Author: Brandon Peoples

Kansas Senators Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran returned from a trip to Eastern Europe with a bipartisan delegation of Congress to assess the situation in Ukraine. Both called on more to be done in terms of imposing sanctions on Russia, as the one month mark approaches since its invasion of Ukraine. Sen. Marshall contends there is a path to victory for Ukraine, but adds that the U.S. is only doing a fraction of what it could be doing. “We don’t need to debate it. We don’t need to talk about the pros and the cons. Get them the damn weapons.…

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a stream advisory for the Kansas River near Ogden. The advisory was issued because of potential elevated bacteria and contaminants that may be present, following operation problems at the Fort Riley Wastewater Treatment Plant. Anyone living near or having activities near the stream should not enter the waters or allow children or pets to enter the stream. The Fort Riley Wastewater Treatment Plant has repaired the problem. KDHE says it will rescind the advisory once flows recede and the subsequent bacteria testing indicates secondary contact has been deemed safe.

Back in an in-person format for the first time in three years, the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation recognized local philanthropy Monday with its 8th annual Community Foundation Awards (CFA’s). In addition to the annual award ceremony, the event also is the board meeting where leadership changes take place. Jackie Hartman Borck was introduced as the 2022 Board of Trustees Chair by outgoing Board Chair Therese Miller. A total of 12 awards were handed out at Monday’s event, which was also live streamed on the GMCF Facebook page. Taking home the coveted Rising Star Volunteer of the Year Award was Crystal…

An internationally recognized African American documentary photographer, videographer and photojournalist will be on hand March 31st for the Riley County Historical Society’s quarterly meeting. Doug Barrett, owner of 400 North Creative, based in Manhattan, will share insights about his photography on display in the UMB Theater inside the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art at K-State. The event is sponsored by the RCHS board, in cooperation with the Friends of the Beach Museum of Art board. Barrett’s exhibition, “Doug Barrett: Find Your Voice” is on display through May 28 and is a companion to the “Gordon Parks: Homeward to the…

No injuries were reported after a fire late Saturday night at a Manhattan apartment complex. The Manhattan Fire Department was dispatched shortly before 10:30 p.m. to the Evergreen Apartments, located at 1126 Garden Way. Upon arrival, flames could be seen from a second floor deck of the 3-story building. According to Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Almes, the fire resulted in displacement of residents living in two apartments, primarily due to damage to the deck, which was the main access point. There was no interior damage. A cause has not been determined. Damage is estimated at $5,000.

Some shakeups to legislative districts in the Manhattan area could be on the horizon if the current map under consideration gets approval. The most notable change is that of 51st District Rep. Ron Highland (R-Wamego) who would absorb a portion of Manhattan, within 66th District Rep. Sydney Carlin’s district, which has grown by 8,000 people, according to 2020 Census data. Highland joined KMAN Friday for our series of weekly legislative updates with local lawmakers. (Listen to the full interview at the bottom of the page.) The growth in Carlin’s (D-Manhattan) district occurred primarily due to Kansas State University students now…

The Manhattan Fire Department has determined a fire early Thursday morning at the Gramercy Apartments was incendiary. Fire investigators working with the Riley County Police Department filed a report for aggravated arson and criminal damage to property. One cat found dead in the fire, due to smoke inhalation. Police say a 35-year-old man is a suspect. Officials have updated the loss to be $10,000 in structural damage and $1,000 to contents.

Meadowlark officials broke ground Wednesday on a new 24-unit independent living apartment building on its main campus in Manhattan. The Monarch, as it’s called, will be located on the southeast corner of Meadowlark Road and Meadowlark Circle. Nearly 80 percent of the apartments have been reserved with down payments. The sales process for the new building began in 2019, but the project was put on hold after the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. “What people are looking for in retirement has and will continue to change,” said Lonnie Baker, CEO. “Even through the COVID-19 pandemic, our teams continued conversations…

The Kansas Board of Regents approved an amendment Wednesday to Kansas State University’s fiscal year 2023 capital improvement project plan. Additionally with that vote the board also accepted the revised statement for the Tracz Family Band Hall in West Memorial Stadium. “Due to current supply chain and construction market conditions, the estimated total project cost for this foundation funded renovation has increased from $4.5 million to just over $4.9 million,” said Regents Director of Facilities Chad Bristow. Photo courtesy K-State Marketing and Communications, via Architect One Inflation has pushed up costs for materials, something Board of Regents President Blake Flanders…

Members of the Manhattan Parks and Recreation Advisory Board are looking at scheduling a meeting later this year with both Riley County and USD 383 officials on future plans at CiCo Park. Officials are planning to pick up where they left off on a 2017 strategic facility improvement plan there. It would include, among other items, improvements to the baseball and softball complex and tennis courts. The items were shelved while the city and USD 383 began construction on new recreational facilities at the two middle schools and at Douglass Community Center. Because all three entities have property within the…