“Opinionated: Kansas Journalists Who Proved Why Commentary Matters—Then and Now” by Clay Wirestone is an excellent book dropping on September 29, 2026. Even if you don’t live in Kansas or have a strong connection to the state, this book is a must read! 

The research is incredible! Even though I’ve obtained three graduate degrees from various universities in Kansas, Wirestone digs up stuff I’ve never known about. It is one of the best non-fiction books I’ve read this year. It is also one of the best Kansas and news-related books I’ve ever read!

While it is like drinking water from a firehouse, it also leaves you wanting more, and that more is available! Wirestone shares pictures of buildings that are still standing, and information from articles, interviews, and podcasts the reader can dig up. He even gives you a section called “Further Reading.” In addition to accessing these resources and learning more about the people mentioned in “Opinionated,” I want to hit the road and visit some of the places described! 

The book starts with explaining how Kansas held a place of unique importance leading up to the Civil War. It was an environment where abolitionists and pro-slavery forces had their own newspapers and were often engaged in a battle of words. “A flabbergasting 733 newspapers were being published.” 

Kansas was the center of the country. Settlers on both sides of the issue moved into Kansas to help change the balance of slavery issue. That tradition of publishing commentary continued into the next century.

“Opinionated” provides condensed biographies for a dozen historical Kansas editorial writers from the 1920s through 1970s in various cities and towns. This time period can easily be considered the golden age of newspapers. As an example, Colorado Springs, my hometown had two daily newspapers. In the 80s after that golden age, one of those disappeared.  

In between those biographies for the golden age, Wirestone provides insights into how things have changed and does an excellent job of connecting the past with the present. “But we live in a compressed age, one in which pithy social media posts and 20-second video blasts dominate the conversation. Have courage to take the time and space needed for a mature, nuanced argument.”

The book discusses the importance of local opinion writers and how they gave small towns the attention they needed to prevent them from slowly losing “their vitality” and proving they matter. Local papers provide lots of support. Residents feel like they have a champion. They stay hopeful and feel like things are getting accomplished. They feel part of something larger than themselves! 

In his chapter on Jack Harris of Hutchinson, Wirestone discusses the importance of having local staff and the problems with corporate news ownership. In 2023, the Hutchinson News ran a front-page story about Hutchinson senior citizens, except these were seniors in Hutchinson, Minnesota! The hedge fund ownership based in New York was out of touch with the local community.

Parts of the book made me nostalgic for the old days of staffed newsrooms and the smell of newsprint in each town. Thankfully, the future of local newspapers may not be so bleak. The Hutchinson, Kansas story helped motivate a high school student to start an online newspaper for the community that provided quality editorials and local news.This might be the wave of the future and a way to keep the community connected.

One of my eye-opening chapters was African American journalist Nick Chiles of Topeka. I’ve studied a lot about black history in the area, and was surprised to learn material I missed about Chiles. History teacher Sonja Czarnecki unearthed a lot of great material about him. I’m planning to read her article about him in the journal Kansas History. 

I also loved Wirestone’s commentary and research about how this country is where it is politically. He discusses the divide between the urban and rural areas and offers many examples of how rural communities evolved politically. After World War II, the population shifted even more from rural areas to urban centers. Rural areas then had a lot of respect for business owners who stayed and created jobs. This helped alter the community’s politics, as business owners encouraged the community to “support anti-union laws and tax policies generous to businesses.” 

Wirestone talks about the difficulty of communicating today when folks are so entrenched in their side of the political spectrum. He explains how newspaper commentary can become a two-way interaction with the community. They can shape each other! At the same time the community can change, so can the editorial views. If we can open up that kind of dialogue again, maybe more of us would look out for the common good.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Kansas history. This is also a great book for those interested in journalism and media history. The advice for future editorial writers is excellent. If you’re interested in the history and evolution of editorial writing or media history, this is the book! 

TOPEKA, Kan. — Topeka-area writers will take center stage during a new downtown event designed to connect local authors directly with the people who read their work.

