Friday, July 4th, 2025
Good morning, Topeka. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 4th of July.
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ Officials issued blue-green algae advisories on July 3 after detecting harmful blooms in Kansas lakes—Geary County’s Gathering Pond is under a warning and Jeffrey Energy Make-Up Lake is on watch, with public safety precautions recommended. WIBW
- ➤ Clean-air activists are uneasy as the Holcomb coal plant received a two-year exemption from new pollution rules granted by the EPA—an action tied to a presidential order citing technology limits and national security. The decision, which applied to 68 coal plants in several states, has raised concerns about increased emissions and community health risks. Kansas Reflector
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Crews will begin repairs on the US-24 bridge over Cross Creek on Monday, July 7 in Rossville, working Monday through Friday during daylight hours (per KDOT's plans). Drivers will face one-lane restrictions (with temporary signals controlling traffic) until the repairs are complete in December. WIBW
- ➤ Gov. Laura Kelly confirmed on Thursday that she and her husband, retired physician Ted Daughety, finalized their divorce in October after more than 40 years of marriage—she said the split was mutual and amicable. The governor stated she shared the news publicly after inquiries about her private life and noted that both continue to share a close bond with their two adult daughters. Kansas Reflector
- ➤ City workers are cleaning the north bank of the Kansas River by removing trash and debris left behind by homeless encampments — crews from the Property Maintenance Division, the Police Department and Water Pollution Control will work for about three weeks. KSNT
- ➤ Local road crews partially opened phase one of the roundabout at Northwest 46th Street and Northwest Greenhills Road today, allowing traffic to move north, east and south. The west leg to Highway 75 remains closed for construction + drivers are advised to follow posted detours + planned improvements will add a sidewalk and multi-use path. KSNT
REAL ESTATE NEWS
- ➤ Shawnee County invested over $1 million in three downtown Topeka properties that are now for sale for $2.85 million. The buildings owned by Astra IC Partners LLC are in the South Kansas Avenue Commercial Historic District and were part of a county development project. KSNT
-
An Unforgettable Evening with Eddie Wakes
7-8:30 p.m. — Topeka Performing Arts Center — Ticket sales start May 6 — Experience the remarkable voice of Topeka native Eddie Wakes in a night of music and excitement.
-
Live at Lunch Featuring Justwynnmore
11 a.m. – 1 p.m. — Evergy Plaza — Free entry — Enjoy live music, local food trucks, and family fun in the heart of downtown Topeka.
-
Craig Morgan Live Concert
7-8:30 p.m. — Prairie Band Casino & Resort — $60 — Experience the hits of Craig Morgan in a vibrant country setting.
-
HAYSTAK Live Performance
9 p.m. — The Woodshed Event Center — General admission $20, meet & greet options available — Enjoy an electrifying live show by HAYSTAK with early doors opening for an all-age experience.
-
Sporting KC Summer Soccer Camp
July 21-24 — Bettis Sports Complex — Not specified — Develop soccer skills and enjoy a fun-filled camp for young players aged 5-14.
-
Grades Of Absolute Truth Acoustic Set
6:30 p.m. — B&B Theatres Topeka Wheatfield 9 — Tickets available — Experience an evening of soulful acoustic music from Dallas-based artist Grades Of Absolute Truth.
-
PBR Shawnee County Fair Professional Bull Riding
7-8:30 p.m. — Stormont Vail Events Center — Ticket prices vary — Experience thrilling bull riding action with top riders competing for victory.
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
Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.
Know who said this? Send us an email!
Reveal the authorAbout Daily Topeka
Daily Topeka is a community newsletter sharing current events in Topeka, Kansas. Our mission is to make local news more accessible, highlight extraordinary people across the Topeka community, and support local organizations. If you like Daily Topeka, you can 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.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to make local news more accessible and highlight extraordinary people across the Topeka community.
We help people in Topeka save time finding the news that matters most to them: local news in Topeka, about Topeka, curated especially for you on a daily basis—all for free.
Subscribe to Daily Topeka
A free Topeka community newsletter.
- Daily local news
- We curate the most critical news for the community every day.
- No spam
- Daily emails, only news! We never sell your data.
© Daily Topeka. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy. Questions? Contact us here
Sitemap: https://dailytopeka.com/sitemap