Kansas
Here’s where in Topeka food safety inspectors found rodent droppings, other problems
Kansas food safety and lodging inspectors found several Topeka establishments to be out of compliance with state law in March.
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 Topeka service establishments passed inspections in March 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 March.
- Breakers Sports Bar and Grill, 8429 S.W. 10th Ave.
The March 26 routine inspection found two violations.
The cold make table in the kitchen had sour cream, ranch, blue cheese, lettuce and shredded cheese that were all too warm. The person in charge told the inspector that they unplug the table at night and plug it back in in the morning, but the inspector said they should leave it plugged in all night to ensure food remains cold.
The walk-in cooler was not keeping raw eggs, raw bacon, shredded cheese and sliced cheese cold enough. The person in charge said he turned it off that morning because an ice block was growing, and a work order had been made to have the equipment looked at.
The foods were thrown away and the kitchen voluntarily closed, as the establishment was without any fully functioning refrigeration equipment.
The inspector wrote that with the cold make table not keeping food cold enough and the walk-in not fully functioning, “The establishment does not have significant equipment to keep foods cold.”
The establishment was back in compliance after a March 27 reopening inspection.
- Travelers Inn, 3846 S.W. Topeka Blvd.
The March 26 follow-up inspection found one violation for a room that was inaccessible because the lock was not programmed to accept the key card.
The lodging establishment was in compliance after another follow-up inspection later the same day.
- Gage Center Bowl, 4200 S.W. Huntoon St.
The March 15 routine inspection found two violations.
Inspectors found rodent droppings around a pop shelf and under the counter for the snack bar, plus holes that could have been entry points for pests. The person in charge told inspectors that “they have been dealing with a rodent problem for a few months that was worse during the winter,” but they had been working with a pest control company.
The establishment was back in compliance after a March 25 follow-up inspection.
- Cafe Barnabas, 1801 S.W. Wanamaker Road, Suite G24.
The March 14 complaint inspection found four violations.
A refrigerator had raw eggs stored on a shelf above sticks of butter. A reach-in cooler had a carton of half and half that was too warm, which the inspector suggested was because the cooler was overstocked. Tea was discarded because the keg cooler did not keep it cold.
The mop sink had issues with the backflow device. The floors were “very sticky” and the walls needed to be cleaned.
The establishment was back in compliance after a March 27 follow-up inspection.
- West Ridge Lanes and Family Fun Center, 1935 S.W. Westport Drive.
The March 11 routine inspection found three violations.
The inspector found rodent droppings in the kitchen, as well as holes in the wall and gaps in the doors. The person in charge said they have been working with pest control, and the pest control report showed the holes and gaps had been reported.
The establishment was back in compliance after a March 25 follow-up inspection.
- Holiday Square-Phillips 66, 2901 S.W. Topeka Blvd.
The March 7 routine inspection found four violations.
Inspectors cited beef hot dogs held longer than seven days after opening, as well as cheddar dogs, black olives and mushrooms that did not have open or discard dates.
An employee was washing dishes without sanitizing them. She told the inspector “she did not know what the sanitizing process was and had never been trained.” Additionally, the hot water temperature in the ware-washing sink was not getting hot enough.
The establishment was back in compliance after a March 8 follow-up inspection.
- Artismo Gallery and Bistro, 816 N. Kansas Ave.
The March 1 routine inspection found four violations.
There was no food thermometer, there were no test strips for the dish sanitizer, a quesadilla maker and a panini bread press were dirty and the business had been operating for a month without a license.
The establishment was back in compliance after a March 22 follow-up inspection.
Inspections found these Topeka establishments were in compliance
The following service establishments were in compliance when inspectors visited in March with either no violations or only relatively minor ones.
- Five Guys Burgers and Fries, 1191 S.W. Wanamaker Road, Suite B.
- The Forgotten Grain, 841 N. Washington St., Suite B in Auburn.
- Gambino’s Pizza, 844 N. Washington in Auburn.
- Highland Park High School, 2424 S.E. California Ave.
- Pine Ridge Prep School, 1110 S.E. Highland Ave.
- Qdoba Mexican Eats, 1025 S.W. Wanamaker Road, Suite A.
