Good morning, Topeka.

The Family Initiative offers guidance for parents and guardians in Topeka as the school year begins by explaining how to talk with children about foster care and its challenges.

The advice includes finding out what children know, explaining that foster care means being cared for during family changes, and inviting questions for more support — a move aimed at helping local foster youth succeed.

The Goodyear blimp arrived Monday to mark its 100th anniversary and is flying over Topeka as it celebrates the tire plant team at the Topeka Regional Airport.

Today the airship gives rides in the morning to plant associates while community members watch from the ground — and it will depart on August 6 from Million Air.

Local historian Dr. Tara D.

James-Wallace is working to preserve the memory of the old Topeka Bottoms—where families were forced to leave when I-70 was built—and share its history through art and film as the reconstruction of the Polk-Quincy Viaduct continues.

Grand Funk Railroad will perform live at 7 p.m. on November 6 at the Great Lakes Ballroom at Prairie Band Casino Resort in northeast Kansas — tickets will go on sale at noon on August 8 for $81.25.

The iconic band was formed in 1969 and earned two number-one and four top 10 hits with songs like 'Bad Time' and 'The Loco-Motion' — fans can look forward to a show that brings classic rock back to the region.

Country music star Tracy Byrd, known for his 90s hits, will perform live at Prairie Band Casino and Resort's Great Lakes Ballroom in Mayetta at 7 p.m. on Oct.

23—tickets cost $70.95.

The Kansas Department of Transportation will host an open house next week on Thursday, August 14, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Lakewood Shelter House in Topeka—attendees can review details on the California Avenue over I-70 bridge replacement project, with construction scheduled to begin in spring and finish by fall.

The Kansas Department of Commerce received two national Impact Awards from the National Association of Development Organizations for its new Quality Places Division & Community Impact Tour that highlighted innovative economic and community development projects statewide.

Today, heads of Shawnee County agencies presented trimmed budget proposals to the commission to cut over $4 million in costs—significant savings came from corrections and the sheriff’s office while commissioners still search for nearly $200,000 in additional cuts.

Kaylee’s Dad is Mad, a non-profit started after losing their daughter in 2023, will host a candlelight vigil under its sixth billboard in north Topeka & offer a time for community members to share memories ahead of National Fentanyl Prevention Awareness Day on August 21.

Stormont Vail Health's Topeka Campus and Flint Hills Campus earned national awards from the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines program for fast, high quality stroke care—each award shows the teams' dedication to treating strokes quickly.

The honors highlight the hospitals' commitment to saving time when every second counts.

Get Down in T-Town

4-9 p.m. — Evergy Plaza — Free entry — Experience a vibrant evening of live music, dance, and local flavors in Topeka.

KCECA Varsity Football Game

7-9 p.m. — Cornerstone Family Schools Inc — Free entry — Cheer on the Cornerstone Family as they host Kansas City East Christian Academy in a thrilling home conference football game.