TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas officials have authorized issuing $45.4 million bonds for the next phase of construction of a new $650 million National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan. Gov. Sam Brownback and legislative leaders who comprise the state finance council approved the bonds during a brief meeting Wednesday. Of the total bonds issued, $40 million will be matched with $40 million in federal funding to construct a central utilities building for the new lab. The remaining $5.4 million will be used to demolish a grain mill on the site and rebuild it at a new location on the Kansas…
Author: KMAN Staff
The lights went out for over 1,500 Riley county residents Wednesday morning. “A majority of customers were back on within 38 minutes,” said Erin LaRow, Westar Energy spokeswoman. “Crews are working to restore power to the remaining customers as quickly as possible.” LaRow added the problem stemmed from a broken cross bar. “We’re not sure what caused the break,” Larow said. “There was some inclement weather, but we don’t know at this moment if that had a factor in it.” Of the more than 15 hundred without power in the morning, 54 remained without power in the early afternoon. The…
Post offices nationwide have received a stay of execution, as the United State Postal Service announced a delay of any possible closings or consolidations of Post Offices or processing facilities until May 15, 2012. Manhattan Post Master CJ Lincoln says the moratorium will allow the Postal Service more time to come up with a workable plan to present to congress. “We kind of just want Congress to act,” Lincoln said. “Just so we know which direction we need to go to save the post office. It’s like any business. If you don’t have a plan you’re going to fail.” Lincoln adds…
The honors keep rolling in for K-State coach Bill Snyder after he led K-State to the ninth double-digit win season in school history. Sporting News named Snyder on Tuesday its national coach of the year. He’s led the Cats to a 10-2 record and a berth in the Cotton Bowl against Arkansas on January 6th. Snyder also won his 150th game in the season opener against Eastern Kentucky, and has a record of 159-82-1 in 20 seasons.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Gov. Sam Brownback and Kansas legislative leaders will meet to consider a proposed settlement of a sex discrimination lawsuit against former Attorney General Phill Kline. The governor and the Legislature’s eight top leaders were to meet Wednesday as the State Finance Council, which must approve settlements of lawsuits against state employees. The claims against Kline arise from his actions as Johnson County district attorney in 2007 but he still was considered a state official. The lawsuit was filed in Johnson County District Court by Jacqie Spradling, who claims Kline fired her from a county prosecutor’s office in…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A former Holton High School teacher who had a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl has lost his teaching license. The Kansas State Board of Education on Tuesday revoked the license of 37-year-old Tad A. Hernandez, a former business instructor at Holton. Hernandez pleaded no contest in August to charges of lewd and lascivious behavior and indecent solicitation of a child. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail and 66 months of probation. He had already agreed to surrender his license. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that during the September sentencing, the victim’s mother said Hernandez had…
READING, Kan. (AP) The spokeswoman for the city of Reading since it was damaged by a May 21 tornado says she’s stepping down from the position. Barbara Schlobohm will give up the public information job on Friday. City employees will take over the work. Since the tornado, Reading paid Schlobohm for 35 hours of work per week, but she usually put in 50 to 60 hours. The Emporia Gazette reports that Reading officials thought the Federal Emergency Management Agency would pay for the public information job. But the city paid Schlobohm, which it could no longer afford. The public information…
SALINA, Kan. (AP) Saline County commissioners continue to find places to send inmates from the county jail. The commissioners on Tuesday approved a contract with Ottawa County to house inmates for $30 a day. That comes after the commission last week approved a contract with Junction City to hold inmates for $40 a day. And Sheriff Glen Kochanowski said he plans to ask commissioners next week to approve a contract to house inmates in Mitchell County for $30 a day. The Salina Journal reports that Ottawa County will hold up to 20 inmates. Kochanowski said the county plans to send…
EUDORA, Kan. (AP) A 29-year-old man who was linked to 18 burglaries in Eudora will serve two years of probation. District Judge Kay Huff on Tuesday also ordered David Allen Thomas to undergo a mental health evaluation as part of his probation. He also must pay $820 in restitution. Thomas pleaded no contest in November to three felony counts and eight misdemeanor charges. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that Eudora police in July linked Thomas to 18 burglaries of vehicles and sheds. Two other Eudora residents were charged in the case. If Thomas violates his probation, he faces 13 months in…