🌱 Transgender Athletes + Shawnee Most Wanted + Topeka Homicide Rate

Hey, Topeka. I'm here in your inbox today to get you up to speed on everything you need to know about what's going on around town.

But first, your local weather:

• Friday: Cloudy, a shower in the p.m.. High: 63 Low: 39.
• Saturday: Mostly sunny and pleasant. High: 70 Low: 41.

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I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. If that's you, then I invite you to learn more and secure your spot now.

Here are the top four stories in Topeka today:

1. The Kansas State High School Activities Association's executive board
   has decided that high schools and middle schools must see transgender athletes' first birth certificates to decide what teams they can join. This replaces a policy that allowed decisions to be made on a case-by-case basis with a new policy that says transgender girls will not be allowed to compete on girls' teams starting Jul. 1. The Republican-controlled state legislature has also tried to end gender-affirming care for transgender minors; however, the attempt failed to get the two-thirds majorities needed to override Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly's veto. (KSNT News)
2. Tanner J. Thompson, a 27-year-old Topeka man, has been added to the Shawnee County Crime Stoppers Most Wanted list after being on the run following an alleged domestic disturbance incident where a mother and her infant were injured. The incident occurred earlier in the week, and Thompson is wanted for criminal threat, which caused terror, evacuation, or disruption. The public is urged to contact Shawnee County Crime Stoppers if they have any information about Thompson or the incident. (WIBW)
3. Topeka is on track to surpass last year's 18 murders with 16 homicides
   already reported in the first half of 2023. The number is alarming to community leaders, including Topeka Jump Co-chairman Anton Ahrens, who calls the situation heartbreaking and unacceptable. Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay is confident in law enforcement, and new technology is being developed to help domestic violence cases. Despite the alarming numbers, one Topeka resident says he feels safe as long as he pays attention to his surroundings. (KSNT)
4. A Kansas Department of Corrections employee, Nathaniel L. Goodman, was
   arrested for allegedly having a sexual relationship with an inmate at the Topeka Correctional Facility. Goodman, 19, resigned from his position just over two months after being hired and was booked into jail on charges of unlawful sexual relations with an inmate aged 16 or older. Officials have not provided further details about the incident leading to his arrest, and no bond has been set. (WIBW)

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Today and tomorrow in Topeka:

Friday, April 28

• Shades Of Greatness At Topeka And Shawnee County Public Library (9:00 AM)
• Computer & Gadget Help April At Topeka And Shawnee County Public Library (10:00 AM)
• Game On! At Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library (3:00 PM)

Saturday, April 29

• Dia At Topeka And Shawnee County Public Library (1:00 PM)

In partnership with T-Mobile:

Do you know a Topeka student who’s making a difference in the community? We want to hear about them! Click here to nominate a student to be featured on Patch.

From my notebook:

• High school students in Kansas learned about job opportunities in the construction industry through an interactive showcase called Build My Future Kansas. The event, held at the Stormont Vail Events Center's Landon Arena and parking lot, featured over 40 construction companies and businesses in North East Kansas to demonstrate their work and answer students' questions. The event was organized by the Topeka Home Builders Association in partnership with the Kansas City Home Builders Association, and over 550 students from North East Kansas, North Central Kansas, and Missouri attended. (KSNT News)
• A third-grader at Topeka Collegiate, Harper Doll, decided to use her
  birthday to help others by requesting her friends to bring items to be donated to Topeka Civic Theater for its summer camp program instead of gifts. Harper has been involved with TCT for several years, and her donation of items such as crayons, colored pencils, and highlighters will aid the theater's program. The theater staff is grateful for Harper's contribution, and they say the donation will be a tremendous help. (WIBW)
• Developers Makayla Girodat and Renee Stevens plan to develop the former Red Carpet Inn & Suites building in downtown Topeka. However, the pair have faced issues with the property's title, multiple LLCs, and insurance for the building. Despite purchasing the building in October 2021, the developers have not made a final decision on how to develop the property, but ideas such as self-storage, apartments, leased office space, rooftop dining, a grocery store on the lower level of the building, assisted living with families next door, and a homeless shelter have been suggested. (Subscription: The Topeka Capital-Journal)

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Friday! See you soon for 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.