Press Releases

The Municipal Court will resume in-person court dockets on Monday February 1, 2021.  All patrons entering the courthouse will be subject to a temperature check and must be properly wearing a face mask. Other safety measures include plexiglass in both courtrooms, strict social distancing requirements, UV lighting, and hand sanitizer stations.

Defendants are encouraged to check the status of their case on the Court’s online public access portal at https://www.topeka.org/municipalcourt/. Parties may also visit the Court’s website to determine if their matter qualifies for resolution via video conference hearing.

Anyone exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 or other related illnesses should contact the Prosecutor’s Office to discuss a continuance of their scheduled court date.

Municipal Court Clerk’s Office: 785-368-3776

City Prosecutor’s Office:  785-368-3910

Administrative Judge Karan M. Thadani, in conjunction with City Manager Brent Trout, has made the decision to cancel court dockets, including trials, for an additional two weeks beginning December 7, 2020, and lasting through December 18, 2020.  The decision was made after careful consideration of the Shawnee County COVID-19 Community Transmission Index and reports from local hospitals that occupancy rates and community spread of COVID-19 remain high.

During this time, the Topeka Municipal Court will continue to conduct its jail hearings via video conferencing on Mondays and Wednesdays. The Court will remain open for walk-in business Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 4:30 pm.  Anyone with court business are strongly encouraged to conduct their business by telephone, email, or facsimile whenever possible.  Payments may be made online, over the phone, or by mail.

All cases during this time will be rescheduled and notices of hearing will be sent by mail to defendants and defense counsel. Defendants should call the Court Clerk’s office at 785-368-3776 to update contact information during normal business hours. Defendants are also encouraged to check the status of their case on the Court’s online public access portal at https://www.topeka.org/municipalcourt/. Parties may also visit the Court’s website to determine if their matter qualifies for resolution via video conference hearing.

Clerk’s Office: 785-368-3776

Clerk’s Office Fax: 785-368-3782

Email: Motions@topeka.org (MOTIONS ONLY)

Mail: 214 SE 8th Avenue, Topeka, Kansas 66603

Anyone directed to report to the Probation Division should continue to report as scheduled.  Probationers who are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 of other related illnesses should contact the Probation Division at 785-368-3783.

The presence of COVID-19 in the community will be reevaluated over the next two weeks and a decision will be made at that time in the best interests of its patrons and staff as to when dockets will resume.

Due to health and safety concerns related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Topeka Municipal Court will continue to keep in-person dockets suspended through Friday, January 29, 2021.

During this time, the Court will continue to conduct daily video conference hearings.  The Court will remain open for walk-in business Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 4:30 pm, for defendants to set court dates, resolve non-appearance required cases, recall warrants, file documents, make payments, and reset payment plans. Defendants are strongly encouraged to conduct their business by telephone, email, or facsimile whenever possible.  Payments may be made online, over the phone, or by mail.

All cases during this time will be rescheduled and notices of hearing will be sent by mail to defendants and defense counsel.  Defendants should call the Court Clerk’s office at 785-368-3776 to update contact information during normal business hours. Defendants are also encouraged to check the status of their case on the Court’s online public access portal at www.topeka.org/municpalcourt.org.  Parties may also visit the Court’s website to determine if their matter qualifies for resolution via video conference hearing.

Clerk’s Office: 785-368-3776

Clerk’s Office Fax: 785-368-3782

Email: Motions@topeka.org (MOTIONS ONLY)

Mail: 214 SE 8th Avenue, Topeka, Kansas 66603

Anyone directed to report to the Probation Division should continue to report as scheduled.  Probationers who are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 of other related illnesses should contact the Probation Division at 785-368-3783.

