Author: Brandon Peoples

Construction has been halted at the National Bio and Agro Defense Facility after a construction worker tested positive recently for COVID-19. It is not known at this time how the worker contracted the virus nor how many people at the site may have potentially been exposed. According to NBAF Program Manager Tim Barr, the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate received notification Tuesday from its contractor, McCarthy Mortenson Joint Venture (McMjv), who in turn ceased operations for the rest of the day. The company says it’s investigating and assessing areas that may need additional cleaning and disinfection of…

Visitor restrictions are being somewhat eased at Manhattan’s Ascension Via Christi Hospital Beginning Thursday, the hospital will allow one visitor per patient. This includes those receiving outpatient care, to have one designated adult visitor during their hospital stay. Other friends and family are encouraged to show their support using virtual platforms to visit with their loved ones. Designated visiting hours are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. All visitors will still have to be screened to rule out potential illness before entering the hospital and are required to wear a surgical-type mask for the entirety of their visit. Masks…

Riley County continues to see a flattening of the coronavirus curve. Health Department Director and local health officer Julie Gibbs says just one new positive case came in over the weekend. It was only the second reported case in well over a week. Another case was confirmed by late Tuesday afternoon, bringing the county’s total since mid-March to 63 cases. “Most of those have recovered. We did have the one fatality unfortunately a couple weeks ago, but we only have seven active cases right now, so we’re definitely seeing that downward trend, which is exactly what we want to see,”…

As higher education institutions grapple with a possible return to in person learning this fall, projections remain uncertain with how enrollment will be impacted. Manhattan Christian College President Kevin Ingram tells KMAN that recruiting has actually ticked up, with April applications for the fall up 21 percent versus last year. Acceptances are also up 45 percent over last year, according to stats released last week. “If this projects out, there’s some indicators we could have a good freshman class in the fall, which could help our overall enrollment,” he said. Virtual tours are helping those potential recruits get a feel…

ST. MARYS, Kan. — A Kansas City Star investigative report has uncovered numerous accounts of alleged sexual abuse at the hands of clergy within all four of the state’s catholic dioceses, and now expanded to include the Society of St. Piux X, which is based in St. Marys and runs an academy there. It’s unclear how many reports specifically are from the traditionalist Roman Catholic breakaway group, based in Pottawatomie County. However, a Kansas Bureau of Investigation spokesperson said as of Feb. 1, they’d received 186 reports of abuse and opened 112 investigations statewide. KBI began investigations in February 2019.…

Some local pet control officers are working to help a Riley County pet owner get into compliance after about 30 terrier-mix dogs were found at a Randolph home earlier this week. T. Russell Reitz Animal Control officers worked with the owner to surrender over five adult dogs and four puppies that needed immediate care. Those dogs are currently receiving medical treatment at the Manhattan shelter. Animal Shelter Director Deb Watkins say the owner was not intentionally breeding the animals and was trying to care for them, but became overwhelmed. “The dogs were very well cared for, they all had lots…

Junction City has announced that the 12th Street Community Center will reopen Tuesday. The center will operate on a limited hour and activity schedule from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The center will be closed on Sundays Patrons are asked to bring their own equipment, such as basketballs. Backpacks and purses will be prohibited until further notice and no reservations will be taken for parties or meetings. Class sizes for yoga and zumba will be limited and physical distancing will be practiced. Walkers  11 a.m. – 12 p.m. daily Pickleball  12:30 p.m – 2:30 p.m daily Basketball…

An overnight robbery in downtown Manhattan is under investigation. The Riley County Police Department’s incident report states a hold-up took place around 2 a.m. Thursday at 3rd and Poyntz Ave. RCPD spokesperson Hali Rowland says the victim, a 26-year-old man, told police his shoes and wallet were stolen. He was not able to provide a suspect description. The estimated total loss was around $382. Investigators are still piecing together additional details of the case.

Three men, including a pair from Wamego are facing federal charges for illegally hunting whitetail deer in off-limit areas of Fort Riley where explosives are discharged for tranining exercises. U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said Wednesday that 55-year-old Gregory Frikken and 32-year-old James Nunley, both of Wamego and 55-year-old Michael J. Smith of Watertown, New York violated the federal Lacey Act while hunting white-tail deer on the grounds of the Army base over the past few years. Each is charged with multiple counts of violating the act, which bans trafficking in illegal wildlife. (Charges are listed below.) Investigators recovered evidence including…

Riley County continues to see improvement in the number of positive cases of coronavirus locally. Health officials announced no new cases Wednesday and the county remains at 60 total positive cases since mid-March. Of that total, six cases are currently active 53 people have recovered and one person has died. There are currently 83 pending test results and 828 people have tested negative for the virus. Ascension Via Christi Hospital had no positive patients as of Wednesday but were monitoring one person under investigation, showing symptoms. Riley County Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Andrew Adams tells KMAN, the last time Riley County…