Author: Brandon Peoples

MANHATTAN — The Flint Hills Discovery Center held a ribbon cutting Friday for the grand opening of its Prairie Garden Terrace and Trail. The visitor favorite attraction includes 15 informational signs highlighting the iconic flora and fauna and important historical, cultural and environmental topics to the Flint Hills eco-region. Discovery Center Curator of Education Stephen Bridenstine says it’s a project that’s been a little more than two years in the making. The panels were created by a team of collaborators including interns from Kansas State University who helped with the design and research. The enhancement project was made possible by…

Both chambers of the Kansas Legislature adjourned Friday for a three week break. One of the key issues that passed through both the House and Senate was a school finance bill to infuse $90 million into K-12 education next year. It’s the latest attempt by lawmakers to satisfy a Supreme Court ruling last year which said funding was inadequate. Speaking to KMAN Friday, 66th District Representative Sydney Carlin (D-Manhattan) was optimistic since lawmakers have added an adjustment for inflation. Carlin also praised the bill for helping close an achievement gap for special education students. The goal is to make that…

MANHATTAN — The first candidate to file for the Manhattan City Commission is a familiar name to the community. Former USD 383 Manhattan/Ogden Vice President Aaron Estabrook officially filed the necessary paperwork Friday, noting he’d bring a bit of diversity to the commission as a young professional and parent. Estabrook says his campaign would focus on fiscal responsibility, economic opportunity and quality services. He’d like to see a push for better wages through economic development. He also says the city provides many quality services that have a price tag, but need to be maintained. No stranger to running for political…

Update 3 p.m. Thursday MANHATTAN — A southeast Kansas man was killed Thursday in a wreck northwest of Manhattan. The Kansas Highway Patrol says it happened just before 8 a.m. near the intersection of Kansas Highway 113 and U.S. 24 (the intersection of Seth Child and Tuttle Creek Blvd.) A passenger car driven by 40-year-old Andrew Drysdale of Coffeyville was northbound on Seth Child when he failed to stop at the intersection. As a result, Drysdale’s vehicle went through the guardrail, traveled down an embankment and struck a tree before rolling onto its top. Drysdale was pronounced dead at the…

OVERLAND PARK — The ACLU of Kansas has filed a lawsuit on behalf of three Kansas State University students detained recently by Statehouse officials after unfurling large banners in the Capitol rotunda last week. The students were protesting Republican legislative leaders that oppose Medicaid expansion by name saying they have “blood on their hands.” Students Jonathan Cole, Nate Faflick and Katie Sullivan were initially issued a one year ban from the Statehouse after they briefly hung the huge banners. A legislative policy requires protesters to obtain permission in advance to bring banners into the Statehouse. The ban was reportedly lifted…

MANHATTAN — A lawsuit filed last week in Riley County District Court alleges Riley County Commissioners terminated an employee for speaking out against one of the commissioners. The lawsuit was filed March 27 by former county employee Steven DeHart of Olsburg, who claims the board fired him in 2017 because he continually spoke out against Chairman Ron Wells. DeHart worked for the county as an environmental health specialist. In the petition, DeHart claims he drew the ire of the commission when he reported Wells had a private sewer hookup at his residence that allowed him to receive free service. It…

MANHATTAN — As the 2019 legislative session draws to a close, lawmakers in the House continue to come up with alternatives to a school funding Senate bill endorsed by Governor Laura Kelly. On KMAN’s In Focus Wednesday, USD 383 Manhattan/Ogden Assistant Superintendent Eric Reid says that solution probably is enough to satisfy the Supreme Court. Time is ticking, with lawmakers set to adjourn on a three-week break on Friday. Meanwhile the House has been offering up alternative plans from GOP leadership, including one that according to the Topeka Capital-Journal, would commit $126 million in new money over to several years to schools…

ADMIRE — A Wamego man sustained injuries in a single-vehicle crash in northern Lyon County early Tuesday. The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office reports 34-year-old Andrew Kuchera was southbound on Kansas Highway 99, about four miles north of Admire when the crash occurred. Kuchera failed to negotiate a curve in the highway, causing his vehicle to leave the road and crash into a small creek. The crash happened around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday. Kuchera was transported by ambulance to Newman Regional Health in Emporia, then transferred to KU Medical Center in Kansas City. Authorities say his injuries are not life-threatening. Kuchera was…

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly is calling on the Senate to take a vote on Medicaid expansion and she says it needs to happen this week. At a news conference Tuesday morning, she chided Senate leaders for dragging their feet. She says her proposal, passed by the House March 21, is very similar to a plan that passed the legislature in 2017 with strong bipartisan support. Kelly expressed her frustration saying that as the regular session is winding down, “halfway there isn’t good enough.” The time for blocking progress has long since passed. Now is the time for a vote…

MANHATTAN — Volunteers are being actively sought for a wide range of activities happening this spring and summer with the Manhattan Parks and Recreation Department. Those efforts are ramping up in anticipation of National Volunteer week happening April 7-13. Flint Hills Discovery Center Volunteer Coordinator Jurina Watts says for special events, they’ll typically use 60 to 70 volunteers, but with only 25 to 30 volunteering on a recurring basis, the need for more volunteers always exists, especially for one major event coming up next month. Other FHDC events coming up are ribbon cuttings for the prairie garden terrace and trail…