WICHITA — The government’s latest snapshot gave a mostly upbeat assessment of the winter wheat crop in Kansas amid plentiful soil moisture supplies. The National Agricultural Statistics Service reported Monday that 7 percent of the state’s wheat is in excellent condition, with another 45 percent listed in good shape. It also rated 37 percent of the crop as far, 8 percent as poor and 3 percent as very poor. The agency said just 1 percent of the state had short topsoil moisture supplies.
Author: KMAN Staff
Dr. Timothy Shaffer, Assistant Director for the Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy joined us for a recap of last week’s Art of Democracy Symposium at K-State. We also touched on the Robert Mueller Russian interference probe and what Sunday’s briefing from the report means moving forward. A discussion on Shaffer’s new book was also highlighted. UFM Community Learning Center Education Coordinator Kayla Savage and Manhattan Public Library’s Mary Swabb joined us to preview the fourth edition of Talk20MHK coming up March 28 at the library auditorium.
Officers filed a report for aggravated arson, aggravated burglary, criminal damage to property, possession of marijuana, use/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, and burglary in the 700 block of Dondee Dr in Manhattan on March 22, 2019, at approximately 7:10 AM. Officers listed the State of Kansas; Rebecca King, 53; John Bandy, 54; Drake Antower, 31; Yvonne Castro, 42; Winkel Llorens, 28; Corey Watkins, 33; Brittney Rowlands, 30; a 10-year-old male; a 9-year-old male; Kara Ray, 43; an 11-year-old male; Rubin Castillo, 30; and Brandy Edgemon, 25 all of Manhattan as the victims when it was reported a…
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…
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…