Write On Topeka is scheduled for noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at Cosmos Court, 909 S. Kansas Ave.

The free, family-friendly showcase will bring together writers from Topeka and surrounding communities. Visitors will be able to meet participating authors, learn about their work and purchase signed copies of their books.

The event gives readers an opportunity to discover new voices without traveling to a major literary festival or waiting for a nationally touring author to visit the city.

It also provides local writers with something that can be difficult for independent and emerging authors to find: a public space where they can introduce their work, speak directly with readers and become more visible within their own community.

While Topeka’s visual artists, musicians and performers are regularly featured through festivals, gallery walks and concerts, the city’s literary community is often less visible. Write On Topeka aims to give those writers a dedicated place in the local cultural calendar.

The showcase could include authors working across a variety of genres, potentially giving visitors the chance to browse fiction, poetry, history, memoirs, children’s books and other locally written work in one setting.

Organizers are still inviting Topeka-area writers to participate as featured authors. Sponsorship opportunities are also available for businesses and organizations interested in supporting the event.

Admission is free, and food and drinks will be available for purchase at Cosmos Court during the showcase.

The downtown location may also help introduce authors to readers who would not ordinarily attend a formal book signing. Instead of placing the event inside a bookstore or academic setting, organizers are creating a casual gathering where families and curious visitors can meet writers without feeling as though they need to arrive already familiar with their work.

Write On Topeka is being promoted by GrubNPubs.com, a local guide focused on food, drinks and entertainment in the Topeka area.

The event will be held from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at Cosmos Court, 909 S. Kansas Ave. It is free and open to the public.

Authors and potential sponsors interested in participating can contact the organizers through Cosmos Court.

Additional details are available through the official Visit Topeka event listing.

Jack Johnson will bring his SURFILMUSIC Tour 2026 to Morton Amphitheater in Riverside, Missouri, on Tuesday, Sept. 1, with special guest Lake Street Dive.

Doors open at 5 p.m., with the show beginning at 6:30 p.m. The concert is all ages. Johnson’s official tour site lists Morton Amphitheater’s capacity at 14,759.

For Topeka-area fans, the show offers a chance to see an artist whose career took a decidedly unusual path to the top of the music industry.

Before Jack Johnson Was a Music Star, He Made Surf Movies

Long before millions of listeners knew songs such as Better Together, Banana Pancakes, Flake, Upside Down and Sitting, Waiting, Wishing, Johnson’s world revolved around surfing.

Johnson grew up on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, and says he started playing guitar when he was 14.

And here’s a piece of Jack Johnson trivia you probably wouldn’t guess from his famously mellow sound: two of the first songs he learned on guitar were Metallica’s “One” and Cat Stevens’ “Father and Son.”

That’s quite a musical combination for the man who would eventually become synonymous with laid-back acoustic rock.

Music wasn’t initially his primary career, either.

Before releasing his debut album, Johnson was a surf filmmaker. His work on the 2000 surfing documentary Thicker Than Water helped expose audiences to his music and ultimately contributed to the path toward his debut album, Brushfire Fairytales, released in 2001.

Then Came In Between Dreams

Johnson’s easygoing combination of acoustic guitar, folk, rock and pop steadily built an audience during the early 2000s.

Then came 2005’s In Between Dreams.

The album helped propel Johnson into mainstream popularity and contained several songs that remain closely associated with him today, including Better Together, Banana Pancakes and Sitting, Waiting, Wishing.

A year later, another generation of listeners discovered Johnson through the soundtrack to the animated film Curious George, which included his hit Upside Down.

The result is a somewhat unusual fan base in 2026: people who discovered Johnson during the early acoustic-rock boom now attend alongside listeners who first heard him as kids.

The Environmental Work Isn’t Just Part of the Image

Johnson’s connection to Hawaii and the ocean has also shaped what happens away from the stage.

He and his wife, Kim, co-founded the Kōkua Hawaiʻi Foundation in 2002, supporting environmental education in Hawaii. Programs have included school gardens, recycling initiatives and environmental education for children.

