Author: Brandon Peoples

A four-vehicle crash Monday evening in northern Riley County sent two people to the hospital and left two others with minor injuries. The Kansas Highway Patrol says it happened just before 6 p.m. at U.S. Highway 24 and West 59th Avenue after one driver rear-ended a stopped vehicle, triggering a chain reaction. According to the crash report, an eastbound vehicle struck another eastbound vehicle that was stopped and waiting to turn left at the intersection. The impact caused the striking vehicle to cross into the westbound lane where it collided with a westbound vehicle. Authorities say 76-year-old Connie Schmidt and…

Riley County Health Department Director Diane Creek delivered some “good news” to county commissioners Monday regarding staff salaries for the county’s Women, Infants and Children program amid the ongoing federal government shutdown. “We’re going to receive $99,550 from the state WIC office for October salaries,” she said. That still leaves Riley County about $30,000 short for the month of October because of the three pay periods in the month. To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for more Riley County news.

A first-of-its-kind dredging project at Tuttle Creek Reservoir completed just before the federal government shutdown took effect, but it could be some time before federal and state engineers know just how effective the process was at removing decades of sediment buildup. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Kansas Water Office completed the 10-day demonstration of water injection dredging for the fall period on Sept. 27, avoiding being impacted by the federal government shutdown which began Oct. 1. A second and third round of dredging periods are scheduled for spring and summer of 2026. Michels Construction of Brownsville, Wisconsin was…

One person was seriously injured in a shooting Saturday afternoon in a northeast Manhattan neighborhood. Riley County Police officers were called out just before 2 p.m. to the Country Meadow Apartments complex, 1300 E. Marlatt Avenue, after reports of gunfire in the area. Upon arrival, they located a 35-year-old man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. According to police, officers provided first aid until emergency crews arrived. The victim was eventually transported to Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka with serious injuries. Further information, including the victim’s name and the person or persons responsible for the shooting, was not immediately available. RCPD…

Local 4-H clubs are celebrating National 4-H week, recognizing the accomplishments of members and volunteers across the country. National 4-H week takes place the first full week of October. This year it’s Sunday through Saturday. Members of the College Hill 4-H Club in Riley County say the organization provides them with useful skills, friendships and plenty of fun along the way. Akinya Williams, a sixth grader at Anthony Middle School, said competing in the county and state fashion review is just one highlight she’s had this year. “I got a reserve grand champion at the Riley County Fashion Revue, and…

From left to right: William Allen, Mary Allen, Akinya Williams, Nora Ingram and Nyla Ingram, of the College Hill 4-H Club in Riley County. Photo courtesy Alecia Ingram.Local 4-H clubs are celebrating National 4-H week, recognizing the accomplishments of members and volunteers across the country. National 4-H week takes place the first full week of October. This year it’s Oct. 5 through Oct. 11 and the theme is “Beyond Ready.” A group of students from the College Hill 4-H club in Riley County recently joined KMAN’s Morning News with Brandon Peoples to discuss how 4-H has impacted their lives and…

The 15-year plan will guide future decisions on land use, economic development, housing, health, transportation and infrastructure. Planning and Development director Amanda Webb said staff worked on the plan since 2023, with input from several stakeholders throughout the process. “We did community engagement, a public survey, a lot of different workshops across the county … north, south and everywhere in between,” she said. The team was starting to work on the plan with committees and subcommittees when the project went on hiatus in 2024. It was determined a consultant was needed to handle some of the technical aspects of the…

A local nonprofit organization is exploring the possibility of tackling one of its largest-ever housing developments in Manhattan and asked Riley County for feedback on whether the project could qualify for Reinvestment Housing Incentive District financing. Executive director Josh Brewer presented an early concept to commissioners Thursday for nearly five acres in a Northview neighborhood between Casement Road and Spain Drive. He said the organization had its eyes on the land for three years and helped secure rezoning to allow higher-density housing. “We see the proximity to the school as being a really, really strong asset for this,” Brewer said.…

Manhattan’s emerging role in safeguarding America’s food system was on full display Wednesday as USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden and U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran toured the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility and Kansas State University’s Biosecurity Research Institute. Vaden’s first trip to Manhattan comes as NBAF, a Biosafety Level 4 laboratory designed to study and combat animal diseases, nears completion. “Our goal here is to make certain that NBAF is ready for that work, and to make sure it happens as smoothly as possible and to make sure that it happens on time,” Moran said. To view the full article…

Director David Adams told Riley County commissioners on Monday EMS responded to 464 calls in August, a slight increase from the previous month. “The thing I noticed by the hours is really the late morning and then in the afternoons was busier, which tells us that there were more citizens out and about,” he said. Adams said had EMS been overwhelmed just in the evening hours, he likely would have attributed it to more students returning from summer break. To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for more Riley County news.