Author: Brandon Peoples

Friday’s first two segments of In Focus featured KSU Vet Med Recruitment Coordinator Dave Hoffman highlighting an upcoming summer Vet Med ROCKS camp for students in 4th through 12th grades at Kansas State University. In segment three, we previewed Friday’s Cowboy Poetry Contest at the Flint Hills Discovery Center with organizer Ron Wilson. In segment four, KMAN News Reporter Sam Hennigh interviewed Riley County Health Department Officials Andrew Adams and Leslie Campbell about West Nile virus potential in the area and the importance of vaccinating against measles.

TOPEKA — The Kansas Supreme Court says the state legislature has increased spending enough to satisfy the high court’s mandate. Earlier this year, lawmakers approved a bill to add $90 million per year over four years. The court on Friday declared the money to be sufficient, saying it’s in “substantial compliance” with last year’s ruling. However it plans to keep the underlying lawsuit open to ensure the state adheres to its funding promises. USD 383 Manhattan/Ogden Assistant Superintendent Eric Reid says he wasn’t surprised by the Supreme Court’s decision. Reid says USD 383, like many districts of its size, stands…

OSKALOOSA, Kan. (AP) — A Baldwin City woman has pleaded guilty in the death of her mother’s boyfriend at a northeast Kansas lake. Jefferson County Attorney Josh Ney announced Thursday that Ashlyn Hemmerling pleaded guilty to premeditated first-degree murder after prosecutors presented evidence in her trial in Jefferson County District Court. She was charged in the March 2018 shooting death of 22-year-old Taylor Dean Sawyer in a remote area of Perry Lake. Her boyfriend, 23-year-old Jonathan Blevins, was convicted in March of first-degree murder in Sawyer’s death. He was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for…

MANHATTAN — The Kansas Board of Tax Appeals recently ruled in favor of a hypothetical lease fee value for a Johnson County retailer. After assessing the property tax valuation of the Olathe Bass Pro Shops location, the board sided with the company’s argument that the store was actually worth about 40 percent less than what it had been appraised at by Johnson County. The results of that are troubling for future appraisals, says Riley County Appraiser Greg McHenry. A hypothetical leased fee value is also known as the dark store theory, in which big box retailers appeal their assessed property…

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A two-state proposal from Kansas and Missouri will bring hundreds of federal jobs to the Kansas City area after the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced plans to relocate two research agencies to the region. Kansas City’s bid beat out 135 other proposals from 35 different states including a pitch from the Manhattan region. Kansas and Missouri submitted a joint proposal to the USDA. The agencies include the Economic Research Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture. A decision on whether to locate on the Kansas or Missouri side of the Kansas City metro is expected…

MANHATTAN — New principals have been named at two Manhattan elementary schools. USD 383 Manhattan/Ogden Schools announced Thursday that Stephen Koch has been named principal of Frank V. Bergman Elementary School. Ashley Smith has been named principal of Theodore Roosevelt Elementary. Koch currently serves as principal of Lincoln Elementary in Lincoln, Kansas, a position he’s held since 2012. Smith is the current assistant principal at Riley County Grade School in Riley, a position she’s held since 2018. Koch replaces Lori Martin who is retiring as Bergman’s principal this summer. Smith replaces Andrea Tiede. Tiede begins her role as USD 383…

MANHATTAN — Kansas State University has filled two key positions on its enrollment management staff on an interim basis while a national search for a permanent replacement continues. University Provost and Executive Vice President Charles Taber announced Tuesday that Emily Lehning has been appointed interim vice provost for enrollment management and Mary Hale Tolar has been appointed interim vice provost for student success. Both will begin their new jobs June 30. Lehning will provide leadership to K-State’s enrollment management units in the areas of student recruitment, admissions, financial aid and registrar areas. She was names director of New Student Services…

(Above: Google maps image) MANHATTAN — Riley County Police are investigating an armed robbery of a Manhattan convenience store that occurred in the early hours of Wednesday. Officers were dispatched to the Kwik Shop at 1337 Anderson Ave., located across from Kansas State University shortly before 2 a.m. A preliminary investigation revealed that a man entered the store and demanded money. He left with an undisclosed amount of cash. Police say no weapon was displayed during the incident. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Riley County Police Department at 785-537-2112 or Crime Stoppers at 539-7777. Anonymous tips can…

Former 1st Infantry Division leader Command Sgt. Maj. Michael A. Grinston has been promoted the 16th Sergeant Major of the U.S. Army. Grinston becomes the third former Fort Riley official to be chosen in recent months for a top Army leadership position. Grinston will be the Army chief of staff’s personal adviser on enlisted force matters. He joins former Fort Riley Commanding General Paul Funk, who was named commanding general of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command. On May 24, former commanding general Joseph Martin was confirmed as the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army. Grinston serves as…

MANHATTAN — A soggy spring has led to an increased risk for diseases this summer for pets and farm animals. This is brought on by an increased mosquito presence around standing waters. KSU Vet Med Clinical Professor Dr. Susan Nelson says that can lead to West Nile among other viruses. Nelson says the heartworm parasite develops from a microscopic size to almost 10 to 18 inches long. While West Nile and heartworm can’t be transferred from animal to human, there is one disease called tularemia that cats can spread to humans if they eat an infected rabbit. Nelson says cat…