In 2008, the couple also founded the Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation, which supports organizations focused on environmental, art and music education.

That work follows Johnson onto the road.

A portion of proceeds from his tours supports the Johnson Ohana Foundation, while his All At Once initiative connects concertgoers with nonprofit organizations working in communities near tour stops.

In other words, the surfer/environmentalist identity surrounding Johnson isn’t simply branding added after he became famous. It has been intertwined with his career for decades.

Lake Street Dive Joins Him in Kansas City

Tuesday’s concert also comes with a substantial opening act.

Lake Street Dive will join Johnson in Riverside as support for this leg of the SURFILMUSIC Tour.

The group blends pop, soul, rock and jazz influences, making the pairing particularly suited to an outdoor late-summer concert.

Kansas City is near the end of this portion of Johnson’s tour. After playing Dallas Sunday, the tour arrives in Riverside Tuesday before continuing west to Colorado, Utah and Lake Tahoe.

Jack Johnson — Kansas City Concert Details

Who: Jack Johnson with Lake Street Dive
Tour: SURFILMUSIC Tour 2026
When: Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026
Doors: 5 p.m.
Show: 6:30 p.m.
Where: Morton Amphitheater, 6150 NW Music Blvd., Riverside, Missouri
Admission: All ages

Official Jack Johnson concert information

Tickets through Live Nation

For Topeka fans willing to make the drive, Tuesday night offers something different from the arena-sized pop and hard-rock shows that have dominated Kansas City’s recent concert calendar.

It’s Jack Johnson, an outdoor amphitheater and a late-summer evening—which feels about as appropriate as a Jack Johnson concert can get.

TOPEKA, Kan. — A nationally recognized rapper closely associated with Kendrick Lamar’s recent music is scheduled to perform at an intimate Topeka venue this weekend.

Lefty Gunplay will headline a concert Saturday, Aug. 29, at the Topeka Sports Cabaret, 4216 NE Seward Ave.

Doors are scheduled to open at 8 p.m., with the show beginning at 9 p.m. The event is limited to guests 18 and older, with identification required for bar service.

Lefty Gunplay, whose legal name is Franklin Holladay, emerged from the Los Angeles-area rap scene before gaining wider attention through his appearances on Lamar’s 2024 album GNX.

His distinctive voice can be heard on “TV Off,” one of the album’s most recognizable songs, as well as “Dodger Blue.” The high-profile collaborations introduced him to a much larger national audience and helped propel his career beyond Southern California.

The Topeka performance gives local hip-hop fans an opportunity to see the rising artist in a considerably smaller setting than the arenas and festivals commonly associated with major national acts.

Deuce Alley Productions is presenting the concert. The announced lineup also includes supporting performers CHU-CHO, GEEZGUALA, FATTZ, U-NEEK and BISSHOP GREEN. ACthePROMOTER and DJ Fab are scheduled to host the event.

General-admission tickets were originally advertised at $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Table packages, a meet-and-greet option and access to a designated VIP area were also promoted.

Online ticket availability appeared limited or unavailable as the performance approached. Those interested in attending should confirm availability directly with the venue or event organizer before traveling to the show.

Lefty Gunplay will perform Saturday, Aug. 29, at the Topeka Sports Cabaret. Doors open at 8 p.m., and the concert begins at 9 p.m.

Additional information is available through the official event and ticket page.

Between Monday, Aug. 24, and Monday, Aug. 31, some of the biggest venues in the metro will host a remarkably diverse lineup of touring artists, culminating with pop star Benson Boone at T-Mobile Center.

For Topeka-area music fans, most of the shows are roughly an hour away, making the week an unusually strong opportunity for a quick concert road trip.

Santana and The Doobie Brothers

One of the biggest shows of the week arrives Wednesday, Aug. 26, when Santana and The Doobie Brothers bring the Oneness Tour 2026 to Morton Amphitheater.

The concert is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Santana’s official tour calendar confirms the Kansas City-area stop, pairing Carlos Santana and his band with The Doobie Brothers for the show.

