0:26

City manager Steve Wade defends the city’s decision to pursue buying Hotel Topeka.

7:52

Shawnee Co. Commissioner Aaron Mays discusses the county’s interest and involvement in the hotel sale.

14:08

Restorative Justice – Regina Platt with Topeka Center for Peace and Justice explains the concept and how it can help communities.

18:35

Phelicia Glass offers insight into the grieving process. Spoiler: There are no right and wrong answers!

 

0:41

Enjoy our extended interview with Jordy Nelson! The retired NFL great shares details of the Nelson Family Community Foundation’s 15th annual benefit. Hear who it helps and how it’s grown over the years, thanks to community support. He also looks ahead to his upcoming induction into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, and reflects on what sports have meant in his life.

14:04

Summer reading fun at the Topeka & Shawnee Co. Public Library: Ginger and Zan share their enthusiasm for keeping children’s – and adult’s! – minds active.

19:01

Happy birthday to the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center! The attraction in Topeka’s Gage Park turned 12 years old this week!

23:26

Fiesta Topeka’s royalty competition returns! Two young ladies are in the fundraising competition for the 90th anniversary Fiesta. For Lourie Rodriguez, it’s a family tradition.

0:39

The City of Topeka has seen 17 homicides in the year's first five months. In addition, several shooting incidents in the city and county have gained attention, including one at a South Topeka bar that injured one person, left more than 70 shell casings behind, and led to seven arrests.

Shawnee Co. District Attorney Mike Kagay visited Eye on NE Kansas to update his investigation role and offer his perspective on recent crime. Kagay said a common thread in the violence is the absence of conflict resolution skills. In most instances, he said, these are not random acts of violence.

6:41

The 2023 legislative session is in the books. It ended in a flurry of vetoes and override votes — some successful, some not.

House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, returned to Eye on NE Kansas for a post-session briefing from his perspective as the leader of the House Republicans.

14:20

United Way of Kaw Valley's Day of Giving is June 7. On that day, the community will be encouraged to contribute to UWKV to support any of a dozen focus areas. Many of those areas will have a corporate partner offering to match donations.

Among the focus areas is basic needs. Melissa Goodman with Mirror, Inc. visited Eye on NE Kansas to explain their organization partners with United Way to meet basic needs through their Works for Success program.

19:12

Topeka's Fiesta marks its 90th anniversary this year, with a few changes to accompany all the great traditions.
Fiesta Topeka chairperson Deborah Ortega and Travis Lamb, principal of Holy Family School, visited Eye on NE Kansas with an overview of what's planned.

23:33

What started as a benefit for the family of a man who lost his life to cancer continues today to support the youngest fighters.

The Rock Chalk Roundball Classic is celebrating its 15th year. Voice of the Jayhawks Brian Hanni started it. He visited Eye on NE Kansas with one of this year's "Starting 5," Nolan Anderson, age 5, and his mom Amanda.

0:34

Things usually wind down for our area schools this time of year, but USD 437 has some significant happenings just firing up.

Auburn Washburn district superintendent Dr. Scott McWilliams visited Eye on NE Kansas to detail three construction projects getting underway. All three result from a bond issue that district voters approved last year.

6:37

Shawnee Co. commissioners gave final approval to new boundaries for their districts.

District 2 commissioner Kevin Cook appeared on Eye on NE Kansas to discuss the process and the next steps for Gage Park now that the Gage Park Improvement Authority has been established.

11:51

United Way of Kaw Valley’s Day of Giving is June 7. People can designate gifts to various areas to unlock matching gifts.

One area of focus is basic needs. Thom Fox, manager of proposals and relationships for Catholic Charities, visited Eye on NE Kansas to discuss how his group and other partner organizations assist with meeting food needs and rent and utility assistance. 

17:43

May 17 marks the 69th anniversary of the landmark Brown vs. Board U.S. Supreme Court decision de-segregating public schools.

An event planned for Saturday, May 13, will commemorate the ruling and Topeka’s key role.
Tennessee Town NIA President Michael Bell organized the program.

He spoke with Eye on NE Kansas about the plans.

22:11

May is NF Awareness Month.

NF stands for neurofibromatosis, a group of genetic conditions causing tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body. NF affects about 1 in 2,000 births.

Dylan Pottorf of Topeka is one young fighter. He and his mom Sara visited Eye on NE Kansas to share how NF affects him and how they hope to raise awareness.

27:51

You might not realize it, but Shawnee Co. Parks and Recreation has 60 miles of trails to enjoy. Nearly half of those are nature trails.

