With very little comment, the Riley County Law Board approved the Riley County Police department 2013 budget, with board members Wynn Butler and John Matta dissenting. Board member Barry Wilkerson made the motion, with Dave Lewis’s second. No one from the public commented on the budget which had been published. Only board member Loren Pepperd asked a question, and that dealt with drug seizures and where that revenue shows up. Legal counsel Mike Gillespie explained those funds have to be handled in a very specific way… The budget calls for a 3.4 percent increase, adding two new police officers, a non-sworn…
Author: KMAN Staff
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) Johnson County health officials are investigating 111 cases of whooping cough reported since January. The health department issued a warning last week about the outbreak, urging residents to get the vaccine. The Kansas City Star reports Johnson County and state health officials received the reports from laboratories, doctors, schools and elsewhere. It could turn out that some of the cases are not whooping cough. The Johnson County health department received reports of only 11 whooping cough cases all of last year. Most of the first cases came from southern Johnson County but it has become more widespread…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas courts will remain open through the rest of the 2012 fiscal year after legislators approved $1.1 million in supplemental funding to cover operating expenses. Chief Justice Lawton Nuss issued a statement Monday saying that the remaining four days of furloughs would be canceled after legislators approved the budget Sunday. The bill still must be signed by Gov. Sam Brownback. Nuss ordered five furlough days this spring after it was evident that the court system would be short funding because fewer fees were collected on civil court filings. The courts closed one day in April and were…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach opposes an attempt by a state senator and others to get involved in a federal lawsuit over the state Legislature’s failure to redraw political boundaries. Kobach filed written arguments Monday, ahead of a court hearing in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kan. He is the defendant in the lawsuit, filed earlier this month by Robyn Renee Essex, a Republican precinct committee member from Olathe. The hearing Monday deals with requests from at least nine people to intervene. They include Senate Reapportionment Committee Chairman Tim Owens, an Overland Park Republican, and…
READING, Kan. (AP) A year after a tornado dealt what some thought was a final blow to the east-central Kansas community of Reading, residents are proud of their recovery. An EF-3 tornado hit the Lyon County community last May 21. It killed one person, demolished 54 of the town’s 101 homes, nearly all of its businesses and its post office. The damage was estimated at more than $2.2 million. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports only two families didn’t rebuild and all the town’s businesses stayed. Only post office’s fate is uncertain, and that’s because the U.S. Postal Service has not decided…
HAYS, Kan. (AP) After 134 years of service, the Capuchin-Franciscan friars will return the ministry of a Hays parish to the Diocese of Salina. The Mid-America Province of Capuchins will continue to serve St. Joseph’s Parish until new Bishop Edward J. Weisenburger appoints a new pastor. The Salina Journal reports the friars will continue serving parishes in Victoria, Catherine, Antonino, Schoenchen, Walker and Vincent. They also will continue to help with Catholic education at Thomas More Prep-Marian and rest home and retreat ministries. The Capuchins arrived in western Kansas to serve German immigrants and eventually expanded into other ministries.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas legislators want to provide more help for college students who struggle academically, but without having the state pay for remedial courses at its universities. The House approved a bill on a 116-0 vote Sunday to accomplish both goals, sending it to Gov. Sam Brownback. The Senate had approved the bill Saturday, 34-0. The measure would prohibit universities from using state funds to provide remedial courses. Some lawmakers argue that cutting off state funds will encourage parents to make sure students are ready for college. But the bill also would require universities to work with students admitted…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Gov. Sam Brownback is scheduled to speak at a national wind energy conference next month. The Wichita Eagle reports that Brownback will speak at the American Wind Energy Association Windpower 2012 conference next month in Atlanta. The conference is set for June 3 through June 6. Brownback will speak about what wind power has meant to Kansas. Other Kansas companies and agencies also at the conference include Kansas Department of Commerce, Siemens and Black Veatch. AWEA said Kansas ranks 14th nationally in overall wind installation.
The Kansas Redistricting process is affecting the state’s election process as well. According to Jolene Keck, Elections Supervisor with the Riley County Clerk’s office, dates for filing for candidacy have changed due drawn-out redistricting process. “We have two deadlines now,” Keck says. “State candidates’ deadline for filing is June 11th at noon, meanwhile the local candidates, county offices, township offices, elected judicial offices, and district attorney deadline remains the first of June.” Those with questions on the deadlines can call Keck’s office at 565-6201.
Republican State Representative Tom Phillips of Manhattan has announced that he will run for re-election in the 67th District. Phillips is the former Manhattan Mayor and City Commissioner is focusing his re-election around local job creation, education, military relations and government efficiency. Phillips is an alumni of Kansas State University, served on the Manhattan Urban Area Planning Board, was President of the United Way of Riley County and the Boys and Girls Club of Manhattan.