The concert is part of a particularly busy stretch for the new Riverside amphitheater. Chicago and Styx are scheduled there Tuesday night, immediately before Santana, while $uicideboy$ will take over the venue Sunday.

Country takes over Thursday

Country fans have two very different options Thursday, Aug. 27.

Vince Gill is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. performance at The Midland Theatre in downtown Kansas City.

Meanwhile, George Birge will close out the 2026 Coors Light Hot Country Nights season at KC Live! in the Power & Light District.

That show comes with an added bonus: general admission is free.

Doors open at 6 p.m., with live music beginning at 7 p.m. Highway Home is scheduled as the special guest. The venue says admission remains subject to capacity.

Sunday brings two completely different shows

Sunday, Aug. 30, may offer the week’s biggest contrast.

O.A.R. and Gavin DeGraw will perform at Starlight Theatre, with KT Tunstall also appearing on the bill. The outdoor show is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.

Across the metro that same evening, $uicideboy$ will bring the Grey Day Tour 2026 to Morton Amphitheater.

That concert, featuring Destroy Lonely and additional performers, is also scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

The result is two dramatically different choices for Kansas City concertgoers on the same Sunday night.

Benson Boone closes out August

The week ends with one of today’s biggest young pop stars.

Benson Boone is scheduled to bring his Wanted Man Tour to T-Mobile Center on Monday, Aug. 31.

The Kansas City date follows Boone’s sold-out global American Heart Tour and is part of his newly announced 2026 U.S. tour.

The show is scheduled for 8 p.m. according to the current Kansas City concert calendar.

And it doesn’t slow down in September

Anyone who can’t make this week’s shows won’t have to wait long for another major concert.

Jack Johnson is scheduled at Morton Amphitheater on Sept. 1, followed by Wu-Tang Clan on Sept. 2. Later in September, Kansas City is scheduled to host acts including Mötley Crüe, Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson, Zac Brown Band, Billy Idol, Eric Clapton, Teddy Swims, Kacey Musgraves and Pitbull.

For Topeka music fans accustomed to driving east for major tours, the final days of August offer an unusually concentrated stretch: classic rock legends, country stars, alternative favorites, hip-hop and one of pop’s fastest-rising headliners—all within about a week.

Upcoming highlights

• Aug. 25: Chicago & Styx — Morton Amphitheater
• Aug. 26: Santana & The Doobie Brothers — Morton Amphitheater
• Aug. 27: Vince Gill — The Midland Theatre
• Aug. 27: George Birge — KC Live!
• Aug. 30: O.A.R., Gavin DeGraw & KT Tunstall — Starlight Theatre
• Aug. 30: $uicideboy$ — Morton Amphitheater
• Aug. 31: Benson Boone — T-Mobile Center

Concert dates and times are subject to change. Fans should verify show details and ticket availability with the venue before traveling.

TOPEKA, Kan. — One of Topeka’s longstanding fall traditions will celebrate its 45th anniversary when Cider Days returns to the Stormont Vail Events Center in September.

The 45th annual Cider Days Fall Market will take place Saturday, Sept. 19, and Sunday, Sept. 20, inside and around Exhibition Hall at 1 Expocentre Drive.

The market will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Organizers say this year’s event will feature more than 250 creators, makers, artisans, pickers and other vendors. Shoppers can expect handmade products, artwork, home décor, clothing, gifts, specialty foods and other items from businesses throughout the region.

Cider Days has grown from a local seasonal gathering into one of the area’s largest fall markets. The event combines shopping with food, demonstrations and activities designed for the entire family.

Scheduled attractions include artisan demonstrations, live entertainment, a petting zoo, balloon artists, face painting, inflatables and photo opportunities. A pie-baking contest is also planned.

Food vendors will be stationed around the event, and Cider Days’ signature apple-cider slushes and kettle corn will return for the anniversary celebration.

The mix of vendors and activities allows visitors to shop while children participate in the event’s family-oriented attractions. Booths will be located both inside Exhibition Hall and in outdoor areas surrounding the building.

