Author: Brandon Peoples

Kansas State University leadership says two key indicators are being monitored as it weighs the possibility of transitioning to all remote learning. That includes active cases and the positive testing rate, both of which have climbed in the past week. President Richard Myers, Provost Chuck Taber, VP for Student Life Thomas Lane and Lafene Medical Director Kyle Goerl put out a joint statement Tuesday saying the decision-making process takes a holistic approach to what’s happening in the community. K-State says ultimately the off-campus behavior of students will likely steer whether or not in-person learning can continue. A decision to return…

Riley County health officials are now reporting 523 active COVID-19 cases in the county. That number is nearly double what it was one week ago (225) and 112 cases more since Friday’s report. The percent positive rate last week (meaning the number of positive cases divided by the number of tests administered) is around 31.18 percent, meaning of the 914 tests administered last week, 285 of them returned as positive. The adjusted percent positive rate from the week before increased from 11.67 percent as reported last week, to 14.5 percent. (That number includes results that hadn’t become official when the…

Former Manhattan restaurateur Bob Iacobellis is due in court Tuesday in an ongoing court case involving multiple sexual abuse charges. The 11 a.m. hearing is continued from two weeks ago. At that time a motion was made by the defense to deny a motion to quash a subpoena filed by the Kansas Department for Children and Families put forward by Iacobellis’ attorney Lora Ingels. On Aug. 28, Judge Kendra Lewison ordered that subpoena to be sealed. Following Tuesday’s hearing it’s anticipated the case could get set for trial. Iacobellis stands accused of 26 charges including rape, sodomy and multiple counts…

The long time former manager of Kansas State University’s radio station is being inducted posthumously into Kansas Broadcasting Hall of Fame. Ralph Titus was known for nearly 40 years as the “Voice of Kansas State University,” helping establish KSAC and KKSU as one of the premiere university owned radio stations in the country. Titus graduated from K-State in 1955 and was a student employee. After serving in the Air Force, he did stints with WIBW AM-TV in Topeka and KWTV in Oklahoma City. Titus was remembered for his many interviews with U.S. Presidents, world leaders and more. He also was…

A couple of Manhattan organizations are receiving more than $84,000 in grants for crime victims. According to a release from Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt’s office, grants were awarded to The Crisis Center, Inc. totaling $48,034. The grant will help recruit, train and supervise volunteers to assist professionals providing round-the clock crisis intervention services for sexual and domestic violence victims. Sunflower CASA Project Inc. received three grants. One of them totals $20,000 to provide supervised visitation and monitored exchange services to children and their non-residential parents. A second grant totals $11,156 to support the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program.…

Riley County Police have arrested two individuals for suspicion of distributing drugs near a Manhattan school. Officers charged 23-year-old Liam Whitmore and 18-year-old Donovan O’Connell each with three distribution counts including a depressant, narcotic and hallucinogenic within 1,000 feet of a school. Both also face criminal weapons charges. O’Connell also faces an intent to distribute charge and a possession with intent to use charge. The two men were arrested at 417 Laramie Street. The closest nearby school is Woodrow Wilson Elementary. O’Connell was jailed on a $15,000 total bond. Whitmore’s bond was $10,000, causing both of them to remain jailed…

Aggieville is looking at ways to alter its current business model, to better comply with the local health order and physical distancing requirements. Speaking to the Manhattan Area Recovery Task Force Thursday, Aggieville Business Association Director Dennis Cook said his organization is in preliminary discussions with the city to propose measures to space customers out within the district. “We are looking at a combination of some of those park-lets similar to what downtown got, or whether we can tent an area so we can allow some more people in a space while they’re waiting for a table, or close down…

An early look at enrollment in Riley County USD 378 shows a slight decline for the fall. Superintendent Cliff Williams shared some of the statistical data Wednesday on In Focus. “Overall we’re at 633, which is down about 24 students. We anticipated some of this decline because we’ve had some of our larger classes graduate and just haven’t seen as many students come back,” he said. The grade school has seen 60 new students enroll for the fall. The district is offering both in person and distance learning options for students at all levels. “We’ve actually got about 56 students…

School started Wednesday in Randolph for students in the USD 384 Blue Valley district. Earlier this month, the district was the site of a COVID-19 outbreak when seven people including staff and a school board member tested positive. All are said to be on the mend and nearing the end of their quarantines. Speaking on In Focus this week, Superintendent John Cox said it was an unusual ride for the first couple of days when the district learned of the outbreak. “When you put a plan on paper, you think oh you’ve got this. Then when you have to start…

Kansas State University has made a slight revision to its face mask policy for anyone on campus property. In a release Wednesday, President Richard Myers says face coverings will now be required over mouths and noses in all indoor and outdoor spaces unless you are alone in your own private office or workspace or are alone outdoors. The university made the revision following surveys sent out to students where it was shown there was confusion about when the masks should be worn on campus. The university has also strengthened how and when data can be accessed through a new dashboard…