Eye on NE Kansas - The Podcast

The federal budget debate remains hot - and we had U.S. Rep. Derek Schmidt stop in to offer his perspective on what's happening.

Topeka's City Manager also updated city happenings, while other guests give us a sneak peak at some upcoming events.

Our studio was filled with guests talking all things mental health as we mark May as Mental Health Awareness Month.

We also look ahead to how Kansas State Veteran Cemeteries are marking Memorial Day, and see what Forge is doing to welcome summer interns to the Capital City.

Hours after Topeka introduced a new assistant city manger at a $200K salary, the city manager sat down live to answer questions about how this fits into a budget that's facing a $17M deficit.

Plus, we dive into how area groups are meeting critical needs - and we dive into a new summer for parks and pools!

Small Business Week brought guests sharing resources available to assist aspiring entreprenuers in achieving their dreams!

We also checked in the Kansas Insurance Commissioner, Shawnee Co. District Attorney and mental health advocates - and got ready for Relay for Life!

Elevating survivors voices and connecting communties.

Throughout April, the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence and partner advocates joined us weekly to raise awareness of the issue and available resources.

Join us for these important conversations.

Stress Awareness Month is among our topics this week. We also pause for the Kansas Holocaust Commemoration; have some safety reminders for the orange barrels you see popping up all over; and invite you to a couple fun community events.

SENT Topeka has three women with the same first name leading many of their efforts. Meet Tricia, Tricia and Trisha! Plus, City Manager Robert Perez, County Commissioner Aaron Mays and State Treasurer Steven Johnson drop in; and Michelle with GTP talks Leadership Greater Topeka's next "best class ever!"

The Kansas National Guard 190th Air Refueling Wing is among finalists to land the next generation of refuelers. This week's guests look at why that's important. Plus, we explain microinternships and invite young ladies to Camp Courage.

Northeast Kansas dove into the deep freeze! The Topeka Rescue Mission details their work with community partners to open warming centers. We also also hear about new partnerships supporting mental health in Manhattan and in Topeka; a fundraiser helping a camp for foster teens; and how to support United Way of Kaw Valley.

We're catching up with state and local leaders in this week's Eye on NE Kansas. Hear what the KBI director says about his agency's role in immigration enforcement, the Topeka city manager and Kansas Senate president talk taxes, and learn about a KDHE program keeping your heart healthy. Oh - and the city manager also talks about snow removal....because Kansas winter doesn't want to leave this year!

Emotions are all over the map in this week's episode! U.S. Rep. Derek Schmidt reflects on the crash of a flight out of Wichita; we invite you to the Death Cafe; the state's labor secretary talks efforts to fight hhuman trafficking; plus we honor the SME Executive of the year, support Top City Promise, and invite you take a Polar Plunge!

Local leaders are among those looking ahead as we move through January. In this episode, hear from Shawnee Co. Sheriff Brian Hill, Topeka Chamber president Juliet Abdul and Topeka Rescue Mission executive director LaManda Broyles.

We also learn about a community Mental Health First Aid class, and get an update on mental health initiatives in the Flint Hills region.

As more than a foot of snow blanketed Northeast Kansas, Topeka's city leaders faced backlash over their statements about removing snow from residential streets. Topeka City Manager Dr. Robert Perez sat down with us, and apologized.

Also in this episode, hear from Kansas Legislative leaders, new Kansas Congressman Derek Schmidt, and a Manhattan, Kan. native who's written two books about the late Pres. Jimmy Carter

00.00  City Manager

8.05 House Speaker Dan Hawkins and House Democratic Leader Brandon Woodard

16.05 U.S. Rep. Derek Schmidt

22.540 Journalist and author Christi Harlan

What factors might put someone at greater risk for homelessness? Research from Topeka Rescue Mission Ministries might offer insight. We hear about it, and get an update on the City of Topeka's efforts to address homeless in this week's episode - and a little Farm Bill talk, too.

00.00 Dr. Jennifer Ifft of Kansas State University shares why having Congress reach agreement on a new Farm Bill matters to all of us

6.00 Topeka City Manager Robert Perez updates the search for a new police chief and efforts to address homelessness

11.20 Topeka Rescue Mission staff details their research into the prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences among people who are homeless

17.50 Happy Back to School time! USD 437 Superintendent Scott McWilliams gives a progress report on new facilities efforts for their district

Mireya passed away at the age of 8, following complications from being shaken as an infant. Her adoptive parents are honoring her legacy by working to prevent it from happening to any other child -- and honoring Mireya's kindness. They highlight our guests this week.

.00 The realignment of a major highway has the nonprofit Let's Help relocating. Their new executive director updated the effot.

6.15 A look ahead to groundbreaking on a new mental  health addition at the Shawnee Co. Jail.

11.15 KBI K9 Count has a special talent for sniffing out evidence to prosecute child predators. He and his human partner visited the studio

16.25 Topeka United is taking applications for the Teen Mosaic Partners Program

21.25 Kathy and Dan Keck share the story of Miracle Mireya

Kansas primary elections are Aug. 6! We hear from the Democrats seeking the state's 2nd Congressional District seat and from the state's top election elections official. We also chat with THE Melissa Etheridge!

