TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The fate of a financially troubled ranch for juvenile boys in Sedgwick County might not be sealed after all. Just days after it appeared the Judge Riddel Boys Ranch would have to close in June, Sedgwick County lawmakers got a glimmer of hope Thursday when the Kansas House approved an amendment to a juvenile justice system bill. The Wichita Eagle reports the amendment would require the Department of Corrections to collect data on successful corrections programs for juveniles. The department also would do a cost study to determine what the state should pay for juvenile offender programs.…
Author: KMAN Staff
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Despite opposition from county officials, a Kansas Senate committee recommended the repeal of a mortgage registration fee. The bill would phase out the fee over five years. It was approved by the Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee earlier this week. The fee is $2.60 for each $1,000 borrowed on a home mortgage, or $390 for a $150,000 mortgage. The Lawrence Journal-World reports bankers and real estate agents say the fee hurts their business and consumers. But county officials statewide said the fee brings in needed revenue, which would have to be replaced in some other way. The…
The official snowfall in Manhattan for the month of February ended up being the fourth highest in the history of keeping records. Climatologist Mary Knapp, who spoke with KMAN early this month after the nearly foot of snow we received then, says the total for this February was 18.6 inches.. The February with the most snowfall was in 1900 with 24.8 inches. Second place was 1901 with 20.8 inches, and 2004 just edged our total this year with 18.8 inches. Knapp says in looking toward the weekend more snow is expected but that will be in March. She mentions…
GARDNER, Kan. (AP) The superintendent and two other administrators of a northeast Kansas school district have been fired but school board members are not publicly discussing the reasons. The Kansas City Star reports the Gardner Edgerton board of education voted 4-3 Thursday to fire Superintendent Bill Gilhaus; Lana Gerber, executive director of human resources and administrative services, and Christy Ziegler, executive director of educational services. The vote came after the board held a closed session at a specially called meeting. Scott Boden, husband of board member Tresa Boden, told the Star there was no public explanation for the firings.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) A consolidation of call centers for Cox Communications is expected to bring about 300 more jobs to the company’s plant in Wichita. The Atlanta-based phone, cable and Internet provider says it plans to close several call centers across the country and consolidate their operations. Cox spokeswoman Christine Martin said Thursday the call center in Wichita will become one of the new Centers of Excellence after the consolidation. The centers will have a specialty, such as customer service. About 300 new account service and technical support jobs will be added in Wichita starting next month. The Wichita Eagle…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) State commerce officials say exports by Kansas companies grew by 6.46 percent in 2013, pushed by growth in the sales of cereals and other agricultural products. The Department of Commerce released the data Thursday, showing that total exports were $12.45 billion. The state’s exports have rebounded in the past three years to near levels last seen in 2008. Canada, China, Japan and Mexico were the state’s top trading partners. The department says exports to China have grown by nearly $1 billion since 2011. Cereal exports grew by $686 million, while meat products grew by $298 million. Exports…
On today’s InFocus, Cathy talks with State Senator Tom Hawk of Manhattan, followed by Riley County Police Director Brad Schoen.
Having served as the highest ranking military leader, General Richard Myers made his way to Manhattan on Thursday for a visit. Not new to the area, General Myers, Former Chair of the Joint Chief of Staff, started off his extensive career in the Kansas State University ROTC and throughout his time in the military moved onward and upward in the ranks. “Through ROTC at Kansas State University,” Myers said. “Into the air force, into pilot training down in Oklahoma…, and then first 10 to 12 years was spent as a fighter pilot, which included a couple of tours in Vietnam, tours…
The Jack Vanier Family has given the largest donation in Kansas State University history, $60 million. The gift will be divided between K-State athletics ($20 million) and the Manhattan and Salina campuses ($40 million). The Vanier Family’s pledge to athletics will be put into Phase III of the Bill Snyder Family Stadium master plan, which will benefit all 16 Wildcat intercollegiate sports. The north end of the stadium will re-done during the project, including a new academic learning center, football operations offices, sports medicine operations, along with strength and conditioning spaces. Basic fan amenities in the north end zone will…
SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) Yu Darvish struck out four in two innings of the spring opener for Texas, and Prince Fielder hit a towering solo homer as the Rangers beat the Kansas City Royals 11-7 on Thursday. Darvish, who led the majors with 277 strikeouts and was second in the AL Cy Young Award voting last season, threw 23 of 29 pitches for strikes. The Rangers struggled at times last year to score runs behind Darvish, who was the first pitcher since 1989 to have four 1-0 losses in the same season. They led 4-0 before Darvish threw his last pitch…