WICHITA — An embattled Kansas military school announced Wednesday it plans to close after this school year, saying it has unfairly become a target for litigation and negative media portrayals. St. John’s Military School in Salina said in a news release that its leaders have sought to sustain the school through various strategies, but “the landscape of education has changed dramatically” resulting in lower enrollment and unsustainable higher costs of education. “This, combined with St. John’s having unfairly become a target for legal cases and negatively biased and misleading portrayals by some media outlets, has created an insurmountable situation that school leaders…
Author: KMAN Staff
The City of Riley says that there is no immediate risk to residents after they did not take a required water sample in the first quarter of 2018. City officials began informing residents Wednesday, Feb. 6, that they did not perform one test last year to monitor for the disinfection by-products of Atrazine as required by the State of Kansas. Atrazine is an herbicide used to treat crops such as corn and sugarcane. The state requires testing of atrazine levels as it can run-off from row crops into water systems and in certain levels cause cardiovascular or reproductive problems. Riley…
LAWRENCE — University of Kansas officials say crimes reported on the Lawrence campus in 2018 dropped to the lowest level in 10 years. The Office of Public Safety said in a news release Wednesday that 619 crimes were reported last year, down 8 percent from 670 in 2017. The report found theft continues to be the most common crime, with 150 reported in 2018. That was followed by drug crimes, with 113 reports, and property damage, with 91 reports. Assault reports rose significantly from 2017, with a total of 34, up from 14 in 2017. Nine sex offenses were reported…
The City of Manhattan will take another look at the design of the planned Southeast Neighborhood Recreation Center at Douglass Park. The Manhattan City Commission unanimously voted to amend the design contract with Bruce McMillan AIA Architects at its Tuesday meeting. The city’s original plan was to use Community Development Block Grant funds on the center, which is estimated would cost $4 million. Administration eventually learned that CDBG money wouldn’t be able to be used on the center, leading the city to reevaluate their funding options and to re-engage the community on what they’d like to see in the center…
Education was the hot topic on KMAN’s In Focus Wednesday. In the first half of the show, we caught up with USD 383 Manhattan/Ogden Superintendent Dr. Marvin Wade and Board President Curt Herrman for a review of bond project information, what goes into closing schools for inclement weather and other items being looked at during Wednesday’s school board meeting. The second half of the show focused featured Manhattan Area Technical College Dean of Student Neil Ross, who joined us to highlight the college’s upcoming letter of intent signing day Feb. 21, a spring open house and background on spring enrollment…
Map of area in Green Valley Governance Plan proposal. Photo by Hailey McClellan/KMANMANHATTAN — A big decision looms over residents in and around the Blue Township area. As the area of about 4,000 residents continues to grow, it’s become apparent there is a need for some type of public services in that area, including water and sewer, parks and recreation and others. During the Green Valley Governance Plan town hall meeting Monday, Jim Kaup of Kaup Law Office in Topeka presented residents with some different options for governance plans and asked for feedback. The meeting was well attended with residents…
TOPEKA — The Kansas Corporation Commission has approved a rate increase that will cost Kansas Gas customers an average of $2.40 per month. The commission on Tuesday approved a settlement between its staff, the Citizens Utility Ratepayer Board, Kansas Gas Service and others. The new rates will take effect Wednesday. Kansas Gas Service had sought an increase that would have increased average customer bills by $5.67 per month. The utility had asked to increase base rates by $45.6 million. The settlement will result in an annual increase of $21.5 million. The commission has not yet decided whether Kansas Gas Service…
TOPEKA — The Kansas Senate has approved a bill that would make a $115 million payment to the state pension system for teachers and government workers. The vote Tuesday was 40-0 even though Democrats in the GOP-dominated Senate argued that lawmakers should review the entire budget first. The bill goes next to the House. The money represents part of the state’s annual contribution to the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System that lawmakers skipped in 2016, plus interest. Legislators shorted the pension system that year to help close a budget shortfall. Under the bill, the payment would be made before July.…
SALINA — Authorities say a carjacking suspect has been shot and wounded in an exchange of gunfire with law enforcement in central Kansas. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation says in a news release that 24-year-old Colt Wright, of Derby, has undergone surgery at a Salina hospital. The release says Salina police began chasing him around 5 p.m. Tuesday after he stole a Jeep Wrangler at gunpoint. The release says he shot at law enforcement officers and hit a patrol vehicle before crashing in a rural area. The release says Wright then was wounded in an exchange of gunfire with a…
Officers filed a report for burglary and criminal damage to property in the 500 block of Fremont in Manhattan on February 5, 2019, at approximately 3:00 PM. Officers listed Jeffrey Dendurent, 27 and Mikayla Dendurent, 23 both of Manhattan as the victim when it was reported an unknown suspect damaged their door and took miscellaneous electronic items. The estimated total loss associated with this case is approximately $1,050.00. Police ask that anyone with information 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…