The Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday requested a budget increase from the city commission for 2025. The chamber asked for $1.65 million, which is up from last year’s request of $1.38 million, from the city’s transient guest tax funds on behalf of the convention and visitors bureau. That total is 60% of the fund’s estimated revenue. Chamber president and CEO Jason Smith told commissioners that while this is an increase, the city and chamber previously have had an informal agreement that would allow the chamber to receive 60% of the transient guest tax funds. However, he said recently…
Author: KMAN Staff
The next phase of the Manhattan levee project will get underway in a few months. Project manager and city stormwater compliance engineer Bill Heatherman on Tuesday told city commissioners Phase 1 is “95% complete” and that the next step will involve creating a 50-foot gap in the levee where the Union Pacific Railroad structure goes through it. The 50-foot gap — which will be able to close during flood events — came about after extensive negotiations with officials from the railroad company, who originally demanded a 100-foot gap. The city is working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on…
KMAN’s AJ Shaw is joined by Chris Glasgo from the Oz Museum to discuss the new WWI exhibit and Shanna Goodman from Pottawatomie County ECODEVO to discuss economic news in Pottawatomie County.
Manhattan City Commissioners did not select a new city manager at Tuesday’s special meeting. The group spent an extra 30 minutes ahead of the their regularly scheduled meeting in executive session to discuss the finalists, who interviewed early last week. Springfield, Missouri, TV station KY3 reported last night that Jason Gage had pulled himself from contention for the position. Gage is currently Springfield’s City Manager, a post he took after serving 13 years as the city manager in Salina. City staff indicated that they will issue a press release announcing the hiring followed by a salary figure.
KMAN’s AJ Shaw sits down with Shawn Steward from AAA Kansas to preview AAA’s Ireland trip to watch K-State in 2025, Pottawatomie County commission candidate Terry Force and Dan Watkins from the Junction City VFW.
Noah Parmigiani, 25, of Fort Riley, was arrested on July 29, 2024, at approximately 9:47 AM. Parmigiani was arrested on the probable cause offenses of aggravated domestic battery, aggravated battery, and criminal deprivation of property. Total bond was set at $50,000. Parmigiani was not confined at the time of this report. Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers. Using Crime Stoppers allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.
By Emma Loura/Manhattan Mercury Riley County residents who need sewage system repairs but can’t pay for them are about to get some help. Planning director Amanda Webb on Monday told county commissioners the Kansas Department of Health and Environment had granted the county a $50,000 grant to help fix faulty sewage systems for people with low to moderate incomes. County officials can use the grant funds to fix a full system or individual parts. “We have a handful of failures we’ve had for a while that those folks have told us they cannot afford to fix,” Webb said. “We will…
A local repeat-offender was arrested Sunday morning on her 4th DUI charge after a rollover crash in Manhattan left one person injured. Gretchen Leigh Roark, 50, was arrested around 2:30 a.m. in the 1700 block of Rockhill road for DUI 4th or subsequent offense and aggravated battery for the DUI causing bodily harm. Riley County Police Department public information officer Ashley Tokoi reported that the driver was not injured in the accident, although the passenger in the vehicle was injured. She was cleared by EMS at the scene. The jail is reporting that Roark has since been released on a…
KMAN’s AJ Shaw sits down with Pottawatomie County 4-H ambassadors Taylor Bryant and Elsie Rickstrew to preview the upcoming Pottawatomie County Fair.
Former President Donald Trump officially endorsed Derek Schmidt for congress this weekend. Trump said in a social media post on Truth Social that Schmidt was a “excellent Attorney General.” Jake LaTurner vacated the 2nd district seat in April. Officially, the only candidate to file in the 2nd District is Democrat Eli Woody, who suspended his campaign to run for a legislative seat instead. Former LaTurner aide Jeff Kahrs and former Kansas Livestock Association president Shawn Tiffany also plan to run for the GOP nomination. Schmidt was the state’s AG from 2011 through 2023 and was the GOP’s nominee for Governor…