Planes and cars that fly and drive themselves? Medical robots care for their patients sans the doctor? Those “wild” ideas aren’t as futuristic as they sound. That’s according to CEO of Northrop Grumman, Wes Bush who stated during last night’s Landon Lecture Series that advancements in autonomous technology with cognitive abilities is both important and controversial. “Currently, the only real players in these efforts to socialize machines that can learn are technologists on one end and popular culture at the other end,” said Bush. “And the mass media’s vision of this technology is almost universally dark. Anyone who’s ever watched a ‘Terminator’ movie knows…
Author: KMAN Staff
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — An Indiana-based company says its ITT Technical Institute campuses in Overland Park, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri, have permanently closed. ITT Educational Services blamed the closings on a federal ruling last month that banned the company from enrolling any students who relied on federal financial aid. The Kansas City Star reports the action reflects concerns by the U.S. Department of Education about the company’s “administrative capacity, organizational integrity, financial ability and ability to serve students.” ITT Educational Services says the closings will be permanent and idle most of its roughly 8,000 employees. U.S. Education Secretary John…
A Nebraska man required hospitalization following an officer-involved shooting in Geary County this past weekend, according to a press release from the Geary County Sheriff’s Department sent to KMAN Tuesday. Dylan Binnick of Beatrice was transported via Life Star to Stormont Vail in Topeka following the shooting, where his condition was listed as stable with no surgery required. A news release from Geary County Sheriff Tony Wolf indicates the early Sunday morning shooting occurred in the area of Skiddy Road and Skiddy West, or one mile north of Skiddy Cemetery in rural Geary County. An initial report indicated a possible vehicle…
A report was filed in the 1200 block of Laramie Street for the offense of aggravated assault just after midnight on September 5. Officers were informed of an incident that involved a car with 2 males inside. One of these males brandished what witnesses believed to be a firearm. The matter is currently under investigation and ask that anyone with information contact the Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers. Police filed a report for the offense of aggravated criminal sodomy in Ogden on September 5. This crime occurred on the evening of September 4, and involved a 31-year-old female victim. Police were told…
TOPEKA — Prosecutors are appealing a decision to overturn the conviction of a man accused of setting a fire that destroyed a Topeka apartment building and killed one tenant. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that a Shawnee County judge ruled last month that Frank Jerome “Chicago” Robinson wasn’t fairly convicted and should be retried. Robinson had been serving a 36-year prison sentence after jurors convicted him of reckless second-degree murder and aggravated arson in the 2006 fire that killed 53-year-old Marvina Washington. Several other people escaped, including a woman who was badly injured while jumping. Robinson’s attorneys had argued that his trial counsel…
LENORA — The search has ended for the body of a man who disappeared during flooding in north-central Kansas. Norton County Emergency Management says the body of 58-year-old Bobby Morris was found Monday morning near Lenora, where he lived. The discovery was made about a quarter mile from where his vehicle was found one day earlier near the North Fork of the Solomon River. Emergency Management says Morris became trapped in his vehicle after it slid off a road. A tree limb went through the windshield, allowing water to rush into the vehicle. Fast-moving water initially impeded rescue efforts. Parts of north-central…
Today’s guests on In Focus were Manhattan Mayor Usha Reddi and City Manager Ron Fehr.
TOPEKA — A new funding plan from a group of Kansas school administrators is reviving longstanding regional tensions and spotlighting questions about whether the state spends enough on public education. One part of the plan was similar to a complex formula to dole out nearly $4.1 billion yearly that legislators junked last year. Instead, legislators went for predictable “block grants” for districts that allow the state to better control its spending. But other provisions represent a radical departure from past policy, such as stripping local districts of their power to tax. The state would instead raise property taxes statewide as a way…
Today’s guests on In Focus were: St. Sen. Tom Hawk of Manhattan and John Strickler, formerly with the Kansas Forest Service on water Cathy Hedge with League of Women Voters of Manhattan/Riley County
The mystery illness plaguing Manhattan High School is now being reported throughout other schools in USD 383. Superintendent Marvin Wade said in a letter to parents Friday that elementary and middle school students in the district are reporting the same vomiting, diarrhea and nausea symptoms that has plagued the high school since such sickness was noticed with six students on Aug. 22. Now that number has grown to 150 students, including some faculty. While norovirus is the suspected culprit by school officials, that has yet to be confirmed by any medical authority. Sunday, Michelle Jones, USD 383 Director of Communications…