🌱 12 Homicides This Year + Senator Defeats Welfare Reform Bill

Hello again, everybody. It's Friday in Topeka and I'm back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening in town.

But first, today's weather:

Very windy; a morning t-storm. High: 70 Low: 34.

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Here are the top three stories today in Topeka:

1. As of Mar. 30, Topeka has 12 homicides recorded so far this year. The 12th homicide comes after a road rage-related incident from February was ruled a homicide by the police. The current number of homicides is two less than the 14 homicides recorded for Topeka in 2021. Homicides in 2023 to date include the deaths of Shawn A. Carter, Genny L. Fitzpatrick, and more. (WIBW)
2. The Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library has been hosting up-and-coming artists at its tech center. Open since August 2022, the center is fully equipped with a digital art studio, two recording studios, 30 computers, and five small meeting rooms. Anyone interested in accessing the equipment would need a library card, which is free of charge. (KSNT News)
3. On Wednesday, Sen. Rick Kloos, R-Berryton, cast the deciding vote to overturn a bill that would have taken away food stamps for failure to pay child support. Sen. Rick Kloos flipped his vote after asking for a preliminary tally that showed his switch would cause the bill to fail. The bill, which previously passed the House in a 76-46 vote, would require custodial and non-custodial parents to cooperate with child support enforcement to be eligible for food assistance. A delinquent payment would automatically disqualify them from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for that month. The bill is part of a broader welfare reform effort this session by House Republicans. (The Topeka Capital-Journal)

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Today in Topeka:

• Open Studio At Mize Art Studio (10:00 AM)
• It's a Scavenger Hunt! Topeka At Any Location (11:00 AM)
• Open The Floodgates Of Imagination With Music At 5000 SW Huntoon St. (8:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• A new statue commemorates the founder of the first all-female Mariachi group in the United States! Mariachi Estrella's Teresa Cuevas statute will be unveiled and celebrated on Friday, May 5 at Evergy Plaza from 6-8:30 p.m. Special guests include artist and sculptor Joe Skeeba, Mayor Michael Padilla, the City of Topeka, local elected officials, and more. The public is invited to attend and all are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. (Teresa Cuevas Statue Project via Facebook)
• Drivers are being warned that a street closure near downtown Topeka will be in place by Saturday, Apr. 1. Topeka city officials say that on Thursday, Mar. 30, officials with DLC Plumbing completely closed SW 8th Avenue at the west leg of Plass. The site will remain closed for about two days and the eastbound lane will reopen for about two weeks while crews work on the westbound side. (WIBW)
• Topeka Public Schools saw significant literacy improvement among students, with USD 501 students exceeding 103 million words and 39,700 literacy hours. Learn more about how Topeka students beat reading limits for the 2021-2023 school years. (WIBW)

You're all caught up for today! I'll see you around.

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.