TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas has formed a task force to study how state agencies can use drones in their operations. The Kansas Department of Transportation said in a news release Wednesday that the Unmanned Aerial Systems Joint Task Force will also consider how state government can help the private sector use drones. Task force members are Josh Row, assistant secretary of Agriculture; Billy Brown, agribusiness development coordinator for the Agriculture Department; Matt Keith, director of research for the Department of Commerce; Chris Tymeson, chief counsel for the Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism; Frank Papish, assistant director of the KBI;…
Author: KMAN Staff
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The lead elephant in the 1980s film “Smokey and the Bandit 2” is among two new pachyderms at the Topeka Zoo. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the 58-year-old Asian elephant named Cora arrived Wednesday. She was joined by her longtime companion, Shannon, a 34-year-old African elephant. Topeka Zoo director Brendan Wiley says the pair quickly took to exploring after being unloaded. Currently, they reside in a special holding area where they’ll be quarantined for a few weeks and have their health evaluated. Within a few weeks, they will join the zoo’s two other elephants 46-year-old Tembo and…
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) Authorities say a shooting that wounded a 6-year-old child in Lawrence was reported as an accident. Police said in a news release that officers responded around 7:45 a.m. Thursday to the shooting. The child was transported in an ambulance to a hospital in stable condition. The release says detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting. No other information was immediately available.
Members of the USD 383 board of education held a special meeting on Wednesday evening focused on long range facilities planning. The board spent time this summer discussing future needs and decided to open up the application process to architects and engineering firms who can help the board better plan for future needs. Eric Reid, assistant superintendent, said five different firms were allotted time to make their pitch at the open meeting. Board members were then able to ask the firms questions and help the different applicants understand what the expected outcome of long range facilities planning would be. “It could…
Today’s guests on In Focus were: Jim Parker, Director of Lafene Health Center; and Cathie Barry, R.N., Associate Clinic Director Pawnee Mental Health Executive Director Robbin Cole
Update 4 p.m. Thursday: 16 Manhattan High School Students have reported nausea and vomiting since Monday. An additional 7 students who stayed home reported similar symptoms. Riley County Health Administrator, Dr. Jennifer Green said parents who held their children from school due to sickness should contact the Manhattan High School nurse to report symptoms. KMAN’s Cathy Dawes spoke with Green Thursday afternoon: ——————————————————————– Multiple cases of students with vomiting symptoms have been reported at Manhattan High School the past couple of days, with the school nurse sending about 10 students home. Principal Greg Hoyt confirms the school has contacted the Riley County…
While no injuries were involved, Riley County Police released more information Thursday regarding a Wednesday afternoon accident near Leonardville Two grain trucks were traveling eastbound when one of the drivers lost control and struck the other truck. A stop sign owned by K-DOT was damaged. The accident occurred at 2:12 PM in the 9500 block of Barton Road. No citations have been issued at this time. The area was briefly closed to traffic. ### Over the past several weeks the Riley County Police Department has recovered several construction related tools as part of theft and burglary investigations. Currently detectives are looking for anyone who…
Thunderstorms this morning have kept crews throughout Riley county and northeast Kansas busy this morning. Emergency management director Pat Collins tells K-MAN Riley county fire crews responded to the 600 block of South Elm street in Ogden earlier after lightning struck a furnace at a home. The furnace had to be disconnected and four surrounding homes were experiencing power outages as a result. Power outages have also been reported throughout Manhattan and Riley county. About 780 people west of K-State campus have been without Westar service at some point this morning, mostly in the area of College Hill and USD 383’s…
A Wamego man had been indicted by a federal grand jury, according to a news release form the U-S Attorney’s office in Topeka. 23 year old Cole Castens is charged with one count of theft by a postal employee. The indictment alleges he stole gift cards. The crime is alleged to have occurred in January and February of this year in Wamego. If convicted, Castens faces a penalty of up to five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General investigated the case.
Today’s guests on In Focus were: Riley County USD 378 Supt. Cliff Williams and Blue Valley/Randolph USD 384 Supt. Brady Burton Todd Lovin, Tuttle Creek State Park Manager