🌱 Topeka Ranked 39th Best-Run City + Proposal To Protect Tenants

Good morning, everybody! Nicole Fallon-Peek here with your weekend edition of the Topeka Patch newsletter. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about what's happening locally.

But first, your local weather:

• Friday: Partly sunny and very warm. High: 92 Low: 72.
• Saturday: A severe p.m. t-storm; hot. High: 96 Low: 68.

From our sponsor:

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Here are the top three stories today in Topeka:

1. Topeka recently ranked No. 39 out of 149 of the best-run cities in the U.S., according to a new Wallethub study. Researchers looked at six categories to determine the rankings — financial stability, education, safety, health, economy, and infrastructure and pollution. (Wallethub)
2. Our Lady of Guadalupe school building in Topeka's Oakland neighborhood is receiving a facelift. Local artist Jamie Colon is creating a community mosaic on the walls of the school that tells the story of the area and school. Old photos submitted by neighborhood residents were turned into tiles to create the mosaic, which Colon hopes will be completed in time for the 90th annual Fiesta Topeka in July. (WIBW)
3. A proposed ordinance with the goal of holding landlords accountable and protecting Topeka tenants recently moved forward. If passed, the ordinance will prevent tenants who are in good standing from being evicted for alerting a landlord or government agency about health and safety complaints. The proposal now moves on to City Council for a vote. (KSNT News)

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Today and tomorrow in Topeka:

Friday, June 23

• Friday Flicks: Monsters, Inc. At Topeka And Shawnee County Public Library (1:00 PM)
• Edward Jones Concert In The Park At Gage Park Amphitheater (7:00 PM)

Saturday, June 24

• 62 Pride Fest At Studio 62 (10:00 AM)
• 5th Anniversary Block Party At The Pennant (4:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Heads up, drivers - I-70 is set to experience closures this weekend due to planned road construction. Eastbound lanes of I-70 will be shut down for pavement patching work from Topeka Boulevard to SE Eighth Street, while the westbound lanes will be taken down to one lane. The closures are set to begin at 4:00 a.m. on Saturday, Jun. 24, until work is completed or 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Jun. 25. (WIBW)
• David's Bridal's Topeka location is set to close permanently on Tuesday, Jun. 27. The wedding retailer stopped placing in-store orders on Jun. 1, and any purchases that haven't arrived before Tuesday will go to the Lenexa David's Bridal location at 9310 Marshall Dr. (Subscription: The Topeka Capital-Journal)
• Want to help out your neighbors? There are currently 18 low-income Topeka residents in need of assistance with yard upkeep. Through the Change our Culture for Property Maintenance Initiative that began last year, you can sign up to volunteer and help out. (KSNT News)

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Friday. I'll be in your inbox soon with another 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.