Attention Pokémon Trainers: Topeka was selected to join seven other cities in hosting a preview opportunity to play the upcoming games for the Nintendo Switch, Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! The other cities include Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Dallas, Chicago, Boston, and New York. Topeka was selected because of our history with the Pokémon franchise. Back in 1998, Nintendo chose Topeka as the site for the national debut for a series of Pokémon games.
The Topeka Zoo will host the Pokémon Let’s Go Road Trip on October 27th, from 9:00-6:00. A pair of Pikachu and Eevee themed demo trucks will be in the Topeka Zoo parking lot. All Gage Park guests will have the opportunity to test out the new games, as well as the new Poké Ball Plus accessory for the Nintendo Switch. This event is completely free and open to the public.
Friends of Topeka Zoo Executive Director Jared Bednar says, “Pokémon has been such an important component of our pop culture. The television shows, video games, and card games are ingrained in many of our childhood memories. We are so excited to be one of the cities selected to participate with this exciting promotion.”
In conjunction with the Pokémon Let’s Go Road Trip, the Topeka Zoo will be bringing back our Pokémon Go Safari Zone for Oct. 27. Avid Pokémon collectors know that new Pokémon were just released on Oct. 16 within the Pokémon Go game for iOS and Android. With the assistance of local trainers, lures will be dropped throughout the day to increase Pokémon spawns.
Oct. 27 is also the second date of our annual Boo at the Zoo event. Dozens of vendors will provide candy and activities within the zoo for a safe, trick-or-treating environment. Standard general admission rates apply; Friends of Topeka Zoo members receive free admission.
For Further Information please contact Jared Bednar, Executive Director, FOTZ (785)368-9162

The City of Topeka’s Changing Our Culture of Property Maintenance Initiative is beginning its first community outreach phase, focusing on mowing, through a new mowing program.

Currently, the City of Topeka is seeking proposals from qualified businesses, organizations, or individuals, to develop and run a community mowing service pilot program. The pilot program will provide mowing services for underserved neighborhoods, by developing a fixed, and affordable rate model. The pilot program will primarily serve the City’s low and moderate income (LMI) neighborhoods, and those living in Neighborhood Improvement Association (NIA) areas. The City will provide up to $25,000 to help develop the pilot program. Once up and running, the goal is for the program to become self-sustaining, and independent from City financial support.

The City will host a pre-proposal meeting on Thursday, May 19 at 10:00 a.m. at the Holliday Building for potential bidders to learn about the program initiative, and to ask questions.

“This summer, mowing will be our first action initiative. The goal is to get as many properties as possible mowed, not just one time, but for the season and with a sustainable future plan,” said Councilwoman Karen Hiller. “Watch for further developments with the initiative, including volunteer opportunities for neighbors, families, churches, businesses, organizations, and more to get engaged with helping residents with mowing!”

The Changing Our Culture of Property Maintenance Initiative is a five-year plan, created by the Topeka City Council’s Public Health and Safety Committee. The initiative is a collective effort by City of Topeka departments, the Topeka City Council, and the community to improve property condition, reduce substandard housing, motivate property owners to care for their properties, and encourage investment in vacant and deteriorated properties. The Changing Our Culture of Property Maintenance Initiative is championed by Councilwoman Karen Hiller and Councilwoman Christina Valdivia-Alcala.

“We are so encouraged with the possibilities of the initiative for both the City of Topeka and our neighbors across the city. It’s vital we all lean in towards each other to help re-create neighborhoods and community – this is the time,” said Councilwoman Valdivia-Alcala.

Visit https://www.topeka.org/citycouncil/changing-our-culture-of-property-maintenance/ for more information about the initiative.

 

The City of Topeka and community partners on Tuesday launched a new program that aims to create a more collaborative community approach to ensuring equity and access to housing and shelter in Topeka.

The program, known as Equity Access Shelter (E.A.S.), will enhance homeless services to ensure all people receive rent assistance with a single point of access. E.A.S. is located within the City’s Housing Services Division.

“No longer does a person needing rent assistance have to call multiple agencies to try to get help. One phone number means individuals are able to access help quickly, and without further trauma,” said Carrie Higgins, Senior Program Administrator for the City of Topeka. “E.A.S. uses an assessment to score each individual’s level of need, as well as coordinated entry to assist those individuals based on prioritization.”

