Author: Brandon Peoples

Hospitals are desperately trying to keep up with the influx of cases of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus. Dr. David Pauls, a general surgeon with Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan has volunteered to become the hospital’s senior triage officer. Surgeons like Dr. Pauls are trained in triage through mass disaster situations. “Fortunately I’ve never been in a situation where I’ve had to do a major, big type triage situation. Part of it is that I’ve been here for a long time. It’s my way of doing what I can to help the community,” he said. While the situation isn’t dire…

The Manhattan Regional Airport continues to operate, albeit with very minimal traffic in and out of the terminal. “Yes we’re still open. American still has flights scheduled. We still have flights that are going out, but that schedule is very fluid, it’s changing daily,” said Airport Director Jesse Romo. The daily 5:50 p.m. departure to Dallas-Fort Worth has been cancelled and will not be on the schedule between April 7 and March 5. Romo says the economic impact caused by the pandemic will be significant. “Our revenue sources have definitely taken a tumble as well as a lot of businesses…

Riley County saw three new positive cases of COVID-19 reported Tuesday. Pottawatomie County also reported one new case. 7 p.m. update Late Tuesday, the Riley County Health Department learned that a 22-year-old K-State student who traveled to England in the group with a K-State journalism professor tested positive. The professor, Drew Smith, was released from the hospital and is recovering at home. Health officials say the student has been in quarantine in their Manhattan home since returning to the community March 18. The health department has been in daily contact with them. The student has been sick for the last…

Kansans needing to file unemployment benefits due to loss of income related to COVID-19 are being encouraged to do so online to alleviate the high volume to its call center. Gov. Laura Kelly announced Tuesday that the Kansas Department of Labor is receiving over 230,000 calls everyday. “We went from an average of 1,800 unemployment claims per week at the beginning of March to over 60,000 as of Sunday,” she said. As a result, Kelly says the state has doubled its capacity at the call centers. Employees are working extended hours and additional phone lines are being added while employees…

UPDATE: 7:45 a.m. Tuesday A third person in Riley County has tested positive for COVID-19. The Riley County Health Department received information late Monday night that a 57-year-old man tested positive. He presented to Ascension Via Christi Hospital Friday, March 27 and was tested the same day. The man is currently in the Intensive Care Unit at Via Christi and is considered an imported case, and not an instance of community spread. The patient had recently traveled to a church meeting in the Kansas City area. His family members are currently in quarantine at their home in Riley County. The…

After Congress passed a record $2 trillion dollar bill in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the question becomes how long folks will have to wait to receive their money from the federal government. “The circumstance is that we were not prepared,” said U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) Monday on the KMAN Morning Show. Moran says some individuals could begin receiving those checks as early as two weeks from now, but it’s likely many will have to wait a bit longer. “The secretary of the Treasury committed to me about a week ago that those checks would be out in about…

Riley County Police made two significant arrests over the weekend. The first involved 19-year-old Royce Dixon of Manhattan, who’s charged with one count of rape from a 2019 alleged incident. Dixon was arrested Friday afternoon on a Riley County warrant. He remains jailed on a $150,000 bond. In a separate, unrelated incident, 40-year-old Tyran Hernandez of Manhattan man was arrested Sunday night for probable cause on domestic charges. Monday morning’s arrest report lists two counts including aggravated assault; use of a deadly weapon and domestic battery. Hernandez remains jailed on a $6,000 bond. No further details have been released on…

The number of total positive cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus strain jumped to 319 on Sunday, nearly five times as many cases as there were just a week prior (64 — according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment on March 22). With those numbers expected to climb higher in the next few weeks, many medical facilities have had to make difficult decisions about postponing elective surgeries. Manhattan’s Ascension Via Christi and Wamego Health Center stopped earlier this month, postponing most procedures until early May as it attempts to save blood, supplies, medication and personal protective equipment. Manhattan Surgical…

Another annual event has fallen victim to cancellation due to concerns with coronavirus. On Friday it was announced the 83rd annual American Legion Boys State of Kansas Leadership Academy has cancelled its 2020 session. It had been scheduled for May 31 through June 5 at K-State. The decision to cancel this year’s session was made to ensure the safety of the delegates, staff and American Legion volunteers. Those who would have attended will receive information in the next few weeks regarding the impact and refund information for those who completed the registration process. More information about this year’s cancellation can…

The Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce is requesting a $500,000 loan from the city’s economic development fund to provide a small business assistance program as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Chamber plans to make a formal request Tuesday evening to the Manhattan City Commission. The program, if approved, would be established for an immediate need (under 14 days) that could present long-term challenges to the overall sustainability of the business. The proposal would also provide technical assistance in finding a longer-term solution. “We are obviously hoping to work with any business, whether they’re a Chamber member or…