🌱 KS Joins Teacher Mobility Compact + Annual Soup Fundraiser

Hey, everybody. It's Monday in Topeka and I'm back in your inbox to get you caught up on all the most important things happening in the community today.

But first, today's weather:

Showers around in the p.m.. High: 68 Low: 47.

Are you a business owner or marketer in Topeka who wants to build awareness, connect with customers and increase sales? If that's you, then I invite you to see how our newsletter sponsorships combine our local audience reach with your expertise to attract new customers. Click here to learn more.

Here are the top three stories today in Topeka:

1. Gov. Laura Kelly signed a bill on Thursday that would create an easier pathway to teacher licensure for military personnel and their spouses. The bill would effectively allow teaching licenses to be viable across members of the compact, cutting through the current 50-state patchwork of disparate requirements. Ten states are required to fully enact the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, and Kansas is only the fourth to join. The three others are Utah, Colorado, and Kentucky. (atchisonglobenow.com)
2. Topeka Mayor Michael Padilla joined residents at Second Presbyterian Church for VIDA's annual soup fundraiser. The event sponsor, VIDA Ministry, was formed in 2006 to welcome Latin American immigrants and treat them with kindness. Their mission is to provide free classes in English, citizenship, nutrition, and computers to Topeka’s Latin American immigrant community. (WIBW)
3. A 47-year-old man was killed Saturday in a rollover crash on I-470 near Topeka, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP). Darryl Hayes Jr. of Oskaloosa was driving his truck east on I-470 around 9:45 p.m. Saturday when he unexpectedly drove off the road, KHP said. He hit the embankment, rolled over, struck a tree, and then rolled down the embankment. Hayes was pronounced dead at the scene. (KWCH)

From our sponsor:

Today’s Topeka Patch newsletter is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. T-Mobile has invested billions to light up their best network ever, covering 99% of people in America with LTE, which helps to keep communities like ours informed and connected. We thank T-Mobile for their support and for making today’s Topeka Patch newsletter possible.

Today in Topeka:

• Shades Of Greatness At Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library (9:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• The Austin pipe organ at First United Methodist Church is now 100 years old. Five of the church’s former organists returned to The Austin Organ Celebration on Sunday, Apr. 23 to share the milestone. (WIBW)
• Multiple local groups got together on Saturday to celebrate Earth Day with art and community involvement. The City of Topeka Sustainability and Advisory Board, ArtConnect, the Tonantzin Society, Native Lands LLC, Friends of the Kaw, and the Kansas City Indian Center were all part of the “We Are The Keepers” initiative to clean the Kansas River. (KSNT News)
• The Topeka Cemetery’s fountain underwent free maintenance on Friday, Apr. 21. Ashton Kate Construction LLC. in Wamego contacted the cemetery and volunteered to sandblast and renovate its Hummer Fountain before the Memorial Day ceremonies free of charge. The fountain is a tribute to Nancy Hummer, the daughter of the late Dana and Louise Hummer. (WIBW)

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Monday! I'll be back in your inbox soon with your next update.

— 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.