TOPEKA — Kansas faces a $349 million shortfall in its current budget and more gaps in the near future after officials issued a new, more pessimistic fiscal forecast for the state. The forecasters on Thursday slashed the state’s previous projections for tax collections through June 2017 by 5.9 percent, or $355 million. They also issued the first projections for the two fiscal years beginning in July 2017. Those projections were conservative. Legislative researchers projected budget shortfalls totaling $1.1 billion through June 2019. The previous fiscal forecast was issued in April. The state has missed monthly revenue targets six of the seven months…
Author: KMAN Staff
COUNCIL GROVE — Authorities say a 17-year-old shot at law enforcement in Council Grove before an officer shot and wounded him. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation says law enforcement in Council Grove received reports of shots being fired at a vehicle on Thursday. The Wichita Eagle reports that when police officers and deputies from the Morris County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the scene, the teen fired at the officers. A Council Grove police officer returned fire, striking the shooter. The KBI says the suspect’s hospitalized with injuries that aren’t considered life-threatening. No law enforcement officers were injured. The KBI is investigating.
SALINA — One central Kansas county had its vote counting slowed by a large increase in write-in votes. The Salina Journal reports that the nearly 1,300 write-in votes in Saline County were more than three times more than were cast in the 2014 general election. County Clerk Don Merriman says that every time the machine saw a write-in, it stopped counting. Besides legitimate write-in votes, some people wrote in “Anybody but” or “None of the above.” There also were votes cast for Daffy Duck, Mickey Mouse and Jesus. Unofficial totals, which didn’t include the write-in votes, weren’t announced until shortly before 1…
Today’s edition featured United States Senator Jerry Moran, Hugh Davis with USD 475 in Junction City, Dr. Nate Birkhead, Asst. Prof. of Political Science at K-State and retired Lt. Colonel Dr. Art DeGroat, the Executive Director of Military & Veterans Affairs at K-State. Sen. Jerry Moran: Hugh Davis: Dr. Nate Birkhead: Lt. Col. Art DeGroat:
Area community leaders and representatives of Pawnee Mental Health Services ended a 60 year birthday celebration for the group with a rendition of “Happy Birthday” Thur. Executive Director Robbin Cole was pleased with the special day describing it as “amazing. Pawnee Mental Health was found November 19, 1956–with one therapist who also served as the director. Now there’s one executive director and 240 employees who serve 10 counties Local legislators, city and county governmental, law enforcement, corrections, and other community officials participated in the ceremony–with many giving brief speeches. Manhattan Mayor Usha Reddi has great appreciation for the services provided, saying…
Last night the gymnasium at Eisenhower Middle School was transformed into a work space for Manhattan residents to voice their concerns regarding state education funding. For the last few months, USD 383 officials have been working on a resolution which will soon be adopted by the board and sent to the state. The resolution comes after calls from Gov. Brownback’s office for Kansas’ public schools to provide input on a new education funding formula to be drafted in the spring session. Eric Reid, assistant superintendent, has been the driving force behind the district’s resolution with assistance from board member Leah…
Riley County commissioners and local state legislators met Thursday for their 2017 Legislative Luncheon. Commissioners used the luncheon to communicate the county’s legislative priorities when the state legislature reconvenes in January. “We have a very fortunate relationship between our elected state officials and the county commissioners,” Rep. Tom Phillips of Manhattan said after the luncheon. “We work very well and our lines of communication are wide open, and I think we’re all committed to do what’s best for Riley County and Manhattan.” Phillips was joined by Sen. Tom Hawk and Rep. Sydney Carlin — both of Manhattan — and Rep.…
TOPEKA — Kansas is preparing for a new fiscal forecast for state government that is expected to be more pessimistic in projecting the state’s tax collections than the current one. State officials, legislative researchers and university economists were meeting Thursday to draft revised projections for tax collections through June 2017. They also planned to issue the first projections for the following two years. Republican Gov. Sam Brownback, his staff and legislators use the numbers in budgeting. The current forecast was issued in April. From July through October, tax collections have been $80 million less than projected for a shortfall of 4.2…
Police in Riley County arrested 21 year-old Cesilio Martinez-Gonzalez, 21, of Manhattan on November 9th, 2016 at approximately 4:20 PM while at the Riley County Police Department. Gonzalez was arrested on a Riley County district court warrant for a felony DUI charge. This warrant listed a bond of $5,000.00 and Gonzalez remained confined in the Riley County Jail. RCPD also arrested Daniel Thompson, 26, of Hiawatha, Kansas on November 9th, 2016 at approximately 11:00 AM while at the Riley County Police Department. Thompson was arrested on the offense of failure to appear, which was listed on a warrant from Manhattan municipal court. This warrant had…
Today’s guests will be Monica Smith and Kristina Springer with Fort Riley Education Services. Later, we welcome in Rod Harms to talk about current sales tax and other building/economic numbers for city of Manhattan. Monica Smith and Kristina Springer: Rod Harms: