Author: Brandon Peoples

Rich Vargo will not serve a ninth term as Riley County clerk. Vargo has been in office since 1997 and is in his eighth term as Riley County’s top administrator. “I do not intend to seek reelection in 2028,” Vargo said in an email to KMAN and The Mercury Thursday. He declined to comment further. His term expires in January 2029. To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for more Riley County news.

Authorities are investigating a fatal shooting in Junction City. The Junction City Police Department says officers were called to the 300 block of West Fourth Street late Saturday afternoon for a person possibly suffering from gunshot wounds. When officers arrived, they discovered 66-year-old John Day, of Junction City, with an apparent gunshot wound. Day was transported to Stormont Vail Flint Hills Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police identified and interviewed individuals at the scene, but so far have not made any arrests. After an investigation is completed, police said the case will be presented to the Geary County District…

Local government officials will soon get some concrete data on the feasibility of a second river crossing that would connect Manhattan and residents who live in Pottawatomie County. The topic is one that residents, especially those living east of the Big Blue River, have had at least some interest in debating, though it never materialized into anything further than speculation. That all changed recently when the Flint Hills Metropolitan Planning Organization began putting together a cost-benefit analysis project to study and analyze a series of five proposed secondary connection routes. During a joint meeting Thursday at Manhattan City Hall that…

Following Gov. Laura Kelly’s final State of the State address Tuesday night in Topeka, KMAN caught up with members of the local delegation, including State Rep. Sydney Carlin (D-Manhattan) and State Sen. Kenny Titus (R-Manhattan). Both provided their thoughts on the governor’s message and outlook for the 2026 legislative session. State Rep. Sydney Carlin  State Sen. Kenny Titus

Riley County Public Works director John Ellermann highlighted a host of upcoming projects that will soon enter design, bidding or construction in the coming weeks. Design work continues for improvements on Marlatt Ave. after his office received drawings from local firm Benesch and the completion of a recent traffic study. “They favored turning lanes where we thought they would,” Ellermann said. To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for more Riley County news.

The Riley County Historical Museum reported strong visitation numbers as it closed out 2025, thanks in part to a new holiday program. Museum director Katharine Hensler told county commissioners Monday that a first-time candlelight tour of the Goodnow House helped the museum exceed its typical winter attendance averages for the month of December. “We had about 93 people show up,” she said. “That’s a good number for us. Especially on the first year.” To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for more local Manhattan news.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture has confirmed a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza at a commercial poultry operation in Pottawatomie County. The business is currently under quarantine after a case was reported on Jan. 6. A KDA spokesperson told KMAN and The Mercury Friday that this is an ongoing response but did not disclose how many birds have been affected nor the commercial operation under quarantine. KDA officials are encouraging residents who have poultry and live in Pottawatomie County to check the department’s online map tool. It will let residents know whether their location is within a current control…

Riley County emergency officials are warning of potential delays in emergency response because of a road closure north of Manhattan and could seek a temporary solution to alleviate those delays. Emergency Management director Russel Stukey told county commissioners Thursday that the Kansas Department of Transportation’s closure of K-13 near Tuttle Creek Dam has left residents who live in the Tuttle Cove area with only one way in and out. Any crash or blockage on the dam could significantly delay emergency responders from getting to anyone who lives in that area. To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for…

A new program aimed at recruiting remote workers to the Manhattan area experienced positive early results, local officials said Thursday. Representatives from the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce and Riley County Planning and Development updated the Riley County commission Thursday on efforts of MakeMyMove, a relocation incentive program that is also part of the state’s Home in the Heartland Initiative. “We’ve had 38 apply for the program, 31 be pre-approved, which means they fit all the criteria to move here,” Allison Muth, the chamber’s talent strategies manager, said. Five individuals were offered a spot and one applicant has accepted. To…

The director of the Riley County Police Department says he rejects any suggestions that local police are siding with federal immigration enforcement or pushing back against it. “We don’t actively participate in immigration detention, but we do follow the law,” Brian Peete said. Peete joined Within Reason with Mike Matson Friday on News Radio KMAN, responding to controversy involving Manhattan Municipal Court Judge Sarah Barr, who reportedly asked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to leave her courtroom Dec. 4. They were waiting to arrest a woman appearing on DUI and hit-and-run charges. To view the full article visit…