Daily
Topeka
Thursday, January 15th, 2026
Good morning, Topeka. Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 15th of January.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Topeka Zoo will open registration for spring, summer, and Adult Camps at 9 a.m. Monday, January 19 (each camp offers themed activities, crafts, games, animal encounters, and more) and the zoo is also hiring summer camp counselors. WIBW
- ➤ Topeka nonprofit Let’s Help received a check for over $10,000 from Security Benefit Wednesday, giving it a boost as it held monthly food drives + covered its own costs to stock its shelves amid rising food assistance needs. WIBW
- ➤ Villages, Inc. will open a new maternity home off SW Urish Rd on January 28 to provide shelter, parenting supplies, education, and counseling for six unsheltered pregnant women — following Shawnee County zoning approval — addressing a critical community need. WIBW
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Tierra Walker, an eighth-grader at Jardine Middle School, was named Youth of the Year by Topeka Boys and Girls Clubs yesterday (at the Topeka Center for Advanced Learning and Careers) and will now compete for the state honor. WIBW
- ➤ Seven fifth-graders from McCarter Elementary became finalists in the Burns and McDonnell Battle of the Brains STEM competition out of 700 entries when teachers surprised them Wednesday, and they will present their project (Science in the Home) to a panel in Kansas City in early February. WIBW
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Couture for Cancer— a fundraiser hosted by the American Cancer Society to support patient transportation assistance— will run from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 7 at Vaerus Aviation at Forbes Field with tickets available at TopekaCoutureForCancer.org. WIBW
- ➤ After SAMHSA cut $2-billion in federal grants on Jan. 13, NAMI Kansas warned local mental health services and programs like the Justice Involved Persons Program face severe setbacks. Isaac Johnson urged residents to contact Congress to help restore vital funding. WIBW
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Brett Ballard of Washburn said on Wednesday he loves his Division-2 job even as social media names him a candidate for the UMKC head coach opening. His team remains 16-0 and ranked #1 after a Final Four run, and his sons (Kaden and Brooks) are key players. WIBW
- ➤ Washburn and Emporia State face off in the Turnpike Tussle rematch tonight in Emporia. The women's game starts at 5:30 and the men's game at 7:30 (with 13 SPORTS providing live coverage and postgame highlights). WIBW
- ➤ Former K-State football star Terence Newman (NFL veteran) was named to the College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026; his induction will be held on Dec. 8 at the Bellagio Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. WIBW
- ➤ On Tuesday night, the Kansas Jayhawks beat previously unbeaten Iowa State 84 to 63 at Allen Fieldhouse, handing the Cyclones their first loss of the season. WIBW
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The Band Perry Concert
7-10 p.m. — Prairie Band Casino & Resort — Cost info not provided — Enjoy a night with the GRAMMY-winning trio known for their genre-defying sound.
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Friday Night Comedy Showcase
8-9:30 p.m. — Cosmos Court Comedy Club — Ticketed event — Enjoy an evening of laughs with top comedians from the Midwest and beyond.
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CNA Refresher Course in Topeka
Feb 3-9 — Homestead Assisted Living & Memory Care — Course fee required — Complete essential CNA training with both online and hands-on clinical components.
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The Marshall Tucker Band Concert
7-9 PM — Prairie Band Casino & Resort — Enjoy a night of classic southern rock hits from a legendary band.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
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Reveal the authorAbout Daily Topeka
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