.00 The Democrats seeking the state's 2nd Congressional Dist. seat got some one-on-one time. We start with Nancy Boyda.

6.30 Democrat Matt Kleinmann is challenging Boyda in the 2nd Dist.

11.50 Don't trust the mail to deliver your ballot on time! That's just one piece of advice from KS Sec. of State Scott Schwab

17.15 From rocking the vote...to a rock star! Melissa Etheridge talks about her new project filmed at Topeka Correctional Facility, and her lessons in second chances and finding joy

22.45 Project 2 Restore marks one year of helping survivors of human trafficking rebuild their lives

27.45 Topekan Blaine Warbritton prepares for a major step up in the world of professional bare knuckle fighting!

Topeka area leaders hit the road for a visit to Boise, Idaho; and you're invited to take a road trip to historic Nicodemus, Kan.

.00 Topeka leaders are on their annual inter-city visit. Do these trips really make a difference? We get some insight

5.45 Topeka's National Night Out is coming up, and we get the latest on the community-wide celebration that's planned

10.40 Nicodemus is ready to see its population grow from around 30 to several hundred! We learned about their Homecoming Celebration, and why the town is so important in Black history

16.00 It's time to Rise & Thrive! How the third-annual conference will work to address period poverty

21.25 Capper Foundation's Concert for a Child is a few weeks away. Hear the personal connection this year's headlining group has to the cause

New faces, new projects - and people vying for a new job all visit the Red Couch in this episode.

.00 Topeka's new city manager Robert Perez makes his first visit to the Red Couch

6.00 Hear why Topeka is undertaking its first-ever summer Point in Time count of the community's homeless population

11.05 Shawnee Co. is making progress on several projects. Commissioner Bill Riphahn has the update

16.20 Republicans in the Dist. 2 Congressional race continue their visits. Derek Schmidt dropped in....

21.40 ....and Shawn Tiffany rounded out the one-on-one appearances.

27.00 Topeka Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Tiffany Anderson shares insights that led to her book on involving parents in education

You know it's election season when candidate swing by the Red Couch! Two more of the five GOP hopefuls in Kansas' 2nd Congressional district paid a visit, while we also hosted the family of the late Broadway composer Steven Lutvak.

00.00 Homeownership month....do you REALLY need to earn what new studies say you need to earn to realize the dream?

6.10 Campaign time! Dist. 2 GOP candidate Michael Ogle pays a visit

12.05 Campaign time...pt. 2! Hear from Dist. 2 GOP candidate jeff Kahrs

16.45 The new Visit Topeka campaign struck a chord with the man who wrote its featured song, the late Steven Lutvak. His family shares the story.

21.50 Let's talk TCT! Shannon and Aimee reveal what's taking the main stage in Topeka Civic Theatre's 2024-25 season.

Shawnee Co. District Attorney Mike Kagay's office recently received a grant to target human trafficking. One component of the plan - a new task force - is officially up and running.

00.00 Mike Kagay

5.45 Get know new Topeka Zoo director Christina Castellano

11.20 We're introducing you to candidates in the August primaries! First up: Chad Young, one of five candidates seeking the GOP nomination for the state's Dist. 2 Congressional seat

16.45 What's in your water? The City of Topeka is doing a survey to find out what's in the water service lines entering your home

21.35 Getting to know you.... Topeka United's Mosaic Partner Pairs is taking applications for its next session

Human trafficking is real, and it's happening in our area. People in the Topeka area developed a new tool to help fight it.

.00 Hear how coalitions and advocates are helping people find resources and information about human trafficking more easily.

7.00 Meet the YWCA of Northeast Kansas' new leader

12.20 How do we connect parents with affordable child care? Learn about Family Forward

18.10 Ahead of Memorial Day, we heard how veterans can access mental health resources

23.30 New Kansas laws could be a boost to making solar energy a viable option for homes and businesses

28.45 What a new survey reveals about the sports habits in Topeka and Shawnee Co.

May 17, 2024 marked 70 years since the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in Brown v. Board of Education. No one knows that history better than the children who lived it, particularly in the birthplace of the case - Topeka, Kan.

In this episode, we hear from Beryl New, Glenda Washington and Monique Pittman Lui, who are planning commemoration events and all attended segregated schools in various communities.

Carolyn Campbell, Dale Cushinberry and Bernard Hurd all attended Topeka's all-Black elementary schools at the time of the case.

Finally, we hear from Duane Fleming, whose mother was among the 13 plaintiffs in the Topeka case, and whose father testified in court.

Listen to and learn fom this important piece of our history.

We pause this week to observe May's Mental Health Awareness Month. A special edition of Eye on NE Kansas focused on WIBW's "Hear me. See me." campaign.

We wrap up Sexual Assault Awareness Month and move into Mental Health Awareness Month in this week's episode. Plus, a couple of history lessons!

.55 What does affordable housing have to do with preventing sexual violence? We look at the connection.

6.15 Holocaust Remembrance Day takes on extra meaning this year. Our guest explain why we must never forget.

10.50 Topeka's rich Black history is on display as we approach the 70th anniversary of the Brown vs Board decision.

15.50 Businesses are on board with helping Topeka's Valeo during Mental Health Awareness Month.

20.55 Former Kansas City Chiefs player Kendall Gammon shares his own lessons learned about mental health.