Author: Brandon Peoples

Kansas State University has announced it will allow in-person, hybrid and virtual programs for the summer. This extends to programs for visitors and youth-serving programs. The university is currently in phase 3 of its reopening process, which is the final step before an eventual phaseout of restrictions. Physical distancing remains necessary according to CDC guidelines, mass gatherings are limited to 50 or fewer individuals and face coverings will remain mandatory. The university has established guidance for program directors for managing the COVID-19 virus during planning and hosting summer programs. All academic and non-academic programs held during summer must develop a…

Training noise will remain a constant at Fort Riley, at least into the summer. Army officials have confirmed an uptick in gunnery training will continue as the 1st and 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Teams take to the field to hone live-fire skills. From now through June soldiers will train on weapons systems such as the Abrams tank, Bradley Fighting Vehicle and Paladin self-propelled howitzer. The training is said to be designed to hone the skills of vehicle crews and validate their ability to shoot, move and communicate effectively. Communities surrounding Fort Riley can expect to hear training noise now through…

A Junction City man is hospitalized following a Monday morning crash. The Kansas Highway Patrol says a passenger car driven by 43-year-old Travis Allen was stopped at the stoplight at the intersection of Ash and U.S. 77 facing west. Allen accelerated to make a left turn onto the highway but took it too sharply, causing his vehicle to go into a counterclockwise spin into the northbound lanes of US 77 where it was broadsided by a pickup truck in the passenger side. Allen, who was not wearing a seat belt, was transported to Geary Community Hospital with a suspected minor…

Pottawatomie County health officials continue to get vaccine in the arms of residents. Health Department Director Leslie Campbell informed county commissioners Monday that over 400 vaccines were administered during a clinic last week in Wamego. “We had a lot of good help, the Sheriff’s Department doing the parking, probably half the staff was volunteers and the Wamego Health Center also sent some volunteers,” she said. Supply is dwindling a bit since no shipments came in last week due to weather, but Campbell says they will be getting some help to vaccinate teachers and staff throughout the county. “KDHE and the…

Authorities are searching for a male suspect involved in a car crash Sunday on Interstate 70 in Geary County, that left one woman with a gunshot wound. According to the Geary County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched around 11:30 a.m. to mile marker 311 on reports of an apparent road rage incident. The injured woman, identified as Tina Borawski was transported to Ascension Via Christi for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Deputies developed a suspect description of a white male between the ages of 25 and 37, with a possible goatee and shaggy, unkempt, strawberry blonde hair. The suspect was…

The Riley County Police Department says it’s investigating two straight nights of reported gunshots being fired into the air at house parties east of campus. According to police, no injuries have been reported with any of the incidents and it’s unknown whether the incidents are related. The incidents reportedly occurred between the 600 and 1000 blocks of Bertrand Street between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. Saturday into Sunday Separately, police are also looking for information related to a report of shots fired around midnight Saturday in the 800 block of Thurston Street. Unlawful discharge of a firearm is a class…

Authorities in Texas have arrested a 46-year-old man in an investigation into allegations of rape and aggravated criminal sodomy involving a minor over an eight-year period. According to the Riley County Police Department, Michael James Tschantz was arrested in Naples, Texas on a Riley County District Court warrant for five counts of rape of a child under the age of 14. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in Ogden between 2004 and 2012. The victim in the case is now 21. Because of the nature of the crime, no further information is being released. Police are continuing to investigate…

Kansans learned quickly this past week just how vulnerable the power grid is. An unusually strong winter blast forced consumption rates of electricity, gas and water to skyrocket, forcing utility companies into rolling power outages, at the request of the Southwest Power Pool, the grid that covers 14 states primarily in the Great Plains, including Kansas. 51st District Rep. Ron Highland of Wamego joined KMAN Friday morning during his legislative update. He says it’s apparent energy companies can’t rely too much on renewable energy just yet. “The wind turbines, when it gets really cold can’t turn, they turn off and…

Riley County health officials on Friday confirmed an additional COVID-related death The 76-year-old woman tested positive Feb. 3 and died Wednesday, marking the 33rd COVID-related death in Riley County. The health department also confirmed 10 new positive cases and four additional recoveries since its previous report. Ascension Via Christi is caring for two positive patients in the Intensive Care Unit. In terms of vaccine numbers, Riley County has fully vaccinated 1,831 residents and seen 4,886 who’ve received their first round of shots. The county has received more than 18,000 requests for vaccines for all phases. WellHealth saliva based testing is…

Severe weather season is just around the corner and the National Weather Service is once again looking for volunteer spotters. Starting next week, the Topeka office will host the first two of seven planned virtual spotter talks. The talks are being held in this fashion due to the ongoing pandemic. The shows will last around one hour and will touch on similar topics of past presentations, including severe thunderstorm structure, features and safety. Registration is open at the National Weather Service Topeka website by clicking on the 2021 Storm Safety and Information Show Schedule link. The talks are open to…