The celebration comes as Cider Days reaches a milestone few community events achieve. After 45 years, the market has become a familiar part of the fall calendar for generations of Topeka families.

The event also provides an opportunity for small businesses, independent makers and regional artists to introduce their products to thousands of shoppers during one weekend.

Cider Days will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20, at the Stormont Vail Events Center.

Additional information is available through the official Cider Days website.

TOPEKA, Kan. — Two of the most influential musicians in jazz history will be celebrated in Topeka during a special concert marking the 100th anniversary of their births.

The Miles Davis and John Coltrane Tribute is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27, at the Topeka Performing Arts Center, 214 SE Eighth Ave.

Presented by the Topeka Jazz Workshop, the concert will feature a quintet of Kansas City-area musicians led by bassist Kurt Morrow. The group will perform music inspired by Davis and Coltrane and explore the influence both musicians continue to have on jazz.

Davis and Coltrane were both born in 1926 and became two of the defining figures of 20th-century music.

Davis, a trumpeter, bandleader and composer, repeatedly reshaped jazz throughout his career. His work moved through bebop, cool jazz, hard bop, modal jazz and eventually jazz fusion. His landmark recordings include Kind of Blue, Bitches Brew and Sketches of Spain.

Coltrane emerged as one of the most important saxophonists of his generation. Known for his technical ability and constant musical exploration, he expanded the harmonic and spiritual possibilities of jazz through recordings including Giant Steps, My Favorite Things and A Love Supreme.

The musicians’ careers famously intersected when Coltrane joined Davis’ celebrated quintet in the 1950s. Their work together helped produce some of the most important recordings in jazz, including Davis’ 1959 album Kind of Blue.

Although their musical paths later separated, both artists continued pushing jazz in new directions. Davis became known for repeatedly reinventing his sound, while Coltrane pursued increasingly experimental and spiritually focused music.

The Topeka tribute will highlight what organizers describe as Davis’ cool, searching lyricism and Coltrane’s soaring intensity. The performance will also celebrate the sense of possibility and innovation the two musicians brought to American music.

The concert opens the Topeka Jazz Workshop’s 2026 season, which includes additional performances at TPAC throughout the fall.

Tickets are listed at $35 before online fees. Additional information and tickets are available through the Topeka Jazz Workshop and the Topeka Performing Arts Center.

TOPEKA, Kan. — Internationally recognized Christian artists will take the stage in downtown Topeka this fall for a free concert celebrating music, community and the city’s place in religious history.

Open Skies Topeka is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 26, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Evergy Plaza, 630 S. Kansas Ave. The event is free and open to the public.

The concert will feature Bethel Music with Jenn Johnson and Dove Award-winning Christian hip-hop artist KB. Topeka native and boxer John Cantrell is also scheduled to appear and share his personal testimony.

Organizers describe Open Skies as an evening of worship, hope and community intended to bring together people from different churches and Christian traditions. Those who do not identify with a particular faith tradition are also invited to attend.

“Come for the music, come with questions, come to worship or simply come experience the night with your community,” AIM 5 Foundation founder Cody Foster said in the event announcement.

Bethel Music has become one of the most prominent organizations in contemporary worship music. Its catalog includes widely performed songs such as “Goodness of God,” “Raise a Hallelujah,” “It Is Well” and “Reckless Love.”

KB is a rapper, pastor and author whose albums have reached the top of Billboard’s Christian Albums chart. His work combines hip-hop performances with messages focused on faith, purpose and hope.

The concert also arrives during the 125th anniversary of the 1901 Topeka Outpouring, an event widely associated with the beginnings of the modern Pentecostal movement.

Events at Charles Parham’s Bethel Bible School in Topeka helped launch a religious movement that would eventually spread internationally. Organizers hope the concert will introduce a new generation to that history while highlighting the broader influence religious communities have had on Topeka.

“Topeka has a remarkable story of faith that stretches back nearly to the city’s founding, and Open Skies gives us an opportunity to share that story with a new generation,” Visit Topeka President Sean Dixon said.

