Manhattan City Commissioners provided City Administrators with feedback on rental inspection program options, Tuesday night. Of the options, the commission chose to recommend the city move forward with exploring a hybrid option, that would allow exterior building inspections to influence the city to request interior inspections. Commissioners couldn’t seem to come to unanimous agreement on the subject, with commissioner Wynn Butler opposed to the idea of mandatory inspections. Nearly 20 landlords/property owners along with tenants and members of the K-State Student Governing Association came before the commission Tuesday night. The majority of the pleas came from landlords/property owners who are opposed to such…
Author: KMAN Staff
A Malheur, Ore., National Wildlife Refuge protester was arrested Monday on a warrant from Riley County according to a report from The Oregonian. Brandon Dowd, 31, was being held in the Harney County Jail under a Riley County Police Department warrant in a theft case. Dowd wasn’t arrested for anything he might have done while on the refuge, according to a spokesman for federal and local law enforcement in Harney County. The article goes on to say Dowd was seen about three weeks ago carrying a rifle and guarding the main entrance to the refuge. He also spent time inside the…
TOPEKA — Republican Gov. Sam Brownback has signed legislation to keep Kansas’ courts open following a legal dispute involving their budget and the state Supreme Court’s power. Brownback signed the bill Monday, and it will take effect Thursday. The measure repeals a 2015 law threatening the court system’s budget. That law said the judiciary’s budget through June 2017 would be nullified if the courts struck down a 2014 law. The 2014 law stripped the Kansas Supreme Court of its power to appoint chief judges in the state’s 31 judicial districts and gave it to local judges instead. The high court…
WICHITA — Kansas is appealing a judge’s ruling that the state must release candidates’ applications for two county commission openings filled by Gov. Sam Brownback. The state has filed a notice of appeal in the lawsuit brought by The Salina Journal and The Associated Press seeking the disclosure of information on more than two dozen applicants for newly created Saline County Commission seats. Saline County residents voted in November 2014 to expand the commission from three to five members. The AP and the newspaper argued that applicants’ names and other details are public information. Brownback’s office argued they are personnel…
TOPEKA — University of Kansas officials face questions from two legislative committees about using $327 million in out-of-state bonds to finance campus construction projects. The House Appropriations Committee and Senate Ways and Means Committee were having separate hearings Tuesday on the financing for what the university is calling its central district project. The project includes the construction of new science buildings and student housing. Both committees have included spending restrictions for the university in legislation for keeping the state budget balanced through June 2017. Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs Tim Caboni said Monday that the university is looking forward to…
TOPEKA — A bill that would expand a new state tax-credit system that pays for scholarships for low-income students to attend private schools has passed a hurdle. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that a majority of the House Education Committee approved the expansion Monday. Next, it needs to pass a vote on the House floor. Currently, the program allows certain businesses to donate money for private school scholarships. In return, they can deduct part of the donation value from their tax bills. Proponents say it expands educational options. Opponents say it hurts state coffers and may be unconstitutional. Under the expansion,…
Riley County commissioner Robert Boyd and county register of deeds Debbie Regester have announced they will file for re-election Tuesday morning. Both made their announcements first on KMAN. Boyd was elected to his first term as representative of Riley County’s 2nd District in 2012 and touted his leadership experience. “It’s with humility and excitement that I announce my candidacy for the Riley County commission to the 2nd District,” Boyd announced during his appearance on KMAN’s “In Focus” Tuesday morning. “The position of Riley County commissioner is very much a hands-on position as it actually handles day-to-day business of the county.”…
In this edition of In Focus, Cathy Dawes speaks with Riley County Commissioner Robert Boyd.
Wamego’s USD 320 Board of Education accepted a bid to repair the West Elementary playground. At Monday’s meeting, Director of Operations Larry Hannan handed out the bid specification from four (4) bidders for the West Elementary Playground drainage project. After discussing the different components of the bids, and suggestions by Bryan Padgham, a motion was made to accept the bid by Riley Construction in the amount of $41,549 after additions. The motion passed by a vote of 5 to 1. Board member Amy Schwein left the meeting early. In other business, the Board continued the facilities discussion with BBN Architects.…
Wamego’s USD 320 Board of Education has revised their Food Service Policy. At Monday’s meeting, Food Service Director, Laura Fails, requested and was approved for adding an additional food service worker. Then the focus shifted to the current Food Service Policy for students whose accounts are negative. According to Superintendent Denise O’Dea, USD 320’s policy is to never deny a student a meal. The current policy states that students in grades K-8 shall not be denied a school meal unless authorized by the superintendent. Students in grades K-12 whose meal accounts reach a negative balance of $50 or greater will…