Officials with the under construction National Bio and Agro Defense Facility are now targeting October 2021 for substantial completion of construction and thus allow the U.S. Department of Agriculture full access to operate the facility at that point. The milestone had initially been set for this month, but COVID-19 disruptions have caused that to be delayed. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science & Technology Directorate and USDA collaborated to realign the schedule to minimize further delays to the overall program. The revised date now includes significant additional efforts to address needed technology upgrades identified since completion of the design…
Author: Brandon Peoples
An April trial has been set in the case of a Manhattan man charged in a January rape. Traveil Lyn Lewis is charged with eight total counts including two rape charges, as well as one count aggravated domestic battery and one count of aggravated criminal sodomy stemming from the January incident. Riley County District Judge Kendra Lewison has scheduled a pre-trial hearing for March 29 and a trial setting for April 12 through April 15. Lewis also faces one count of criminal threat and three counts of violation of a protective order stemming from a March allegation that he threatened…
After Major League Baseball’s Cleveland Indians announced it would be dropping its team name “Indians” after 105 years, its anticipated other sports teams and schools may follow. No decision is expected from the USD 383 Manhattan/Ogden School Board at this week’s meeting, but that doesn’t mean a change couldn’t happen at some point. Board president Karla Hagemeister tells KMAN, in an email, the school board has a lot on its plate at the moment, most importantly, “trying to provide as much in person learning as we possibly can while keeping our students and staff safe and healthy.” In July, the…
A portion of K-99 in Wabaunsee County, south of Wamego will see a $12.6 million reconstruction and realignment project beginning on Monday, weather permitting. According to the Kansas Department of Transportation, the project will start two miles north of Interstate 70, ending just south of K-18. Phase one of the project will last through July. Traffic will continue to use existing K-99 and the speed limit will be reduced to 50 mph in the first half of phase one with speeds reduced even further in the second half of phase one. In the second part of phase one, traffic will…
Manhattan area legislators took time Thursday to hear from Riley County Commissioners and departmental staff some of its priorities for the upcoming session. 22nd District Sen. Tom Hawk, of Manhattan, says in terms of the county’s priorities, he supports Commissioner Ron Wells’ idea to ensure the state has a “placemarker” for the local ad valorem tax revenue which the state hasn’t paid in over two decades. He also supports county treasurer Shilo Heger’s proposed treasurer fee bill. “It may raise some revenue a little bit, but it makes it a lot simpler for the people who are registering their vehicles…
USD 383 Manhattan/Ogden Schools have announced that beginning Monday, the Eugene Field Early Learning Center will move to all distance learning for the remainder of the semester. The move was made due to a high number of staff and students who are in quarantine or isolation because of COVID-19. The district says the building will remain closed through Jan. 4 as a result. No changes have been announced at any other school buildings. According to the Riley County Health Department this week, the percent positive rate of new COVID infections was at 25.5, with 389 positives out of 1,527 total…
A virtual commencement ceremony for 2020 graduates at Kansas State University is set for next week. The university says a virtual recognition is planned for 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18 at k-state.edu/classof2020. Starting Monday, the website will have special features to complement the celebration, including virtual stickers and badges as well as a social media stream with an event-specific hashtag. They’re asking grads to use #KStateGrad and tag the university to show how they are celebrating. In addition, K-State’s 2020 graduates are invited to take part in spring 2021 commencement ceremonies, assuming they will happen. Planning will begin in January…
Kansas Lieutenant Governor Lynn Rogers has been tapped by Gov. Laura Kelly to be the next state treasurer. Rogers will succeed Republican Jake LaTurner, who was elected to Congress last month in the state’s 2nd District. Rogers spoke at the Capitol Thursday morning. “As state treasurer I look forward to the unique opportunities in developing partnerships with the Office of Rural Prosperity and other elected officials to really address and determine how the programs and services that are currently in the treasurer’s office can help to address the current needs of Kansans,” he said. Rogers begins in his new role…
A Junction City man has pleaded guilty on a host of assault charges related to a January shooting in southwest Manhattan. According to Riley County District Court records, 19-year-old Jalen Gill pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of criminal discharge of a firearm, aggravated assault and three counts of child endangerment. One person was injured Jan. 29 after Gill fired a single shot in an occupied building, injuring a 29-year-old victim, who was treated and released for a non-life threatening injury. In addition, Gill pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated assault from a July 25 incident where Gill pulled…
Groundbreaking for the new Aggieville Parking Garage is set to take place Friday. City officials closed the parking lot along Laramie Street, south of Rally House where the new structure will be constructed. A virtual ceremony for the new garage is scheduled at 4 p.m. Friday with Mayor Usha Reddi, city staff, architects and the general contractor on hand. The new garage is expected to be completed by the end of 2021. It will be five stories tall, with 450 parking spots and will have 8,000 square feet of space for possible office and commercial space. The project is estimated…