TOPEKA — Kansas will swear in its first two openly LGBT state lawmakers next month and its new Democratic governor has expressed strong support for LGBT-rights measures. In addition to these breakthroughs, LGBT-rights activists want to expand the state’s anti-discrimination law covering landlords and private employers. But Republicans still will have large majorities in the Legislature, and it will be a little more conservative after this year’s elections. Kelly’s election may prevent new laws that LGBT-rights advocates oppose, but they are likely to struggle to undo policies enacted in recent years when Republicans held the governor’s office.
Author: KMAN Staff
Tax collections in Kansas continue to improve over last year. Governor Jeff Colyer’s office released the latest tax revenue numbers for the state on Tuesday. Fiscal year 2019 tax collections total $2.7 billion so far, exceeding fiscal year 2018 numbers by more than $221.20 million. Revenue also exceeded expected collections by $2.74 million. Breaking it down, state tax collections this November were $38.60 million more than collections in November of 2017. That’s an increase of 8.41 percent. Individual income tax collections in November totaled $235.02 million, $27.40 million more than what was collected the previous November. The only downside was…
Kansas State Police Department officers are once again collecting toys for children in need this holiday season. K-State PD has teamed up with the US Marine Corps and Texas Roadhouse for its second Toys for Tots drive. New and unwrapped toys can be brought to the west lobby of Edwards Hall on the KSU campus from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. as well as near the hostess stand in the Texas Roadhouse at Manhattan Town Center during business hours. Donations will be accepted through Friday, December 14th.
If you’re looking to warm up on the K-State campus today, the Psi Chi fraternity is selling hot chocolate Monday, Dec. 3, and Tuesday, Dec. 4. The sale is a fundraiser benefiting the national CASA for Children organization, which supports abused and neglected children going through the court system. Cups of cocoa will be available for 2 dollars, cash or venmo payments will be accepeted. They’ll also be accepting donations as well. They’ll be set up in front of Bluemont Hall and will be selling drinks from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Monday’s guests were Manhattan Kiwanis president-elect Doug Meloan and secretary Kitty Pursley previewing Saturday’s pancake feed and silent auction. We also chatted with Geary County Convention & Visitors Bureau members Rick Dykstra and Michelle Stimatze on upcoming community events. Our final two segments featured Manhattan Assistant Director of Community Development Chad Bunger discussing the city’s Flood Resiliency Plan.
TOPEKA — A group of Washburn University students have launched a startup that aims to combat hunger and change how Americans think about food by creating a protein powder made from crickets. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that six students formed the startup Agrotech Enterprises, which recently won the Washburn Entrepreneur Pitch Competition for their cricket protein powder business idea. Senior Jonathan Barnell directs the group’s research and development. He says crickets are an excellent prospect for the company because of their nutritional value. Barnell says that crickets are “basically a superfood,” and contain all nine essential amino acids. It takes…
SALINA — Police say a man has been arrested on charges in a Salina shooting death, the city’s first homicide this year. Television station KWCH reports that 25-year-old Mika Lee Thille was booked Friday afternoon into the Salina County Jail on charges of murder, burglary and robbery. Thille and a 24-year-old woman were taken in for questioning Friday afternoon, hours after police found the body of 30-year-old Justin Willingham in a home after someone reported gunshots. Willingham had been shot to death.
WICHITA — Democrats have picked a self-described “social justice activist” who runs two stores selling legal products derived from hemp to replace Lt. Gov.-elect Lynn Rogers in the Kansas Senate. The Wichita Eagle reports that Democratic precinct committee members in Rogers’ district in Wichita selected political newcomer Mary Ware during a weekend meeting. She will serve the final two years of Rogers’ four-year term. Ware runs two CBD stores offering oils from cannabis. Ware said that her top legislative priorities include legalizing marijuana, along with criminal justice reform and expanding the state’s Medicaid health coverage for the needy. She defeated…
Dayton Hunter-Clay, 20, of Topeka, was arrested while in the 1000 block of S Seth Child Rd. in Manhattan on November 30, 2018, at approximately 2:00 PM. Hunter-Clay was arrested on a Riley County District Court warrant for failure to appear. Hunter-Clay was issued a total bond of $20,000.00. Hunter-Clay was not confined at the time of this report. Officers responded to the report of an injury accident in the 800 block of Denison Ave. in Manhattan on November 30, 2018, at approximately 6:55 PM. When officers arrived on scene they found a pedestrian, Susan Keller, 61, of Manhattan had…
Update 4:30 p.m. Republicans in the Kansas House have elected a new, more conservative majority leader. Rep. Dan Hawkins of Wichita won a vote of GOP members and members-elect over moderate Majority Leader Don Hineman of Dighton. The vote was 48-35, with one member not voting and another absent. Hawkins’ election is likely to complicate Democratic Gov.-elect Laura Kelly’s efforts to pass her legislative agenda. She wants to expand the state’s Medicaid health coverage for the needy, and Hineman backed the idea. Hawkins opposes Medicaid expansion. Hineman has served as majority leader for the past two years. His election in…