Author: Brandon Peoples

U.S. News & World Report has recognized Kansas State University’s online programs for excellence in six categories. The organization evaluated more than 1,600 online bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, analyzing program effectiveness in student engagement, faculty credentials and student services and technology. Programs were also ranked on how effectively they serve veterans. K-State’s online master’s programs in business, including the Master of Science in Data Analytics and Master of Accountancy, jumped from No. 43 to No. 9 nationally, the highest ranking ever. The online master’s in education also moved up four spots to No. 12 nationally, including a No. 3…

A Manhattan man was arrested Wednesday on a Jackson County District Court warrant tied to an alleged stalking incident last month. The Riley County Police Department says 43-year-old John Robert Martin is charged with felony counts of stalking and criminal threat, and misdemeanor counts of violating a protective order and phone harassment. The incidents occurred between Jan. 16 and 17, involving an adult female victim. No further details are currently available. Martin was issued a $100,000 bond, but was no longer in custody as of Thursday’s arrest report.

Representatives from Flint Hills Beverage delivered a pallet of canned drinking water Wednesday afternoon to Riley County Fire District No. 1, as part of Anheuser-Busch’s disaster relief program. The donated water will be used to keep volunteer firefighters hydrated and healthy during the upcoming spring wildland fire season. March and April is typically when the department responds to the highest number of calls annually. In a statement, Riley County Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director Russel Stukey expressed gratitude for the donation and says the drinking water will be distributed to each of the 15 fire stations to be used…

Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 have announced a new Director of Special Education. Dr. Jessica Nelson will assume that role on July 1, replacing Interim Director Dr. Roger Christian, who is retiring in June, after replacing Andrea Tiede, who was promoted to Director of Teaching and Learning last year following the abrupt resignation of her predecessor Paula Hough. Nelson currently holds the same position with Geary County USD 475. Prior to her current position, Nelson was a district level behavior consultant for USD 475 and began her career as a special education teacher at USD 383. She has also served as a…

Public Works crews continue to take advantage of good weather and are patching more potholes across Manhattan. On Wednesday, crews were out doing patchwork on three of the city’s most traveled routes — Anderson Ave, Fort Riley Boulevard and Kimball Avenue. City Engineer Brian Johnson… Weekend rains washed away some of the cold patch, causing crews to have to revisit some of the problem spots. Johnson says the best way residents can help is to use the City of Manhattan Report It app. Pothole repairs continue in full force this week! Please watch out for our hard-working Public Works folks…

The Kansas Supreme Court issued an order Tuesday, releasing the court’s jurisdiction of a school finance case after concluding the Legislature complied with mandates to resolve Constitutional violations, by adequately funding public education. Since 2019, the Supreme Court has retained control on Gannon v. State, pending the state providing incremental funding increases to fund Kansas K-12 schools. Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 Superintendent Eric Reid commented on the court’s decision Wednesday on KMAN’s In Focus. He says the order creates some angst for public schools, given the history of challenges school funding has faced in Kansas. USD 383 School Board President Jayme Morris-Hardeman…

City officials are planning the next phase of construction to widen Kimball Avenue in Manhattan’s North Campus Corridor. Public Works crews will close Kimball just west of the Denison Ave. intersection to near the Grain Science Center on Feb. 19. Then, after K-State commencement ceremonies in May, the intersection itself will close, according to City Engineer Brian Johnson. This will result in traffic adjustments along Kimball through the summer. The southern and eastern legs of the intersection will remain open through the remainder of the semester. City Manager Ron Fehr says most traffic will shift to Anderson and Marlatt during construction. The…

The Manhattan City Commission approved the first reading of an ordinance Tuesday amending a section of code establishing regulations and penalties for violations within the downtown parking garage. Parking Services Manager Adrienne Tucker says the clarification will give law enforcement more authority to cite folks who loiter in the garage. The commission will revisit discussions at a later date regarding a potential future contract for license plate recognition technology and paid parking in the garage. In addition, commissioners chose not to alter any of the current ordinance impacting the Aggieville garage and its fee structure. Mayor Wynn Butler weighed in. Commissioner…

Riley County USD 378 School Board members met for an hour behind closed doors Tuesday night, but took no action regarding the status of its superintendent, who remains on administrative leave. Coming out of executive session, Board President Samantha Brown moved to authorize Hoover Law Firm of Junction City, to carry out negotiations with Cliff Williams and report back to the board in two weeks. The motion passed 4-3, with board members Jeff Hancock, Nathan Mead and Justin Ricketts opposed. Mead stated he believes the motion forward is not responsible for the district. Brown, who voted in favor, responded. The…

Pottawatomie County commissioners moved Monday to send out bids for dust control on some of the county’s more well-traveled dirt gravel roads. Public Works Engineering Aide Janell Ralph says the county has three interested bidders for the annual sprays this year. A number of rural routes have had more traffic amid the closure of the Louisville Road Bridge over Rock Creek, which remains closed after a sinkhole developed on the deck last year. Project Coordinator Steve Roggenkamp presented a funding agreement from the Kansas Department of Transportation, which approved a cost share grant for upcoming bridge repairs last fall. Pottawatomie…