Mold Remediation in Topeka, KS

Kansas voters will be asked on their 2024 general election ballots whether they wish to retain several judges.

In Shawnee County, the Nov. 5 election includes retention elections for the Kansas Court of Appeals and the Shawnee County District Court.

Kansas Court of Appeals

Half of the 14 judges on the Kansas Court of Appeals face retention elections this year. Those seven are Chief Judge Karen Arnold-Burger and Judges Sarah E. Warner, David E. Bruns, G. Gordon Atcheson, Rachel L. Pickering, Angela D. Coble and Kathryn Gardner.

Under Kansas law, the Senate confirms judges appointed by the governor to the Kansas Court of Appeals. The governor has used a nominating commission to narrow down applicants to three nominees for the governor's consideration.

Shawnee County District Court

Shawnee County District Court has 15 district judges, and nine face retention elections this year. They are: Jessica L. Heinen, Teresa L. Watson, Darian P. Dernovish, Thomas G. Luedke, James Crowl, Steven R. Ebberts, Maban Wright, Brett Watson and Jay D. Befort.

The court also has two magistrate judges, and both face retention elections this year. They are: Christopher J. Turner and Dennis C. Jones.

Judges in Shawnee County, which is the 3rd Judicial District, are appointed by the governor, who selects from nominees chosen by a district nominating commission.

What are judicial retention elections?

Retention elections are the opportunity for voters to hold judges accountable for being fair, impartial and protecting constitutional rights.

Court of Appeals and district court judges face retention elections in the next general election after serving one year on the bench. They then face retention elections every four years.

Voters are asked a "yes" or "no" question: whether each particular judge should be retained. If a majority of voters vote "no," then the judge is removed from office.

Judging the judges

The Kansas Bar Association in September released the results of the 2024 Judicial Survey Project, which is a nonpartisan educational initiative intended to provide voters with insight into the performance and qualifications of appellate judges.

"The importance and relevance of this survey should not be minimized," said Mark S. Dupree Sr., the Wyandotte County district attorney and Kansas Bar Association president, in a statement. "Having access to this information helps the Kansas electorate make informed choices on those seeking to be retained as a judge in our great state."

They survey went to more than 16,000 licensed Kansas lawyers, and appellate judges were scored on a scale of zero to 100 where a score above 50 is an overall positive rating and support for retention.

More detailed information is available online.

Jason Alatidd is a Statehouse reporter for The Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at jalatidd@gannett.com. Follow him on X @Jason_Alatidd.

With reports of bed bugs, employees not washing their hands, moldy wastewater, cross contamination risk, fresh rodent droppings and other violations, Kansas food safety and lodging inspectors reported nine local establishments were out of compliance with state law during September inspections.

Kansas law delegates to the Kansas Department of Agriculture the authority to regulate food establishments, food processing plants and lodging establishments. Violations — particularly priority violations linked to causes of foodborne illness — can lead to various consequences, including the immediate closure of an establishment.

Kansas Department of Agriculture records show that while most of th e nearly 100 total Topeka area service establishments inspected in September passed with either no violations or no serious ones, several failed. Most inspections were routine, but inspectors also visited after complaints, for licensing, follow-ups and other reasons.

Out-of-compliance food establishments in Topeka

The following establishments were listed as out of compliance with state law after inspections in September.

The Sept. 27 modified complaint inspection found six violations.

Four rooms were closed after inspectors found evidence of bed bugs and can't be rented until inspectors have reopened them after treatment and cleaning. The lodging establishment did not notify regulators of the imminent health hazard of bed bugs and did not discontinue operations upon discovery of bed bugs. One of the rooms had Ortho bed bug spray not intended for commercial application.

The smoke detector in the hearing impaired room did not have a flashing strobe. Several rooms had accumulations of debris and trash.

A follow-up was scheduled for Oct. 7.

The Sept. 26 routine inspection found four violations.

Refrigeration equipment was not keeping milk, diced peaches, blueberries, crushed pineapple, sliced strawberries, raw cookie dough and a squeeze bottle of blueberries cold enough.

There were not chlorine test strips. There was a Raid spray can for ants and roaches that was not approved for a food establishment. A mop sink had a leaky valve.

A Sept. 20 routine inspection found six violations.

