TOPEKA — Kansas is trying a new way to reduce the amount of sediment in the state’s reservoirs. The Salina Journal reports the state will pay landowners up to $50 a ton for the amount of sediment they keep out of a watershed leading to a state reservoir. Kanopolis Reservoir, which has lost 39 percent of its water supply storage, is one of the four reservoirs included in the Kansas Reservoir Protection Initiative. The state has budgeted $900,000 for Kanopolis, Fall River, John Redmond and Tuttle Creek reservoirs. Many sediment best-practices are eligible for the initiative, including cover crops, reducing…
Author: KMAN Staff
WICHITA — After nearly a century of growing pumpkin patches and providing corn mazes for visitors, Wichita’s Cox Farm will close soon. Ron and Vickie Stein, third-generation owners of the farm, announced Thursday they will close the 92-year-old Wichita institution in late September or October. The Steins, who have operated the farm for 12 years, are retiring. Both are 71 years old. The Wichita Eagle reports Ron Stein says the couple has worked seven days a week for their entire lives and they have had enough. Stein said the property has already drawn interest, with some wanting to keep it…
Officers responded to the report of an injury accident near the intersection of Anderson Ave. and 60th Ave. in Manhattan on September 3, 2018, at approximately 2:05 PM. When officers arrived on scene, they found a 2006 Red Ford Freestyle driven by Laura Mendez, 28, of Manhattan crashed with a 2001 Red Hyundai Tiburon driven by Abigail Collins, 22, of Manhattan. Collins was transported to Via Christi for treatment of her injuries. Adrian Ortega, 39, of Manhattan was arrested while at the Riley County Police Department on September 3, 2018 at approximately 8:00 PM. Ortega was arrested on a Riley County District…
Tuesday’s guests were Manhattan City Mayor Linda Morse and City Manager Ron Fehr.
Update Sunday 1 p.m. City of Manhattan officials estimate flooding caused damage to 93 properties which contained 106 buildings and 381 dwelling units. They are hoping to have a total accounting of building damage finished by next week after staff completes inputting data into the FEMA model. The Emergency shelter at Pottorf Hall closed at 12 p.m. Saturday. The remaining residents displaced by the flooding have either found living arrangements on their own or were set up with housing by their landlords. American Red Cross Executive Director Jane Blocher said they are “extremely grateful” for the outpouring of support from community…
Kansas State University Director of Bands Dr. Frank Tracz was taken to the hospital during the season opener for K-State Football on Saturday. The cause of his hospitalization has not been released, but the K-State Marching Band Facebook page wrote that Tracz is in good spirits and is “passing every test with flying colors.” He left the stands during the third quarter. The K-State Marching band page put out an update on Sunday that Tracz will be back to work “in no time.” They included a statement from his family assuring that Tracz is doing “very well” and that they…
HUTCHINSON — A central Kansas man is preparing to start an industrial hemp farm as part of a new state pilot program. The Hutchinson News reports that PJ Sneed plans to open the Always Sunny Hemp and Bee Farm in western Reno County. The farm comes after Gov. Jeff Colyer signed the Alternative Research Act in April allowing the Kansas Department of Agriculture to oversee the growing of industrial hemp through a research program. Sneed and his wife plan to participate in the program. Sneed recently retired after more than two decades as a burn trauma nurse at Via Christi…
HAYS — A former Fort Hays State University assistant professor has pleaded no contest to a charge involving marijuana edibles. Bryan Bennett, who taught political science, was placed on 18 months of probation Thursday for possession with intent to distribute a hallucinogenic drug. Three other felony drug charges were dropped as part of the plea deal. The Salina Journal reports Bennett was arrested Dec. 6. According to a court affidavit, Hays police were contacted by an informant who said Bennett had offered her edible marijuana. The informant later met Bennett on the Fort Hays campus and gave her marijuana edibles.…
TOPEKA — Kansas Republicans want a new GOP state lawmaker to resign and end his election campaign to keep his seat over allegations in a television report that he emotionally abused two boys. State Rep. Michael Capps, of Wichita, told KAKE-TV he did nothing wrong and is not resigning. The Kansas Republican Party on Friday severed its ties with Capps and said it does not support his election. House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr. called on Capps to resign and said it would be “inappropriate” for him to serve. Local Republicans appointed Capps to fill a vacancy in July. He told…
TOPEKA –The Kansas Supreme Court says a grand jury must be convened to investigate whether Republican Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach intentionally failed to register voters in 2016. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that Friday’s one-page ruling came on an appeal by Kobach of a Kansas Court of Appeals’ ruling in June that found a Lawrence resident had met the legal requirement for circulating petitions to summon a grand jury. Kansas is one of six states that allow citizens to request grand juries through petitions. The Douglas County District Court twice rejected Steven Davis’ petition, saying there wasn’t enough evidence…