E.A.S. partners include Catholic Charities, Community Action, Community Resources Council, Doorstep, Let’s Help, Salvation Army, Topeka Housing Authority, Topeka Rescue Mission, and Valeo.

The program was initiated by Topeka City Councilwoman Christina Valdivia-Alcala, and inspired by the housing first model and the national Built for Zero movement.

“The E.A.S. program is needed in Topeka now. Staff has been working hard on the initiative for a year. Topekans are ready to learn more so they can have faith the city is doing all possible to address the chronic unsheltered and over all homeless crisis we are experiencing.  Equity. Access. Shelter., is based on a model similar to Built for Zero, and it’s crucial all organizations that partner with the city understand real and lasting reduction in homelessness is possible working together with the single point of entry and the vital importance of consistent data, tracking and sharing information to help make this program a success,” said Councilwoman Valdivia-Alcala.

E.A.S. has a dedicated staff member with years of social work experience in Topeka. The goal is for the program to expand in the future to include clothing, food, and other services.

To contact E.A.S. to request rental assistance, please call 785-368-9533, or email EAS@topeka.org. Walk-ins are also welcome at the City’s Holliday Building, which is located at 620 SE Madison Ave.

La ciudad de Topeka y los socios comunitarios lanzaron el martes un nuevo programa que tiene como objetivo crear un enfoque comunitario más colaborativo para garantizar la equidad y el acceso a la vivienda y el refugio en Topeka.

El programa, conocido como Equity Access Shelter (E.A.S.), mejorará los servicios para personas sin hogar para garantizar que todas las personas reciban asistencia para el alquiler con un único punto de acceso. EAS está ubicado dentro de la División de Servicios de Vivienda de la Ciudad.

“Una persona que necesita asistencia para el alquiler ya no tiene que llamar a varias agencias para tratar de obtener ayuda. Un número de teléfono significa que las personas pueden acceder a la ayuda rápidamente y sin más traumas,” dijo Carrie Higgins, administradora sénior del programa de la ciudad de Topeka. “E.A.S. utiliza una evaluación para calificar el nivel de necesidad de cada individuo, así como la entrada coordinada para ayudar a esos individuos en función de la priorización.”

Los socios de E.A.S. incluyen Catholic Charities, Community Action, Doorstep, Let’s Help, Salvation Army, Topeka Housing Authority, Topeka Rescue Mission y Valeo.

El programa fue iniciado por la concejala de la ciudad de Topeka, Christina Valdivia-Alcala, e inspirado por el primer modelo de vivienda y el movimiento nacional Construido para Cero.

“El programa E.A.S. es necesario en Topeka ahora. El personal ha estado trabajando arduamente en la iniciativa durante un año. Los habitantes de Topeka están listos para obtener más información para que puedan tener fe en que la ciudad está haciendo todo lo posible para abordar la crisis crónica de personas sin hogar y, sobre todo, sin hogar que estamos experimentando. Equidad. Acceso. Refugio., se basa en un modelo similar a Built for Zero, y es crucial que todas las organizaciones que se asocian con la ciudad entiendan que es posible una reducción real y duradera de la falta de vivienda trabajando en conjunto con el punto único de entrada y la importancia vital de datos consistentes, seguimiento y compartir información para ayudar a que este programa sea un éxito,” dijo la concejal Valdivia-Alcala.

E.A.S. tiene un miembro del personal dedicado con años de experiencia en trabajo sociales en Topeka. El objetivo es que el programa se amplíe en el futuro para incluir ropa, alimentos y otros servicios.

Para comunicarse con E.A.S. y solicitar asistencia con el alquiler, llame al 785-368-9533 o envíe un correo electrónico eas@topeka.org. Los visitantes sin cita previa también son bienvenidos en el edificio Holliday de la ciudad, que está ubicado en 620 SE Madison Ave.

 

An armed suspect is deceased following an officer-involved shooting early Thursday morning in South Topeka.

