Author: KMAN Staff

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)   Officials from Major League Baseball are in Kansas City this week to begin planning for the 2012 All-Star Game at Kauffman Stadium.  Baseball officials are meeting Monday and Tuesday with Kansas City Royals executives to plan festivities surrounding the first All-Star Game hosted by the franchise since 1973.   The MLB FanFest at the Kansas City Convention Center is scheduled for July 6-10, with events ramping up at the ballpark on July 8 with a celebrity softball game and All-Star Futures Game.  Teams will work out July 9 prior to the Home Run Derby, with the…

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Chiefs coach Todd Haley confirmed today that running back Jamaal Charles is done for the season and will go on injured reserve.  Charles suffered a torn ACL in Sunday’s 48-3 loss against Detroit. Last season, Charles finished second in the league in rushing with 1,467 yards and had a 6.4-yards per carry average. He ended the year playing in the Pro Bowl in Hawaii.

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Use of force by the Riley County Police Department is being reconsidered, with tasers and pepper spray causing less injuries than physically forcing a suspect to the ground. That was the apparent consensus of police officials, who addressed the Riley County Law Board Monday, about plans to change the policy and training methods of its officers.  Lt. Josh Kyle explaining many injuries occur during training, and also by physically trying to force a suspect to the ground.  He noted even the National Institute of Justice is recommending tasers as safer than any other method, with pepper spray, known as OC,…

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A 1st Infantry Division Soldier from Fort Riley was killed by enemy forces while deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Specialist Chazray Clark, 24,  of Michigan died of wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device on Sunday while on dismounted patrol in the Kandahar Province of southern Afghanistan. Clark was assigned to 4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. He joined the Army in September 2009 as a combat engineer. This was his first deployment. He deployed to Afghanistan with 4-4 Cavalry in February 2011. Clark is survived by his wife and…

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The 3rd annual ESB Financial Shred day is tearing into town Saturday morning. The event kicks off at 9 in the morning and continues until noon at 224 East Poyntz avenue at ESB Financial.  Folks can bring up to five boxes per car of documents to be shredded.  This year will also see a old cell phone turn-in station, and plastic recycling.  All proceeds will go toward the Sunset Zoo. ESB Financial’s Liz Sielof says that folks shouldn’t be afraid that their documents will be seen by anyone as participants can watch them being shredded onsite. Folks can register to…

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Businesses and other organizations around Manhattan will soon have access to Riley County’s 2012 budget figures. The Riley County commission bet with budget and finance officer Johnette Shepek on Monday to discuss the final steps in the process before the budget goes public. The document will be available online. “We post the brochure on the county’s website, which is www.rileycountyks.gov,” Shepek said. “You can actually see budget line items and different kinds of expenses and revenues.” The budget brochure not only covers projected expenditures and revenue from the coming year, but also breaks down spending for the previous fiscal year (2011).…

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If you’re looking to find a bargain on a piece of farming equipment, you might want to check out the Riley County surplus auction. A total of 35 pieces of county property are up for bidding at www.purplewave.com. The equipment has been used by the county for a number of years. “This is older equipment that has served its purpose for Riley County and been replaced over the past few years,” assistant public works director Rod Meredith said. “It’s from all different departments, not just road and bridge” There is a wide range of equipment up for bidding, with properties ranging…

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County treasurer Lisa Wright informed the commission that her department is in the process of training employees to use the new system for drivers license renewels. Additionally, county counselor John Watt has filed petition for the county’s annual tax sale. An official date for the sale has not been set. The media was excluded from an executive work session during which time the commission spoke to economic director Bob Cole for roughly 30 minutes. When the meeting resumed, the commission passed a motion to lease two motor graders using the services of Bennington Bank in Wamego. The commission is schedule to hold it’s next meeting on Monday, September 26.

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A good conversation often requires several things: the right setting, good ideas, and someone who is willing to listen. Coffee and pastries don’t hurt either. That was the setting earlier this month for the annual Legislator’s Day at the Kansas State Fair. Kansas State University president Kirk Schulz attended the event and says he appreciated the informal atmosphere because it allowed people to discuss things in a different way. Schulz thinks legislators are aware of the budgetary concerns of K-State and all the Regents’ Institutions. Schulz advocates for funding for both K-12 and higher education. He also thinks Midwesterners have…

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The South End Park…just south of the new Discovery Center…may soon have an official name. At Tuesday night’s meeting, the Manhattan City Commission is expected to choose one of three names recommended by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board from an original list of 18 names. Manhattan city manager Ron Fehr says the name Blue Earth Plaza is one name being considered and has significance to the park’s location, with the Blue Earth Lodge of the Kaw Indian Nation located there in the early days. Other options being considered include Prairie Plaza, which reflects the region and Hartford Plaza, which…

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