- Hotel Topeka at City Center, 1717 S.W. Topeka Blvd.
- Arby’s, 1820 S.E. 29th St.
- Little Caesars’s, 5329 S.W. 21st St.
- Sonic Drive In, 5922 S.W. 21st St.
- Wingstop, 2121 S.W. Wanamaker Road, Suite 103.
- Goodcents Deli Fresh Subs, 2060 N.W. Topeka Blvd.
- Logan Elementary School, 1124 N.W. Lyman Road.
- Pollos Junior, 2601 S.W. Sixth Ave.
- Tecumseh South Elementary, 3346 S.E. Tecumseh Road in Tecumseh.
- Wendy’s, 728 S.W. Topeka Blvd.
- Dillons fuel kiosk, 2101 S.W. Fairlawn Road.
- Dillons, 2815 S.W. 29th St.
- Eddy’s Mexican Restaurant, 2911 S.W. 29th St.
- Marjorie French Middle School, 5257 S.W. 33rd St.
- McClure Elementary School, 2529 S.W. Chelsea Drive.
- Godfather’s Pizza, 5300 S.W. 17th St.
- Panda Express, S.W. 1920 Wanamaker Road, Suite 160.
- Chartwells at Falley Field of Washburn University, 1700 S.W. College Ave.
- Washburn University softball field and complex, 1700 S.W. College Ave.
- K Fast Track 2, 1401 S.W. Huntoon St.
- Pie Five Pizza Co., 1129 S.W. Wanamaker Road.
- Sonic Drive In, 3520 S.E. 29th St.
- Dairy Queen, 1700 S.W. Medford Ave.
- Howdy Come In, 1901 S.W. Wanamaker Road.
- Super 8, 5968 S.W. 10th Ave.
- West Ridge 8, 1727 S.W. Wanamaker Road.
- China Express, 514 S.W. 10th Ave.
- Fat Shack, 1418 S.W. Lane St.
- Baskin-Robbins, 4400 S.W. 21st St.
- PB Gas Station-Phillips 66 on I-70, 1000 S.W. Wanamaker Road.
- Arbor Court, 4200 S.W. Drury Lane.
- Church’s Chicken, 3001 S.W. 10th Ave.
- Pizza Hut, 2007 S.E. 29th St.
- PT’s Coffee Roasting Co., 929 S.W. University Blvd., Suite 2704-D2.
- Casey’s General Store, 600 S.E. Rice Road.
- Christ the King School, 5973 S.W. 25th St.
- Jay Shideler Elementary School, 4948 S.W. Wanamaker Road.
- Scott Magnet School, 401 S.E. Market St.
- Shawnee Heights Elementary School, 2410 S.E. Burton Road.
- The Smoothie and Pretzel Co., 1801 S.W. Wanamaker Road.
- Holy Family Catholic Church, 1725 N.E. Seward Ave.
- Schlotzskys, 2019 S.W. Gage Blvd.
- Subway, 2003 S.E. 29th St.
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.
Kansas
Will Flory Bidunga Return to Kansas, Enter the NBA Draft, or Transfer?
The Kansas player with the biggest decision to make this offseason is sophomore big man Flory Bidunga. The Congo native just wrapped up his second year in Lawrence and will have to determine whether he wants to spend another year at the university.
In 35 games this season, he averaged 13.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game en route to an All-Big 12 First Team selection. A breakout star, Bidunga took one of the biggest jumps of any player in the entire country.
Most mock drafts project Bidunga to be selected in the early-to-mid second round or even as early as the late first round, though you’d be hard-pressed to find many predictions like that. Is he a strong enough draft prospect to go pro after two campaigns?
Evaluating Flory Bidunga as an NBA Draft Prospect
Bidunga’s biggest strength is as a rim protector and shot-blocker, evidenced by his conference-leading block number. His freakishly lengthy wingspan allows him to contest nearly any shot at the rim and forces opposing players to reconsider testing their luck against him.
Almost all of Bidunga’s points come within six feet of the basket or the free-throw line, where he has shot a lifetime 61.8% in the NCAA. Since he has such an impressive vertical for his size, he can rise up for several dunks a game and might have thrown down more alley oops than any other player in the country this season.
