Author: Brandon Peoples

TOPEKA — Medicaid expansion cleared another hurdle in the Kansas Legislature Thursday passing on a final vote in the House and now moves to the Senate for debate. After a gut and go process on the House floor Wednesday forced through debate on a modified version of Gov. Laura Kelly’s proposal, the House gave it a final approval 69-54. One of those voting against expansion was Wamego Republican 51st District Representative Ron Highland who tells KMAN that no lawmaker has answered a key question about how much expansion will cost the state. The proposal, which has bipartisan support aims to…

TOPEKA — Supporters of Medicaid expansion in Kansas got a big win Wednesday as the Kansas House passed an amended version of Gov. Laura Kelly’s proposal to extend services to approximately 130,000 low-income residents. The House voted 70-54 to give House Bill 2066 first-round approval, setting up a final vote Thursday that will decide if the measure moves on to the Senate. Manhattan Democrat Rep. Sydney Carlin and Republican Rep. Tom Phillips both voted in favor of the measure. Rep. Ron Highland of Wamego, a strong opponent of Medicaid expansion voted against it. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Kansas City…

WAMEGO — The City of Wamego appears to be moving forward toward construction of its proposed truck bypass route and annexation of a county road. The city is under contract with the Kansas Department of Transportation to construct the truck bypass route around the southeast part of the city with both Wamego and Pottawatomie County contributing a local match of $1 million each. A stipulation in the contract is that the city must annex roads leading up to where the bypass will be constructed. County Commissioner Pat Weixelman says this will affect a handful of roads. Weixelman explains why Sixth…

MANHATTAN — New details have been released surrounding the events leading up to last month’s burglary of the Manhattan Goodwill store. According to Pottawatomie County Sheriff Greg Riat, a Deputy Sheriff spotted a vehicle behind Academy Sports at 401 E. Poyntz shortly after 3 a.m. Feb. 19. Two individuals were spotted walking toward the vehicle and one appeared to be carrying something. The two entered the vehicle, an SUV, and drove off at a high rate of speed. After attempting to stop the vehicle, a chase ensued with the SUV wrecked in the area of Leavenworth and North Delaware Streets…

Updated 7:20 a.m. A woman was injured Tuesday after being struck by a vehicle on the K-State campus. The Kansas State University Police Department responded to the accident in the crosswalk at Denison Ave. and Todd Road, across the street from Throckmorton Hall at around 2:30 p.m. The woman, identified as 20-year-old Alyssa Ogden was transported to Via Christi Hospital and later flown to a Topeka hospital. A family member on Twitter says Ogden was listed as stable but sedated as of late Tuesday night. The investigation is ongoing and the name of the driver has not been released. …

Kansas Farm Bureau’s Foundation for Agriculture has donated $10,000 to assist Nebraska farmers and ranchers recover from record flooding across the state. The funds will be delivered directly to the Nebraska Farm Bureau’s Disaster Relief Fund, with 100 percent of its proceeds going to Nebraska farmers, ranchers and rural communities. A two-day “bomb cyclone” dropped snow and rain across frozen ground across the plains last week with some Nebraska communities receiving nearly 18 inches of snow while others recorded nearly four inches of rainfall. This led to runoff that swelled rivers and streams to record levels. Kansas Farm Bureau President…

There was plenty to celebrate Monday at the sixth annual Greater Manhattan Community Foundation Awards. Numerous philanthropic efforts from the past 20 years of the foundation were recognized as the total amount funded over that time span is now pledged at well over $100 million. Foundation President and CEO Vern Henricks says Ward and Brenda Morgan of Manhattan have made that possible with a newly established fund. Several awards were handed out at Monday’s ceremony. The Distinguished Volunteer of the Year award went to James Koelliker, who has worked with multiple organizations including Harvesters, Konza Prairie Biological Station, AARP tax…

MANHATTAN — Riley County Police Department Director Dennis Butler confirmed to Riley County Law Board members Monday that the department has opened a criminal investigation after suspected fentanyl-laced heroin overdoses in the Manhattan area earlier this month. Three overdoses were reported in Manhattan and Ogden, leading to two fatalities. RCPD Captain Tim Hegarty says fentanyl is typically mixed with heroin to give a more increased high. But it’s extremely lethal, even in just small amounts. Hegarty says the department believes the two men who died overdosed on a lethal combination of the two drugs. RCPD is reminding the public to report…

MANHATTAN — Fire crews had a busy morning Monday responding to multiple reports of smoke in buildings north of Manhattan City Park due to electrical issues. Westar Energy described losing power to locations using three phase power in that area around 9 a.m. Deputy Manhattan Fire Chief Ryan Almes tells KMAN that fire crews initially responded to the Beta Sigma Phi house at 1100 Fremont for a report of an electrical motor that was smoking. Almes says it’s not uncommon for these types of electrical issues in the Aggieville area. Almes says smoke damage to the fraternity house was likely…

WESTMORELAND — An April status hearing is set for a Wamego man accused in the December murder of 19-year-old Jacob Bouck. Cody Lamia-Beck appeared in Pottawatomie County District Court Friday morning with a court-appointed attorney. A district judge set a status hearing for 1 p.m. April 11. County Attorney Sherri Shuck tells KMAN this will allow time for discovery to be provided to counsel and for a thorough review. Lamia-Beck is awaiting arraignment on charges of second-degree murder. He remains jailed in Pottawatomie County on a $1 million bond. Lamia-Beck was arrested March 6 in connection to Bouck’s death. Bouck…