TOPEKA — The incoming Kansas governor will face a large task dealing with a struggling child welfare system recently hit with a class-action lawsuit alleging conditions were so poor that children suffered mentally or ran away from foster homes. The lawsuit filed in federal court this month alleges that children have been trafficked for sex, sexually abused inside adoptive homes or raped inside a child welfare office, The Wichita Eagle reported . Lawmakers, experts and advocates say Democratic governor-elect Laura Kelly must significantly invest in the state’s Department for Children and Families to improve the system. Kelly will become governor…
Author: KMAN Staff
OLATHE — Authorities say a train has struck and killed a man as he was trying to cross a set of railroad tracks in suburban Kansas City. The Kansas City Star reports that the man died at the scene Saturday in Olathe. His death remains under investigation and his name wasn’t immediately released. A preliminary investigation indicated the man was trying to cross the tracks when he was hit.
KANSAS CITY — Kansas Democrat Sharice Davids says she plans to cast one of her first votes for Nancy Pelosi as House speaker. In an announcement posted on her campaign website, the newly elected congresswoman also said she planned to vote for “several younger and newer members” for other leadership roles in the Democratic Caucus. Davids says no one else has stood up to challenge Pelosi. She adds Kansans didn’t elect her to go to Washington to play political games and take symbolic protest votes. Her announcement says the best way to move forward is to unite behind the speaker…
Monday’s guest was Dr. Timothy Shaffer, assistant professor of communication studies at Kansas State University and assistant director of the K-State Institute for Civil Discourse and Democracy.
A man was shot in what is believed to be an attempted aggravated robbery in Manhattan Thursday night, according to a release by the Riley County Police Department. Police say they received a call reporting a shooting in the 700 block of Allen Road at approximately 10:10 p.m. On-scene, they found an 18-year-old man with a gun shot wound. He was transported to Via Christi for treatment, his injuries were not life threatening. The victim’s identity has not been released. Police currently have two suspects. As the investigation is ongoing, no further information is currently available. Anyone with information on…
Those who own electric vehicles in Manhattan soon will be able to recharge away from home. During Tuesday’s Manhattan City Commission meeting, a proposal by Westar was approved paving the way for two new user-paid electric vehicle recharging stations to be installed. The two stations will be located in the Flint Hills Discovery Center parking lot. Commissioner Wynn Butler spoke favorably of the proposal. Each of the charging stations can accommodate two vehicles. Mayor Mike Dodson said the project is great for Manhattan. The charging stations will be operated and maintained by Westar and users will pay a kilowatt-hour charge including…
The City of Manhattan is looking to grow by just more than 28 acres. The city commission unanimously voted to take the first step toward annexing a plot of land at the intersection of Scenic and Anderson into the city at their Tuesday meeting. The owner, St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, requested the annexation to be able to utilize city water and sewer services. The plot is planned to be the site of a new church. The lot is not adjacent to any city land and by state law the city had to pass a resolution explaining their desire to annex…
The City of Manhattan will be running on wind power starting in 2021. The Manhattan City Commission unanimously approved a participation service agreement with Westar energy to utilize power from a new wind energy plant that will be constructed in Northeast Kansas by the end of 2020. Under the agreement, the city will power its facilities by 50 percent using wind-generated power at a locked-in rate of 1.8 cents per kilowatt hour. Depending on how the energy market fluctuates, the city could stand to save between $45,000 to $50,000 per year for the life of the 20-year agreement. The city’s energy…
Our guests Wednesday included Manhattan Mayor Mike Dodson and Downtown Manhattan Executive Director Gina Scroggs previewing Thanksgiving weekend activities including the Thanksgiving meal at Old Chicago, Mayor’s Christmas tree lighting on Friday and Small Business Saturday as well as the upcoming Mayor’s Spirit of the Holidays Lighted Parade. The latter half of the show featured Manhattan Christian College President Kevin Ingram discussing upcoming events at the college.
LAWRENCE — A judge is barring an attorney from representing the man charged with fatally shooting three people and wounding two others in downtown Lawrence. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that Douglas County District Court Judge Sally Pokorny says she has “grave concerns” about the competency of Jennifer Chaffee. Pokorny cited a laundry list of missteps that culminated with a mistrial four days into jury selection in the high-profile case. Chaffee declined to comment. She was representing 21-year-old Anthony Roberts Jr., who is charged with three murder counts and one attempted murder count. Two other suspects face less series charges in…