Author: Brandon Peoples

KMAN Program Director and The Mercury news reporter. Contact Brandon at Brandon@1350kman.com

Riley County counselor Jacob Hansen on Monday provided commissioners with updates related to several ongoing tasks, including a pending request for proposals tied to the former First Christian Church property, ongoing nuisance abatement cases and legislative items advancing in Topeka. Hansen said the deadline for submissions related to the church request for proposals is March 16. If any are received, proposals will be opened March 23 and considered by the commission on April 2. “I’m not aware that we have received any at this time,” Hansen said. “It seemed that there was at least one interested party. We’ll see where…

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Riley County commissioners appear open to the idea of expanding residency requirements for citizens to serve on the Riley County Rural Economic Development Advisory Board. Planning director Amanda Webb told commissioners Monday the nine-member board known as REDAB was created in 2021 and requires six citizen members to live in cities within Riley County other than Manhattan or in unincorporated areas of the county. Three additional members represent the planning director’s office, K-State Research and Extension and the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce. Read more at TheMercury.com

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On today’s episode of Wildcat Insider, we’ll discuss Driscoll out of inspiration after KSU men’s loss to TCU on Saturday, 2-3 week for Bat Cats against Louisiana & Columbia, and speak to “Voice of the Wildcats” Wyatt Thompson. https://www.youtube.com/live/sW0X4GJ97T0?si=8tOxuUDFi8burntf Hour 1 Segment 1 – Coach Driscoll running out of ways to inspire team Segment 2 – Was K-State track screwed out of a Big 12 title? Segment 3 – Last week in the Big 12 Hour 2 Segment 1 – “Voice of the Cats” Wyatt Thompson Segment 2 – Bat Cats go 2-3 vs. Louisiana & Columbia & K-State women…

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Riley County commissioners are weighing whether to continue a long-running contract to help subsidize glass recycling for citizens. Since 2010, the county has contracted with Howie’s Recycling — now rebranded as Bison Ridge Recycling — and typically runs in five-year terms. The contract is scheduled to expire at the end of the month. Planning director Amanda Webb said it costs the county $15,000 annually from the general fund. “What the county has paid over the last many years, nowhere near covers what they pay,” she said. “It’s not profitable at all.” To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

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The Kansas Bureau of Investigation has arrested a Manhattan man in connection with a Jan. 3 officer-involved shooting in Pottawatomie County. The agency says 38-year-old Brian Lovgren was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon by KBI agents and officers with the KU Medical Center Department of Public Safety. He was booked on a warrant for two counts of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer and is being held in Wyandotte County Jail. As previously reported, deputies with the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home in east Manhattan on Jan. 3 after a homeowner reported gunfire damage to a…

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Authorities say a 23-year-old man was found dead Tuesday afternoon in the 1800 block of Wildcat Creek Road in Manhattan. According to the Riley County Police Department, officers responded to an unattended death shortly after 2 p.m. The man was found with what is believed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Police believe there is no reason to suspect any foul play. The man’s name was not released.

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A motorcyclist was injured Tuesday in a three vehicle accident at Bluemont Ave and Tuttle Creek Blvd. Riley County Police say just before 2:30 p.m. a Jeep Cherokee stuck a Harley Davidson motorcycle, which then struck a Ford Explorer at the intersection. The motorcyclist, identified as 59-year-old Donald George, of Manhattan, was transported to Via Christi Hospital for minor injuries. The driver of the Jeep, 25-year-old Jesse McDonald, of Mound City, was cited for following too closely. McDonald and the other driver, 31-year-old Larynn Reed, of Manhattan, had no apparent injuries, according to police.

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Fulbright Specialist and New York City artist Heather Massie and McCain Auditorium Executive Director Todd Holmberg joined us Wednesday to discuss the upcoming one woman show HEDY! The Life & Inventions of Hedy Lamarr. The show a solo play celebrating Hedy Lamarr, a 1930s-1950s Hollywood star, who also was a brilliant inventor, who co-invented The Secret Communication System with George Antheil during World War II to improve torpedo accuracy. The Frequency-Hopping Spread Spectrum Technology now powers cell phones, Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth. The performance is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday at K-State’s McCain Auditorium.

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