Author: Brandon Peoples

Riley County health officials confirmed 75 new coronavirus cases and 34 additional recoveries Friday. The number of patients being cared for at Ascension Via Christi fell to nine, including one in the Intensive Care Unit. Active cases totaled 402 as of Friday and the amount of total cases is nearing 5,800 since the pandemic began. The health department is now also reporting the amount of the vaccine it has on hand in addition to the amount of doses that have been administered. As of Friday, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment had shipped 3,670 vaccines to the health department,…

More than 1,000 people received the coronavirus vaccine Thursday, as the Riley County Health Department officially kicked off its second phase of vaccinations. The process did not go as smoothly as health officials had hoped. Shortly before 4 p.m., there was a lack of parking availability and congested traffic became a major safety concern, as did the number of people waiting. Health officials made a difficult decision to turn away some individuals from getting in line due to safety concerns, angering many who had established appointment times to receive the shot. Some came back later Thursday evening, but those that…

It will soon cost more to mail some letters and packages. Starting Monday, the U.S. Postal Service is increasing rates for Priority Mail shipping services, about 3.5 percent overall. First-class mail is going up roughly 1.8 percent. Priority small flat-rate boxes will be $8.45 to ship, up 15 cents; medium flat-rate boxes will cost $15.50, up 45 cents and large flat-rate boxes will cost $21.90 to ship, an increase of 80 cents. APO/FPO large flat-rate boxes are also increasing 80 cents. Regular flat-rate envelopes will be $7.95 while legal flat-rate envelopes will be $8.25, both up 20 cents. Sending a…

A record number of graduates received degrees in 2020 through Kansas State University’s Carl R. Ice College of Engineering. President Richard Myers informed the Kansas Board of Regents this week that 782 bachelor’s degrees were earned during the spring, summer and fall semesters, outpacing each of the three previous years. “In 2017 that number was 630. In 2018 that number was 684. In 2019 that number was 719 and then last year, 782. It’s remarkable, especially since that was our COVID year, and it still went up,” Myers said. That number far exceeds the initial goal of 587 graduates by…

Riley County health officials have confirmed five additional COVID-19 related deaths since Friday, bringing the total number of deaths to 28. Each of the patients ranged in age from 46 to 85. The health department also confirmed 127 new cases and 306 additional recoveries since Friday. Ascension Via Christi is caring for 12 positive patients, down from a high of 25 last week. One of those patients is in the Intensive Care Unit. The percent positive rate of infection was 9.9 percent for Jan. 10 through Jan. 16, with 355 positives out of 2,788 total tests. All licensed healthcare professionals…

Riley County has officially introduced Alice Massimi as its new Public Information Officer. Massimi started Jan. 12 and is already working closely with the county’s health and emergency officials to ensure critical information and updates concerning the Coronavirus Pandemic response are reaching the community. She will coordinate and manage public affairs programs across the Riley County departments and services. Prior to Riley County, Massimi was Executive Producer of Connecting Vets, a Radio.com company, focused on providing news and resources for the veteran community. She is an award-winning reporter and holds a Master’s degree in Strategic Communication from American University and…

Retention rates for Riley County dispatchers have improved significantly since 2019, according to a report from Riley County Police Department Director Dennis Butler. “I expected it to take about two years to achieve the gains that you’re seeing in this report, which has cut our vacancy rate in half,” Butler told Riley County Law Board members Tuesday. “I really thought it would take longer to get where we are now, but I’m very pleased and we’re continuing to make progress.” The Riley County Law Board in December 2019 approved a new $34,000 recruitment and retention plan to combat turnover within…

Kansas State University’s top official is asking community members to reach out state officials as it anticipates some of its deepest budget cuts in over a decade. President Richard Myers, in a letter to the K-State community Tuesday, says Gov. Laura Kelly’s 5.5 percent cut outlined in her 2022 budget proposal to the legislature last week would be the biggest cut to its budget since 2009. The cuts come amid a disastrous 2020 that saw budget reductions, furloughs and layoffs as revenues declined amid the coronavirus pandemic. Myers estimates that because of the dynamics of the legislature, the cuts could…

Inspiring hope for a better tomorrow, Manhattan Christian Fellowship Church Associate Pastor JahVelle Rhone says the only way forward is to appreciate the path carved out by those who came before. “It is so imperative that we as leaders and teachers, educators move forward, yet still reach back to show of a hope and a future for those who come behind us,” he said. The words came during Monday’s Manhattan MLK Committee’s virtual prayer breakfast. Rhone reflected on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and offered encouragement that even with the struggles of racism and inequality still ever…

The annual K-State rodeo, planned for February has been canceled. The university’s Department of Animal Sciences and Industry says K-State, Riley County and Manhattan restrictions won’t allow for the annual event to take place at Weber Arena this year. K-State Rodeo Club Coach Casy Winn says plans were initially to have the rodeo moved to Domer Arena in Topeka, but it became part of hospital overflow in December and the facility canceled all events. After exploring other venues in Kansas, Winn says they could not find the right fit, to host the more than 400 contestants. This year would have…