"No hand washing took place after getting the mobile unit set up and plugging in the equipment to thegenerator," the inspector wrote.

The person in charge put disposable gloves over heat resistant cloth gloves and started to prepare orders, while another employee took orders and collected money before putting gloves on to prepare plates of food. Neither washed their hands, and there was no running water because the generator was not staying on.

Macaroni and cheese in a warmer unit was not kept hot enough. More than 20 flies were inside the mobile unit in the food preparation area, landing on in-use utensils and food contact surfaces. There were no net screens on doors to keep pests out, while doors were open for air flow. There were not quaternary test strips.

The establishment was back in compliance after a Sept. 24 reopening inspection.

A Sept. 18 routine inspection found nine violations.

"Mammy Cakes" in a refrigerated display cooler were not prepared at the facility and come "from a source off Facebook," but were not "from approved licenses sources."

The establishment "is using the back door to the facility to go in and out to cook fried foods due not having properventilation for grease laden vapors in the facility," but there was no screen at the back door to prevent pests from entering when people go in and out. More than 15 flies were observed.

The refrigerator had raw chicken and raw beef stored on shelves above ready to eat food, including a head of lettuce, posing a cross contamination risk.

The garbage disposal was leaking, but a container under the sink was catching the wastewater — but the murky water in the container had mold growing on its surface, which had been getting dumped outside. One restroom had human feces in the toilet and the flushing handle had broken off the toilet.

The portable hand washing sink had no hot water and no hand soap, while a ware washing sink was being used for washing hands. A sanitizer container was not labeled.

The Sept. 17 complaint inspection found two violations.

Despite having a pest control service five days earlier and traps placed, the inspector found fresh rodent droppings under a shelf by the mop sink and behind a safe. At a wall adjacent to the outdoors, the baseboard behind the hot water tank had a 1.5 inch hole with fresh rodent droppings that the inspector recommended filling with steel wool or a pesticide spray foam.

The establishment was back in compliance after an Oct. 1 follow-up.

A Sept. 12 complaint inspection found four violations.

Cooked, breaded chicken pieces were being held in a container with a date mark past seven days, but the person in charge said the date mark was wrong and hadn't been replaced. The inspector said used containers should not hold new food product without the container first being cleaned and sanitized.

The meat grinder that was supposedly clean had a grinding shaft with dry, hardened food stuck inside. The refrigerated food prep table was not keeping food cool enough, including noodles, cabbage and cooked shrimp. There was no written procedure for using time as a control for buffet food items.

The establishment remained out of compliance during a Sept. 24 follow-up inspection that found three violations.

The meat grinder had caked residue of ground meat stuck inside. The refrigerated food prep table was not keeping food cool enough, including cooked noodles and raw vegetables. Refrigerated cream cheese filling did not have a date mark.

The Sept. 6 first operational inspection after licensing found three violations.

The establishment had a residential refrigerator not intended for use in a commercial kitchen, where being next to the stove and opening and closing of the door compromises the temperature inside, which was not being kept cool enough. A container of oxtails inside was not kept cool enough.

There was no food thermometer. There were no sanitizer test strips.

The establishment was back in compliance after a Sept. 26 follow-up.

A Sept. 5 routine inspection found one violation.

The ware washing sink hot water was not hot enough, and they had been boiling water on the grill to wash dishes.

The establishment was back in compliance after a Sept. 16 follow-up.

A Sept. 4 routine inspection found one violations.

Hot water was not hot enough at the hand washing and ware washing sinks, and the hot water tank was awaiting repairs. After being educated by the inspector, they started using hot water from the coffee and tea brewer when washing dishes.

The establishment was back in compliance after a Sept. 5 follow-up.

Inspections found these Topeka establishments were in compliance

The following service establishments were in compliance when inspectors visited in September with either no violations or only relatively minor ones.

Jason Alatidd is a Statehouse reporter for The Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at jalatidd@gannett.com. Follow him on X @Jason_Alatidd.

This story was updated with additional information.

The Burger Stand, 2833 S.W. 29th St. in Topeka, will soon close its doors.

Owners Simon and Codi Bates announced the closure Tuesday on the business's Facebook page.

"Dear Burger Friends – After 13 incredible years, we are announcing the closing of The Burger Stand Topeka location at the end of October," the post said. "We are deeply grateful to everyone who has supported us along the way, and it has been a true pleasure to serve this amazing community.

