TOPEKA — Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has signed legislation allowing faith-based college groups to restrict membership to like-minded people, likely putting Kansas on a collision course with civil liberties groups. The conservative Republican signed the bill Tuesday. The new law will take effect in July. The Republican-dominated Legislature approved the bill this month, even though the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2010 that universities could require such groups to open their memberships to all. Supporters have said the bill was a victory for religious freedom. Opponents say it was a veiled attempt to legalize discrimination. Kansas already has a religious…
Author: KMAN Staff
In this edition of In Focus, Cathy Dawes talks with Pottawatomie County Commission Chair Dee McKee and Health Director Leslie Campbell; along with Manhattan Mayor Karen McCulloh and City Manager Ron Fehr.
A 27-year-old Manhattan man has been sentenced to two life sentences for two rape counts, to be served concurrently. Greg E. Hoyt was sentenced in Riley County District Court Monday by Judge Meryl Wilson. Under Kansas law Hoyt will have to serve a minimum of 25 years before he is eligible for parole. Hoyt entered a no contest plea to the two rape counts last month. As previously announced by KMAN, the Riley County Police Department took the 27-year-old Hoyt into custody last August after receiving reports of inappropriate behavior between Hoyt and a child he knew. He was arrested…
Wamego’s USD 320 Board of Education was into making decisions. At Monday’s meeting, Principal Tim Winter Introduced Sara Umscheid, a Junior wanting to graduate in December 2016. According to all her teachers, she will have the 24 credits needed to graduate by then. Approval was given by a vote of 5 to 0 (Board Member Amy Schwein came in later). In other business, the Board approved the Senior class trip on May 11th to Kansas City. Senior Class President Parker Waters appeared before the Board with the request and went over the itinerary. Sponsors are Lori Stratton and Mindy Thierolf.…
As KMAN previously reported, Wamego’s USD 320 Board of Education is in search of a new Superintendent. At Monday’s meeting, Kansas Association of School Boards Director of Leadership Services, Brian Jordan went over the search procedure with the resignation of Superintendent Denise O’Dea. The Board voted to use the services of the KASB, who is coordinating the search process and will be involved in walking the Board through the entire process of the search up to the negotiations. KASB is not involved in the negotiation process. According to Jordan, the opening was posted on March 11, and there are several applications…
Wamego’s USD 320 Board of Education made a decision to move forward with a bond issue. At Monday’s meeting, Operations Director Larry Hannan went over the priority list of improvements needed in all the district’s schools. The Priority List included A (must have), B (need to have) and C (suggested), plus a F. F. and E (Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment) list that accompanies the Priority List, with the addition of a Central Kitchen. The approximate total of the proposed bond issue will be about $10,000,000. The cost of the Central Kitchen is not included in the cost estimate. According to…
TOPEKA — The Republican-dominated Kansas Legislature has advanced a bill declaring that state Supreme Court justices can be impeached for attempting to usurp the Legislature’s power. The Senate gave the measure first-round approval on a voice vote Monday. It’s the latest initiative from GOP conservatives in recent years putting Kansas at the center of a national effort to remake state courts. A final vote is expected Tuesday to determine whether the measure goes to the House. The state constitution says Supreme Court justices can be impeached for treason, bribery or “other high crimes and misdemeanors.” The bill outlines a list of misconduct…
Officers with the Riley County Police Department arrested Warrell Spiller, 22, of Manhattan while in the 200 block of Brooklawn Drive on March 21, 2016 at approximately 8:10 AM. Spiller was arrested on a warrant for the offense of probation violation. This warrant originated in Riley County and was for the original offense of criminal damage to property. He was given a bond of $5,000.00 and at the time of this report was confined at the Riley County Jail. Clayton Smith, 37, of Manhattan was arrested while in the 1500 block of Campus Road on March 21, 2016 at…
A structure fire at a Manhattan duplex resulted in $45,000 in damage Monday afternoon. An accidental electrical problem is to blame. At 3:36 p.m. the Manhattan Fire Department was dispatched to 520 Stone Pointe for a report of a blaze. While responding to the incident, MFD crews were notified by Riley County dispatch that Riley County Fire District #1 crews from Station 17 were in the area and that they would also be responding. Riley County crews arrived on the scene of the single story duplex and found a fire on the rear exterior of the structure and quickly knocked…
“Wildcat Insider” on KMAN breaks down the K-State sports weekend. The K-State women’s basketball team had their season come to an end in the 2nd round of the NCAA Tournament with a loss to top seed South Carolina on Sunday night. The K-State baseball team was swept at home by a non conference opponent for the first time since 1993 as Western Carolina was dominate over the Bat Cats. A look ahead to the weekly K-State sports schedule plus plenty of talk about the wild NCAA men’s tournament which is down to the Sweet 16. All that and much more…