Author: Brandon Peoples

Members of the Manhattan Parks & Recreation Advisory Board were painted a grim picture of the financial challenges hampering the city’s parks & recreation department. Monday marked the board’s first public meeting since the July 18 special session held at the Manhattan Fire Department headquarters. Deputy City Manager Jason Hilgers says the challenges have been brought on from flat or declining revenues over the past six to seven years. He says conversations with staff have consistently aimed at saving the most money possible without impacting services. “When I have conversations with staff in this building, it’s about ways we can…

Riley County remains in the HIGH incidence category for new COVID infections. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment says 112 new cases were recorded the final week of July (23rd through the 29th). The Incidence Rate is 151, which remains above the 100 cases per 100,000 people threshold that KDHE uses for its metrics. Ascension Via Christi had seven patients in the hospital Wednesday, including two being treated in the Intensive Care Unit. The message this week from the Riley County Health Department Director remains the same, stating if you’re not feeling well or have any reason to suspect…

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History has named Manhattan Virtual Academy K-2 and gifted teacher Lori Rice as the 2022 Kansas History Teacher of the Year. Rice is a 1996 graduate of Kansas State University, who also recently completed a master’s degree in education from Emporia State. Her passion for history and STEM comes to life in the classroom through stories and culture, where she connects students to their past so they can grow their future. Rice receives a $1,000 honorarium, as well as a core archive of American history books and Gilder Lehrman educational materials. Rice will also…

Kansas voters have rejected a proposed amendment to the Kansas Constitution that would have added language stating it does not grant the right to abortion. The total was 59 percent of voters favoring no change to the constitution. Riley County voters rejected the measure by a 68 to 32 percent margin. Pottawatomie County voters went the other way, favoring the yes vote by a 56 to 44 percent margin. Voters in 19 counties, including the most populated urban area of Kansas City, Wichita and Topeka favored rejecting the amendment. The referendum was the first in the country to be posed…

Pottawatomie County 1st District Commissioner Dee McKee has survived a primary challenge and will advance to the November ballot. The incumbent Republican received 1,162 votes compared to 557 votes for Hans Tessman and 324 votes for Nathaniel Gotsch. McKee will likely be unopposed in the November election as she seeks a third term. Elsewhere, Republican Lewis (Bill) Bloom, of Clay Center, unseated incumbent Suzi Carlson, of Clay Center, in the 64th House District. Bloom received 2,008 votes to give him a greater than 500 vote advantage over both Carlson and Brad Starnes, of Riley. Bloom will take on Democrat Patricia…

Riley County commissioners on Monday unanimously approved a compliance plan to submit to the Environmental Protection Agency for eventual replacement of the University Park wastewater treatment plant. It’s the first step for the benefit district to come into compliance with the EPA’s Clean Water Act. Public Works Director John Ellerman says the best option is to replace the current facility with a non-discharging lagoon, based on lower construction costs, simpler maintenance and longer life. University Park resident James Slaymaker spoke in favor of the option, but was critical of the county waiting until the deadline to act on the plan,…

Riley County saw a steady stream of people voting in advance ahead of today’s primary. County Clerk Rich Vargo noted 5,154 people had cast their ballots through Saturday, a figure he said Monday would likely approach 6,000 by noon. He was not far off. The final number of Riley County residents to vote in advance was 5,716.  He was encouraging people to do their homework The uptick in advanced voting largely fueled by an emotional ballot question regarding the constitutional right to an abortion. Washburn University Associate Professor Patrick Miller spoke to CBS about the constitutional question. Polls are open…

Riley County Police are investigating a slew of gun-related incidents from over the weekend. On Friday, officers filed a report for aggravated assault and burglary in the 500 block of 15th Street in Ogden listing two young men as victims and two other young men as suspects, who reportedly entered a home and stole two guns and held one of the two victims at gunpoint outside. Also reported Friday was an aggravated assault in the 1100 block of Bluemont Ave. where a 43-year-old Regina Smith, of Ogden was alleged to have threatened a man and woman with a gun during…

Riley County saw a steady stream of people voting in advance ahead of today’s primary. County Clerk Rich Vargo noted 5,154 people had cast their ballots through Saturday, a figure he said Monday would likely approach 6,000 by the noon cutoff for advanced voting. Vargo’s estimate was not far off. The final number of Riley County residents to vote early was 5,716. The uptick in advanced voting largely fueled by an emotional ballot question regarding the constitutional right to an abortion. Washburn University Associate Professor Patrick Miller spoke to CBS News about the ballot question. Vargo encourages voters to be…

The Kansas Supreme Court has upheld the conviction of a man who failed to register with the state’s offender registry and has ruled the law to be constitutional. On the sole issue the Supreme Court granted for review, Daniel Genson III raised an insanity defense and claimed he was involuntarily committed just days after his time to register lapsed. The Riley County District Court rejected the defense because failing to register is a strict liability crime and precluded evidence of his mental health at trial. Genson had also challenged the Court of Appeals majority refusal to two new claims raised…