Author: Brandon Peoples

The Flint Hills Breadbasket is hoping to cash in on the Kansas City Chiefs being in the Super Bowl this weekend. The nonprofit organization is holding its annual Souper Bowl collection effort this week, partnering with area schools and churches as they try to collect 10,000 pounds of food. Executive Director Maribeth Kieffer says they’ll also be staking out all Manhattan grocery stores this Saturday for soups. “One of the nice donations when it comes to soup is the ready-to-eat soup because the children at home can just pop the top and warm it in the microwave or stove,” she…

A recent decision to close the Sunset Zoo’s Zoo Sprouts nature-based preschool program has left some local parents less than satisfied with the explanation they’ve been given as to why it’s shutting down. A memo sent to parents in late December explained different reasons for the closure, effective May 22, 2020. Marketing and Development Officer Melissa Kirkwood said on Monday’s edition of KMAN’s In Focus, that several factors ultimately led administrators to their decision. “Some of them being financial, some of them being staffing issues that are now resolved. But ultimately it became a decision with our administration that they…

Local officials from Manhattan and Riley County gathered Monday for the monthly Intergovernmental luncheon. K-State finalizing E-Scooter regulations, proposals E-scooters will soon litter the K-State campus and surrounding areas thanks to a pilot program that begins later this year. Last fall, the Manhattan City Commission amended the ordinance regulating bicycles and skateboards to extend to micro-mobility devices. Kansas State University Chief of Staff Linda Cook, speaking Monday at the Intergovernmental Luncheon, said the university is working closely with city officials on a task force developing regulations. The university recently wrapped up its request for proposals and are currently in the…

Riley County Police are seeking the public’s help identifying suspects from a recent burglary of Kellstrom Pharmacy on Claflin Road. Surveillance photos show a handful of male suspects, all wearing hooded sweatshirts or coats. While the images aren’t the best quality, police are hoping someone may be able to identify the individuals based on their clothing. Surveillance photos are shared below. In a separate, unrelated case, police say a 23-year-old Manhattan woman reported the theft of her 2016 Kia Sportage Saturday morning in the 500 block of Stone Drive. The estimated total loss is approximately $12,000. Anyone with information on…

A troubled Obama-era policy that defined waters are regulated by the Clean Water Act has officially been replaced by the Trump administration. At the Kansas Commodity Classic at K-State Friday, First District Congressman Roger Marshall joined U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 7 Administrator Jim Gulliford to celebrate the introduction of the Navigable Waters Protection Rule. While the 2015 rule aimed to provide environmental protections for streams, wetlands and groundwater from pollution, many farmers found the regulations to be over-reaching and burdensome. Marshall says the rule is a win for Kansas farmers and ranchers. “Features that only contain water in direct…

Two people were killed this morning after a truck struck two pedestrians north of Manhattan. The incident happened shortly after 5 a.m. in the 4400 block of Tuttle Creek Blvd (US 24). According to Kansas Highway Patrol, a Riley County snow plow was westbound in the right lane of the highway and struck two pedestrians who were walking in the right lane. KHP says 22-year-old Anthony Toler and 20-year-old Jayden Rosa, both of Manhattan, sustained fatal injuries. The circumstances that led to the accident remain under futher investigation. It’s not clear why the two men were walking along the roadway.…

VEHICLE PURCHASES APPROVED The Riley County Law Board on Thursday approved the purchase of eight new police vehicles in 2020. RCPD will purchase six 2020 Dodge Durangos, one 2020 Dodge Charger and a 2020 Ford Transit at a cost of $311,205.00. The purchases are made using state contracting prices, which Capt. Josh Kyle says are open for five years with specific vendors, for specific vehicles under specific conditions. “Frankly the prices you get through the state contract, you can’t compete with due to the volume and nature of the contract itself and the terms of those contracts,” he said. Only…

A lawsuit filed against an Aggieville bar alleges negligence and lacked adequate security when a former Kansas State University student claimed she was raped there nearly two years ago. The suit, filed in federal court Tuesday, says the woman was at O’Malley’s in February 2018 and was waiting for a friend to get off work. She had consumed a half a drink before stepping into the restroom, where two men reportedly stepped in behind her after the door failed to adequately lock. The suit says one man raped her while the other pinned her to the wall, covering her mouth…

The Manhattan Fire Department made quick work of a vehicle fire this morning near the K-State campus. According to Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Almes, firefighters responded just after 8 a.m. to 1517 McCain Lane where a passenger car was fully involved in flames. The fire originated in an engine compartment. A damage estimate is unclear at this time. The vehicle was running at the time. While the cause is undetermined, Almes says it’s presumed to be a mechanical or electrical issue. A nearby passenger car also sustained heat damage. No injuries were reported.

Manhattan city officials took part in the annual Flint Hills Leaders Retreat, held in Olathe last weekend. The event featured a variety of speakers touching on key economic issues facing Kansas, including migration to the state and employment growth. The state ranks near the bottom in both categories. Kansas Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary Patty Clark provided statistics on these categories during Friday’s meeting. On KMAN’s In Focus Tuesday, Mayor Usha Reddi said hearing Clark speak to these issues caused her to reflect, noting that in order to recruit and retain businesses, the state needs to build its workforce. Reddi…