Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How Shawnee County’s new health plan could change daily life

And on the Topeka Patch calendar - Holiday Fling

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Saturday December 13th Patch AM
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Good morning Topeka! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How Shawnee County’s new health plan could change daily life
  • How Topeka doctors say you can tell RSV from flu or COVID
  • What Washburn grads really think about jobs, AI and Topeka

Today's riddle: What did the boat dock say when it was arrested? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Find out what's happening in Topekafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

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Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Topekafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Saturday: Mainly cloudy and colder, with a high of 30 and low of 8 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
  • Sunday: Cold with plenty of sun, temps: high: 25, low: 19.
  • Monday: Sunny and not as cold, with a high of 49 and low of 28 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. LiveWell annual gathering highlights successes, sets priorities for CHIP rollout (wibw.com) — Local health leaders in Topeka gathered Friday to review Shawnee County’s new Community Health Improvement Plan, celebrating drops in youth vaping and poor mental health days. They also laid out next steps to tackle obesity and overdose deaths, including more nutrition education and simple exercise ideas like chair workouts. The full CHIP will be posted online soon for residents to review.
   

2. RSV reaches peak season in northeast Kansas (ksnt.com) — Topeka doctors are warning that RSV is now in peak season, posing particular risks for local babies, older adults, and anyone with breathing issues. A pulmonology specialist at the University of Kansas Health System’s Saint Francis campus in Topeka explains how RSV symptoms differ from COVID and flu, and urges residents to isolate if sick and seek emergency care if breathing worsens.
   

3. Washburn University fall graduates share thoughts on entering workforce as AI increases (wibw.com) — Washburn University graduates in Topeka walked across the stage Friday, sharing mixed feelings of excitement and uncertainty as they enter a job market shaped by AI and modest unemployment. Several first-generation and business students described leaning on networking, including local Topeka connections, to land opportunities. Many said they’re optimistic their degrees and relationships will carry them into solid careers.
   

4. The Quotes That Defined Skilled Nursing in 2025 — and Hint at What's Ahead (skillednursingnews.com) — A skilled nursing facility in Topeka was among those abruptly losing Medicare and Medicaid certification this year, forcing closure and disrupting care for residents. The piece explains how aggressive federal enforcement, sweeping deregulation, and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act reshaped nursing homes nationwide, from funding cuts to rising private-equity scrutiny. It also previews mounting pressure on facilities as Baby Boomers’ care needs grow.
   

5. Prairie Band Potawatomi intends to ditch $30M ICE contract, chairman announces • Kansas Reflector (kansasreflector.com) — From Topeka, the Prairie Band Potawatomi Tribe’s chairman says the nation plans to cancel a nearly $30 million federal contract tied to designing ICE detention centers, after KSNT’s Topeka coverage brought it to light. He argues the deal conflicts with tribal values and compares immigrant detention to the historic treatment of Native people, even though backing out could cost future government work.
   

📸 Around Topeka

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Topeka

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

    Sunday December 14
  • Holiday Fling
    Stormont Vail Events Center, 1 Expocentre Dr, Topeka
    10:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events
    Tuesday December 16
  • Band/Strings Concert
    Mceachron Elem Topeka, KS 66614
    6:00 pm
    • Wednesday December 17
  • School Play
    Marjorie French Middle School Topeka, KS 66614
    7:00 pm

📣 Topeka Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

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

  • Please share & repost to help reunite this lost cat!
    Nala was LOST on December 8, 2025 in Topeka, KS 66604 near Macvicar & Muneon Sharing for a neighbor. For the latest information or to contact the… (Nextdoor College Hill)
  • I couldn’t catch a picture, but if anyone knows who owns an orange cat in the neighborhood please let me know!
    No collar but knows to go to a door. I don’t have any cat food I could only set out a warm bowl of water, as I have big dogs who aren’t very nice to… (Nextdoor Montara)
  • The Walt Disney Company posted a job opening for Youth Activities Counselor in Topeka. Apply here.
  • The Home Depot, Inc. posted a job opening for Warehouse Maintenance Associate in Topeka. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Topeka here.

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 demand a jury of my piers.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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