Topeka

• The Topeka Public Infrastructure Committee reviewed a three-phase plan to construct three new fire stations to improve response times. →
• The Topeka Public Infrastructure Committee approved reallocating capital funds to early-order four Pierce Manufacturing fire engines. →
• Topeka officials are working with the state to address resident complaints about unannounced fiber optic digging and severed utility lines. →
• The Topeka Public Infrastructure Committee approved allocating $1 million in sales tax funds to repair three deteriorating bridge decks. →
• The Topeka Public Infrastructure Committee approved a scaled-back project on 45th Street, adding sidewalk and pedestrian upgrades. →
• The Topeka Public Infrastructure Committee approved a 30-day closure of 37th Street for street, water, and storm sewer replacements. →
• It's going to be a cool, cloudy Thursday in Topeka with a high near 62°F, a 35% chance of rain, and a light easterly breeze.

🌾 Kansas

• Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ethan Corson named Salina Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Renee Duxler as his running mate for lieutenant governor ahead of the June 1 filing deadline. →

• Four Johnson County school districts formed a coalition to sue the state over a special education funding shortfall they say cost their districts more than $119 million in diverted general education funds during the 2024-25 school year. →

• The Kansas Supreme Court Nominating Commission interviewed seven applicants for a court vacancy Thursday as voters prepare to decide in August whether to abolish the merit-selection system entirely. →

• Kansas wildfires that burned nearly 130,000 acres across Meade and Clark counties are nearing full containment, with crews beginning to return home after being sparked by lightning May 14. →

• Chanute police warned residents to report sightings and keep their distance after a black bear was spotted multiple times in the city Wednesday. →

🇺🇸 US

• Reality TV personality Spencer Pratt is surging toward a Los Angeles mayoral runoff, leveraging AI-generated viral content and podcast appearances to compete for second place behind incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in the June 2 primary. →

• Stephen Colbert will host his final "Late Show" on CBS Thursday, closing the Letterman-launched franchise as broadcast late-night ad revenue collapsed roughly 50% since 2018 amid streaming's rise. →

• Anthropic told investors its revenue is on pace to more than double to $10.9 billion in the second quarter, projecting a $559 million operating profit — the company's first — though it warned profitability may not hold as spending ramps up. →

• SpaceX filed an IPO prospectus with the SEC targeting a valuation of $1.5 trillion or higher, with shares expected to begin selling in mid-June under the Nasdaq ticker SPCX in what could surpass Saudi Aramco's record $26 billion offering. →

• The Justice Department charged former Cuban President Raúl Castro with murder and conspiracy for orchestrating the 1996 downing of two civilian planes, escalating the Trump administration's pressure campaign against Cuba's Communist government. →

Weather

MAY 21, 1901: CONNECTICUT ENACTS FIRST AUTOMOBILE SPEED-LIMIT LAW

Connecticut becomes the first state to regulate motor vehicles, capping speeds at 12 mph in cities and 15 mph on country roads. The law also requires drivers to slow down—or stop entirely—when passing horse-drawn vehicles to avoid frightening the animals.

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