WASHINGTON — The Republican-led Senate Foreign Relations Committee narrowly approved the nomination of Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback to be U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom. On an 11-10 vote Thursday, the panel recommended that the full Senate consider President Donald Trump’s selection of Brownback for the State Department post. Brownback thanked the committee in a tweet “for voting on my nomination favorably.” LGBT rights groups decry Brownback’s nomination because of his conservative views on issues such as same-sex marriage. During his confirmation hearing, Brownback defended his decision as Kansas governor to scrap an executive order that barred discrimination based on…
Author: KMAN Staff
October sales tax reports show $940,404 collected in Manhattan, which continues to be down from last year’s $970,635 collected. The number is well above October 2015 numbers though of $892,303. And the net budget impact for the month indicates a positive of $34,670–which is better than last month’s negative budget impact number. A reminder October sales tax reports reflect retail sales in August. City of Manhattan Finance Director Bernie Hayen says “total receipts from the City’s one-cent sales tax continues to remain flat and behind budget – but manageable.”
Grandview Plaza’s police chief has been arrested. Shawn Peirano was taken into custody earlier this week for domestic battery and criminal restraint. A news release from the Geary County Sheriff’s Office indicates a report of a disturbance Sunday. During the investigation, Chief Peirano was taken into custody. The release adds this is an active, ongoing investigation and there will be no further comments or updates until the investigation is complete.
Today’s guests on In Focus were Via Christi Health Mission Integration Director Caitlin Pride, Julie Hettinger and Leslie Campbell with the Riley County Health Department, and Pawnee Mental Health Executive Director Robbin Cole.
SENECA — SKF USA says it plans to close its plant in Seneca during the next 18 months, eliminating 170 jobs in the small town north of Topeka. The plant is one of the main employers in Seneca, which has a population of about 2,000 people. SKF USA is owned by Sweden-based SKF Group. The company said Tuesday it is consolidating its industrial seals manufacturing work. The work being done in Seneca will be transferred to a plant in Salt Lake City. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports Mayor Joe Mitchell called the decision a “huge blow” to the city. Mitchell said…
Today’s guests were Riley County USD 378 Superintendent Cliff Williams and Blue Valley-Randolph USD 384 Superintendent Brady Burton. They were followed by David Easterling, the manager of of Fort Riley’s Suicide Prevention Program, and Dr. Joseph Carmona, the deputy director of Behavioral Health at Irwin Army Community Hospital.
Riley County Police Officers responded to the report of an injury accident in the 2000 block of Tuttle Creek Blvd at the Short Stop gas station Tuesday evening just before six p.m. When officers arrived on the scene, they found a Buick Century driven by Vincent Young, 67, of Ogden, who may have suffered a medical condition, had struck a Honda Civic driven by Misty Mann, 21, of St. George. Young was transported to Via Christi for treatment of his injuries.
The Manhattan City Commission met with State legislators, Pawnee Mental Health representatives and the public Tuesday evening to discuss mental health care and the challenge of properly funding it. Community stakeholders led off the discussion, with comments from City Commissioners Karen McCulloh and Usha Reddi, who have been very involved in exploring what to do about mental health concerns, as well as Colonel John Melton, Commander of Irwin Army Hospital, Riley County Police Captain Kurt Moldrup, who serves as the jail commander, Dantia McDonald with the Legislative Mental Health Task Force, Kristin Cottam of Via Christi, Kyle Kessler, Director of…
TOPEKA — BuzzFeed Inc. is suing Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach and his office for refusing to release emails containing any of 30 terms that relate to immigration or the election. A reporter for BuzzFeed asked Kobach’s office in June for emails sent or received May 1 that include terms such as ICE, immigrant, Trump, voter, fraud and Mexican. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the lawsuit, filed Friday in Shawnee County District Court, says Kobach’s office first asked for $1,025 for 13 hours of work and an attorney’s review. The office refused to release any records when the reporter challenged…
WICHITA — A Democratic candidate for Kansas governor whose 3-year-old grandson’s body was found encased in concrete has joined the push to reform the state’s child welfare agency. The Kansas City Star reports that former Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer says his family filed multiple requests with the Kansas Department of Children and Families to check on his grandson, Evan Brewer, before the toddler’s remains were found last month. Brewer says he decided to remain in the race after hearing from other families and determining nothing would change “unless somebody steps in.” Kansas House Minority Leader Jim Ward, of Wichita, called…