Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: What Topeka’s data center moratorium could mean for your power and water
And check out CC@ Shawnee North Comm. Center on the Topeka Patch calendar
Cheers Topeka! We're back, helping you stay up to date with what's happening. Let's take on the day together! ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- What Topeka's data center moratorium could mean for your power and water
- What changes Topeka's USD 501 must make after its federal settlement.
- Don't miss the final night of Topeka's inaugural Black Rodeo.
And lastly, we have a post from a neighbor, Keith H.!
Today's riddle: What has a neck but no head? 🤔 (Answer below!)
From our Partner
Today's Topeka Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. After investing billions to light up their network from big cities to small towns, T-Mobile is America's Best Mobile Network in the US according to Ookla Speedtest®. Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data 1H 2026. We thank T-Mobile for their support in helping to keep communities like ours connected and for making today's Topeka Patch AM possible.
Find a T-Mobile store near Topeka. 
- Saturday: Partly sunny, breezy and warm, with a high of 94 and low of 75 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
- Sunday: Breezy and hot with sunshine, temps: high: 100, low: 74.
- Monday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high of 100 and low of 75 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Kansas communities can learn from 'painful lessons' of data center developments in other states (hppr.org) — Topeka's new one-year moratorium on data centers is giving city leaders time to study how big facilities could affect local power, water, noise and neighborhoods before a proposed Compass Datacenter project moves forward southwest of town. Experts from Kansas and Virginia outline best practices on zoning, cooling systems, grid upgrades and transparency so communities like Topeka don't repeat costly mistakes seen elsewhere. 
2. Topeka USD 501 settles with U.S. Department of Education over transgender policies (sentinelksmo.org) — Topeka's USD 501 has reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of Education over how the district handled records and communication involving transgender students and parental rights. The agreement ends a federal dispute, preserves funding, and requires the district to end gender support plans, update guidance to keep parents informed, and add FERPA-focused training for staff.
3. Black Rodeo debuts in Topeka (wibw.com) — A new Black Rodeo is wrapping up its inaugural run tonight at the North Topeka Saddle Club, with gates opening at 7 p.m. and events at 8. Organizers and vendors are using the family-friendly rodeo, open to all races, to spotlight Black cowboy history while giving local riders a chance to compete and improve.
4. How state grants are expanding public media's role in rural Kansas (current.org) — A new state grant is helping Topeka's KTWU create TV specials and podcasts highlighting rural Kansas jobs, training tools and economic innovation. The $100,000 award, part of a $500,000 statewide program, will fund new Working Capital episodes and partnerships with groups like Washburn University and HirePaths to showcase real career paths for young people in smaller communities.
📸 Around Topeka
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🗓 Upcoming Events in Topeka
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
- CC@ Shawnee North Comm. Center
Marjorie French Middle School Topeka, KS 66614
4:00 pm - No School- Labor Day
Mceachron Elem Topeka, KS 66614 - McEachron Book Fair
Mceachron Elem Topeka, KS 66614 - PTO Meeting
Mceachron Elem Topeka, KS 66614
5:30 pm
Thursday September 3
Monday September 7
Tuesday September 8
🗓 Events Nearby
- High School Varsity Volleyball Tournament
Silver Lake USD 372 Salina South High School, 730 E Magnolia Rd, Salina, KS 67401
9:00 am - High School Junior Varsity Volleyball Tournament
Silver Lake USD 372 Perry-Lecompton High School, 404 Lecompton Rd, Perry, KS 66073\
9:00 am - Fall Gym Use Begins
Silver Lake USD 372 400 E Pottawatomie St, Silver Lake, KS 66539, USA - Trash Bag Fundraiser begins →
North Fairview Topeka, KS 66617 - High School Volleyball Dual
Silver Lake USD 372 St Marys High School, 601 E Lasley St, St Marys, KS 66536, USA
5:00 pm - Pauline PTO Meeting @ PC
Pauline South Intermediate Wakarusa, KS 66546
5:30 pm - Future Farmers of America Meeting
Silver Lake USD 372 Silver Lake High School, PO Box 39, 200 E Lake St, Silver Lake\
7:55 am - FFA Meeting
Silver Lake USD 372 Silver Lake High School, PO Box 39, 200 E Lake St, Silver Lake\
7:55 am
Saturday August 29
Sunday August 30
Monday August 31
Tuesday September 1
Wednesday September 2
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Almost Blood Moon Eclipse — August 27–28, 2026 in Kansas
Key Times in Kansas (Central Time) Penumbral eclipse begins: ~1:24 UTC (10:24 PM CDT) Partial eclipse begins: ~2:34 UTC (11:34 PM CDT) Maximum… (Nextdoor Pepper Tree Park) - And so prep begins for the market.
Can't have enough butter. And 4 sticks already in the mixer. 2 batches of buttercream coming up! Then cakes and cookies. And I finally mixed up some… (Nextdoor Lake Sherwood - Northwest)
- O'Reilly Auto Parts posted a job opening for Merchandiser/Stocker - Hub in Topeka. Apply here.
- Capstone Logistics, LLC posted a job opening for Warehouse Sanitation 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: A bottle (Thank you Netty W. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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