Hard hats were donned as a field trip brought the Pottawatomie County Commissioners to the site of the mock-up wall, where the decision would be made as to what the new Justice Center would look like. Three options were before the commission. The first was to have coined stonework on three corners of the building a certain number of inches high. The second to place on all corners. The third was to keep the design as was presented in the bid documents. After examining the designs, the commission chose to follow the documents, though Commissioner Stan Hartwich remarked he liked…
Author: KMAN Staff
On today’s InFocus, Cathy talks with Dan Seeman, Chelsy Parson and Jodi Kaus with the Flint Hills Financial Literacy Council, followed by Willie Dav’illa, Manhattan/Riley County Animal Shelter/Control Interim! Director. [mp3-jplayer]
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) A new report shows the recent snowfall in Kansas has helped relieve some drought conditions. Kansas Agricultural Statistics Service said Monday the melting snow has improved soil moisture in parts of the state. Water levels in stock ponds are also showing slight improvement. But the agency says more moisture is still needed. Topsoil moisture levels across Kansas are now rated 49 percent short to very short, while subsoil moisture levels are 83 percent short to very short. Stock water supplies are 85 percent short to very short. Meanwhile, 35 percent of the winter wheat crop is rate…
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) A central Kansas sheriff’s department is investigating the theft of more than a dozen firearms in a weekend residential burglary. The Hutchinson News reports the break-in happened Sunday at a home in northeastern Reno County. A list of the stolen weapons posted by the sheriff’s department includes eight shotguns as well as rifles and .357-caliber revolver. Also taken were two compound bows and a Reconyx Hyperfire game camera. No other details about the burglary were released as of Monday.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas legislators are considering major changes in a state law governing contract negotiations between teachers and school districts, prompting the state’s largest teachers union to complain of what it calls a “war” on educators. Kansas National Education Association President Karen Godfrey said Monday the bill before the House commerce committee would hurt public schools. A hearing on the measure is set for Wednesday. The committee’s chairman, Overland Park Republican Marvin Kleeb, says proponents of the bill want to give school districts more flexibility and encourage innovation. Under the measure, fewer issues would be subject to negotiations between…
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) A 33-year-old former Wichita police officer and University of Kansas football player has pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual exploitation involving a 15-month-old girl. KAKE-TV reports Gregory Nicks entered his pleas Monday in exchange for the state dropping two counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child. The former Lawrence teacher was arrested in his Maize home in November 2011 after his wife called 911 to report the abuse. Co-defendant Luz Coronado was found guilty in August of one count of aggravated indecent liberties and four counts of sexual exploitation of a child. She and Nicks…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Bills before the state House and Senate would allow charter schools greater freedom and more funding opportunities in Kansas, where the schools have struggled to take hold. Kansas currently has 15 charter schools, which are publicly funded but generally operate independently of school districts. Kansas had 37 charter schools three years ago but many closed for financial reasons. Bills in the House and Senate would allow charter schools to have lottery admissions and bar them from discriminating, although they would be able to turn away special education students. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the bills would exempt charter…
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) Visitors to the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center in Hutchinson will soon have a chance to watch how the museum restores space artifacts and replicates space equipment. The Cosmosphere is building a glassed-in, air-conditioned viewing area to allow visitors to watch the museum’s SpaceWorks division. In the past, Spaceworks employees have restored a Titan rocket, a World War II era German rocket and built replicas of space equipment for movies and other museums. But that work was done in private. The Hutchinson News reports the viewing area will cost about $50,000 and is expected to be completed…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A Shawnee County prosecutor wants to try a mother and son together for the shooting death of the son’s estranged wife in Topeka. Defense attorneys for Manuel Alcala, 32, of Topeka oppose the effort to try him along with his mother,Manuela Alcala, 58, of El Paso, Texas. The two are charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the death of Ashley Alcala, who was shot at her Topeka home in October 2012. Prosecutors argue that the two should be tried together because they face the same charges, which are based on the same acts,…
A new principal has been selected among the six candidates who were interviewed over the past few weeks, after current principal Terry McCarty, who announced intentions to step down recently. Current Eisenhower Middle School Principal Greg Hoyt has been awarded the position and will become principal as of July 1. Hoyt stated in a news release, “I am deeply humbled and honored for this opportunity and look forward to working with the staff, parents and community members that comprise Manhattan High School”.