Daily
Topeka
Friday, May 8th, 2026
Good morning, Topeka. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 8th of May.
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ The 45th annual Go Topeka Small Business Awards recognized local businesses at an event held May 7. The ceremony celebrated economic impact with winners like Tee Box honored — a reminder of small business determination driving growth in our community. WIBW
- ➤ North Topeka business owners expressed relief after K-DOT reopened the intersection at Topeka Boulevard and First Street, easing detour challenges that hurt local activity, though construction on I-70 will close downtown next month (additional changes expected). WIBW
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Kansas Public Radio launches a new travel series pilot today featuring Rex Buchanan + J. Schafer as they explore eastern Kansas starting at Kaw Point Park in Kansas City; the duo invites community input for a series name and future stops. Kansas Public Radio
- ➤ The Topeka Festival Singers wrap up their Bright Horizons season with a family concert titled Better Together at 7 p.m. Monday, May 11 at Washburn’s White Concert Hall; tickets range from $5 to $30 (free for kids with an adult). WIBW
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ On Thursday, AAA reported Topeka gasoline prices reached $4.11 per gallon, up from $3.75 a week ago, while diesel climbed to $5.17 (from $4.79), echoing nationwide fuel cost increases. WIBW
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ WIBW, Washburn University and UKHS St. Francis are launching four $5,000 nursing scholarships to help Washburn students pursue nursing and support the local healthcare workforce. Applications are open now until the end of August, with awards given in the 2027 Spring semester. WIBW
- ➤ Canvas, the online learning platform used by KU, K-State, Emporia State and Wichita State, went offline much of Thursday—after receiving alleged hacker messages following a May 6 restoration. Officials are addressing the issue to secure access. WIBW
- ➤ An active assailant training session will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, May 14 at Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka. The day-long conference will train participants in situational awareness, conflict diffusion, and basic first aid (with preregistration costing $15 including lunch) and offers both in-person and Zoom options. WIBW
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ University of Kansas researchers warn that local cities face mounting challenges as their cooling centers + emergency plans remain uneven amid more extreme heat, citing inconsistent data that makes it hard to track fatalities from heat. Kansas Reflector
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Four seniors at Silver Lake High School created a glove that uses vibration therapy to reduce Parkinson’s tremors (despite challenges fitting tiny wires). They spent the semester researching and testing the design and hope future work can build on their breakthrough. WIBW
- ➤ SENT in Topeka is offering EMDR therapy to help people manage trauma and PTSD using bilateral stimulation & reprocessing techniques. The method is designed to reconnect brain pathways and improve mental responses to traumatic events. WIBW
- ➤ Rising skin cancer rates require early detection; Stormont Vail Dermatology in Topeka advises checking moles for shape, color, or size changes (using the A for asymmetry rule) and applying SPF 30 sunscreen daily for safe outdoor activity. Early checks improve treatment success. WIBW
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Party with The BASH
8-11 p.m. — Thunderbirds Grille — Cost info not provided — Dance the night away with live music at Thunderbirds Grille.
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Doggie Date Night
6-8 p.m. — Evergy Plaza — Free entry — Enjoy a fun evening bonding with your pup in the heart of Topeka.
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Signal Ridge Music Evening
6-10 p.m. — Compass Point: Home of Dirty Girl Adventures — Free entry — Enjoy a night of Appalachian Folk-grass tunes with Redd & The Paper Flowers.
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Green Shoebox Band: St. Marys Community Event
6-10 p.m. — St. Marys Riverside Park — Free entry — Enjoy a night of music with the Green Shoebox Band in a vibrant community setting.
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Kelsey Miles Live Performance
12:30 – 4:30 PM — Mulvane Art Fair, Topeka, KS — Free entry — Connect through music and storytelling with Kelsey Miles.
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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