Recreation leader Devin Cooper has organized a dozen hikes in the months ahead as a fun way for you to explore them. She visited Eye on NE Kansas to share details of the programs.

0:44

The Greater Topeka Partnership is looking to the future with its next strategy for building a stronger community.

GTP’s Senior Vice President of Strategy Michelle Stubblefield visited Eye on NE Kansas with a closer look.

6:21

Washburn University hopes to remove financial barriers to higher education for Shawnee Co. students.

Dr. JuliAnn Mazachek visited Eye on NE Kansas to discuss two new programs the school announced last week.

12:55

A new partnership aims to encourage reading among young people.

TJ MacDonald with United Way of Kaw Valley and Angie Grau, owner of Paper June book store in NOTO, visited Eye on NE Kansas to explain what they’re doing.

18:09

You could get a nice payday while helping a good cause.

The “United We Win” raffle is a fundraiser for Konza United Way. Their CEO Tara Claussen and board member and 2023 campaign chair Shawn Drew with Commerce Bank visited Eye on NE Kansas to share information about the raffle and the work the agency supports.

23:27

How much impact can you have on the community in one day? A lot if we all work together.

That’s the concept behind United Way of Kaw Valley’s annual Day of Giving. Trey George, 2022-2023 UWKV Campaign Chair, visited Eye on NE Kansas to explain how it works.

0:44

State lawmakers are on their first adjournment break. It’s been a session filled with contentious debate and unfinished business.

Before they head back, House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, visited Eye on NE Kansas with an update on key issues.

6:31

Every Tuesday during April’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Eye on NE Kansas is taking time to focus on different aspects of the issue.

This week, Michelle McCormick, executive director of the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, and Daniel Goombi, executive director of the Midwest Native Coalition for Justice and Peace, discussed the theme “prevention demands equity.”

11:40

April is Child Abuse Awareness Month, which makes it perfect timing for Topeka-based Kansas Children’s Service League to get an extra boost in its efforts to prevent abuse and build stronger families.

Jeremy Kindy with KCSL and Erika McNeill with Envista Credit Union visited Eye on NE Kansas to explain their partnership. Envista chose KCSL as this month’s Envista Cares challenge partner.

16:41

Road construction season is gearing up. While it may be frustrating for you, it can be downright frightening for the men and women working on those sites.

April 17 to 21 is Work Zone Safety Awareness Week. Dave Studebaker is the Topeka maintenance supervisor for the Kansas Dept. of Transportation. He visited Eye on NE Kansas to share reminders for drivers of what they can do to assist road crews.

21:54

You can help people in need feel the simple benefit of a good shower.

The Mobile Access Partnership is holding a community hygiene drive. Aimee Copp Hasty with Valeo Behavioral Health and Jenny Falk with Topeka Rescue Mission Ministries visited Eye on NE Kansas to detail the effort.

26:33

Baseball season is in full swing. One person who’s had a front row seat for several decades is Steve Physioc.

The WIBW-TV alum retired as a radio and television broadcaster for the Kansas City Royals after last season. Before appearing Wednesday night at the Topeka and Shawnee Co. Public Library, Physioc visited Eye on NE Kansas.

0:23 

The Kansas Legislature is on its first adjournment, with some essential items still unsettled.

Rep. Fred Patton, R-Topeka, is chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. He visited Eye on NE Kansas to share his perspective on what's been accomplished in the session so far and the work that remains.

6:51

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Every Tuesday this month, Eye on NE Kansas is taking time to focus on the issue.

It is a sensitive subject, making it tough to talk about. Michelle McCormick, executive director of the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, offered suggestions to start the conversation.

13:10

Kansans are invited to take time next week to remember and reflect on the Holocaust.

The annual State of Kansas Holocaust Commemoration has a theme this year of "Home and Belonging."

Rabbi Sam Stern and Topeka attorney Harold Youngentob, who will give the keynote address, visited Eye on NE Kansas to discuss the event's importance.

19:20

With news of failing banks and bailouts, many people worry about the impact the financial world's volatility could have on their savings and retirement accounts.

Carl Carlson, founder and CEO of Carlson Financial, visited Eye on NE Kansas to offer strategies to navigate it.

23:42 

It's all about kids at the Topeka and Shawnee Co. Public Library next week.

April 16 to 22 is National Week of the Young Child. Diana Friend with TSCPL visited Eye on NE Kansas to determine what they planned to celebrate.

26:37

Topeka's Salvation Army has forged a partnership with Topeka Police, Topeka Fire, and local volunteers for a free program getting kids active with some life lessons along the way.

