In this edition of In Focus, Cathy Dawes talks USD 384 and USD 378 and is joined by K-State Assistant Professor of Political Science, Nathaniel Birkhead who talks about the upcoming general election.
Author: KMAN Staff
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas lawmakers must close shortfalls in the current and next state budgets totaling $290 million after returning from their annual spring break. The Legislature was reconvening Wednesday morning. It was only a week after state officials and university economists issued new, more pessimistic forecast that slashed revenue projections through June 2017. Republican Gov. Sam Brownback plans to divert highway funds to general government programs and delay major road projects. He also expects to cut higher education spending. He’s proposed selling off part of the state’s annual payments from a national legal settlement with tobacco companies to generate…
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) Authorities are warning of flooding after a spring storm dumped heavy rain across a large swath of eastern Kansas. The National Weather Service says flood warnings are in effect until mid- to late Wednesday morning for more than a dozen counties. The counties include Douglas, Geary, Riley, Shawnee, Johnson, Leavenworth, Wyandotte, Atchison, Coffey, Franklin, Jackson, Lyon, Osage, Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee. Meteorologist Matt Walters says fire crews helped a handful of Shawnee County families evacuate Wednesday morning after water surrounded their homes. He says a water rescue also was reported in Osage County. Forecasters also are warning that…
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) Authorities are investigating lightning as the possible cause of a suburban Kansas City house fire. The Overland Park Fire Department said in a news release that the fire started shortly before 2 a.m. Wednesday. The release says neighbors reported that they believed the home was for sale and vacant. No one was hurt. Firefighters evacuated residents from neighboring homes while they worked to extinguish the blaze. The neighbors told firefighters that there were possible lightning strikes in the area before the fire.
Police arrested Desie Chatfield on April 15, 2016 at approximately 6:30 PM. Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office made this arrest on a Riley County warrant for the offense of violation of a protective order. He was given a bond of $5,000.00 and at the time of this report was not confined at the Riley County Jail. Officers with the Riley County Police Department arrested Barrett Stokes, 21, of Manhattan while at the Riley County Police Department on April 26, 2016 at approximately 11:20 AM. Stokes was arrested on a warrant for probation violation and given “no bond.” This warrant was issued…
Two Manhattan High basketball players have signed to play at the next level. Forward Grant Musnen is headed to McPherson College and guard Robbie Ostermann to Pitt State. Both players were key parts of the Indians back-to-back Centennial League championships and 36 wins over the last two seasons. Munsen averaged over seven points and four rebounds per game as a starter this past season. Ostermann shot 37% from three-point range on the season and chipped in four points per game off the bench.
Several days of severe weather came to a head in Manhattan and surrounding areas on Tuesday. KMAN’s Cathy Dawes and Dave Lewis spoke with National Weather Service Meteorologist, Brian Barjenbruch from Topeka, along with Manhattan’s Director of Public Works, Robert Ott and Riley County Emergency Preparedness Director, Pat Collins early Wednesday: ### (report from Tuesday follows) More severe and tornadic weather is expected in the KMAN listening area late this afternoon and into the evening. The eastern half of the state is in a Tornado Watch until 9 p.m. and many organizations and entities have canceled activities this afternoon and…
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) Johnny Giavotella drove in three runs with his first homer of the season, Mike Trout and Carlos Perez had two-run singles, and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Kansas City Royals 9-4 Tuesday night. Jered Weaver (3-0) allowed four runs and nine hits over six innings and struck out four. The Angels scored one more run than they totaled in the right-hander’s first three starts this season. Edinson Volquez (3-1) gave up eight runs and 12 hits in in five innings. The right-hander, facing the Angels for the first time since 2007, was coming off a 4-0…
Riley County counselor Clancy Holeman said the county has complied with a Kansas Open Meetings Act complaint from a Manhattan citizen. The Riley County Board of County Commissioners and the Geary County Board of County Commissioners were recently found to be in violation of KOMA by the Kansas Attorney General. Both commissions were found to be in violation of KOMA after a joint meeting held in executive session with notice in 2012. The makeup of the Riley County commission then was current Manhattan Mayor Karen McCulloh, Dave Lewis and Alvan D. Johnson. Neither serve on the commission now. The Geary…
TOPEKA — Kansas lawmakers have again refused to audit the Department of Children and Families to determine if the agency discriminates against same-sex couples in adoption or foster care cases. The Legislative Post Audit Committee on Tuesday voted 5-4 along party lines not to approve the audit. Rep. Jim Ward, a Democrat from Wichita, sought the audit after several same-sex couple alleged last year that the agency had discriminated against them. The Lawrence Journal-World reports Wednesday’s vote came after DCF Secretary Phyllis Gilmore issued a statement denying the discrimination allegations. She says the agency has no policies or documents related to same-sex…