Author: Brandon Peoples

The Wichita City Council has moved a step closer to naming its next city manager — and the recommendation is a familiar name in Manhattan. Following an executive session Tuesday, the council voted 5-2 to enter contract negotiations with former Manhattan Assistant City Manager Dennis Marstall. Council members Mike Hoheisel and Brandon Johnson voted no. To view the full article, visit TheMercury.com.

Riley County is launching a new online property information portal next week aimed at providing clearer data at no additional cost to the public. County staff selected the new platform Beacon, provided by Schneider Geospatial, to replace the current parcel search system. Officials said Monday that the new platform is more user-friendly, with expanded search functions and easier-to-read data. “Beacon delivers clearer, more accessible information to the public with enhanced tools,” Riley County Appraiser Anna Burson said. “It allows us to provide additional features at no added cost while significantly improving the user experience.” To view the full article visit…

A local organization’s new supportive-housing program, which launched in the spring, is quickly growing. Be Able Community executive director Scott Voos told Riley County commissioners Monday the program now serves 15 men across three renovated properties, with a capacity to serve up to 24 residents. “Two weeks ago, we had our first graduate who was able to successfully complete our program and then transition into a year-long lease in Manhattan,” Voos said. “That’s the epitome of what we’re trying to do.” To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for more local Manhattan news.

Crime continued to decline in October, according to Riley County Police Department Director Brian Peete. During his monthly report to county commissioners on Thursday, Peete delivered a mostly positive crime update, reporting sharp declines in several categories. “As of Nov. 1, our Part One crimes were 20% below the five-year average compared to last year,” he said. “For part one violent crimes, we were about 10% below the five-year average.” To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for more Riley County news.

A road maintenance project in the Northview area is taking longer than anticipated, but city officials say it should be wrapped up within the next two weeks. Walters Drive has been under reconstruction since June between Butterfield Road and Tuttle Creek Boulevard. The stretch near Eisenhower Middle School wrapped up around Labor Day, but the portion between Kirkwood and Tuttle Creek Boulevard remained closed — despite earlier assurances it would reopen in October. To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for more local Manhattan news.

Rep. Tracey Mann (KS-01) called in live Wednesday morning to KMAN’s Morning News to discuss the House vote to release the Epstein files. The Kansas Republican also touched on priorities following the government shutdown, including health care, trade and addressing the rising cost of beef.

The future of an indoor aquatic center in Manhattan appears more uncertain in the wake of the Nov. 4 election. At the Nov. 10 Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting, board member Joe Knopp said the results signaled strong concerns from voters about future spending. “I think that those are lessons we ought to be paying attention to and including them as we make future strategy decisions,” he said. To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for more local Manhattan news.

One person is dead and five others were injured following an officer-involved shooting late Saturday morning in Osage County. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation says the incident happened around 10:30 a.m. at a home north of 113th Street and South Topeka Boulevard in Carbondale. At a press conference Saturday afternoon, Kansas Highway Patrol Colonel Erik Smith said that officers were on scene for less than 10 minutes responding to a domestic incident when “gunfire erupted.” “The suspect died from injuries he received from gunshot wounds,” he said. “Three Osage County deputies were struck by gunfire. They were transported to Stormont…

Riley County department heads are proposing changes to how their annual performance evaluations are handled, saying the process has become redundant, unproductive and lacking in meaningful dialogue with commissioners. Planning Director Amanda Webb told commissioners that while staff still want regular engagement and feedback, the current format used in recent years has not produced useful interaction for either side. “We’ve all kind of realized it’s not generating the meaning or being as useful as we’d like it to be,” Webb said. “Repeating what we’ve been telling you throughout the year just isn’t doing what we want it to do.” To…

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a boil water advisory for a portion of the Junction City water supply system after a water main break early Wednesday morning. The area affected is west of Jackson Street in Junction City, including Geary County Rural Water District #1. The advisory remains in place until further notice. Local officials say information will be updated throughout the day on the KDHE website and on the Geary County Emergency Management social media pages. City public works crews have been on site since around 7 a.m. Customers should observe the following precautions until…