Author: Brandon Peoples

6 a.m. Monday update Two rounds of winter weather are expected as a winter storm warning is in place through noon Tuesday. The National Weather Service says the first wave will move through the area this morning and early afternoon, switching over from rain to snow by late this morning. Another wave of snow will then develop overnight through Tuesday morning, as much colder air moves through. All told, snowfall accumulation ranging from 4 to 10 inches will be possible by the time snow ends on Tuesday, with isolated higher amounts possible. Strong winds and frigid temperatures will then be…

The Kansas Legislature convenes for the 2024 session on Monday, with some big ticket issues likely to be front and center once again. On KMAN’s In Focus Friday, we visited with area legislators, including 66th District Rep. Sydney Carlin (D-Manhattan), 67th District Rep. Mike Dodson (R-Manhattan) and State Sen. Usha Reddi (D-Manhattan). Medicaid Expansion At the top of that list is whether or not to expand Medicaid in Kansas, something that has had growing support on both sides of the political aisle. State Rep. Sydney Carlin says the governor’s proposal does not allow for taxpayer funded abortions, but does include…

Riley County Police have arrested a second suspect in connection to a fraud, theft and forgery investigation in the area. Saturday’s RCPD arrest report lists 38 total counts against 36-year-old Candace Huffman, of Ogden, who was jailed Friday on a host of probable cause offenses. Included within that are six counts of forgery, four counts of perjury, three counts each of theft by deception, making false information, giving a worthless check and identity theft, two counts of interference with law enforcement and a single count of theft of property. Eight of the listed counts are connected to a criminal complaint…

A Manhattan man was arrested while in custody Thursday at the Riley County Jail. According to the Riley County Police Department, 30-year-old Austin Rowzer was arrested on a probable cause offense for violation of the offender registration act. The original charge was for failure to register as a drug offender. Rowzer has a past conviction out of Shawnee County for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Rowzer remains jailed on a $5,000 bond.

Two people were hospitalized Thursday following a two-vehicle crash north of Manhattan. According to the Riley County Police Department, an SUV and a passenger car collided just after 6 p.m. in the 5300 block of Tuttle Creek Blvd, near the dam. Both drivers were transported to Ascension Via Christi for minor injuries. The driver of the SUV, 74-year-old Jeanie Peters, of Olsburg was also cited for improper driving on a laned highway. The other driver was identified as 74-year-old Mia Efaw, of Manhattan.

Wednesday marked the final meeting for long time Manhattan-Ogden School Board member Darell Edie. First elected to the board in 2011, Edie served three terms and was part of the board that helped craft the process of the voter approved $130 million school bond to upgrade facilities and the construction of Oliver Brown Elementary. Superintendent Eric Reid says Edie’s forward thinking during that process inspired him as well as other board members. “Darell always tried to keep us thinking for the future, trying to stay away from short-term, think longer term. I remember you encouraging me multiple times when I’m…

A week after Riley County officials approved an agreement with the City of Manhattan to allocate funds from the city’s Special Alcohol Fund to support Community Corrections, another agreement was signed Thursday to support court services. The city is providing $3,000, allocated in quarterly increments of $750 for alcohol and drug services programs. Any funds leftover will be returned to the City of Manhattan. Last week, Riley County signed an agreement that will see those city funds supporting Community Corrections, including $23,500 earmarked for adult offender programs and $4,300 for juvenile offender programs. The City of Manhattan Special Alcohol Funds…

Kansas State University has named a new provost and executive vice president, following a nationwide search. The university announced Thursday that current Texas Tech University College of Education Dean Jesse Perez Mendez will assume those duties on or before June 1. Mendez will provide strategic oversight of academic planning, resource allocation and innovation in all academic programs and will focus on the quality of teaching and learning, among other duties. Mendez has been in his current role since 2019 and prior to joining Texas Tech and has additionally held administrative and professor positions at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis School of…

More people are working in Kansas than ever before. That’s according to data provided by the Kansas Department of Labor this week, which showed more stability in the Kansas job market. Nine of the top 10 employment months took place throughout the year, with unemployment at or below 5% for the past 38 consecutive months. Governor Laura Kelly took time Wednesday to tout those numbers, ahead of next week’s legislative session. “Hard-working Kansans have been the force behind our strong economic growth as a state. Now, we must continue to recruit more people to move here and more Kansans to join the…

Authorities are investigating a Manhattan man for allegedly making threats to another individual. Riley County Police say 46-year-old Seth Summers was arrested and charged with criminal threat. Police say a 17-year-old reported that Sumners made threats to him in the 400 block of Tuttle Creek Blvd, shortly after 4 p.m. Tuesday Sumners remains jailed on a total bond of $8,000.