Author: Brandon Peoples

A new police chief has been appointed in Junction City. According to a Tuesday release from the City Manager’s office, Kirt Nichols will assume that role effective immediately. The 33 year veteran of JCPD has served as Captain of Operations for the past four years and was interim police chief for four months in late 2019. The city is also re-creating the position of Assistant Police Chief and has appointed Cory Odell to that position. Odell has been with the department since 2009 and most recently served as a Captain on the force since 2021. The shakeup in the police…

Through 24 hours of giving, the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation was able to raise more than $1.7 million for 90 area nonprofit organizations through the 12th annual Grow Green Match Day. GMCF President and CEO Vern Henricks says it was a good day of charitable giving and enough to surpass last year’s total of $1.4 million. “This has been a great day. These 90 nonprofits have got funds that they’ve never had before. It’s just such a generous community giving day and we’re very thankful that so much support came out for them,” he said. Donations were matched up to…

State lawmakers head back to Topeka later this week for veto session. Earlier this month, Gov. Laura Kelly announced a veto of Senate Bill 233, which would place limitations on gender-affirming care for minors, including access to surgery, hormone treatments and puberty blockers. In her veto statement, Gov. Kelly has said the bill was based on a politically distorted belief that the legislature knows better than parents how to raise their children. 51st District State Rep. Kenny Titus, of Manhattan says the governor has framed a false narrative regarding the proposed legislation. Titus pointed to California law approved last year that instructs…

An investigation is underway after a 22-year-old woman reported early Sunday morning that an unknown motorist drove up beside her and shot at her car, striking it once. That incident was reported around 2 a.m. in the 3000 block of Tuttle Creek Blvd. Police are asking anyone with information in either case to contact Crime Stoppers.

Riley County Police are seeking the public’s help identifying suspects in a pair of weekend crime investigations. Police say a masked man entered a Manhattan convenience store Saturday just before 6 p.m. and stole $1,100 worth of lottery tickets. It happened at the U-Stop at Fort Riley Blvd and Richards Drive. So far no arrests have been made.

Monday is the 12th annual Grow Green Match Day in Manhattan. The Greater Manhattan Community Foundation will match donations made to each participating organization up to 50%, thanks to generous matching funds from the Howe Family Foundation. GMCF President and CEO Vern Henricks… Among the newcomers to Grow Green Match Day this year is the Food and Farm Council of Riley County and Manhattan. Council Coordinator Vickie James… Another participating organization is Thrive Flint Hills. Executive Director Jayme Morris-Hardeman says the work Thrive does spawned out of work she did previously with CASA families and children going through the foster…

State officials have announced a $3 million investment into Riley County’s water infrastructure. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment says will come from the State Water Plan, signed into law last year by Gov. Laura Kelly, and will improve wastewater systems at University Park and the Keats community. Riley County Public Information Officer Vivienne Leyva says it’s a big deal for these projects. Keats will receive funding for a new wastewater lagoon facility and collection system. The Kansas Water Office recently awarded Keats a Technical Assistance Grant to evaluate potential sites for the new facility. Riley County Commissioner Kathryn…

Kansas 2nd District Congressman Jake LaTurner says he will not seek re-election in the fall. The 36-year-old Republican from Topeka has served in the House of Representatives since 2021. In a statement Thursday, LaTurner said he will not be a candidate in 2024, nor will he seek a political position in state elections in 2026, opting to spend time with family. Laturner and his wife Suzanne have four young children and he stated the busy schedule of running and serving in Congress has taken a toll. Prior to his election to Congress, LaTurner was previously the Kansas State Treasurer from…

Authorities are cleaning up after storm damage in Pottawatomie County early Thursday morning. The City of St. Marys was hit the hardest, with Police Chief Derek Cid noting that 70 to 80 mph straight-line winds impacted portions of town, knocking out power and damaging several buildings. Cid says schools are closed in St. Marys and a boil water advisory remains in effect until further notice for residents living north of Elm Street. Officials from the National Weather Service and Pottawatomie County Emergency Management were scheduled to assess storm damage Thursday afternoon. Storms moved through the area overnight, with winds knocking…

Power outages were reported early Thursday morning after storms blew through the area overnight. Pottawatomie County authorities say Onaga Road is closed between Highway 24 and Oregon Trail Road this morning due to several downed power lines. That’s led to outages for hundreds of Bluestem Electric Cooperative customers in rural parts of the county. Bluestem General Manager Mike Morton confirmed to KMAN that crews were out early this morning assessing damage. County officials say crews are evaluating storm damage in the eastern part of the county. Damage has been reported to buildings, outbuildings, power lines and downed tree limbs. Extensive…