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Kansas seeks volunteer firefighters after receiving $1.3 million recruitment grant

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Kansas seeks volunteer firefighters after receiving $1.3 million recruitment grant


TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – A big grant is hoping to bring in volunteer firefighters across Kansas.

“If not you then who? Somebody has got to be able to do this job,” Steve Hirsch, KSFFA, Treasurer, says.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has awarded the Kansas State Fire Fighters Association over $1.3 million in grant money to help recruit and retain volunteer firefighters.

And now the KSFFA is asking Kansans to step up and volunteer.

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“I think people will find this is probably the clincher here, I don’t know that there is anything they can do that would be more satisfying and more rewarding than being a volunteer firefighter or an EMT in their community helping out people when they need it the most,” says Hirsch.

Hirsch says the $1.3 million grant will help maintain the state’s forces.

“We know nationwide that we’ve seen a 20 to 30% decline in the number of volunteer firefighters and of course, those volunteer firefighters protect about two-thirds of the landmass in the nation. They protect a huge swath of Kansas. We certainly know that there are a lot of departments that are having a hard time recruiting. A lot of it is our own fault. We don’t let people know that we need volunteers and a lot of people don’t even know that they are protected by volunteers,” says Hirsch.

The grant is a 4-year project that will be used for recruitment campaigns, physicals, turnout gear, training in basic firefighting skills and leadership training.

Hirsch says anyone can volunteer.

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“There are a lot of things that we can do that don’t necessarily involve someone going into a burning building. We still need people to write grants for us we need people to take care of our computer infrastructure all sorts of missions. People that can maybe drive a truck to a fire scene but yet maybe don’t want to fight the fire. There’s nothing more rewarding, nothing more satisfying than being a volunteer firefighter,” says Hirsch.



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Police identify teen found shot to death in south Kansas City, Missouri, church parking lot

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Police identify teen found shot to death in south Kansas City, Missouri, church parking lot


KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City, Missouri, police released the name of a teenager found shot to death June 24 in the parking lot of a church at Bannister and Raytown roads.

Tytus Bridgeford, 16, was found about 9:30 a.m.

Police asked for the public’s help to identify the victim and were able to get that information released Thursday.

No motive is known for the homicide and no arrests have been made.

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This is the 72nd homicide of the year in KCMO.

There had been 97 homicides in KCMO at this time last yearl

If you have any information about a crime, you may contact your local police department directly. But if you want or need to remain anonymous, you should contact the Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers Tips Hotline by calling 816-474-TIPS (8477), submitting the tip online or through the free mobile app at P3Tips.com. Depending on your tip, Crime Stoppers could offer you a cash reward.

Annual homicide details and data for the Kansas City area are available through the KSHB 41 News Homicide Tracker, which was launched in 2015. Read the KSHB 41 News Mug Shot Policy.

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Can you guess the most Instagrammable site in Topeka? One company identified 10 in Kansas.

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Can you guess the most Instagrammable site in Topeka? One company identified 10 in Kansas.


Strike a pose and snap a photo at Topeka’s most Instagrammable location.

An organization recently named the Topeka Zoo the eighth most Instagrammable place in Kansas.

Top 10 most Instagrammable places in Kansas

Bonus Finder, a media company based in Denmark, checked the social media hashtags of more than 2,700 landmarks across the United States.

These were found to be the most popular Kansas sites, according to the hashtags.

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  • No. 1: Flint Hills has the most popular Kansas hashtag with 75,888 posts.
  • No. 2: Kansas Speedway has 22,275 posts under its hashtag.
  • No. 3: Allen Fieldhouse has 13,353 hash tagged posts.
  • No. 4: The Sedgwick County Zoo hashtag has 13,327 posts.
  • No. 5: Grinter Sunflower Farms has 10,795 hashtagged posts.
  • No. 6: INTRUST Bank Arena has 7,323 posts.
  • No. 7: Monuments Rocks Natural Landmark has 7,111 posts hashtagged.
  • No. 8: Topeka Zoo had 5,865 hashtagged posts.
  • No. 9: Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve has 5,116 hashtagged posts.
  • No. 10: The Wichita Gardens have 3,371 posts hashtagged.

