TOPEKA — Kansas lawmakers are considering legislation aimed at addressing a shortage of social workers in the state. KCUR reports that low pay, challenging work and years of declining state funding have made it hard to hire and keep qualified social workers. Advocates say the state’s unusually high standards are making the problem worse. Lawmakers are considering a bill that would bring Kansas closer to certification requirements in other states. The state Senate unanimously approved the bill last month. It now awaits a vote from the House of Representatives. Advocates say it will motivate more social workers to seek jobs…
Author: KMAN Staff
MANHATTAN — A community gathering to support a retired music teacher was held Sunday. Event organizer and Northview Elementary music teacher Laurie Davis says the concert came about as an idea in August to support longtime educator John Richard who is battling cancer. The concert was titled “For the love of John.” Davis says the impact that John Richard has had on the community was a key reason for the great turnout Sunday. John’s wife, Sandy Richard says she was grateful that he was able to see just how many lives he has impacted over the years. John himself was…
Roads across the region have taken a beating following a winter with multiple storms. Representatives from the Riley and Pottawatomie County as well as the City of Manhattan governments discussed how the season impacted each of their roads at a joint city/county/county meeting Thursday. The Riley-Pottawatomie County area has seen 13 storms since November, 2018 with 10 of those occurring in 2019. Riley County Public Works Director Leon Hobson says the region saw multiple partial freeze/thaw cycles during that time — but the warm weather that the area has been seeing has stopped those cycles for now and allowed a…
Friday’s program featured a conversation on local and state healthcare issues with Ascension Via Christi Hospital President Bob Copple. Our conversation included updates on technology at the hospital, Medicaid expansion and the troubles facing rural hospitals. Manhattan Breakfast Optimists Club’s Jim Franke previewed the organization’s 11th annual spaghetti dinner fundraiser and silent auction happening March 30 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Cico Park’s Pottorf Hall. Kansas 67th District House Representative Tom Phillips also joined KMAN for a legislative update after a busy week that saw a proposed Medicaid expansion bill advance.
Officers filed a report for theft in the 500 block of McCall Rd in Manhattan on March 21, 2019, at approximately 3:30 PM. Officers listed Menards of Manhattan as the victim when it was reported two known suspects took power tools and hand tools. The estimated total loss associated with this case is approximately $1,850.00. Officers filed a report for burglary and criminal damage to property in the 5200 block of Tuttle Creek Blvd in Manhattan on March 21, 2019, at approximately 5:00 PM. Officers listed B & T Self-storage, Patience Knight, 37, Amy Westerman, 19, Brittany Sadler, 30, Katelynn Clark,…
LAWRENCE — A woman has been convicted of helping to kill her cousin’s ex-boyfriend whose body was found inside a burning home near Lawrence. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that 38-year-old Christina Towell, of Leavenworth, pleaded no contest Thursday to felony first-degree murder in the November 2017 death of 34-year-old Joel Wales. Other charges, including burglary and arson, were dropped as part of the plea. Her cousin, Tria Evans, was convicted earlier of murder and other charges. Evans and Wales had a child together and a history of domestic disputes. Prosecutors say text messages show that Towell and Evans plotted the…
On Thursday evening on the Kansas State University campus, filmmaker Kevin Willmott addressed the unsettling link between democracy and racism to an overflowing room in the student union. Willmott’s discussion was titled, “BlacKkKlansman: A Response to the Resurgence of Racism in America Today”, and it was part of K-State’s The Art of Democracy symposium co-organized by the Office of the Provost and Center for Engagement and Community Development. Willmott told KMAN about his motivations for serving as a creative cornerstone for films such as BlacKkKlansman and several others that address the uncomfortable topic of racial tensions in modern America. Visiting…
Live from San Jose, John Kurtz is joined by KSO’s Matt Hall and Mason Voth from the KMAN studio to discuss K-State’s impending matchup with the UC Irvine Anteaters in the NCAA Tournament on Friday. Hour 1 0:00 – Observations from Sharkland 16:14 – Sluggin Bananas and Eatin Ants 25:33 – Ding Dong 34:05 – Ky Thomas picks Minnesota Hour 2 0:00 – Anteaters may be trendy, until you think about it 10:33 – John and Matt like UCI 20:41 – Brackets Guy 32:57 – YCBS
MANHATTAN — Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters serving Riley, Geary and Pottawatomie County is holding its annual Bowl for Kids Sake fundraiser in Manhattan this weekend. Special Events Coordinator Tori Foster says this event is the signature fundraiser, with one third of the money raised going directly into the operating budget. Foster says each participant has a goal of raising $160 and those who reach that goal earn a t-shirt and invitation to their bowling party which is happening Sunday. Foster says the fundraiser has been further helped through Facebook, but people can still collect donations offline. Recruiting is ongoing…
Fort Riley and one other installation received a bronze medal in the 2019 Army Communities of Excellence Award, a program that has existed since 1989. The awards are intended to promote excellence in installation management as well as process improvement and forts are assessed based on strategy and measurable business outcomes. Along with Wisconsin’s Fort McCoy, Fort Riley received the award from the Department of the Army on Monday, March 18. Georgia’s Fort Stewart took the gold medal, Alaska’s Fort Wainwright took silver and New York’s Fort Drum received an honorable mention. 1st Infantry Division Commanding General Maj. Gen. John…