KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) A beetle that has killed millions of ash trees in the eastern U.S. and parts of the South has been detected in Johnson County. The Kansas Department of Agriculture said Monday that emerald ash borer was found in a tree near the Johnson County landfill. Trees there were being inspected after the presence of emerald ash borer was found last summer in Wyandotte County. The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed the beetle’s presence in Johnson County on July 11. Ash trees become infested when adult beetles lay eggs on the bark, leading to larvae that bore…
Author: KMAN Staff
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) The University of Kansas Endowment Association has announced a $1 million unrestricted donation. The KU Endowment says Barbara Werbe Meek, a 1960 KU graduate who lives in Baton Rouge, La., has committed to a $1 million gift to the university. The gift is unrestricted, which means it can be used for any purpose at KU with the approval of the Endowment’s executive committee. The Lawrence Journal-World reports Meek chose to give the unrestricted gift because it was the wish of her late husband, Richard Meek, who died in 1999. The Meeks met at KU and were married…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has appointed a former utility executive to be the new secretary of the Department of Administration. Brownback named Jim Clark, a former vice president of Kansas Gas Service, to lead the Department of Administration, which oversees purchasing, upkeep of state office buildings and computer and phone services for state agencies. Clark was also a former vice president for Topeka-based Westar Energy Inc. He replaces interim Secretary Mark McGivern who had filled the post since January when Dennis Taylor left the agency to become the executive director of the Kansas Lottery. Clark is a…
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) Muslim inmates at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility are joining their religious brethren in the observance of Ramadan. That takes some effort from prison officials, who change procedures to allow about 60 inmates to follow the practice of not eating or drinking during daylight hours. Food services provide the inmates with a small meal before daylight and another meal after the sun has gone down. Those who are able to gather together four of the five times during the day to pray. Ramadan began July 8 and ends Aug. 7. The Hutchinson News reports Chaplain Oscar Gomez and…
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) Wichita police say a 15-year-old boy is hospitalized with a head injury after four minors took a car for a joyride. Police say two 15-year-olds, a 12-year-old and a 9-year-old took their mother’s rental car without permission Sunday morning and started driving around the neighborhood. Sgt. Scott Brunow says the 12-year-old was driving when one of the 15-year-olds tried to climb out onto the vehicle’s back end. The 15-year-old slid off and hit his head on the street. The 12-year-old drove the injured teenager to the hospital.
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) Overland Park police are investigating the death of a man killed in a drive-by shooting outside his home. Police say the man was in his 30s. His name has not been released. The man was shot Sunday afternoon as he was walking out of his house to his car. No one else was injured. Overland Park police are looking for two male suspects who witnesses said were driving a red or maroon Ford Taurus with Missouri license plates. Witnesses described the shooter as a heavy set black man with a shaved head or very short hair.…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Eligible Kansas residents will receive additional assistance through a state program to help them pay their summer utility bills. The Kansas Department for Children and Families says that low-income residents who received assistance during the winter months to help will receive a supplemental payment of approximately $103. Those checks would be on top of average payment of $386 issued to 48,000 residents this winter through the Low Income Energy Assistance Program. DCF Secretary Phyllis Gilmore says the extra financial assistance helps residents stay safe from extreme heat. She says the funds are in the process of being…
On today’s InFocus, Cathy talks about the Battle of the Badges Blood Drive with Kristi Ingalls from the Red Cross, Larry Couchman, Riley County EMS Director, Brad Schoen Riley county Police Director, and Scott French, Manhattan Fire Chief. Cathy then switches gears to Lyle Butler with the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce President. [mp3-jplayer]
Mill Levy Increase Budget requests were made by department heads and other entities the past few months, budget work sessions were held, and finally the 2014 Riley County budget was approved during Monday’s commission meeting. Commissioner, Robert Boyd asked the commission consider possibly eliminating or reducing two line items in the emergency management fund. Commission Chair, Dave Lewis and Commissioner, Ron Wells did not feel comfortable doing this, as Emergency Management Director, Pat Collins was not present. Boyd stated, “you are rewarding non-participation”, as the department heads were all asked to be present. The mill levy was set at 37.345,…
Johnson Cancer Research Center officials were pleased with the turnout at Sunday night’s spaghetti dinner, put on by the Kaw Valley Rodeo “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” committee. Marcia Locke, who serves as the research center’s public relations and outreach coordinator, describes the crowd at the First Presbyterian church, saying it was full for the couple of hours the event lasted. Church member Tom Dunn says over 200 people attended the event, adding that not only was money raised, but people got to enjoy the food. Center Director Rob Dennell was also pleased with the turnout. Dennell says 82 faculty…