TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas has received a $250,000 federal grant to help improve the chances of educational success for children in foster care. The Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services will use the grant to communicate more effectively with schools about educating foster children. SRS officials say the goal is to boost graduation rates among abused or neglected children in foster care, who often transfer among schools two or more times in a year. Transfers are an issue because schools often have different graduation requirements, preventing foster children from getting a diploma within four years. SRS plans to work with…
Author: KMAN Staff
WASHINGTON (AP) Kansas Congressman Tim Huelskamp has received a “Bronze Mouse” award from a nonprofit group for his office website, making him the only member of the state’s delegation honored this year. The Congressional Management Foundation gave the Republican freshman’s website a grade of A-minus for usefulness, ease of access and the amount of information it offers. Huelskamp represents the 1st Congressional District of western and central Kansas. His site was among 93 websites of individual members, committees or leadership offices honored. The foundation’s top award is the “Platinum Mouse,” given to only one committee, leadership office and member each…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Gov. Sam Brownback has filled a vacancy on a panel studying possible alternatives to the state’s public pension system. Frederick Poccia III replaces Chris Long, who has been appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System. Poccia, of Overland Park, has more than 30 years of experience in the banking and financial services industries. The KPERS Study Commission was created under changes made to the pension system during the 2011 legislative session. The commission will make recommendations to the 2012 Legislature, which will consider identical bills in the House and Senate. Identical…
WAKEENEY, Kan. (AP) Trego County authorities say a Scott City man who was found dead at Cedar Bluff Reservoir apparently drowned. The county sheriff’s department says two fishermen found the body of William L. Dryer on Monday on the reservoir’s northeast shoreline. The body was floating in about 4 feet of water at an old parking lot area. The Hutchinson News reports that the man’s identity and other information was not immediately released.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) Members of Occupy Lawrence are looking for a new site to camp after the city ordered them out of a downtown park. Lawrence police told the group members Tuesday that they might be arrested and have their gear confiscated if they didn’t move out of South Park. Police spokesman Sgt. Matt Sarna said police did not encounter any problems while the protesters moved out of the park. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that police cited a city ordinance that bars use of the park from 11:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. Tuesday evening several members of the group asked…
The budget for 2012 may be finished, but that didn’t stop Manhattan’s City Commission from looking even further ahead at their work session Tuesday night. Director of Finance Bernie Hayen provided the Commission with a presentation detailing budget projections for the next three years, and Commissioners responded with much discussion and many questions. Following Hayen’s presentation, the topic was changed to a slightly more present matter: the possible cuts to social service funding proposed to begin next year. Many members of the public and officials from agencies came forward to make their opinions known, many to speak out in…
After several months of efforts, some exciting news for Manhattan came out of Topeka. Manhattan has won the Take Charge Challenge, which means $100,000 to the city of Manhattan. Manhattan/K-State defeated Lawrence and the University of Kansas in the challenge. Bruce Snead, who served as co-chair of the leadership team for Manhattan’s Take Charge Challenge with K-State First Lady Noel Schulz, had praise and thanks for the many involved. He says the money will be used for additional energy efficient improvements for the city and university. Snead says Manhattan won on a per capita savings basis, winning in two of…
The Big 12 board of directors on Monday expressed a “strong desire” for Missouri to remain in the conference. The Big 12 says in a release that all 10 current members and TCU, which will join next season, participated in the Monday’s meeting. Three days ago the Missouri Board of Curators gave Chancellor Brady Deaton the authority to move the school out of the Big 12. Missouri is considering a move to the Southeastern Conference. Interim Commissioner Chuck Neinas told The Associated Press that Missouri did not notify the conference that it would be withdrawing at the meeting. The Big…
For a second straight week, K-State has the Big 12’s special team player of the week. This time it’s freshman Tyler Lockett. Lockett returned a kick for a touchdown for the second consecutive week when took the second-half kickoff 97 yards to paydirt. He also set up a field goal just before the half with a 48-yard reception. He finished with 251 all-purpose yards, catching five passes for 110 yards and a touchdown. Lockett follows up his K-State teammate Raphael Guidry, who was Big 12 special team player of the week after blocking a pair of field goals against Texas…
K-State officials got word today that the Wildcats’ game at Oklahoma State on November 5 will be televised by ABC at either 2:30 p.m., or 7 p.m. The exact game time will be determined on Sunday as ABC utilized a six-day option. The selection marks the ninth straight week that a Wildcat football game will be televised and the third this season on ABC after the network picked up K-State’s games against Baylor and Missouri earlier this season. This Saturday the Cats host the Oklahoma Sooners at 2:30. Pregame coverage starts at 10:30 on SportsRadio 1350 KMAN with Powercat Gameday.