Daily
Topeka
Saturday, May 2nd, 2026
Good morning, Topeka. Here's your local news at a glance for Saturday, the 2nd of May.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ East Side Baptist Church at 4425 SE 29th St is hosting a Southern Gospel concert with Jeremy Pope today at 5 p.m. (doors open at 4 p.m.) and will hold its 95th Anniversary Celebration with guest speaker Scott Harrop tomorrow at 10 a.m. WIBW
- ➤ LULAC Senior Center hosted a retirement party on Friday to honor director Kathy Votaw for her 13 years of service. Votaw said she cherishes the lasting bonds she built with Topeka residents. WIBW
- ➤ Cinco de Mayo - Viva Downtown Topeka is celebrating Hispanic heritage with free live music, performances, food vendors, and family activities today at Evergy Plaza (3 to 10:30 p.m.). WIBW
- ➤ On Friday, Lotus House held a barbecue to raise funds for a new refrigerator at the clubhouse, where adults with mental health challenges gather for daily meals and community support. The fundraiser joined 350 locations worldwide for Clubhouse Day of Giving. WIBW
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Gray Media has agreed with DISH to restore all its local stations (including WIBW) to the lineup effective immediately so viewers can watch local news, weather, and CBS shows. The deal ends the blackout and secures reliable programming for the market. WIBW
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Students from Topeka Public Schools showcased a year of creative artwork in the NOTO Arts District during First Friday and earned scholarships at Fairlawn Plaza; art proceeds went directly to the students (displaying mixed media, 2D, and 3D pieces). WIBW
- ➤ A local documentary 'Beyond Theology: What Would Jesus Do?' will screen at the Kansas Museum of History on Sunday, May 3 at 2 p.m. — it will air on KTWU on Father's Day, June 21 at 4 p.m. and include a post-screening discussion led by producer Dave Kendall. Kansas Public Radio
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ Gas prices in Topeka climbed on Friday as unleaded ranged from $3.69 to almost $4 a gallon, up +30 cents in one week. AAA said Kansas averages reached $3.87 for unleaded and $4.93 for diesel. WIBW
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ At Washburn Tech’s 26th annual car show on Friday, May 1, Laird Noller Ford donated a damaged Mustang to give automotive students a chance to learn the latest tech & celebrate the dealership’s 65th anniversary. The key exchange ceremony highlighted the school’s hands-on approach to automotive education. WIBW
- ➤ Camp Courage now extends its application deadline for young women pursuing firefighting careers at the Topeka Fire Department; applications are due by May 15 and the one-week camp will run from June 1-5, offering hands-on training with fire hoses, search and rescue missions and rappelling to explore a firefighting career. WIBW
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Governor Kelly ordered flags to be flown at half-staff from sunup to sundown on Sunday, May 3 in honor of National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Day, marking a statewide tribute to Kansas firefighters who serve and sacrifice daily. WIBW
- ➤ Four Kansas officers who died in the line of duty were honored at the Statehouse Friday, May 1. Kansas leaders, law enforcement officers and family members gathered to remember their service and sacrifice. WIBW
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ At Stormont-Vail Health, 26 therapy dogs volunteer as the Paw Squad to ease stress in departments and clinics; patients may request visits after receiving doctor approval, and an 11-year-old Labrador (Gunnar) once helped spot his own cancer by learning to smile. WIBW
- ➤ KDHE and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks announced advisories for lakes due to blue-green algae blooms during water season from April 1 to Oct. 31. Residents are urged to avoid water showing foam, scum or unusual color to protect themselves + pets. WIBW
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Washburn men’s tennis won its fourth straight MIAA/GAC tournament on Friday (defeating Harding 4-1 to clinch an automatic NCAA Tournament bid) and the selection show is scheduled for Monday. WIBW
-
Auditions for Shrek The Musical
6-9 p.m. — Topeka Civic Theatre & Academy — Free entry — Showcase your talent in this exciting audition for the beloved fairy tale musical.
-
Through The Darkness Tour
7-11 p.m. — 6th & Polk Music & Event Space — Tickets available — Experience raw emotions and new music as Hollow Like Her debuts tracks from their upcoming EP.
-
Hairball Concert
7-8:30 p.m. — Stormont Vail Events Center — Last-minute tickets available — Experience a unique tribute to rock music with Hairball.
-
HME Fabrication Facility Tour
12-1 p.m. — HME, Inc. — Free entry — Explore the structural steel and miscellaneous metals fabrication facility and learn about the Haas Group's specialized companies.
-
The Rock Orchestra by Candlelight
8:00-9:30 p.m. — Topeka Performing Arts Center — Ticket prices vary — Experience an epic concert breathing dark energy into legendary Rock & Metal.
-
Evans United Carnival 2026
May 21-31 — Stormont Vail Events Center — $18.30 General Admission, $10.05 Child (3-11) — A vibrant carnival featuring parking lot exhibitions and festivals for family fun.
-
Party with The BASH
8-11 p.m. — Thunderbirds Grille — Cost info not provided — Dance the night away with live music at Thunderbirds Grille.
-
Doggie Date Night
6-8 p.m. — Evergy Plaza — Free entry — Enjoy a fun evening bonding with your pup in the heart of Topeka.
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
Any fool can make something complicated. It takes a genius to make it simple.
Know who said this? Send us an email!
Reveal the authorAbout Daily Topeka
Welcome to the Daily Topeka, your community newsletter that's anything but snooze-worthy, packed with positive, impactful local news + events across the Topeka, Kansas community. If you like the Daily Topeka, support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in Topeka.
Advertising Opportunities
Advertising with us will make sure you stay at the top of everyone's mind—in Topeka and across Kansas. You can learn more here. We'll work together to build a custom plan to hit your goals this year.
Alternatively, you can submit events, announcements, real estate listings, and job postings. We'll include them in our newsletter on whichever dates you like.
Community, delivered
Our hyper-local media company activates communities through daily email newsletters that curate the most positive, impactful local news + events – all for free.
Subscribe to Daily Topeka
A free Topeka community newsletter.
- Daily local news
- We curate the most positive, impactful local news + events.
- 6AM City
- A publication of 6AM City, the nation's leading local newsletter-first media network. Nominate your city.
© 6AM City Inc. 2025. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy. Terms of Service. Questions? Contact us here
Sitemap: https://dailytopeka.com/sitemap