It's the Three Shields Boxing Academy. The shields refer to the partnership between the Salvation Army, TFD, and TPD.

State Rep. and volunteer coach John Alcala, TPD Officer Darren Campbell, who works with the program through the Police Athletic League, and Grandpa Clay, a volunteer coach whose grandson went through the program, visited Eye on NE Kansas to share how the program works, how it's grown, and why it's proven valuable for young people from across the area.

0:36 

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and Eye on NE Kansas is taking time to focus on the issue.

Michelle McCormick, executive director of the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, appeared on the show Tuesday to discuss how widespread sexual violence is and the resources available for those impacted.

7:17

The City of Topeka is about to launch a new initiative to get a handle on homelessness.

The recent Point in Time count showed the number of unsheltered people rising. City Manager Steve Wade and the city’s Strategic Initiatives Coordinator Kristin Moorhead visited Eye on NE Kansas to explain what happens next.

12:08

April 3 through 9 is National Public Health Week.

Ashley Goss, Kansas Dept. of Health and Environment deputy secretary for public health, and Cristi Cain, KDHE’s local public health program director, visited Eye on NE Kansas to give a little more insight into their work.

18:07

You can support the work of the Topeka and Shawnee Co. Public Library through the Library Foundation’s Day of Giving — Tuesday, April 4. 

TSCPL Library Foundation Executive Director Ashley Charest visited Eye on NE Kansas to discuss the foundation’s role in supporting TSCPL.

22:34 

Topeka is known for its softball history and was considered a national hotspot for the sport back in the day.

This weekend, women who played the game from the 1930s through 1970s are invited to a special reunion. Washburn University softball coach Brenda Holaday and Brian Bohnsack, who helped organize the event, visited Eye on NE Kansas to share the details. 

0:23

Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay said everyone plays a role in ensuring children are safe at school.

Kagay visited Eye on NE Kansas Monday, hours after police say a woman shot out a door to get inside a private Nashville school, then killed three children and three adults before she was killed in a confrontation with police.

8:00

The Topeka City Council listed improving the city's appearance among its priority outcomes discussed in their work session on March 28th.

Council members Karen Hiller of District 1 and Christina Valdivia Alcala of District 2 visited Eye on NE Kansas to share details and fill us in on upcoming informational sessions.

13:23

Dennis Dinwiddie from the Topeka Zoo visited Eye on NE Kansas to offer reminders for getting along with the wildlife around us.

Dennis also brought a reptile along for some show and tell.

20:27

The annual Topeka Fire Department's Camp Courage invites young ladies aged 14 to 20 to experience various aspects of a firefighter's job.

Brendy Muninger with Topeka Fire, Sara Thielenhaus with Shawnee Heights Fire and Riley Co. EMS, and Rachel Frehe with Soldier Township Fire visited Eye on NE Kansas to talk about the camp and to share their own motivations for joining the fire service.

0:47

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation provides investigative assistance, laboratory services, prevention information, and other aid across the state. 

The agency is now under Director Tony Mattivi, who was confirmed for the post in early February.

7:43

Keeping an eye on the state’s bank accounts and reuniting you with any long-lost cash you have coming is among the duties of the State Treasurer.

Steven Johnson took over the office in January. He visited Eye on NE Kansas to update how he’s transitioned into the position and offered perspective on the national discussions over interest rates and instability in the banking sector.

13:34

Spring is about to be in full bloom with the Redbud Festival coming to the North Topeka Arts & Entertainment District — with the kickoff event coming up on April 1. 

NOTO executive director Tom Underwood and Marty Schlossman from FHL Bank visited Eye on NE Kansas to talk about the festival, the kickoff, and the importance of the arts in a community. FHL Bank is the presenting sponsor for the Redbud Festival.

18:15

March is Theatre in Our Schools Month. Topeka West High School students have been busy sharing what the arts add to their educational experience. Sophomore Phoebe Edgerton-Kufahl and Junior Charlie White shared their visit with the Kansas Legislature, Topeka City Council, and USD 501 Board of Education. 

They also talked about how involvement in theatre has improved their confidence and overall educational experience and Topeka West’s upcoming productions.

22:30

A long-time Topeka musician and two-time Kansas Music Hall of Famer is still rocking the stage with his friends, but Ric Barron has also been busy creating his own music.

Barron recently released his disc “Legacy.” He visited Eye on NE Kansas to discuss the project and his career.

 

Eye on NE Kansas - The Podcast