Daily
Topeka
Saturday, July 5th, 2025
Good morning, Topeka. Here's your local news at a glance for Saturday, the 5th of July.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Topeka neighborhoods started Independence Day celebrations early with a parade featuring the Topeka High School drumline, Santa guiding the Fire Department, and a drill team in red, white, and blue — a block party later brought neighbors together. WIBW
- ➤ Shawnee County Parks and Recreation will host an event at the Great Overland Station later this month to discuss the 1951 flood that killed 24 people and forced thousands to leave their homes—flooding North Topeka with eight feet of water. The event will review how the flood changed the area and led the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to build levees and floodwalls. KSNT
CRIME NEWS
- ➤ KBI data shows Kansas’ crime rate dropped from 27 to 23.3 per 1,000 people in 2024—its lowest in over 20 years—as violent and property crimes fell while law enforcement numbers nearly rose from 3.44 to 3.69 per 1,000 people; Attorney General Kris Kobach credited his law and order approach for the decline. Kansas Reflector
- ➤ The Kansas Supreme Court reversed a lower court ruling in Geary County after Brian Beck was arrested for meth when his traffic stop showed his license plate was partly covered— the decision said the law does not require plates to fully display the state name and sent the case back for a new hearing. WIBW
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Grace Episcopal Cathedral held a patriotic celebration on Friday morning as the congregation gathered in red, white, and blue — 2nd Lt. Brenden Armstrong, his mother, Reverend Jody Carroll, and Kansas Poet Laureate Eric McHenry recognized service members, teachers, elected officials, and emergency workers while the event concluded with an ice cream social. WIBW
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ The Kansas Department of Commerce assumed control of the Kansas Community Empowerment program on July 1—shifting administration from K-State Research and Extension and setting the stage for community certification and enhanced grant opportunities. Local communities will soon learn more about training and leadership development options as part of the new phase. WIBW
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ The Shawnee County Health Department is now accepting nominations for its annual Public Health Champion awards—seeking to honor one person and one organization for work in advancing health equity in Topeka and Shawnee County through efforts like supporting local health policies or volunteering. Award recipients will be announced at the Annual Shawnee County Community Conversation on August 15 at the local public library. WIBW
-
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
Life is not trying to entertain you. It's trying to educate you.
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