Author: Brandon Peoples

MANHATTAN — Heavy rains and strong to severe storms are expected tonight (Mon) into Tuesday and that will include the possibility for flooding. The National Weather Service says the Manhattan area alone will receive about 3 to 4 inches of rainfall through Tuesday. That’s prompted a Flash Flood Watch in effect from 1 p.m. today through 7 p.m. Tuesday. Several rivers are forecast to reach minor to moderate flood stage. Significant flooding and flash-flooding are possible. Overnight Saturday, approximately 3 inches of rain fell in the Wildcat Creek basin. This produced minor flooding along the banks and filled flood storage…

MANHATTAN — Congressman Roger Marshall was back in Manhattan Saturday, hosting a town hall discussion with about two dozen constituents at the Sunset Zoo’s Nature Exploration Place. Most in the audience were vocal opponents of the Republican Congressman. Marshall was asked about a number of topics including how Congress can lower the cost of prescription drugs. He says they’re now approving twice the number of generic medications per year as were previously approved under previous administrations. But he says the biggest challenge now is the pharmacy benefit managers, four of which control 90 percent of U.S. prescriptions. Marshall says along…

MANHATTAN — One year after fire damaged Kansas State University’s Hale Library, progress is coming along with the first floor scheduled to reopen in the fall. K-State officials gave tours of the building Friday which continues to undergo renovations, especially noticeable on the building’s first three floors. An estimated 85 percent of the building was gutted, including wiring, ceiling tiles and carpet due to damage. In some areas, only the bottom two feet of drywall was water damaged. In other areas, entire walls were stripped down to the metal studs. Dean of Libraries Lori Goetsch tells KMAN that the building…

MANHATTAN — Riley County Chief Judge Meryl Wilson announced recently his intention to retire after more than two decades on the bench in 21st District. After 45 years of law practice, including two decades serving Riley and Clay counties and the past seven as Chief Judge, Wilson said the time was right for him to call it quits. Wilson says the decision was one he made with the help of his family, in particular his wife who is going through some private medical issues. He said of his time on the bench he’s enjoyed the highs and the lows that…

MANHATTAN — A town hall meeting is scheduled this weekend with First U.S. District Congressman Roger Marshall. The public is invited to attend the event and learn about federal legislative issues. The town hall begins at 8:30 a.m. Saturday inside the Nature Exploration Place at Manhattan’s Sunset Zoo. The town hall is expected to last about an hour. Congressman Marshall will take questions from the public.

JUNCTION CITY — The Geary County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a Wednesday afternoon shooting that sent one to the hospital and placed an elementary school on a lockdown. Deputies responded shortly after 2 p.m. to 3407 Liberty Hall Road in Junction City to the report of a man in his early twenties suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg. Sheriff Daniel Jackson said it was reported that the victim was shot by another man with a dark complexion wearing blue jeans and a white shirt. Authorities set up a perimeter and searched the area on foot with the use…

MANHATTAN — As the school year wraps up at Manhattan Christian College, officials are looking ahead to a new fundraising campaign. On KMAN’s In Focus program Wednesday, MCC President Kevin Ingram announced the schools Multiply Campaign was launched in April as part of its Vision 360 banquet. The purpose is to raise money to build a new residence hall. Ingram says it would replace the aging Johnson Hall which lacks adequate insulation, has just single pane windows and would be cost prohibitive to bring up to current standards. Ingram says a good chunk of the $75,000 in gifts raised during…

Wednesday’s In Focus guests centered around education with Manhattan/Ogden USD 383 Assistant Superintendent Eric Reid and Board Member Leah Fliter. Manhattan Christian College President Kevin Ingram also discussed some updates at his school including a major capital campaign getting underway to fund a new residence hall to replace Johnson Hall on campus.

MANHATTAN — Students at Amanda Arnold Elementary were evacuated after smoke developed in the school’s kitchen Wednesday morning. Manhattan Fire crews responded shortly before 10 a.m. and removed all students and staff from the building as a precaution. Manhattan Fire spokesman Ryan Almes tells KMAN that a microwave was the cause of the smoke. There was no fire. Firefighters scanned the building from the inside and the roof before giving the all clear. Students were allowed back into the building about 40 minutes after the initial response. It’s not clear if there was any damage to the microwave or to…

MANHATTAN — An upcoming panel discussion at Kansas State University aims to continue toward solutions to filling jobs for local employers. It’s the second in a series studying the workforce crisis facing the Manhattan area. The previous one was held in December, according to Pottawatomie County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Jack Allston. The December event was more geared toward construction companies and manufacturing. The next event will bring other industries to the table. Workforce issues are affecting numerous industries with not enough workers and not enough potential employees with the correct soft skills. Allston says it’s a major factor…