"We couldn’t be prouder of our staff, whose dedication to great food and service has made this journey so special. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your lives and memories."

When will the Burger Stand officially close its doors in Topeka?

The Bates said they will be serving customers their favorite burgers and fries until Oct. 26.

"So, be sure to pop in and share some final moments with us!" the post added. "And be sure to stop in and enjoy the original Burger Stand in downtown Lawrence."

More:Shawnee County farmers are growing a special barley for beer at a local brewery

The Burger Stand opened its doors in the College Hill neighborhood in 2011, becoming one of Topeka's popular burger spots serving gourmet burgers. It moved to 2833 S.W. 29th St. in 2021.

Local businessman Cody Foster said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that this year has been the toughest year for restaurants and retail.

"With news of The Burger Stand closing, it's worth sharing that this has been the toughest year I've ever witnessed for restaurants & retail," Foster said. "If you would be sad if 1 of your favorite local spots closed down, go support them this weekend. A lot of local places are barely surviving."

Keishera Lately is the business reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. She can be reached at klately@cjonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @Lately_KT.

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Detours will be in place this weekend for motorists traveling west on Interstate 70 through downtown Topeka as a construction project will shut down that portion of the roadway, authorities said.

The closures will take place while the Kansas Department of Transportation completes pavement patching on the Polk-Quincy Viaduct, which carries traffic on I-70 on the north edge of downtown Topeka.

Conditions permitting, westbound I-70 from S.E. 10th Avenue on the east to S.W. Topeka Boulevard on the west will be closed beginning at 11 p.m. Friday and continuing until work is complete, or no later than 11:59 p.m. on Sunday.

Additionally, the S.E. Adams Street on-ramp to westbound I-70 will be closed beginning at 11 p.m. Friday until work is complete, or no later than 11:59 p.m. Sunday.

This means that the S.E. 10th Avenue exit will be the last open exit for westbound motorists traveling on I-70.

Through-traffic on I-70 traffic will follow signed detours and be routed south to Interstate 470, or north to K-4 highway to US-24 highway to US-75 highway. Motorists then can re-enter westbound I-70.

KDOT says drivers also can use the local street detour which will take them to S.E. 10th Avenue then west to S.W. Topeka Boulevard, before heading north to the S.W. 1st Street on-ramp for I-70.

Eastbound I-70, meanwhile, will remain open.

KDOT said that additional I-70 closures may occur if further patching work is needed on the viaduct. If necessary, KDOT will work with the city of Topeka to schedule the closure and provide information when available.

Both directions of I-70 will stay reduced to one lane until construction of the Polk-Quincy Viaduct’s replacement is complete. The Polk-Quincy Viaduct project is scheduled to begin in early 2025. More information about the project can be found at https://polkquincy.ksdot.gov/.

For the latest information on highway construction projects across Kansas, visit www.KanDrive.gov or call 5-1-1.

Copyright 2024 WIBW. All rights reserved.

Surprisingly, Topeka Kansas has a few pet-friendly hotels that you may want to consider staying at with your furry friend. There are several hotels that accept both cats and dogs in the area, even if your canine happens to be on the bigger side.

Of course, each hotel also has its own regulations and rules, which you’ll need to consider carefully when planning to stay there. We’ll take a look at these rules and other important features below.

The 10 Pet-Friendly Hotels in Topeka Kansas

View Deals at Endeavor Inn & Suites

View Deals at Residence Inn Topeka

View Deals at Quality Inn Topeka

View Deals at Hotel Topeka City Center

View Deals at Country Inn & Suites

View Deals at Hyatt Place Topeka

View Deals at Sleep Inn & Suites Topeka

View Deals at Ramada by Wyndham Topeka

View Deals at Comfort Suites Topeka

View Deals at Super 8 by Wyndham

Conclusion

With so many hotels to choose from, you should be able to find a hotel to fit your room. Some hotels are cat-friendly, while others only accept smaller dogs. Most only allow two pets per room, so if you’re traveling with more furry friends, your options may be more limited.

Always call ahead to ensure that the hotel has a pet-friendly room available. Most only allow pets in certain rooms, which can make booking a room a bit more complicated.

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Featured Image Credit: Prystai, Shutterstock