On October 13, at around 12:40 a.m. officers from the Topeka Police Department (TPD) responded to a home in the 4800 block of SW Topeka Blvd. on reports of a violent domestic incident. Information indicated that a suspect, who is known to the victim, was trying to break into the victim’s home. The suspect made entry, and barricaded himself inside the house.

A short time later, the suspect fled the scene in a vehicle, and officers quickly located him at the Kwik Shop at 4500 SW Topeka Blvd.

While at the Kwik Shop, the suspect, armed with a knife, attempted to steal a different vehicle, occupied by two adult females and a child. Multiple officers fired at the suspect. All involved officers and bystanders are uninjured. The suspect was pronounced deceased at the scene by medical personnel.

TPD requested the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) to investigate this incident. All involved officers have been placed on administrative leave, as is standard protocol.

The deceased individual is an adult male. The individual will not be identified until next of kin notifications have been made.  

This is preliminary information, and additional updates are expected to come from the KBI.

 

Operation COVID-19 Basic Needs Assistance Program is a foreclosure/eviction mitigation and utility prevention shut-off program created by the City of Topeka and administered by the Community Resources Council (CRC). $1.5 million in CARES Act funds will be available to qualified applicants to help cover expenses and help keep people housed and with utilities in Topeka.

“Community Resources Council, is pleased to again partner with the City of Topeka on a social service program. CRC will be providing management over-site of this essential COVID Basic Needs Assistance Program. For almost a century, CRC has been serving the Topeka/Shawnee County community in ‘minding the gap’ of social service programing and the unmet needs within our community,” said Mary Thomas the Community Resources Council Executive Officer.

“The City of Topeka knows how much our neighbors are struggling during these difficult times. The Operation COVID-19 Basic Needs Assistance program is designed to keep our neighbors housed and with their utilities on so they can focus on other needs this year,” said City Manager Brent Trout.

The Operation COVID-19 Basic Needs Assistance program is by appointment only Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and on Wednesday from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Appointments should take between forty-five minutes and one hour. Walk-in appointments will be scheduled for the next available appointment or what works best for them with no exceptions. Applicants must bring all required documents (as stated on the application) at the time of the appointment to proceed. If the applicant is lacking information/documentation the appointment will be rescheduled. Applicants must be on time, after 5 minutes of grace period the appointment will be rescheduled.   c

 

Required documents participants must bring to the appointment include:

• ID or driver’s license,
• Social security number for all household members,
• Rent lease/mortgage statement,
• Past 30 days pay stubs or SSI/SSDI or Unemployment statement
• Current Utility Bills

 

Appointments can be scheduled over the phone from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday by calling (785) 233-1365. If the line is busy, leave your name and phone number and CRC staff will call back to schedule an appointment.

Operation Food Secure is a joint initiative between the Topeka Rescue Mission, the City of Topeka, and United Way of Greater Topeka and several other partners with organizations, churches, and neighborhood groups to distribute food boxes to those in need in neighborhoods across Northeast Kansas. The City of Topeka will host mobile food sites in specified neighborhoods through September and October.

“Many families in Topeka are struggling and we want to ensure that no one in our community goes to bed hungry at night,” said Director of Community Engagement Monique Glaudeˊ. “I am grateful to all of our partners who have stepped up and done the work to make sure our community is fed.”

Topeka Rescue Mission also offers traditional food distribution on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am to 2pm. Please drive to the Northwest end of the Distribution Center (401 Norris) where you will be able to stay in your car and receive assistance.

If you are interested in volunteering you can contact LaToya Burnett at lburnett@topeka.org or (785) 368-3663. If you are interested in hosting a site in your community and would like to serve as an Operation Food Secure Neighborhood Site Captain, please contact Marissa Dake at mdake@trmonline.org.

You can also visit these links to sign up as a volunteer:

September Volunteer link: https://unitedwaytopeka.galaxydigital.com/event/detail/?event_id=68304

 

See the attached flyer for dates and site locations for the Operation Food Secure Mobile Food Sites.