TOPEKA — The Kansas State Board of Education has approved a total of $7.2 million in additional state aid to 31 public school districts. But it’s not clear how much money the districts actually will receive after the board’s action Thursday. Legislators financed the “extraordinary needs” aid with proceeds from selling off an economic development agency’s assets. The sale must generate $38 million for districts to get all their funds, and state officials aren’t sure it’s possible. Thirty-four districts applied for a total of $8.4 million. All but three received some funds. The largest allocations were nearly $849,000 for the Spring Hill…
Author: KMAN Staff
Monday, Riley County commissioners approved the publishing of intent of sale notices for four county buildings. Thursday, county counselor Clancy Holeman told the commission there’s already some interest. “I have had some initial contact from potential bidders, because of the public discussion of this — which we anticipated,” Holeman said. Commissioners agreed to publish two notices of intent to sell property Monday, including one for the Courthouse Plaza East building — where the commission meets — at 115 N. Fourth St. in Manhattan, and another for a packaged sale of the Emergency Medical Services building, the Pawnee Mental Health building…
A Kansas Department of Corrections inmate serving time on several Geary county charges including first degree murder is up for public comment sessions and possible parole. Mikel Dreiling, 44, was convicted in connection with a prominent Geary County murder case in 1994. Dreiling and his sister Dana Flynn were sentenced in early 1997 in the shooting death of Randall Sheridan. Dreiling and Flynn were passed over for parole in early 2015. Flynn is not eligible for release until January of 2019. Dreiling’s upcoming public comment sessions are October 12th in Derby, October 21st in Topeka, and the 24th in Kansas City. His earliest possible release…
WICHITA — A county official says enough signatures were gathered to allow a grand jury to criminally investigate Secretary of State Kris Kobach’s handling of Kansas’ online voter registration system. But even Kobach’s harshest critics say they’ve seen no evidence he committed a crime. Douglas County Clerk Jamie Shew said Thursday that the petition has more than the required number of verified signatures. The next step is a judge’s review. Kobach didn’t immediately return messages for comment. The petition seeks an investigation into whether his office committed election fraud and voter suppression by deleting registration data. The American Civil Liberties Union, which…
WICHITA — Alaska Airlines plans to start flights between Wichita and Seattle next spring. The airline announced Wednesday that the first non-stop flight would be April 13. The airline will use 76-seat Embraer E175 regional jets on the Wichita-Seattle route. Those airplanes will be operated by SkyWest Airlines. Alaska Airlines also announced Wednesday that it plans a new non-stop service from Wichita to Indianapolis beginning May 11. The Wichita Eagle reports Alaska Airlines, based in Seattle, has been aggressively expanding it service to new cities and now flies to more than 110 cities with an average of 970 daily flights in the…
Updated 3:30 p.m.: A 21 year old Wamego man was taken into custody following an unusual chase by foot and water at Tuttle Creek Lake’s River Pond early this Thursday afternoon. Aaron Lewis, who faces a Wyandotte County warrant for probation violation, was arrested after fleeing authorities by foot and then by swimming during a chase that took a little more than an hour. Tuttle Creek State Park Manager Todd Lovin with Kansas Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism indicates he responded to River Pond at about 11:30 Thursday morning for a domestic type disturbance and found out one of the subjects…
TOPEKA — Gov. Sam Brownback assured constituents that the income tax cuts he championed would stimulate the Kansas economy and supply plenty of money for public schools. But voters, including many Republicans, appear to have rejected that idea in the face of the state’s budget woes and court battles over education funding. On Tuesday, they ousted 11 of the conservative governor’s allies in favor of more centrist candidates. The GOP incumbents who lost in the primary included the Senate’s majority leader. Another three conservative House members were trailing Wednesday in still-undecided races. Kansas has struggled to balance its budget since the GOP-dominated…
WICHITA — A Sedgwick County sheriff’s deputy is under investigation amid allegations that used excessive force against an inmate. Sheriff Jeff Easter said Wednesday the deputy faces accusations of excessive force in his handling of an inmate in the Sumner County Jail in Wellington on Monday. Easter says the incident is alleged to have occurred when prisoners were being loaded for transport to Wichita. Sumner County Sheriff Darren Chambers said in a statement that Sumner County Jail staff saw what they felt was “excessive force.” The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office says the inmate wasn’t injured. The Wichita Eagle reports that the case…
The 1st Infantry Division’s Sustainment Brigade hauls everything from tanks to postcards–with a “pretty broad mission” and responsibilities which include managing commodities, supply, postal items, financial, and contracts. That was just part of the message Wednesday from Colonel Allen Cassell, Commander of the Sustainment Brigade, who spoke during a Military Relations Committee Luncheon associated with the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce. About four months ago the Sustainment Brigade redeployed, and since then Colonel Cassell’s been trying to tell the story of downrange activities and the importance of the community. Colonel Cassell also talked about partnerships and opportunities, referring not only to the…
Marty Vanier, Director of Partnership Development with Homeland Security and NBAF meet with KMAN’s Cathy Dawes: Tourism and Sales Manager Marcia Rozell and Director Karen Hibbard with Manhattan Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, Little Apple Brewing Company Co-owner Kelly Loub on Rhythm and Brews: