1. Kansas Capital Building Fire: On April 8, 1958, the Kansas State Capitol Building in Topeka caught fire. The fire started in the southwest corner of the building in the basement storage area. The fire destroyed the west wing of the building, which housed legislative chambers and offices. The fire caused $20 million in damages and took about three years to rebuild.

2. The Attack on Lawrence: On April 8, 1864, Confederate guerrilla fighters under the leadership of William C. Quantrill attacked the town of Lawrence, Kansas. The attack, which lasted for several hours, resulted in the deaths of over 150 men and boys, most of them civilians. The attack was in retaliation for Union General Thomas Ewing's order to exile all of the women and children of pro-Confederate families living in Missouri.

3. Record Snowfall: On April 8, 1973, a major snowstorm hit Kansas, dropping a record-breaking 25 inches of snow in parts of the state. The storm caused widespread power outages and transportation disruptions. Many schools and businesses were closed for several days.

4. Death of Dorothy Stratton: On April 8, 1943, Dorothy Stratton, a native of Brookfield, Missouri and Director of the Coast Guard Women's Reserve, died in a plane crash in Florida. Stratton was a pioneering leader for women in the Coast Guard, and her efforts helped pave the way for women's increased involvement in the military.

5. Brown vs. Board of Education: On April 8, 1953, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case of Brown vs. Board of Education. The case, which challenged the segregation of public schools in Topeka, Kansas, ultimately led to the landmark decision in 1954 that declared segregation unconstitutional. The decision was a significant victory for the civil rights movement and marked a turning point in the struggle for racial equality in the United States.