Author: Brandon Peoples

Kansas State University is continuing to look at strategies to increase the number of students coming to the university from out of state. K-State President Dr. Richard Linton spoke to the Kansas Board of Regents Wednesday about a proposal to expand the university’s in-state tuition eligibility to more students living beyond the Kansas borders. “This is a request that’s being made to create a new program for high achieving students and providing student tuition breaks for high achieving students that have a GPA in the range of 3.25 and 3.90,” he said. Modeled after a similar approach at the University of…

A kitchen fire caused $20,000 in structural and content damage to a Manhattan home Thursday afternoon. According to the Manhattan Fire Department, crews were dispatched just after 2 p.m. to 208 Parker Drive, in the Northview area. Crews found a single-story duplex with light smoke coming from the building. Investigators determined the source of the fire to be on the stove, which was left unattended. A fire extinguisher was used to put it out. Two residents were home at the time and escaped without injury. The property owner is listed as Greg Gilman Trust of Manhattan.

Sweet sounds of music will be coming to an outdoor space at Ogden Elementary, thanks to a grant from the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation Deihl Community Arts Grant Fund. On Wednesday the Manhattan-Ogden School Board gave final approval for the $35,000 outdoor public art proposal. Board member Jayme Morris-Hardeman was ecstatic for the project. “This is the coolest project ever. So if you haven’t read about this yet, you need to. It’s an outdoor music garden, with music equipment like what they have at the Children’s Discovery Center in Topeka. They’re putting a mural on the wall and they’re looking…

A new director and curator of the Riley County Historical Museum has been announced. Katharine Hensler will start in the position May 31. Hensler will oversee the organization’s mission to educate the public on the history of Riley County. She’ll also stand as a Department Head of Riley County Government, advocating and supporting historic preservation in all forms, according to a Thursday release from the county. Hensler’s resume includes work for the Division of Cultural Resources at the Kansas Historical Society, Inventory Analysis for Fort Riley. She also has been Executive Director of the Harbor History Museum in Gig Harbor,…

Kansas State University is rolling out a plan to increase compensation for its faculty and staff. In his first major act as president, Dr. Richard Linton announced Thursday a 2 percent across the board increase for benefits-eligible faculty, unclassified and university staff in fiscal year 2023. This will apply to those hired on or before Dec. 1, 2021. (See here who is and isn’t eligible under this plan). Additionally, those employees will be eligible for merit raises based on performance evaluations, made possible with university funding that will support an additional 3 percent merit pool allocation provided to university units.…

After numerous delays in the courts over the past two years, a Manhattan man charged with killing two people will face a jury trial late this summer. Riley County Judge John Bosch on Monday set a jury date for Aug. 30 for Montrell Vassar, who faces two counts of first-degree murder and possession of stolen property in the October 2020 deaths of 19-year-old Skylar Havens and 23-year-old Javon Gray. Prosecutors have alleged in previous hearings that Vassar, who knew the two men, acted with pre-meditation, noting the two men were gunned down from behind. Vassar’s attorney is Chris Biggs. Deputy…

A trial for a Manhattan man accused of murdering his ex-wife is scheduled for this fall. At a Monday arraignment, Judge Kendra Lewison set an Oct. 31 trial date for 27-year-old Kamahl Bobian, who is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 27-year-old Shanell Bobian on Sept. 25 in the 400 block of South 12th Street. The trial is expected to last five days. Kamahl Bobian faces possible life imprisonment for the murder charge, with the possibility of parole after 50 years. He also is charged with violating a protective order and a burglary charge. He remains jailed on a…

Three people were injured Tuesday following a crash near Tuttle Creek Blvd (US-24) and Hwy 13. The Kansas Highway Patrol says an eastbound SUV was attempting a left turn onto Hwy 13 when it failed to yield and was struck by a westbound pickup hauling a trailer. The two vehicles collided and came to rest on the north shoulder of Hwy 24. Two of the passengers in the SUV sustained serious injuries. According to the crash report, 16-year-old Micah Uga, of Manhattan, was transported by Life Star helicopter to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. The other passenger, 18-year-old Wyatt…

A pair of men are at the center of a purported cookie store-related crime from earlier this month. Riley County Police are seeking the public’s help identifying one of two suspects, who police say may have pulled a lever on a breaker box causing a power outage to Insomnia Cookies and the Kountry Attic near Aggieville. Security camera still images show two young men walking in the alleyway behind the two businesses around 1 a.m. on May 1st. Police believe one of the men, seen wearing a gray shirt, is responsible for causing the outage. Both businesses were reportedly without…

Red Cross blood drives are happening in Manhattan and Junction City today through Thursday. A lot of empty appointment spots exist. Red Cross Account Manager Kristi Ingalls was on the KMAN Morning Show Tuesday to highlight the need for blood. Here’s a list of this week’s blood drives: Manhattan drive at Pottorf Hall in CiCo Park Tuesday: Noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday: 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Junction City drive at the Municipal Building (700 N. Jefferson) Wednesday: 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Both drives will be offering free $10 electronic gift cards to…