TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The state transportation department says questions about funding have derailed plans to expand passenger rail service in Kansas. Dennis Slimmer, chief of planning for the Kansas Department of Transportation, on Wednesday told a Senate committee the department would not do any further work on the proposal unless the Legislature could find some funding for it. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that KDOT was studying extending the route Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer, which runs between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City. Proposals included adding a stop in Newton or extending the route to Kansas City, Mo. The department estimated the cost…
Author: KMAN Staff
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) Kansas farmers have claimed nearly $1 billion in insurance to offset crop losses caused by the lingering drought. The federal government says that breaks a Kansas record of $446.8 million for drought claims set in 2002, and more claims are expected. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said in its weekly update that it had paid $987.3 million to Kansas farmers so far for withered wheat and fall crops. Rebecca Davis, director of the USDA’s Topeka office, says she expects the payout amount to reach $1 billion. The Hutchinson News reports the drought is going into its second…
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) Two Kansas men face federal charges accusing them of selling adulterated poultry products. A grand jury has indicted Craig Cunningham, of Leawood, and his son, Jason Cunningham, of Olathe, for allegedly conspiring to sell poultry products in 2008 that were unhealthy and unfit for human food, or prepared under unsanitary conditions. The indictment says the men were executives at the Hitchin’ Post Steak Co. in 2008 when the alleged sales took place. The indictment also says the products allegedly were processed outside approved USDA inspection hours. The Kansas City Star reports the two are also charged…
Members of a National Research Council committee will be in Manhattan Friday to take public comments on a revised risk assessment report on the National Bio and Agri Defense Facility. The report addresses concerns about locating the lab in Kansas. An open session for interested members of the public and media will be from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Friday in the Mara Conference Center at Mosier Hall. The National Academy of Sciences is organizing the event. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is building the $650 million lab near Kansas State to conduct research on deadly plant and animal…
Riley County Police are looking into the death of a woman in Leonardville Wednesday afternoon. RCPD Lieutenant Josh Kyle says emergency responders were sent to the 200 block of North Kansas Street in Leonardville after Donna Wilson, 51, was reported not breathing. It was quickly determined Wilson had died. Kyle says preliminary indications are the death was not suspicious and an autopsy has been requested to determine the cause of death.
Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt is unveiling a new database called ROAM, or Repeat Offenders Against Military database. The database will be utilized by state and federal law enforcement officials to help catch sophisticated criminals who are currently targeting military families by offering various scams. Often these criminals will shut down their operations when they feel threatened, and move to another military community across state lines. Attorney General Schmidt says the new database will improve coordination, and cooperation between federal and state officials by providing court data of previous judgements against the scam artists. Schmidt is currently working with Kentucky…
Several Manhattan High students are still recovering after overdosing on cough medication before class on Tuesday. According to police reports, four students – two 15-year olds and two 16-year olds – intentionally consumed an excessive amount of over the counter cough medicine in an attempt become intoxicated. Instead, the four students became ill. One student was transported by Riley County EMS to Mercy Regional Health Center. The remaining three students were transported by their parents to various locations for treatment. Manhattan/Ogden Communications Coordinator Michele Jones is classifying the event as an isolated incident, adding that it isn’t indicative of a larger…
The Riley County Health Department is reporting a case of pertussis, otherwise known as whooping cough, affecting an infant in the county. KMAN news has also been told of a suspected case of pertussis at Theodore Roosevelt Elementary in Manhattan. USD 383 Communications Coordinator Michele Jones indicates letters were sent home with all students Wednesday. “When pertussis shows up in an infant less than one year of age, it can be a warning sign or a marker of undetected disease in the community,” explained Susanne Kufahl, Riley County Health officer. Kufahl added it is critical that children, as well as their parents…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A Kansas legislator is worrying about the state’s flow of funds for highway projects and road maintenance if consumers flock to electric cars or hybrids because those vehicles use less gasoline, raising less gas taxes. But Rep. Tom Sloan got a cool reception Tuesday during a House Energy and Utilities Committee hearing on his proposed solution. The Lawrence Republican’s bill would create a new fee on the power electric car and hybrid owners use to charge up their vehicles. The Kansas Department of Transportation would set the fee so that it would be equivalent to the state’s…