Author: Brandon Peoples

Two more Riley County residents have died after recently testing positive for COVID-19. The health department said Wednesday a 61-year-old unvaccinated woman died Nov. 5 after testing positive two-and-a-half weeks earlier. A fully vaccinated 82-year-old man also died Sunday after testing positive just six days earlier. The county has now seen 62 COVID-related deaths. In addition, 120 new positive coronavirus cases were noted in Wednesday’s report. That’s nearly three times as many new cases as was seen last week. It’s also the first time since late September that new cases for a one week period topped over 100. The county…

Pottawatomie County will use funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to plan a regional storm water detention pond. Commissioners differed on ways to approach the pond, northwest of Oliver Brown Elementary School. Pat Weixelman thought the $1.5 million ask was too high. Commissioner Dee McKee favored going in at planning and designing now, saying she was flexible in how much would be allocated. The commission agreed to allocate $500,000 in ARPA funds for the project.  Later in the meeting the commission agreed to move forward on a minimal pond design for the property north of Junietta Road and west…

Manhattan area elected officials are weighing in on anticipated legislation to eliminate or reduce the state sales tax on food. Wamego 51st District Rep. Ron Highland says Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s announcement Monday that she’ll introduce legislation in the upcoming session, was more about scoring political points. 67th District Rep. Mike Dodson, of Manhattan, says for those not making much money it’s a big deal and the right thing to do. Any tax bill introduced would be bundled with all the other tax proposals to be considered by the full legislature. Highland says if the sales tax goes away, it…

Tolls are going up on the Kansas Turnpike. The Turnpike Authority announced Monday that beginning Feb. 1 toll rates will be adjusted to pay for future projects, replenish reserves used during the pandemic and entice additional customers to use K-TAG, KTA’s electronic toll collection program. Those who use an electronic transponder to pay for tolls will see an approximate 2 percent increase for inflation. Customers paying at the toll booths with cash or card will see about a 12 percent increase. The Kansas Turnpike receives no tax funding and relies on user fees, to pay for operations and maintenance of…

Governor Laura Kelly has announced she will introduce a bill aimed at eliminating the state’s sales on food in Kansas. If passed by the full Kansas Legislature, Kelly estimates the average family of four would save an average of $500 or more on their grocery bill annually. In a release Monday, the governor said this could be accomplished while still maintaining the state budget. Kelly’s likely challenger, Attorney General Derek Schmidt also proposed a repeal or reduction of the grocery sales tax in a statement Friday. Schmidt says “eliminating or at least significantly reducing the sales tax on groceries is…

Mail-in ballots tallied Friday by the Riley County Clerk’s Office helped tighten the USD 383 school board race, but not enough to change the outcome. Karla Hagemeister remains with the most votes received at 4,578, gaining 35 additional mail in votes. Jayme Morris-Hardeman picked up 36 votes while Christine Weixelman picked up 20. She finished with 4,376, while Morris Hardeman finished with 4,375. Teresa Parks remained 141 votes behind Morris-Hardeman in fourth place. The results include all advance and mail ballots from both Riley and Pottawatomie counties. In the city race, top earner Usha Reddi, picked up 33 more votes,…

A Junction City woman was injured Saturday after her car rear-ended a semi on I-70 in Dickinson County. The Kansas Highway Patrol says 22-year-old Samantha Dupont was westbound about 3 miles west of Abilene shortly before noon Saturday, when she reportedly attempted to adjust her sun visor. That’s when her Ford Fusion rear-ended the semi truck in front of her. Dupont was transported to Salina Regional Health Center with minor injuries. The truck driver was not injured.

Manhattan Regional Airport Director Jesse Romo is leaving the Flint Hills for Wichita’s Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport and Col. James Jabara Airport later this month. Romo says he has fond memories of the Little Apple and the growth achieved during his six year tenure. Romo says the airport has received immense support from partners from across the region and credits his staff with helping make the airport a hub for travelers. One of the key things Romo has worked on, which is currently in the works, is the upcoming runway reconstruction, slated for 2023. Preliminary October data showed more…

Following the Centers for Disease Control approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11, the Riley County Health Department has announced its first clinic. The clinic will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13 at the health department’s Family & Child Resource Center at 2101 Claflin Road. Health Department Director Julie Gibbs says clinical trials of some 3,000 5 to 11 year-olds have shown the vaccine to be 90 percent effective against COVID-19. Parents who are hesitant about risks or side effects from the jab are encouraged to speak with their child’s physician.…

Kansas State University says it’s evaluating the recently announced updates to several federal orders tied to COVID-19 and how it applies to the university. The federal government on Thursday announced important updates to two major vaccination policies requiring the COVID-19 vaccine for federal contractors and lay out requirements for employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Administrations’ jurisdiction. Last month, K-State announced it would be requiring all faculty and staff to get the vaccine by Dec. 8. Those who failed to comply would be terminated. Those wishing to submit a request for a religious or medical exemption must do so…