Despite his long arms, Bidunga is still quite undersized as a true five. He stands at 6-foot-9, which is rather short for someone with the skill set he possesses.
Bidunga is a traditional big who specializes on the defensive end and on the defensive glass. Still, it is difficult to see why an NBA team would want to spend an early draft pick on a center who doesn’t have much of a post game or imposing size.
He feels like someone who can carve out a long career in the league as a backup big man, which is a perfectly fine role to have. For him to become anything more than that, he’ll have to expand his game outside the paint and build more muscle to avoid being bullied by stronger centers.
Could Flory Bidunga Play Collegiately at a Different School?
While Bidunga will certainly be looking to impress NBA Draft scouts with his ability, going pro is not the only option for him. He could return to Kansas for his junior year or even enter the transfer portal to explore other collegiate opportunities.
Last year, Bidunga briefly entered the transfer portal before returning to the university and staying with Kansas. His reasoning was that he had concerns after playing sparingly in his freshman year behind Hunter Dickinson and may have also been seeking a larger NIL payout.
Before the season even ended, there was speculation that Bidunga might be eyeing opportunities from other schools that could offer more in NIL compensation. This has led to widespread uncertainty about his future as a Jayhawk.
Head coach Bill Self has refused to comment on these rumors in the past, but the uncertainty surrounding his own future at the school adds another layer to Bidunga’s situation. He has played for Coach Self in both of his collegiate seasons and may not be willing to stick it out with KU if a new face takes over the program.
We should learn more about these circumstances in the coming weeks, but Bidunga’s decision is one to monitor more closely than anyone else’s on the team. What he decides this offseason could ultimately shape the trajectory of his basketball career.
Kansas
Kansas City barbecue pitmaster Arthur Lee Sr. killed in hit-and-run crash while riding his scooter
KSHB 41 reporter La’Nita Brooks covers stories providing solutions and offering discussions on topics of crime and violence. She also covers stories in the Northland. Share your story idea with La’Nita.
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Kansas City barbecue pitmaster Arthur Lee Sr. was killed in an early morning hit-and-run crash while riding his scooter March 21.
Kansas City barbecue pitmaster Arthur Lee Sr. killed in hit-and-run crash
Lee was turning left from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard onto Eastwood Trafficway when a car ran a red light and hit him. A small memorial now grows at the intersection.
Chris Morrison
“Devastated. Everybody’s hurt, it was really unexpected,” his son Arthur Lee Jr. said. “I loved him to death. My dad was like my best friend.”
Lee was well known in the barbecue community, working as a pitmaster at Gates Bar-B-Q for the past eight years after spending two decades at Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque.
“He loved working at Gates,” Rose Qualls, Lee’s sister-in-law, said. “He was always making us slabs and turkey sandwiches.”
Chris Morrison
The morning of the incident, Lee was preparing to move into a new home with his wife and children, getting ready for a fresh start before a tragic end.
“He was really special, you know. He was one of a kind and everybody that he was around just loved him,” Qualls said. “It’s just a sad situation.”
Lee was 60 years old. His family said while his life was cut short, his flame will burn forever.
“My sister, she is really going through it, we all are,” Qualls said. “And I’m here for her, whatever she needs, when she need a shoulder to cry on, I’m here.”
Courtesy of Arthur Lee Jr.
The family is pleading for answers and for the driver, who fled the scene, to come forward.
“I would pray that they would have some type of compassion, some type of heart, possibly turn themselves in,” Lee Jr. said.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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Kansas
Kansas felon sold meth to undercover officer multiple times
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced to 120 months in prison for selling methamphetamine to an undercover police officer, according to the United State’s Attorney.
According to court documents, Wayne F. Fleming, 41, of Wichita pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of a controlled substance.
In May 2021, Fleming sold drugs multiple times to an undercover officer with the Wichita Police Department. Testing by the Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center showed the total amount Fleming sold to the officer to be more than 200 grams of pure methamphetamine.
“Mr. Fleming was federally indicted in 2021, but before a plea agreement was reached, Mr. Fleming went to state prison to serve time for offenses unrelated to the federal case,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “The Department of Justice doesn’t forget. Not long after his release from a state prison, Mr. Fleming is now an inmate in a federal prison.”
The Wichita Police Department investigated the case.
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