Author: Brandon Peoples

Riley County Police Department Director Brian Peete is approaching the upcoming budget cycle cognizant of the current, more conservative Law Board’s desires to maintain a lean budget. Peete spoke Thursday on KMAN’s In Focus podcast about the upcoming budget process, which will begin to take shape in April. Budgets have gone up every year since 2020, when the Law Board held expenditures flat, due to uncertainty amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, the Riley County Law Board approved a 6.5% increase in expenditures. The previous year, the increase was roughly 8.5%. In 2021, the board approved a 3.5% boost. Peete says…

A bill that cleans up language for Kansas counties looking to expand their county commissions has unanimously cleared both legislative chambers and now heads to Gov. Laura Kelly’s desk for a final signature. After Pottawatomie County voters approved expansion in 2022, it became apparent that wouldn’t happen right away after the county’s legal team learned state statute wouldn’t allow that to occur until the next county election cycle in 2024, almost two years later. County elections are traditionally held in even-numbered years in Kansas. “We’ve clarified that general elections occur every fall and since we’re having fall elections that gives…

The Riley County School Board has filled one of three vacancies on the board. Sara Wahlmeier-Cox, who finished as runner up in District 3 last fall with 43% of the vote, was sworn in during a special meeting Wednesday. She replaces Jeff Hancock, who defeated her, but abruptly resigned his seat on Feb. 12, following disagreements with a majority of the board on several matters, including the suspension and eventual termination of the superintendent. Board President Samantha Brown says normally the board would interview candidates to fill any vacancy. “When Jeff stepped down we talked to KASB (Kansas Association of School Boards) and we’ve…

Federal funding was announced Tuesday by U.S Sen. Jerry Moran, which will support a $28 million facility to be constructed at the Kansas State Salina Aerospace and Technology Campus. In addition, the university is also entering a $5.5 million partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. “I’m here to announce that there are grants that have been approved totaling $33,500,000,” Sen. Jerry Moran told a gathering in Salina. “One is the construction. Money to construct the Aerospace Innovation and Training Hub here at K-State Salina, and the money for operations, research and facilities to fund a full-motion simulator.” The…

An Abilene woman sustained non-life-threatening injuries following a crash in northern Riley County early Sunday morning. The Riley County Police Department says the crash was reported near Welsh Road and Lasita Road in Leonardville just before 2 a.m. Sunday. Arriving officers found a Chevy Silverado on its top in a nearby ditch with the driver, 19-year-old Kenda Jantz, trapped inside. She was extricated from the vehicle and transported to the hospital. No other details were immediately available.

A 19-year-old Manhattan man is behind bars after police say he attempted to lead officers on a pursuit. The Riley County Police Department says Ezekiel Cruz was arrested near the intersection of Skyway and Scenic Drive at around 9:30 p.m. Friday. Cruz is charged with attempted fleeing and eluding, reckless driving, maximum speed limits, driving without headlights and no proof of insurance. Cruz remains jailed on a $6,000 bond. He was scheduled to make a first appearance at 1:30 p.m. Monday in front of Judge Grant Bannister

No injuries were reported to residents following a house fire in south Manhattan early Monday morning. The Manhattan Fire Department was dispatched shortly after 1 a.m. to 714 Pottawatomie Ave. Arriving firefighters found flames showing from the rear of the single-story home. Everyone inside the home got out safely before firefighters arrived, but were displaced by the fire. They’re currently being assisted by the American Red Cross. The fire was extinguished within 10 minutes and firefighters remained on scene until about 3:45 a.m. Total loss has been estimated at approximately $45,000, including both structural damage and loss of contents. One…

Kathryn Focke will seek another term on the Riley County Commission. The incumbent 3rd district commissioner was elected in 2020, replacing Ron Wells on the board. She’s the second so far to file for a seat on the commission, joining fellow commissioner Greg McKinley, who also was elected four years ago. In a statement, Focke says some of her major goals are to solve critical space issues in the courts, a plan for the deferred maintenance needs of county buildings and conducting a space analysis and updates for employees to work more efficiently. During her first term, Focke has supported…

Kansas State University will kick off its NextGen K-State Campus Master Plan this week with town hall discussions to gather public feedback. The planning process will include an in-depth evaluation of all campus spaces and how they should grow and develop in accordance with the Next-Gen K-State strategic plan. Associate Vice President of Facilities Casey Lauer says it’s the first such deep dive into facilities in over a decade. “This is a really awesome opportunity to make a difference and to be able to influence and shape the future of not only the Manhattan campus, but also Salina and Olathe,” he…

Riley County Commissioners moved Thursday to grant a replat application for property in University Park, but not without some pushback from neighbors. The applicant, Danielle Maple, requested to have four lots re-platted into a single lot to build a bigger shop on her property. University Park Improvement District Board President James Slaymaker challenged the replat, due to Maple having a donkey on her property, claiming that violates terms of the community’s covenants, noting that livestock is inappropriate and outside traditional use of those properties. “A lot of these quotes, it’s like 398 pages of your document. Most of this stuff…