TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas House and Senate negotiators have started meetings to settle differences over the 2014 state budget, a process expected to continue over the next two weeks. Two Republicans and one Democrat from each chamber met Tuesday morning to hear an offer from the House on resolving several hundred line items. The House and Senate have both approved $14 billion spending plans for the 2014 fiscal year, which starts July 1. Leaders have said the negotiations could last several weeks. The work is tied to progress on tax legislation pending in both chambers. The House and Senate’s budgets…
Author: KMAN Staff
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) Rocket engine parts that were recovered last week from the ocean will be preserved by a division of the Cosmosphere and Space Center in Hutchinson. The F-1 engine parts arrived Monday at the SpaceWorks division of the Cosmosphere. They were part of the Saturn V rocket that boosted Apollo moon missions in the 1960s and 1970s. The engines broke up after falling back into the ocean. The Hutchinson News reports parts from two of the engines were raised last week from the ocean about 360 miles off the coast of Florida. Cosmosphere officials say the goal of…
ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) Three finalists have been chosen in the search for a new president for Cowley County Community College in Arkansas City. The three finalists are: Clark Williams, vice president and chief operating officer of Blue Mountain Community College in Pendelton, Ore.; Robert Riza, vice president of student services for Hill College in Hillsboro, Texas; and Michael Calvert, campus president and college vice president for Central Community College in Grand Island, Neb. The Arkansas City Traveler reports the finalists will be on campus for public forums and interviews next month. The three were chosen from 28 candidates presented…
SALINA, Kan. (AP) A Salina man was sentenced to nearly six years in prison for killing a man in a dispute over a stolen go-kart. Kyle A. Nelson was sentenced Monday for voluntary manslaughter in the July 2012 shooting death of Jeffrey B. Powell, 37. The Salina Journal reports Nelson testified during the trial that he shot Powell in self-defense during an argument over the go-kart, which had been stolen from Nelson’s children. However, prosecutors argued there was no evidence to back up Nelson’s testimony that Powell had threatened him before the shooting.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) The latest government snapshot of the Kansas winter wheat crop is still portraying a grim picture. Kansas Agricultural Statistics Service reported Monday that 31 percent of the wheat is in poor to very poor condition. About 40 percent is rated fair with 27 percent in good and 2 percent excellent condition. About 5 percent of the crop has now jointed. The agency also says that topsoil moisture levels statewide are 47 percent short to very short. Subsoil moisture supplies are faring far worse, with 82 percent reported as short to very short.
Michael DeChant (19) of Ogden appeared in Riley County District Court, via web cam, Tuesday afternoon. DeChant is charged with possible first degree murder, after 6 month old Dominick Lubrano died. The original charge was aggravated battery, with his bond set at $500,000. After the child passed away, his bond increased to one million dollars. DeChant appeared with his attorney-Larry McRell, who asked that the case be set for another status hearing, in order to give him time to speak with the county attorney. His next appearance was set for April 9th at 1:00 p.m.
The 2013-2014 USD 383 Teachers of the Year are Jessica Nelson from Northview Elementary School and Marie Green from Anthony Middle School. Jessica Nelson is a special education teacher at Northview Elementary School. She received her BS degree in Elementary Education from Kansas State University in 2006 and her MS degree in Adaptive Special Education from Emporia State University in 2009. She is currently working on her Ed.D from Kansas State University in Special Education. Mrs. Nelson began her career with USD 383 in 2006. She states, “I believe you have to have passion to be…
Update: More details were released regarding the Pawnee Mental Health incident. KMAN reported Tuesday, that Michael West (61) had driven his car into the Pawnee Mental Health building. Details released Wednesday indicated that West drove his vehicle east through the front lawn. He drove into a sign and a few light posts. The damaged light posts in turn caused more damage, as the posts went through the front glass doors. The estimated damage sums up to $15,000. West was arrested on scene and his bond was set at $4,000. Riley County Public Information Officer, Matt Droge said it has not yet…
After beginning his coaching career at K-State and also serving as an assistant during the early years under Coach Bill Snyder, Manny Matsakis is again a college football head coach. Bethany College in Lindsborg named the 50-year Matsakis as the new head man of the Swede program. He replaces Jamie Cruce, who coached Bethany for six season including a 4-7 mark this past season. Matsakis was a graduate assistant at K-State in 1987 and 1988, and also spent the 1994 season as the Wildcats’ tight ends/special teams coach. He went on to be the head coach at Emporia State and Texas…
SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) Zack Greinke struggled through his first Cactus League start in 3.5 weeks, and the Los Angeles Dodgers lost to the Kansas City Royals 8-2 on Monday night. Greinke gave up five runs and six hits over three-plus innings in his first major league outing since March 1. The right-hander, who won the 2009 AL Cy Young Award with Kansas City, signed a $147 million, six-year contract to join the Dodgers in the offseason but has been slowed this spring by a sore elbow and the flu. Greinke threw 40 of 64 pitches for strikes. He walked…