Daily
Topeka
Thursday, November 20th, 2025
Good morning, Topeka. Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 20th of November.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ SLI of Topeka finished renovating a former group home into five studio apartment-style units with private kitchens, baths, and living areas — the redesign helps adults with IDD live independently — and the building now includes a new tornado shelter. WIBW
- ➤ Lowman Hill principal Jennifer Norton has organized packed meals for needy families during Thanksgiving Break for five years. Palmer Law Group donated $750—adding 10 meals to bring the total to about 30, ensuring students have food to support their learning. WIBW
- ➤ Special Olympics Kansas held its annual Champion’s Luncheon Wednesday at Topeka to thank supporters who help run its sports competitions and leadership programs — over 200 guests attended the event. WIBW
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Security Benefit gave United Way of Kaw Valley a record-breaking gift of $222,977 during its fall 2025 workplace campaign—beating last year's total of $216,664—and partnered with the city's Oh Snap! campaign to collect cash and food donations for local pantries. WIBW
- ➤ Evergy is remodeling its downtown office at 818 South Kansas Ave with new windows, updated logo art and improved heating and cooling systems—construction began in late October and will finish by spring—boosting energy efficiency and modernizing the building. The project supports the utility's commitment to a refreshed downtown look. KSNT
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Lego fans in Topeka will enjoy the first Brick Convention as it will take place on Feb. 21 and 22 at Stormont Vail Events Center—organizers said professional Lego artists will display live builds, host meet-and-greets, and share creative zones while ticket proceeds help Creations for Charity support underprivileged children. WIBW
- ➤ The Kansas Museum of History in Topeka will reopen on Saturday, Nov 22 at 9 a.m. after three years of renovations and now features four new sections—Changing Kansas, Connecting Kansas, Making Kansas, and Bleeding Kansas—that explore different parts of the state’s past. The museum will hold a ceremony at 9:30 a.m. and offer free admission until year-end to thank visitors for their patience. WIBW
- ➤ The Topeka Symphony Orchestra will perform Color and Light at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22 at Washburn University’s White Concert Hall. Music director Kyle Wylie Pickett said the show features a piece by oboist Alyssa Morris inspired by an Aztec myth — and it will also include a work by retired Washburn professor Gordon McQuere that explores kindness, perseverance and wisdom. WIBW
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ Topeka’s HyVee is offering a full Thanksgiving meal for $30—complete with a turkey, fixings and half a pie—and a deal where buying a ham gets you a free turkey. The store also provides made-to-order meals for in-store pickup from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day, as food prices show modest shifts that support savings. WIBW
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Alumni, faculty, and staff at Washburn University signed the last beam of Advisors Excel Hall as part of a $35 million renovation that will add new media and lab spaces—workers are framing walls on the third floor—and make the hall easier to use, with it set to reopen in January 2027. WIBW
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ Kansas organizations and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers started a groundbreaking water injection dredging project at Tuttle Creek Lake on Sept 27 to move silt and help keep the dam’s flood control capacity intact—officials plan two more 10-day sessions in spring and summer to study the method’s effects downstream. Kansas Reflector
FINANCE NEWS
- ➤ Carl Carlson (founder and CEO of Carlson Financial) visited Eye on NE Kansas and explained how fixed income annuities work like insurance contracts (accepting money as a lump sum or over time to guarantee a steady income) to help retirees plan for lasting financial security. WIBW
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ City planners met on Nov. 17 to review the Southeast Topeka Development Plan near Lake Shawnee—an effort that examined both strengths like the area’s marketable landscape and obstacles such as missing sidewalks and costly utility upgrades. Planning Division director Dan Warner said more housing must come first to boost future retail growth in the area. KSNT
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ SENT’s Southside Wellness Clinic on Topeka’s east side helps people with mental health and addiction recovery using a holistic approach, said community health advocate Trisha Osier-Duvall. The clinic uses medication-assisted treatment—along with behavioral therapies and herbal interventions—to make health care more accessible in the Hi-Crest neighborhood. WIBW
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Chocolate Nutcracker Midwest
3-4:30 p.m. — Topeka Performing Arts Center — Adults start at $20, Children start at $10 — Experience an urban twist on the classic ballet featuring diverse dance styles.
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Cheer Power Topeka Showdown 2025
1 a.m. — Topeka Elite Cheer — Bids available for top competitions — Cheerleading competition featuring bids for prestigious events.
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28th Annual Winter Wonderland
November 26 to December 31 — Lake Shawnee Campground — Admission Fee Required — Experience a festive drive-thru holiday light display perfect for the entire family.
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Community Thanksgiving Dinner
12-2 p.m. — Stormont Vail Events Center — Free entry — Enjoy a warm meal with the community during this festive Thanksgiving gathering.
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SLEAZYWORLD GO Live in Topeka
9 p.m. — The Woodshed Event Center — $25-$120 — Experience SLEAZYWORLD GO's exciting live performance on 'THE RED TOUR' with all ages welcome.
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Adult Skate Night at Sk8away
7:30-9:30 p.m. — Sk8away Inc. — $8 with rentals or $6 with personal skates — Enjoy a fun night of skating for adults aged 18 and over.
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Catholic Community Zoo Lights
Come for Mass at Hayden HS, Enjoy Hot Chocolate after Mass, then head to The Topeka Zoo to enjoy the annual Zoo Lights event! Everyone is welcome!
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Catholic Community Zoo Lights
Come for Mass at Hayden HS, Enjoy Hot Chocolate after Mass, then head to The Topeka Zoo to enjoy the annual Zoo Lights event! Everyone is welcome!
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Tip-a-Cop at Red Robin Topeka
4-8 p.m. — Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews — Donations appreciated — Enjoy a meal with local law enforcement while supporting Special Olympics Kansas athletes.
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10th Annual Wing Fling
2-3:30 p.m. — Stormont Vail Events Center — Ticket prices not available yet — Enjoy a fun-filled festival featuring Topeka's only chicken wing competition with great food, drinks, and live music.
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Python for Scientists Training/Class
Dec 8-12 — Heston's Gladiator Academy — $2250 — Enhance your Python skills with expert-led classes designed for scientific applications.
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