Topeka Zoo employees and other reaction to the ranking

The Topeka Zoo has nearly 30,000 followers on Instagram. The zoo also has a TikTok account with more than 35,000 followers and 1.3 million likes. On Facebook, the zoo has more than 55,000 followers and more than 44,000 likes.

“That’s very exciting,” guest engagement supervisor Brea Schmidt said. “I’m very happy to hear that. We definitely work hard every day to make sure we are sharing what we think guests want to see. So, to hear we were found eighth most Instagrammable is pretty exciting.”

Jen Goetz, creative and strategy director for the zoo, said the magic is in finding balance between what people want to see and following the zoo’s mission of conservation and education.

When asked what other Topeka sites they would have liked to see on the list, Schmidt and Goetz gave a shout-out to their neighbor, the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center.

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“I’m not surprised our incredible, growing Topeka Zoo made the list! From special displays like Zoo Lights to the furry faces that greet you, the Topeka Zoo is a must-visit attraction here,” president of Visit Topeka Sean Dixon said in a written statement. “The zoo is located in our beautiful Gage Park, which is where you’ll find more photogenic fun like the carousel and mini train.”

Here are some more Instagrammable sites in Topeka

Dixon said while the list didn’t include them, there are plenty of Instagrammable places across the city.

“And there are several other Instagrammable spots across Topeka that would have made our list,” Dixon said. “Don’t miss the rainbow-painted Equality House, the stunning Kansas Capitol, NOTO and its many murals, the Governor’s Mansion trails, and more.

“There is no shortage of photo ops when you know where to look.”

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Kansas City Chiefs join forces with Hallmark for Christmas rom-com ‘Holiday Touchdown’

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Kansas City Chiefs join forces with Hallmark for Christmas rom-com ‘Holiday Touchdown’


The Kansas City Chiefs are bringing together what the holidays are all about: football and Hallmark movies.

The NFL team has partnered with Hallmark to create an original holiday film centered around its back-to-back Super Bowl champions.

The movie, called “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story,” will begin production next month, filming entirely in Kansas City, Missouri. Fans will watch scenes at the GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, the first time a movie has been shot in the venue.

“This partnership unites two passionate fanbases and gives us an opportunity to show Chiefs Kingdom’s energy and tradition on one of the most-watched channels during the holiday season,” Chiefs President Mark Donovan said in a news release.

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To honor the project between the two Kansas City-based organizations, the city lit up its downtown skyline purple and red on Wednesday night, the news release shared.

Who will be in ‘Holiday Touchdown’?

While no Chiefs players have been announced to be in the movie, the team revealed its three leads.

The film will star “Shifting Gears” actor Tyler Hynes, “Two Scoops Of Italy” actor Hunter King, and “Better Call Saul” actor Ed Begley Jr. in the sports holiday romantic comedy.

What is ‘Holiday Touchdown’ about?

“Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story” will follow Chiefs super fan Alana Higman (King), who’s determined to win the team’s Fan of the Year contest, and fan engagement director Derrick (Hynes). The two begin to feel romantic tension as Derrick evaluates whether Alana’s family deserves to the win the contest.

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But when Alana’s grandfather (Begley Jr.) loses his vintage Chiefs winter hat, she begins to question her future with Derrick unless “a little Christmas magic can throw a Hail Mary.”

50% of Hallmark viewers watch sports during the holidays

While the collaboration may seem odd, the Chiefs and Hallmark are assured that the movie makes the perfect holiday crossover.

More than half of Hallmark Channel viewers also watched sports during the channel’s Countdown to Christmas aired last year in 2023, according to the news release.

“With Hallmark and the Kansas City Chiefs both homegrown, rooted in values, tradition and community, there is a special alchemy between these two iconic organizations,” Hallmark Chief Brand Officer Darren Abbott said in a statement. “By blending the warmth of Hallmark storytelling with the excitement of professional football, we are thrilled to give audiences a front-row seat to this community’s spirit, rich traditions and passionate fans.”

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