power line
Kansas utility regulators have determined a proposed power transmission line is necessary but are ordering Evergy to develop a new route for the portion that would cross the Flint Hills. At issue is an extra-high voltage transmission line that is part...
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Mom helps families in biggest fight
Anortheast Kansas mother mourning the loss of her son has poured her energy into helping other families with youths battling brain cancers. h Lisa Ward, of Wamego, was inspired by her son, Jace Ward, who was diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine...
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Private school marks 10 years
Over the past decade, a Topeka private school has helped hundreds of children. h International Academy, 1162 SW Lincoln St., has been a resource to help students get on track in the Topeka community. h While the educational institution is a private...
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Kansas site has unique designation
A small Kansas chapel was used as a metaphor for American unity by singer Bruce Springsteen in the Jeep commercial, “The Middle,” which aired during the 2021 Super Bowl. Springsteen encouraged Americans to find common ground as he was shown in that...
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Schmidt wants gas price answers
When a trucker asked Topeka’s congressman about rising gas prices, U.S. Rep. Derek Schmidt admitted he was giving “not a very satisfying answer.” Schmidt, R-Kansas, held a telephone town hall on April 29. A caller, who identified himself as a truck...
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GM shares vision for events center
With just weeks into her new position, the new Stormont Vail Event Center general manager is focused on creating connections in the community to fulfill her role. Kasey Hanney was appointed as the new general manager of Stormont Vail Event Center on...
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Bible used to swear in VP Curtis donated to Kansas
The 462-year-old German Bible used in 1929 to swear in Topekan native Charles Curtis as the nation’s vice president has been donated to the state of Kansas, which will give it a new home at Curtis’s former home in Topeka. James Geis — owner of the...
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PERSONAL TOUCH
TOP: Bea’s Place owner Brittany Taylor, left, cleans the kitchen alongside medical aide Saquena Daniels on April 27. The house Taylor transformed into Bea’s Place offers Home Plus residential care for elderly individuals in the Topeka area. RIGHT:...
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Rocketry club blasts off
TOP: Highland Park rocketry team members Joey Noriega, left, helps Alex Luna epoxy a custom-made rocket motor mount to a test rocket on May 5. “This high school had an astronaut before, like 50 years ago and it would be extremely cool if we left this...
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WEATHER ON MORAN’S MIND
Weather is a big conversation topic in Kansas. “Weather does matter to Kansas,” said U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas. “Sometimes it’s the most common conversation I have with Kansans, is about the weather. “Just recently in Ottawa and Hillsdale,...
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Special session unlikely
Kansas lawmakers appear unlikely to return to Topeka before this year’s elections for a special session on property taxes and gerrymandered redistricting. The call by a few for a special session comes after the Legislature failed to deliver property...
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Ball of twine is on a roll
When Cawker City farmer Frank Stoeber began making a ball out of the twine that littered the floor of his barn on Dec. 24, 1953, he had no idea that ball would one day grow into a popular tourist attraction. But today, thousands annually visit the...
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Desi Delights features authentic Indian groceries
Finding ingredients for an authentic Indian meal doesn’t require a trip out of town for many Topeka residents, thanks to a growing local option that specializes in Indian products. Desi Delights, 2025 SW Urish Road, owned by Vinoth Loganathan, since...
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Water pollution feeds harmful algae in lakes
Nutrient pollution in rivers and streams around Topeka is feeding the harmful algae plaguing recreational lakes. Those nutrient impairments, like phosphorus in the Kansas River and Shunganunga Creek, are a high priority for the Kansas Department of...
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Prediction markets see explosive rise
Though prediction markets have been legal in the United States for less than 18 months, they can’t stop making news and making money. On prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket, users can stake real money on just about anything, from the...
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Soaring on two wheels
For most kids, you might learn to ride your first bicycle at 4 years old. Kevin Moranz he went straight to a dirt bike. “It’s kind of a phenomenal story,” said Amy FischerMoranz, Kevin’s mom. Growing up in Seaman USD 345, Kevin and his older brother,...
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Kansas governor awards Order of the Sunflower
Gov. Laura Kelly is hoping to start a new Kansas tradition. On April 28, Kelly presented the inaugural Order of the Sunflower award to Michelle Rone, first lady of the U.S. Army 1st Infantry Division. “Today, we’re here not just to recognize one...
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