Tim Hrenchir

1 week ago | cjonline.com | Tim Hrenchir

A small grill fire caused the temporary closure of North Star Steakhouse on May 3. The fire, contained to the grill area, resulted in no injuries or structural damage. The restaurant, which has been in business since at least 1942, planned to reopen by May 6. A small grill fire May 3 prompted North Star Steakhouse, 1100 N.W. 25th, to close temporarily to address a kitchen equipment malfunction, said Topeka Fire Marshal Alan C. Stahl.

1 week ago | cjonline.com | Tim Hrenchir

Eight people were killed and one injured May 4 in a fiery, two-vehicle, head-on crash in southeast Franklin County on US-169 highway, a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper said. The Kansas Highway Patrol was called at 5:46 p.m. to the scene, where both had vehicles caught fire, said Jodi Clary, a technical trooper with the highway patrol. One person was taken away by ambulance from the scene in critical condition, Clary said May 5. That person's condition has since improved, she said.

1 week ago | cjonline.com | Tim Hrenchir

Topeka police arrested a man and seized 28 animals, including an unspecified number of roosters suspected of being used in cockfighting. Israel Hernandez-Zavala, 40, was booked into Shawnee County Jail on multiple charges including animal cruelty, drug offenses, and weapons violations. Police found drugs, guns, and evidence of animal cruelty while executing a search warrant. The arrest occurred in the 200 block of S.E. Swygart Street in East Topeka.

1 week ago | cjonline.com | Tim Hrenchir

Taylor Swift and Luke Bryan were among performers in 2008 and 2012, respectively, at the Kicker Country Stampede music and camping festival held from 1996 to 2018 at Manhattan's Tuttle Creek State Park. That event tended to draw 100,000 music fans a year. It moved in 2019 to Topeka, then in 2024 to Bonner Springs. The new Rock the Plains country music and camping festival — taking place Aug. 8 and Aug.

1 week ago | yahoo.com | Tim Hrenchir

A victim was found fatally shot late May 2 in the area of S.W. 13th and Boswell Avenue, Topeka police said. No arrests were made by the morning of May 3. The victim's name, age and gender weren't immediately made public. Boswell runs north and south and is located four blocks west of S.W. Washburn Avenue. Topeka police were called late May 2 to the area of S.W. 13th and Boswell Avenue, where officers remained the morning of May 3.