TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – The NASCAR Cup Series is coming back to the Kansas Speedway on Sunday, and ahead of the Advent Health 400, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. paid a visit to Dillons in North Topeka on Friday afternoon.

The NASCAR racer and 2023 Daytona 500 Champion signed autographs, watched some fan races, showed off his car, and much more to get fans in attendance excited for Sunday’s race.

”We come to Kansas twice a year. I love the racetrack here at Kansas. It’s been a while since we won here, we won back in 2012. But it’s always a racetrack that I enjoy coming to,” Stenhouse told 13 News. “Our job gets serious tomorrow, once we get on track for practice and qualifying, and then obviously the race on Sunday. Yeah we had perfect weather for today’s event, and had a great turnout.”

Even the Topeka High Marching Band stopped by to play some tunes for the crowd.

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TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Kansas Department of Insurance is offering assistance to victims of the Westmoreland tornado.

Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt and staff from the Kansas Department of Insurance visited Westmoreland to assist those impacted by the EF3 tornado that struck the town on Tuesday, April 30. They assisted with insurance claim questions, concerns and complaints.

“As residents and communities focus on the long-term recovery, the Kansas Department of Insurance stands ready to assist wherever possible,” said Commissioner Schmidt. “I encourage all Kansans who have experienced property damage from recent storms to call the Department if you have questions about your insurance claim or if you encounter insurance-related problems along the way.”

Commissioner Schmidt and key staff visited the site of the Westmoreland tornado on Friday, May 3, to provide on-site assistance with residents who may need help with their insurance. Schmidt visited with residents and provided information on the resources available through the Department.

Kansas Department of Insurance noted this storm season, if you or someone you know is having trouble with an insurance claim, please contact the Kansas Department of Insurance’s Consumer Assistance Division toll-free at 1-800-432-2484, by email at KDOI.Complaints@ks.gov or online at insurance.kansas.gov for any claims-related questions or concerns.

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After a failed vote to build a downtown Kansas City Royals stadium, another of the city’s professional sports teams is planning to expand with a mixed-used entertainment district.

The Kansas City Current, the city’s National Women’s Soccer League team, will add a retail, restaurant and multifamily district to its recently opened stadium. The first phase will include $200 million in private funding and will begin construction in late 2024 with expected completion in 2026 ahead of the World Cup that year, when Kansas City is one of the North American host cities.

All phases of development will cost roughly $800 million, according to the team. In August 2023, economic development agency the Port Authority of Kansas City approved up to $800 million in bonds for the project.

The $117 million stadium opened in March and is the first stadium built specifically for a women’s team in the US, according to the team. It sits just north of the city’s downtown, on the Berkley Riverfront District along the Missouri River. The entertainment district will be developed by the Current and Marquee Development. The team’s owners, Angie and Chris Long, founder of Kansas City-based Palmer Square Capital Management, purchased the team in 2020. They’re co-owners with Brittany and Patrick Mahomes, the quarterback of the National Football League’s Kansas City Chiefs.

“With the next phase of our investment in Berkley Riverfront Park, our goal is to reconnect Kansas Citians to their riverfront, bringing even more energy and activity to the water,” Angie Long said in a statement. “We believe this foundational investment will benefit our community for years to come and cement the Berkley Riverfront as one of Kansas City’s great neighborhoods for residents and visitors alike.”

The 2 million-square-foot project will have restaurants, retail, entertainment and over 1,000 apartments, with 10% of units set aside for affordable housing. It will also include a riverfront walkway and 200,000 square feet of office development.

The announcement follows the resounding April 2 defeat of a $2 billion measure to build a new downtown Royals stadium and updates to the Chiefs Arrowhead Stadium.

Photo: CPKC Stadium, home to the Kansas City Current, in Kansas City, Missouri. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

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