Organizers also point to the influence of Christian abolitionists and Free-State settlers, the Congregationalist roots of Washburn University and Topeka minister Charles Sheldon, whose 1896 novel In His Steps popularized the question, “What would Jesus do?”

The inaugural event is being organized by the AIM 5 Foundation, a Christian organization that works with community partners and supports local initiatives. In addition to live music, the evening is expected to include food trucks and other activities.

Organizers said they anticipate thousands of people could attend and believe Open Skies could become one of the largest events held at Evergy Plaza.

Additional information is available through the official Evergy Plaza calendar and the Visit Topeka event announcement.

CJ Leede’s “Headlights“ is definitely one of the most interesting horror books I’ve read. While it feels like I’m reading a police procedural with the main character, FBI special agent Daniel Stansfield, two characteristics stick out through the whole book.

First is how the book is a love letter to Colorado. It has many references to John Denver and Colorado, especially the Denver area. I’ve been lucky enough to visit Red Rocks and Fiddler’s Green within the last year. Other places mentioned in the book are quintessential Colorado. Some of the ones I haven’t been to are now on my must-see list!

The Stanley Hotel also plays a big part in this book. The scene that takes place in that iconic horror hotel will stay in your mind for a long time. The book even has a shoutout to Alferd Packard aka “The Colorado Cannibal.”

The second unique characteristic is how grief plays such an important part. Daniel deals with the loss of his mother. I love how Leede uses country classics and dancing to help Dan remember his mother. While growing up, they bonded on those things.

“Headlights” provides an idea about what happens when we pass away. Leede mentions during an interview how that was on her mind when she was writing this book. 

The book attempts to solve many mysteries. It has many twists and turns, and I never would have guessed the ending. If you’re looking for a book that makes you go “what the fuck,” but gives you an answer at the end that still keeps you thinking weeks after you read the book, this is for you! 

I also think this would be an interesting book for a book club, as there are so many things to discuss. I highly recommend this book to adults who love horror and science fiction horror. If you’re a fan of Colorado, John Denver, and the Shining, you will also enjoy this if you can get past some gruesome scenes.

The main character is Mary Fanning, who was the first woman reporter west of the Mississippi and worked for the Kansas Daily Tribune. She hunts for the truth while Krishtalka keeps the story flowing by flushing out the exciting parts of trial transcripts and other documents. He spent countless hours in various archives and libraries including the Kansas Historical Society and digging for newspapers over 150 years old! 

Now he brings back Mary Flanning in “The Body on the Bricks,” set in 1873 where three people are murdered in three separate incidences in Lawrence, Kansas.

Krishtalka has a magical way of transporting readers to the late 19th century. Lawrence is full of fun and intrigue. Never a dull moment in LFK! Even back then!

None of these murders are cut and dry! The helpful seamstress who went to customers and mended their clothes was found murdered in her boarding house. Who did it?

A mom with a dead baby is found screaming in the street with blood all over her clothes. She said there were two of us. Did she do it alone? 

A mad father whose daughter claims a guy knocked her up after promising to marry her and then forced her to get an abortion shoots the guy. Is it a justified killing? The guy would be convicted of murder today, but what about the late 19th century? Did Lawrence still believe in saloon justice or evolve into the rule of law? Patriarchy was strong then! Women were considered property of their fathers until marriage, but you can see how things were starting to change. 

Lots of plot twists in this book. Truth may be stranger than fiction. Many side stories are woven into the dialogue including John Brown and Quantral’s attack on Lawrence. Tidbits of facts also sneak into the intrigue like how Vineland got its original name but then became Vinland.

If you enjoyed courtroom intrigue like “Snow Falling on Cedars” or “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,” you will enjoy this book. It even has a suggestion of the supernatural with seances and spirits from the dead! 

I also highly recommend Krishtalka’s Mary Fanning books for those interested in northeast Kansas history. They provide an interesting insight into how legal proceedings were carried out in the late 19th century. If you like mysteries or historical fiction, you’ll also enjoy these. They give you a vivid peek into daily lives of Lawrenceans in the late 1800s.