Jon Wefald couldn’t help but wipe away tears Saturday afternoon when he stood behind a podium in front of numerous family members, friends and K-Staters. But then again, the former Kansas State University president and man credited for so much of KSU’s emergence since he came to Manhattan in 1986 didn’t expect to ever stand in a multi-million dollar building named after him. “It’s one of the great moments of my life, to have a building like this named after anybody — especially me,” Wefald told KMAN after the dedication ceremony for Wefald Hall. “I wasn’t looked upon too favorably in high school,…
Author: KMAN Staff
The Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the theft of two trucks which were reportedly stolen from a Pottawatomie County construction company more than a week ago. Deputies responded to Cheney Construction on Hayes Drive in Manhattan for the reported burglary and theft. Cheney officials indicate that over the weekend of March 24th an unknown person or persons broke into the business and stole two pickup trucks. The stolen trucks are described as a white 2004 Dodge 2500 Crew Cab with a Cheney Construction logo on the doors with a Kansas license plate of 601171 and a gray 2005 Dodge…
Former Manhattan mayor and longtime city commissioner Wynn Butler filed a declaration of intent for re-election Monday. Butler’s time on the commission began in 2011. During his last re-election bid, Butler emphasized his desire to see the City’s “debt bubble smashed.” “I’ve always said the key things for me are: set some priorities, look at what our tax structure is, use some fact-based problem solving, do some frugal management, and get the best bang for the buck that you can for the taxpayers’ money,” said Butler during an interview with KMAN on Monday. Butler said he would like to prioritize effective…
TOPEKA — Kansas is reporting that its tax collections in March fell nearly $12 million short of expectations. The Department of Revenue said Monday that the state collected almost $429 million in taxes last month when it had projected it would take in more than $440 million. The monthly shortfall was 2.7 percent. The state had seen tax collections that had exceeded expectations the previous four months. Even with the shortfall in March, the state’s tax collections are still nearly $57 million ahead of expectations for the current fiscal year that begin in July 2016. Legislators had seen the previous…
Today’s guests on In Focus were Manhattan Mayor Usha Reddi and city manager Ron Fehr.
TOPEKA — Opponents of concealed carry at Kansas hospitals and universities hope an eleventh-hour gun debate will give them a chance to change the law that is set kick in this summer. On Tuesday, the House will decide whether to debate a bill requiring recognition of out-of-state concealed carry permits. But lawmakers on both sides of the debate would like to amend the bill to enable a broader gun policy discussion. Lawmakers in 2013 passed a law allowing concealed guns in public buildings that do not have security such as metal detectors, but they gave colleges and several medical facilities until…
A Marquette man was taken into custody at the Riley County Police Department on several charges in other jurisdictions. Jason Smith, 42, was arrested while at the Riley County Police Department at approximately 7:00 p.m. Monday. Smith was arrested on a Salina Municipal Court warrant for two counts of probation violation and a Marshall County District Court warrant for failure to appear. Smith’s total bond was set at $10,000. Riley County Police Officers responded to the intersection of Seth Child road and Southwind road for a report of an injury accident Monday morning. Tuesday’s RCPD Activity Report indicates at approximately 8:45a.m. when officers arrived…
Three local lawmakers supported the effort Monday in the Kansas House to override Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s veto of Medicaid expansion in the state. It wasn’t enough, though. Although the House voted 81-44 to override the veto, it fell three votes short of the two-thirds majority necessary to overturn it. Republican Rep. Tom Phillips and Democratic Rep. Sydney Carlin — both of Manhattan — voted in favor of the override, as did Republican Rep. Susie Swanson of Clay Center. Rep. Ron Highland of rural Wamego in Wabaunsee County voted against. Sen. Tom Hawk of Manhattan supported the bill’s passage in…
U.S. Congressman Roger Marshall said he expected an energetic crowd when he visited Manhattan for a town hall stop Saturday inside the K-State Alumni Center. He was right — though the tone was more respectful and calm compared to what other House Republicans have experienced across the country. Still, Marshall heard plenty of boos and dissension in the Tadtman Boardroom, which was filled to capacity and had onlookers standing next to walls and sitting on tables pushed out of the way for the event. But even those detractors urged the freshman representative to “be courageous” against influences of Washington and…
Little Apple Chorus members Don Thomson, Mark Robb, Tom Neill, Chuck Marr on upcoming LIttle Apple Barbershop spring show: Melissa Kirkwood and Ryan McKee from Manhattan Parks and Recreation: President of Via Christi Hospital of Manhattan Bob Copple: (Via Christi Part1:) (Via Christi Part II:)