WICHITA — The latest government update on Kansas crops shows progress on winter wheat seeding is lagging behind usual for this time of year. The National Agricultural Statistics Service reported Monday that 14 percent of the next year’s crop has now been planted. Normally by this time, Kansas growers have seeded 20 percent of their crop. The agency says about 3 percent of the wheat has now emerged. Corn harvest is also going slower than usual for this late in the season. The agency reports that 29 percent has been cut. That is behind the average of 35 percent. About…
Author: KMAN Staff
Riley County commissioners approved $275,000 in spending Monday morning for equipment and infrastructure improvements. The board voted 3-0 to approve the purchase of a tandem axle truck with plow and spreader valued at $190,000 for the public works department, a 3/4 ton 4×4 pickup with snowplow valued at $35,000 for the noxious weed department and $50,000 in initial funding for landscaping enhancements to Courthouse Plaza. The monies come out of the county’s Capital Improvement Projects fund — often referred as the CIP fund. Commissioners agreed to revisit other items in the county’s CIP list later this fall.
Manhattan Deputy City Manager Jason Hilgers assisted with a presentation to intergovernmental leaders Monday regarding the November ballot issue for a sales tax continuation that would be used to fund Parks and Recreation facilities. Parks and Rec. Director Eddie Eastes told the group the ballot question is a big question as it includes several aspects of what would be done, but emphasized it would be a continuation of an existing sales tax so wouldn’t cost any more. Hilgers tells KMAN city officials are hoping to get the “big picture” of the question out to members of the public of what…
Two people were injured in an accident KMAN first told you about early Monday. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, 36 year-old Desmon Knight of Topeka and 36 year-old Erin Woods of Nickerson were injured in the early morning two vehicle crash just south of Manhattan.. The Kansas Highway Patrol adds a 2003 Ranger driven by Knight was traveling northbound on K177 before hitting a turkey and veering left of center and striking a southbound F-150 driven by Woods. Knight was taken to Stormont Vail, where he was listed in fair condition Tuesday afternoon, while Woods was transported to St.…
WICHITA — Business, civic and state leaders says Kansas needs to quickly address a severe shortage of employees with the skills needed to fill jobs in technical industries. The latest available data from the Kansas Department of Labor says the state had 45,000 job vacancies in 2016 more than the entire population of Hutchinson. The Wichita Eagle spoke to dozens of leaders who said companies such as Spirit AeroSystems or Textron Aviation might have to consider moving jobs elsewhere if more skilled workers can’t be found. Spirit AeroSystems vice president Justin Welner says 40 percent of the more than 10,000…
Devonta Bagley, 23, of Belton, Missouri, was arrested while at the Riley County Police Department on September 23, 2017 at approximately 12:50 PM. Bagley was arrested on a Riley County District Court warrant for aggravated criminal sodomy and aggravated burglary. Bagley’s total bond was set at $100,000. Officers filed a report for rape in Manhattan on September 24, 2017. Officers listed a 13 year old female as the victim when it was reported a 16 year old male known to her had consensual sex with her. Due to the nature of the crime reported, no additional details will be released.…
Today’s guests on In Focus were Associate Professor of Political Science at Kansas State University Dr. Carla Martinez Machain and Assistant Professor Tim Shaffer in Communication Studies and Asst. Director of Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy at K-State:
A 1st Infantry Division soldier was found dead on post Thursday, according to a press release from Fort Riley Friday afternoon. Spc. Kashyap Bhakta, a combat engineer with Company B, 82nd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Inf. Div., was found deceased in his car Thursday afternoon in the Warner-Peterson neighborhood on post. Bhakta is the seventh solider to die in such unexpected fashion since the end of July. Before Bhakta, a Fort Riley soldier died after a training accident at Fort Hood in Texas on Sept. 12. “The soldiers, families and friends of the 1st Infantry…
Kansas State University’s Veterinary Health Center is warning dog owners to be careful amid a recent outbreak of a highly contagious disease among raccoons. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that veterinarians at the center say they’ve recently seen a high number of raccoons suffering from canine distemper. The viral disease can spread to susceptible dogs. Kansas State wildlife professor James Carpenter says raccoons infected with the disease are often found outside during the day. He says they show abnormal behavior, such as incoordination, difficulty walking and aimless wandering. Carpenter says it’s important for dogs to be vaccinated against the disease beginning…
TOPEKA — The Kansas Board of Regents has voted to accept staff recommendations that members excuse or monitor themselves when engaging in potential conflicts of interest. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports four board members on Thursday acknowledged their significant financial ties to higher education institutions, necessitating recusals to avoid a conflict of interest. Julene Miller is part of the board’s general counsel. Miller says individuals with conflicts of interest will abstain from voting and from participating in discussion regarding particular areas where they have conflict. She says the exception would be if the board determines the member with a conflict could…