KANSAS CITY — Freshman Republican Congressman Steve Watkins of Kansas has forgiven $225,100 in loans he made to his 2018 campaign, according to a letter filed with the Federal Election Commission. The Kansas City Star reports Watkins had given his campaign nearly half a million dollars in loans during the seven-way GOP primary for an open eastern Kansas congressional seat. Watkins’ loans represented a substantial amount of his declared wealth at the time, which was somewhere between $440,053 and $2.7 million, according to required personal financial disclosure forms. Federal campaign finance rules allow candidates to lend unlimited amounts of their…
Author: KMAN Staff
TOPEKA — Kansas is reporting that it collected $81 million more in taxes in April than anticipated even after officials issued a more optimistic fiscal forecast during the month. The state Department of Revenue’s report Wednesday came as Republican legislators attempted to revive a tax relief bill. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly in March vetoed a GOP bill aimed at preventing individuals and businesses from paying more in state income taxes because of changes in federal tax laws at the end of 2017. Kelly described it as fiscally irresponsible. The Department of Revenue said Kansas collected nearly $1.2 billion in taxes…
Friday’s In Focus guests included Manhattan Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Karen Hibbard discussing National Tourism Week and promoting tourism in the Manhattan area. Riley County 4-H Agent John Jobe from K-State Research and Extension joined us to talk about the Citizenship Washington Focus trip for area 4-H students in Riley and Wabaunsee counties. Candice McIntosh joined us in the final segment to discuss Saturday’s Girls on the Run 5K happening at Manhattan Regional Airport with this year’s theme “Run with the Force.”
TOPEKA — The Kansas Senate has approved a bill that would prevent judges from lowering sentences for child sex offenders if they think the victims were willing participants in the crime. The bill approved Wednesday comes after a Leavenworth County judge in February reduced the sentence for 67-year-old Raymond Soden because he thought the 13- and 14-year-old girls involved in the case were “aggressors.” The Kansas City Star reports current state law allows judges discretion in sentencing for “substantial or compelling” reasons. The new bill prohibits judges from reducing sentences if a victim is a participant or aggressor in a…
WICHITA — An embattled Kansas military school amended its incorporation document to remove the Episcopalian church that founded it from getting the property once the school shuts down. The amendment that came nearly seven months before the school announced its plans to close was revealed when the document recently became public. It was brought up in an alumni group’s social media posting. The document raises questions at a time when supporters are working to keep St. John’s Military School open in Salina. The Episcopalian boarding school announced in February it planned to shut down after its May 11 commencement. The…
WICHITA — Participants in the annual winter wheat tour are forecasting that Kansas farmers will harvest 306.5 million bushels this season. The Wheat Quality Council said in a news release that the three-day tour wrapped up Thursday after participants gathered information from 469 fields across Kansas. The group calculated average yields of 47.2 bushels an acre. Kansas growers planted about 7 million acres of wheat last fall. Tour scouts report that wheat planted before the October rains generally looks good now. Wheat planted when farmers could get back in fields after the rains is not faring as well. They say…
TOPEKA — The Kansas Senate has approved a new tax relief bill aimed at helping individuals and businesses who are paying more in state income taxes because of changes in federal tax laws. The vote Thursday night was 27-13 on a plan drafted by GOP negotiators for the House and Senate. It is less than half the size of a tax relief bill that Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed in March and would save taxpayers roughly $90 million during the budget year beginning in July. The House could vote on it Friday. Kelly said the state should study its entire tax…
WICHITA — A health department in southwest Kansas says a prankster spoofed its number to falsely notify people that they may have contracted a sexually transmitted disease. The Finney County Health Department said in a Facebook post that the calls are “NOT FROM US!” The post says the department would never discuss private health information in recordings and would always ask permission to discuss sensitive health information over the phone. The department says the call consists of someone informing residents that they’ve been identified as possibly having a sexually transmitted disease or as having contact with someone who has an…
Officers filed a report for theft in the 600 block of Tuttle Creek Blvd. in Manhattan on May 2, 2019, at approximately 3:00 PM. Officers listed Mary Leickert-Abbott, 74, of Manhattan as the victim when she reported an unknown suspect took her purse and items inside. The estimated total loss associated with this case is approximately $600.00. Police ask that anyone with information please contact RCPD or the Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers. Using the Crime Stoppers service can allow you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.00.
MANHATTAN — School will likely be getting out a little earlier next year for Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 schools. During the board of education meeting Wednesday night, Assistant Superintendent Eric Reid presented new start and end times for the district. “What we’ve been talking about since the bond issue passed is a way to maximize our summer. What was done during our last bond issue was lengthening the school days and reducing the number of days student went. It allows our construction quicker and longer access to the buildings, which allows them to work faster,” Reid said during Wednesday’s board meeting.…