Author: Brandon Peoples

Masks or face coverings are now required on a majority of Kansas State University property. The university announced Tuesday an updated policy effective immediately for all students, faculty, staff and visitors. This extends to all contractors and vendors working on university property. It specifically mentions coverings in all hallways, public spaces, classrooms and other common areas of campus buildings. Face coverings are required whenever 6 feet of physical distancing cannot be achieved, inside an office or outside on K-State campuses. Failure to comply with face-covering requirements may result in denial of access to designated areas or activities. University officials hope…

A 26-year-old Manhattan woman charged with attempted first-degree murder earlier this month appeared in Riley County District Court via Zoom for a status hearing Tuesday. Ashley Nicole Wright is jailed on one count of attempted murder, aggravated battery and aggravated burglary. Due to a conflict of interest, the public defender’s office has withdrawn from the case and Manhattan Attorney Lora Ingels was appointed as her attorney. Judge William Malcolm has set a preliminary status hearing for 1 p.m. July 21. A complaint filed by the Riley County Attorney’s office alleges that on June 12 at a residence on Pierre Street,…

Riley County Police are investigating after a 60-year-old woman was found dead at her home Monday. Police say they received a call after a woman was found unresponsive in the 700 block of Osage Street at around 3:30 p.m. It’s not clear how she died. Police are calling it an unattended death investigation. No additional details have been provided. KMAN will update the story when more information becomes available.

Storms caused a scary incident for boaters on Milford Lake Monday. The Geary County Sheriff’s Office says it received a call at around 8 p.m. after a boat became disabled, due to the strong winds and was taking on water. The Sheriff’s marine unit responded and located the boat with six adults on board in the area of Farnum Creek. The marine unit brought them safely to shore and returned to the boat and secured it. No injuries were reported. The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism assisted in the rescue.

Riley County COVID-19 numbers continue to rise locally, with now 61 active cases, and 132 total cases in the county since the pandemic began. Those were the latest figures as of Monday afternoon. (Earlier in the day, it was mistakenly reported that active cases were at 25.) “We had a huge jump in our cases over the last week. We added a total of 47 new cases just last week, we tested a total of 320 (individuals),” said Riley County Health Officer Julie Gibbs Monday on KMAN. Gibbs says as of last week the county was at a 14 percent…

Kansas 1st District Congressman Roger Marshall says he supports President Donald Trump’s executive order regarding police reform. The plan leverages grant funding from the Justice Department and encourages law enforcement agencies and departments to adopt the standards. Marshall is the co-sponsor on H.R. 7278, the companion bill to Senate legislation on policing reform.  Marshall, who joined KMAN in a Friday interview, says the bill provides more training for police officers, along with more transparency and accountability. “What this legislation is doing is raising the bar so if an officer does something deemed wrong, that record will follow him if he…

The Boys & Girls Club of Manhattan has shut down operations at its 5th Street location after a staffer tested positive for COVID-19. The organization says it was notified Saturday and all families connected to the staff member have been notified. Director Trent Jones says it is possible other staff members and kids were exposed to that individual. The club is cooperating with public health officials to control the spread and are deep cleaning the facilities. The Boys & Girls Club remains closed until further notice.

Aggieville’s Taco Lucha and So Long Saloon have shut down after the business said staff members there came in contact with others who tested positive for the coronavirus. They say out of an abundance of caution and to protect public health, they are closing their doors indefinitely and will reopen once they feel it is safe to do so. The restaurants, which share a kitchen, made the announcement Sunday saying staffers had been near individuals outside the workplace and are continuing to monitor the situation. It’s not clear if any staffers have tested positive for the virus, but the restaurants…

Riley County Police announced Friday that a Junction City woman has been arrested in connection to a 2017 murder in southern Riley County. Bobbie Jo Long was arrested on a Riley County District Court warrant for conspiracy to commit first degree murder and aggravated kidnapping. The arrest is tied to the death of Carrie Jones, a former drug informant. In 2018, Steven Meredith, also of Junction City was arrested in connection to Jones’ death. He was subsequently sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to a conspiracy charge last year. Long is confined in the Riley County Jail…

WESTMORELAND — Pottawatomie County is phasing out COVID-19 related limitations and restrictions, despite the health officer’s recommendation to extend the county’s public health order for another 10-14 days. At a Friday morning meeting the Pottawatomie County Commission, acting as the Board of County Health voted 3-0 to not extend Public Health Order No. 6. The reasoning was due to the county still having zero hospitalizations and zero deaths, indicating the steps taken have worked to keep the hospitals from being overwhelmed. Commission Chair Dee McKee says the vote intends to make people responsible for their own health rather than trying…