EL DORADO, Kan. (AP) The theft of 185 pounds of explosives from a southeastern Kansas company nearly four years ago has been partially solved. Burglars made off with the explosives in September 2008 from a Martin Marietta facility in Butler County. The company used the explosives in its gravel-mining operations. KWCH-TV reports that a pair of turkey hunters called authorities after spotting the tubes of explosives Monday night near Towanda. Sheriff Kelly Herzet says cardboard boxes containing the tubes apparently deteriorated over time. He says the explosives weren’t dangerous because they lacked detonators, but he’s glad they’ve been recovered. The…
Author: KMAN Staff
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) The first morning of a federal court trial over the redrawing of Kansas political boundaries was mostly filled with procedural issues. Attorneys for legislators, business leaders and voters presented evidence Tuesday to three federal judges in Kansas City, Kan. The judges must adjust boundaries for congressional, state House and Senate and State Board of Education districts to account for population changes in the past decade. The maps became the judges’ responsibility after the Legislature could not settle a feud among Republicans over the districts’ boundaries. Robyn Renee Essex, a Republican precinct committee member from Olathe, filed…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas will now give preference in awarding state contracts to companies where 20 percent of the disabled employees have disabilities. Gov. Sam Brownback says the bill he signed Tuesday will help disabled Kansans find steady work and get off aid programs. The bill requires the state to give preferences for state contracts to certified businesses if their bids are no more than 10 percent higher than the most competitive bid. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the companies must meet three criteria to take part in the program. The businesses must work mostly in Kansas and have a workforce…
MCPHERSON, Kan. (AP) A multi-million dollar upgrade is planned at the oil refinery at McPherson. The National Cooperative Refinery Association refinery is the largest buyer of oil in Kansas. More than half of the 115,000 barrels of oil produced in the state every day goes through McPherson. NCRA is owned directly by three farm cooperatives, the majority of it by CHS of St. Paul, Minn. The Wichita Eagle reports that the company is planning a $550 million replacement of its coker unit. That unit is used to process crude oil, mostly into gasoline and diesel oil. Construction is expected to…
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) A Wichita State University study projects that most of the state will continue to lose population for decades. The university’s Center for Economic Development and Business Research found that the population decline will continue at least through 2040. The Hutchinson News reports the study projected that if migration was not considered, 37 counties would lose population in that time period. When migration is factored in, 83 counties would continue to lose population through 2040. Most of those counties are in western Kansas. The center’s director, Jeremy Hill, says any potential growth is likely to occur around the…
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) Attorneys for Kansas officials, business leaders and voters are heading to federal court for the trial of a lawsuit over the Legislature’s failure to redraw the state’s political boundaries. Three federal judges must adjust congressional, state House, state Senate and State Board of Education districts to account for population changes over the past decade. The judges hope the trial in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kan., wraps up in two days. The lawsuit was filed earlier this month by Robyn Renee Essex, a Republican precinct committee member from Olathe, against Secretary of State Kris Kobach,…
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) There’s been a delay in a long-sought settlement that would allow Salina to take over the cleanup of pollution at a former Air Force base. Salina, which acquired the former Schilling Air Force Base when it closed in 1965, filed a federal lawsuit in 2010 to recoup the cost of cleaning up pollution left from when the base was in operation. The cleanup had previously been the jurisdiction of the federal government. In March, the two sides said they’d agreed in principle to a settlement. They were expected to have a finalized settlement April 27. Since…
On Tuesday evening, May 29, K-18 at Walnut Street will be closed so that crews can begin preparation work for the setting of bridge beams for the Walnut Street Bridge over K-18. K-18 at Walnut Street will be closed beginning at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 29 and will reopen to all traffic at 5:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 30. Advance message boards will alert drivers on I-70 and on K-18 in Manhattan to the roadway closure. Drivers should expect delays during peak travel times and should use alternate routes during the roadway closure. Updated traffic information for this K-18…
The 6th annual Sunset Zoo, Wine in the Wild event is happening June 2nd and there are many things that ticket holders can get excited about. The event begins at 7P.M. and will feature two kinds of white and red wines, chose by Nespors Liquor, throughout different parts of the Zoo. The event will also feature different types of food and music from Manhattan native Caleb McGuinn. The crowning jewel of the night is the V.I.P. event, which will feature a special sneak peak of the new Nature Exploration Center that opens Sunday, June 3rd. V.I.P. ticket holders will also…
Many Manhattan residents took advantage of the amazing weather this weekend by hitting the water. All three pools opened this Memorial weekend to a huge crowd. Each pool has different aquatic features so there is sure to be something for everyone. City Park features a number of slides, diving boards, and a traditional 50 meter pool as well as a lazy river. Northview has many of the same features as City Park, just on a smaller scale. It has a play structure for children and a new diving board. Cico Park is the perfect aquatic site for any family with…