Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How a nationwide child predator sweep reached all the way to Topeka
Coming up: No School: Winter Break on the Topeka Patch calendar
Hello Topeka! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- How a nationwide child predator sweep reached all the way to Topeka
- How a West Topeka church is comforting holiday grief tonight
- Win big? Here’s how Topekans can cash Kansas Lottery tickets.
Today's riddle: What did the windowsill say to the glass? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Topekafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
From our Partner
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Find a T-Mobile store near Topeka.
Find out what's happening in Topekafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Monday: Clouds yielding to sun, with a high of 58 and low of 34 degrees.
- Tuesday: Partly sunny, temps: high: 60, low: 43.
- Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high of 70 and low of 51 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• Kansans arrested in nationwide sex offender operation: DOJ (fox4kc.com) — Federal officials say a nationwide child exploitation crackdown identified nearly 300 suspects, including one person described as being from Topeka. The Justice Department reports that two individuals with Kansas ties were indicted on multiple serious child pornography and exploitation charges as part of the two‑week Operation Relentless Justice, which also located more than 200 child victims across the country. 
• Topeka church holds ‘Longest Night Service of Comfort' (ksnt.com) — A West Topeka church recently hosted a “Longest Night Service of Comfort” to support residents who are grieving or stressed during the holidays. Central Congregational United Church of Christ used the winter solstice theme to offer hope, reflection, and collected offerings for Braided Haven, a shelter for homeless LGBTQ+ youth.
• Kansas Lottery Pick 3, 2 By 2 winning numbers for Dec. 21, 2025 (cjonline.com) — Kansas Lottery players can now check the Dec. 21 Pick 3, 2 By 2, and Lucky for Life winning numbers, plus see how to claim prizes. Winners of more than $599 can mail tickets or visit Kansas Lottery headquarters at 128 N Kansas Avenue in Topeka on weekdays.
📸 Around Topeka
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📣 Topeka Shout Outs!
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🗓 Events Nearby
- No School: Winter Break
Carbondale Attendance Center Carbondale, KS 66414 - PMP Certification 4 Days Classroom Training in Topeka, KS
Townsite BizHub , 534 S Kansas Ave Suite 900 , Topeka
9:00 am - Page Turners
Holiday Thornton Place , 2901 SW Armstrong Ave , Topeka
1:30 pm - Topeka Scarecrows vs. Monroe Moccasins
Stormont Vail Events Center , 1 Expocentre Dr , Topeka
7:05 pm - Friday Night Funnies
Cosmos Court , 909 S Kansas Ave , Topeka
8:00 pm - Liverpool Legends
Topeka Performing Arts Center , 214 SE 8th Ave , Topeka
7:30 pm - Toast at Ten: A Wildly Elegant New Year’s Eve at the Topeka Zoo
Topeka Zoo , 635 SW Gage Blvd , Topeka
6:00 pm - PRCA NYE Xtreme Bulls
Stormont Vail Events Center , 1 Expocentre Dr , Topeka
7:30 pm
Tuesday December 23
Friday December 26
Saturday December 27
Wednesday December 31
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Here is a chef’s trick, cook your potatoes for mashing in chicken stock.
Cooking potatoes in chicken stock (or broth) instead of plain water for mashed potatoes infuses them with savory, umami-rich flavor from the inside… (Nextdoor Elmhurst) - Please share & repost to help reunite this lost dog!
Scar ( Scarsky) was LOST on December 20, 2025 in Topeka, KS 66605 near Car Toyz Sharing for a neighbor. For the latest information or to contact the… (Nextdoor Oakland)
- Kansas Staffing posted a job opening for Produce Associate in Topeka. Apply here.
- Walmart posted a job opening for Stocking Team Associate in Topeka. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Topeka here.
🗞 Nearby News
Lawrence
- With donated wood, volunteer elves, he crafts ‘coolest gifts' for kids (newstribune.com)
- Emmanuel Henderson Jr. thanks ‘Jayhawk family,' enters 2026 NFL Draft (cjonline.com)
- Food recs: Kansas City's best bakeries and pastries (kcur.org)
Wamego
Ok Topeka! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I feel your pane.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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