TOPEKA — Kansas revenue officials say the state slightly exceeded revenue estimates in December. The Kansas Department of Revenue said Tuesday tax collections in December were nearly $531 million, exceeding revenue estimates by about $6 million, or about 1 percent. Combined with higher than expected revenues in November, the state’s budget shortfall in the current fiscal year is now about $342 million. The new numbers come after state officials drastically reduced the revenue forecasts in November. The biggest gains in December were in individual income taxes, which came in $2.2 million, or nearly 5 percent, above the official estimates. They were…
Author: KMAN Staff
A former K-State student cited in a federal court lawsuit filed against the university who allegedly raped two different women in 2014 and 2015 pleaded not guilty to those charges Tuesday morning in Riley County District Court. Jared Gihring appeared in court with Brenda Jordan as counsel. The lawsuit, filed by the two women, argues KSU failed to perform its due diligence in investigating Gihring and that little action was taken against him after one of the women brought Gihring to K-State’s attention in May 2014. The lawsuit states she told the university’s Office of Affirmative Action she was raped by multiple K-State…
More information was released about an arrest on Sunday. It was initially reported that Jennifer Hollingsworth, 34, was picked up in the 2400 block of Greenbriar Drive shortly before on Sunday night for assault with a deadly weapon. Officers released further information indicating that Hollingsworth had fired a gun at a 30-year-old male during an argument, though no injuries were reported. In addition to the initial assault with a deadly weapon charge, Hollingsworth now faces additional charges of aggravated battery, aggravated assault, criminal discharge of a firearm, and endangerment of a child. Officers responded to an injury accident at the intersection…
Today’s guests featured Manhattan Mayor Usha Reddi and City Manager Ron Fehr.
TOPEKA — The Kansas Supreme Court is heading into a year in which it could shape policy with major rulings on school funding and abortion. The court heard arguments in September on whether Kansas is spending enough money on public schools to provide a suitable education for every child. It could rule any time. In that case, four school districts sued the state in 2010. They argue that the $4.1 billion a year Kansas spends on schools is roughly $800 million short of what’s required. The court could reshape abortion policy with a decision in a lawsuit filed by two doctors…
Geary County Schools USD 475 has selected Matthew Droge as its new executive director of communications, according to a press release sent from the district. He will replace Hugh Davis, who resigned in November to be closer to family in Lincoln, Neb. Davis’ last day will be Jan. 9. Droge had served as a law enforcement agency spokesperson for the Riley County Police Department. He comes to Geary County Schools following a career as both a police officer and leader in communications and public relations for law enforcement. School officials recognize him as an experienced strategic and crisis communicator. He…
Manhattan firefighters responded to a structure fire Monday night shortly before 9:30 at 1501 Denison Avenue. Upon arrival crews found a two-story residential structure with light smoke showing. Crews entered the structure and quickly extinguished a fire in the basement apartment. The fire was contained within 10 minutes with a total of 16 firefighters responding on 6 fire apparatus. Two occupants of the structure were home at the time of the fire and were able to exit without injury prior to arrival of fire crews. The residence received an estimated loss of $4,000 to the contents and $11,000 to…
Jake Fenske and Yui Fei are kicking off 2017 as parents. They welcomed Evelyn Fenske was born at Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan at 12:28 p.m. on Monday. She measured 21 inches and weighed in at eight pounds and two ounces. The couple received a gift basket full of baby items to commemorate having the first baby of 2017 in Manhattan.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) The National Weather Service says 2016 was one of the wettest and warmest in Wichita’s history. The Wichita Eagle reports Wichita got 50.6 inches of rain last year, the second-most precipitation in the city since records began in 1888. The highest amount was in 2008, when 53.82 inches of rain fell. The only other year on record that Wichita received at least 50 inches was 1951, when it had 50.48 inches of rain. The city’s average temperature last year was 60.6 degrees, also the second-highest average yearly temp on record. The highest average temp was 61.4 in…
Riley County Police arrested a Manhattan woman over the weekend for assault. Jennifer Hollingsworth, 34, was picked up in the 2400 block of Greenbriar Drive shortly before 4 p.m. on Sunday. She was charged with aggravated battery and assault with a deadly weapon. She was given a $10,000 bond, but is no longer confined in the Riley County Jail.