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Here’s where in Topeka food safety inspectors found rodent droppings, other problems

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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.

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  • 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.”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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  • 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.





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Kansas

RESULTS: NE Kansas high schools to play Friday after Tuesday sub-state wins

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RESULTS: NE Kansas high schools to play Friday after Tuesday sub-state wins


TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Below is a look at the results from Tuesday night’s high school basketball sub-state semifinals in Northeast Kansas.

Editor’s Note: This story will be updated with what schools are hosting when that information becomes readily available.

WIBW Scoreboard

BOYS

5A East Boys: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results

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  • KC Washington 68, Highland Park 38
  • Shawnee Heights 49, De Soto 37 (will play Leavenworth Friday)

5A West Boys: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results

  • Topeka West 55, Hutchinson 32 (will play Bishop Carroll Friday)
  • Emporia 61, Great Bend 41 (will play Maize South Friday)
  • Seaman 73, Valley Center 51 (will play Hays Friday)

3A West Franklin Boys: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results

  • Burlington 60, Osage City 35 (will play Baxter Springs Friday)

3A Sabetha Boys: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results

  • Hiawatha 73, Oskaloosa 48 (will play Heritage Christian Friday)
  • Silver Lake 58, Sabetha 39 (will play Perry-Lecompton Friday 7:30 p.m.)

GIRLS

6A West Girls: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results

  • Washburn Rural 60, Wichita South 32 (will play Derby)
  • Topeka High 69, Maize 45 (will play Liberal)
  • Manhattan 67, Free State 21 (will play Wichita East)

4A East Girls: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results

  • Rock Creek 71, Parsons 23 (will play Tonganoxie)
  • Wamego 54, Labette County 33 (will play Bishop Miege)
  • Hayden 2, Athison 0 (will play Baldwin)

2A Eskridge/Mission Valley Girls: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results

  • Rossville 71, KC Christian 49 (will play Maur Hill-Mount Academy)
  • Lyndon 61, Jeff. Co. North 31 (will play Valley Heights)
  • Valley Heights 65, Doniphan West 41 (will play Lyndon)



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Doe v. State of Kansas | American Civil Liberties Union

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Doe v. State of Kansas | American Civil Liberties Union


In early 2026, the Kansas state legislature passed SB 244, a law which prohibits transgender people from using public restrooms on government property that align with their gender identity and establishes a private right of action that allows anyone who suspects someone is transgender and in violation of the law to sue that person for “damages” totaling $1,000.

The law also invalidates state-issued driver’s licenses with updated gender markers that reflect the carrier’s gender identity. In February 2026, transgender people across the state received letters from the state Department of Revenue’s Division of Vehicles informing them that their driver’s licenses “will no longer be valid,” effective immediately. SB 244 also prohibits transgender Kansans – or those born in Kansas – from updating the gender marker on state-issued birth certificates and driver’s licenses in the future.

The same day SB 244 went into effect, the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Kansas, and Ballard Spahr LLP filed a lawsuit challenging SB 244 in the District Court of Douglas County on behalf of two transgender men who had their driver’s licenses invalidated under the law. The lawsuit charges that SB 244 violates the Kansas Constitution’s protections for personal autonomy, privacy, equality under the law, due process, and freedom of speech.

“The invalidation of state-issued IDs threatens to out transgender people against their will every time they apply for a job, rent an apartment, or interact with police,” said Harper Seldin, Senior Staff Attorney for the ACLU’s LGBTQ & HIV Rights Project. “Taken as a whole, SB 244 is a transparent attempt to deny transgender people autonomy over their own identities and push them out of public life altogether.”

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Kansas City man sentenced for cocaine trafficking, possession of illegal firearm

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Kansas City man sentenced for cocaine trafficking, possession of illegal firearm


KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – A Kansas City man was sentenced in federal court for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy and possession of an illegal firearm.

According to the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, 22-year-old Antoine R. Gillum was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison without parole.

His sentencing stems from a June 2024 incident in a metro gas station. KCPD investigators contacted Gillum inside and found that he had discarded a 9 mm pistol in an aisle between the merchandise. He also discarded a pill bottle containing multiple illegal substances: cocaine base, oxycodone/acetaminophen and oxycodone.

Officers searched the vehicle Gillum had arrived in and found approximately 32 grams of cocaine base.

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On May 6, 2025, Gillum pleaded guilty to one count each of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Jennings. It’s a part of ‘Operation Take Back America,’ a nationwide Department of Justice initiative to eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations.

No further information has been released.



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