Author: Brandon Peoples

The Food and Farm Council of Riley County and the City of Manhattan are asking residents to “take 10” during the month of September. In an effort to develop a Master Food Plan for the area, an online survey is circulating the community which asks some questions about the current local food system. Council Coordinator Vickie James says all it takes is 10 minutes. James says once the council collects responses from community members, the next step is creating that long-range plan. The survey asks questions about where people commonly get their food, what barriers they face, and how often…

Bank fishing along the face of the Tuttle Creek dam won’t be permitted after Labor Day. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District announced Monday that an upcoming construction project to repair rock overlay (riprap) on portions of the upstream side of the dam will start Sept. 7. It will require closure of public access, including the east and west dam parking lots and the entire upstream face of the dam. That includes all pedestrian and bank fishing. Much of the existing rock overlay was heavily degraded due to prolonged high waters in 2019 when the dam reached near capacity.…

Riley County Police are investigating following a burglary in Manhattan. According to Tuesday’s RCPD activity report, officers filed a report just after 4:30 p.m. Monday for burglary and criminal damage to property in the 500 block of N. Juliette Ave. Police say a 43-year-old man reported an unknown suspect broke in to his unoccupied home and stole five pistols, three AR-15 rifles and other miscellaneous items, totaling approximately $6,300. Police ask anyone with information to submit a tip through Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers or contact RCPD.

The director of the Pottawatomie County Health Department says 64 new positive cases of coronavirus were confirmed between August 22 and August 28. Leslie Campbell provided an update to commissioners Monday. In that, she mentioned some local districts are now actively utilizing quarantine classrooms, for students who were close contacts of COVID-19 positive individuals at school. Rock Creek USD 323 Superintendent Kevin Logan tells KMAN they are not planning on using quarantine rooms this fall, despite looking into it as a possibility last week. “We instead will give our parents/students the option of “quarantine” (at home) or “test to stay…

Former Kansas governor Jeff Colyer has ended his gubernatorial campaign to focus on his health after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. The 61-year-old, who held the office for less than a year following the 2018 resignation of Sam Brownback, made the announcement in a statement Monday. “While I have always focused on helping others, for the next few weeks I am going to focus on my health. I was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer like my father and grandfather. After treatment, I am confident for a full recovery. Given these challenges, Ruth and I have decided to withdraw from the…

A new directory is being launched this fall, to bring more visibility and support to underrepresented businesses in the Flint Hills. The Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce says the directory, created by the Greater Manhattan Economic Partnership will highlight minority-owned businesses in Riley, Geary, Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee counties. Entrepreneurs meeting these demographics will be able to fill out an online form on the GMEP website at no cost. The site will also be a resource to small businesses in the area providing support and mentorship opportunities through the Washburn Small Business Development Center, Manhattan Economic Development, SPARK and The Office…

The Director of the A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications is getting not just one, but two honors this year from the Kansas Association of Broadcasters. Dr. Steve Smethers is this year’s recipient of the Distinguished Services Award, the Association’s highest honor, given annually for exemplary service to the community, state and broadcast industry. In addition, Smethers will be inducted into the Association’s Hall of Fame, alongside Dan Israel, the Executive Producer of the Kansas City Chiefs Radio Network and Danny Thomas, President and General Manager of KOAM TV in Pittsburg. Smethers began his radio career in 1968…

The Flint Hills Regional Leadership Program recently announced its newest class for the 2021-22 program year. The class includes 20 individuals from Riley, Geary and Pottawatomie counties who will complete the seven session course over the next six months. This year’s participants are listed below: Christine Benne — Regional Volunteer interim chair, Manhattan Military Relations Committee Casey Biesenthal — Commercial Lending, Central National Bank Christian Bishop — Protocol Specialist, First Infantry Division Headquarters, Fort Riley Andrew Darrow — IT Director, City of Manhattan Cade Dover — District Operations Manager, Evergy Inc. David Easterling — Army Substance Abuse Program/DHR @ USAG…

The Kansas delegation of lawmakers in Washington, D.C. are urging President Biden to outline safety plans for Americans and others attempting to flee Afghanistan amid the possibility of more terror attacks. Following two apparently coordinated attacks by ISIS suicide bombers Thursday, which killed 11 Marines and a Navy medic and wounded at least 15 American service members, Sen. Jerry Moran, Sen. Roger Marshall and Rep. Tracey Mann called out the Biden administration for a lack of leadership. In a statement Thursday, Sen. Moran says the U.S. must use every resource available to evacuate all Americans, allies and partners and protect service…

Time is running out for the many thousands of Americans and Afghan civilians fleeing Afghanistan ahead of President Joe Biden’s Aug. 31 deadline to withdraw troops. Fatima Jaghoori is a Kansas State University student, who served in Iraq with the U.S. Army. Her husband, also was a combat veteran, died serving in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. She shared her story this week with News Radio KMAN. (The entire interview is shared at the bottom of this page.) Her family knows the Taliban violence all too well. They fled the region, emigrating to the U.S. in 1999 following her father’s…