Good morning, Topeka.

Kansas Gas Service is urging residents to call 811 before starting any excavation projects (811 Day is next Tuesday) to protect underground utilities and ensure safety.

Topeka will host National Night Out at Agriculture Hall on Stormont Vail Events Center grounds, SW 17th & Tyler, on Saturday, Aug.

8 from noon to 4 p.m., featuring a car show, touch-a-truck, food trucks, a resource fair, and karaoke starting at 2:30 p.m.

The Topeka Zoo visited the library Thursday afternoon for its monthly First Thursday event, where live animal ambassadors taught children about both local and exotic species.

The event aimed to build understanding and appreciation of wildlife.

On Aug. 4, Protect Kansas hosted an informational meeting at the Topeka & Shawnee County Library about a proposed data center.

Local residents examined maps (including a 1,000-ft buffer zone) and heard from officials about project details.

Nick Levendofsky, executive director of the Kansas Farmers Union, expressed concern that the Senate Agriculture Committee's failure to advance the farm bill Thursday may delay its passage this year — divisions over budget cuts and a missing vote from Sen. Mitch McConnell underline the challenge.

Topeka’s Stormont Vail is using the CardioMEMS system (a paperclip-sized device) to monitor heart failure patients with daily pressure readings and prevent hospital admissions.

The technology has reduced hospital visits by over 70 percent and helps improve patient quality of life.

Community First, Inc. will host the 20th annual Tennessee Town Basketball Tournament on Saturday, Aug.

8 at King’s Court + SW Lincoln + Munson, with games beginning at 9 a.m.; registration for teams of 5 to 10 remains open until the end of today.

Grantville's Koltyn Kaniper earned silver in the men's javelin for Team USA last month at the FISU America Games in Lima, Peru.

He threw 66.15 meters during his standout freshman season and will continue with the Jayhawks.