Author: KMAN Staff

Economic development funds can be a big boost to an up-and-coming company looking to start or expand in Manhattan, and one application for such funds was looked over at last night’s Manhattan City Commission meeting. The applicant was CivicPlus, a company that makes civic websites for over 1000 clients in the US and Canada. The application called for such things as a 750-thousand dollar forgivable loan and tax abatement. The funds will potentially be used to help construct a new 5-story building downtown.  The Commission approved the first reading of the application by…

A Topeka man was taken to Stormont Vail in Topeka following a two vehicle accident in Pottawatomie County early Tuesday afternoon. 43- year- old Alfred Sturm was injured in the accident, reported just before 12:30 PM on westbound U-S 24 at the intersection with Vineyard  Road, about four miles west of Wamego. The Kansas Highway Patrol reports a ’91 Buick Lesabre driven by Sturm was southbound on Vineyard Road, with a 2001 Kenworth truck westbound on highway 24.  Sturm failed to yield the right of way and pulled out in front of the truck, with the vehicles colliding. The driver…

A Topeka man was taken to Stormont Vail in Topeka following a two vehicle accident in Pottawatomie County early Tuesday afternoon. Alfred Sturm, 43, was injured in the accident, reported just before 12:30 in the afternoon on westbound U-S 24 at the intersection with Vineyard  Road, about four miles west of Wamego. The Kansas Highway Patrol reports a 1991 Buick Lesabre driven by Sturm was southbound on Vineyard Road, with a 2001 Kenworth truck westbound on highway 24. Sturm failed to yield the right of way and pulled out in front of the truck, with the vehicles colliding.…

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The Kansas House has sent Gov. Sam Brownback a measure establishing a new arts group that merges separate arts and film services. The new Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission approved Tuesday was sent to the Republican governor, who proposed the idea in January. Senators have already approved the changes in March. The final version was drafted by House and Senate negotiators. The new commission would have 11 members and be part of the state Department of Commerce. Brownback sought last year to abolish the Arts Commission. He vetoed its entire budget, costing the state $1.2 million in…

SCOTT CITY, Kan. (AP) Fire heavily damaged a building that houses some of Scott Community High School’s educational programs. KWCH-TV reports the fire was reported late Monday at the high school. No one was hurt and school is in session Tuesday. Superintendent Bill Wilson says the building is sealed while the district waits for its insurance company to assess the damage. He says the building is damaged but he doesn’t know about the contents of the building. Industrial arts, traditional arts, vocational agriculture and aerobics classes are held in the building. Those classes will be held elsewhere for the rest…

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Kansas is getting about $21 million to expand community health centers in five cities. The Department of Health and Human Services said in a release Tuesday that the $20 million is from the Affordable Care Act. The federal act provides about $9.5 billion to expand services over five years and $1.5 billion to support construction and renovation projects at community health centers. The Kansas centers receiving money under the program are Prairiestar Health Center in Hutchinson, which will get $5 million; Konza Prairie Community Health Center, which gets about $4.5 million; Community Health Center of Southeast…

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The Kansas House has approved a compromise bill involving the rights of grandparents in custody cases. The bill approved Monday gives  “substantial consideration” to grandparents of children who have been removed from their parents’ custody. The Wichita Eagle reports the bill is not as strong as one originally passed by the House, which would have given grandparents “preference” in custody disputes. After the Senate passed a version that would have required courts to give “consideration” to grandparents, the compromise bill was worked out. Under the bill, if a judge decides not to place a grandchild with grandparents,…

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A bill designed to help overworked dentists in urban and rural clinics is on its way to Gov. Sam Brownback’s desk. Under the bill approved unanimously Monday by the Kansas House, specially trained dental hygienists will be allowed to do temporary fillings, pull baby teeth and perform other basic dental services. The bill creates a new class of  “Level III” hygienists who would receive more training than regular hygienists. The Senate approved the bill last week. A separate bill that would have allowed non-dentists to provide even more services failed after opposition from dentists. The Wichita Eagle…

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The Kansas Senate has rejected a bill that would have eliminated discounts to the state parks for senior citizens and the disabled. The bill rejected Monday also would have allowed people to buy yearly state park passes with their vehicle registration. It would have reduced the cost of park permits for drivers who bought them while renewing their car license plates. But it would have increased the cost for senior citizens and the disabled to $5. The Wichita Eagle reports  supporters said the bill would make it easier for people to buy park passes and would bring…