Thursday’s guests included from the National Bio and Agro Defense Facility, Dr. Ken Burton – NBAF Coordinator, Katie Pawlosky – NBAF Communications Director and special guest Patrick Moylan – NBAF Operations Director. Gen. Perry Wiggins, Executive Director of the Governor’s Military Council also spoke to us about transitions happening at Fort Riley over the summer.
Author: KMAN Staff
More people spoke either for or against a recently approved and later withdrawn purchase of educator training sessions at Wednesday’s USD 383 school board meeting. The public outcry is largely influenced by the Riley County Republicans who strongly oppose culturally responsive teaching and learning training, which they said would lead teachers to instructing Critical Race Theory (CRT). The board heard from members on both sides of the aisle, including Manhattan High School Students. Junior Class President Ava Reese said she wanted to address comments made during the previous meeting. Reese continued saying this does not discard people’s personal experiences with…
A Texas jury has awarded $222 million to the widow of a man who was killed in a June 2018 accident at Evergy’s Jeffrey Energy Center power plant near St. Marys. The jury found Texas-based subcontractor Team Industrial Services 90 percent responsible for the death of Jesse Henson, of Manhattan. Henson and a co-worker, Damien Burchett, of Overbrook, were burned alive by steam at the plant. Evergy, then-known as Westar, was found to be 10 percent responsible. The men were engulfed by hot steam while checking on a loss of power. Burchett’s relatives have filed a separate lawsuit.
May 2021 sales tax revenue Manhattan sales tax revenue for May 2021, which reflects spending from two months previous, is up 25 percent from May 2020 and up 12 percent from 2019. City manager Ron Fehr explained to KMAN one possible reason for the increase. Fehr says the increase in sales tax numbers has given the city’s overall budget a boost. Compensating Use Tax revenue Compensating Use Tax revenue for May 2021 was 7.5 percent higher than in May 2020. However, Fehr says revenue was down from the previous month. Fehr says this can also be seen in revenue generated…
Art museum The Manhattan City Commission approved the first readings of amendments to sales tax and revenue (STAR) bonds Tuesday, thus taking a step towards the creation of the Museum of Art and Light in downtown Manhattan. The $43.6 million project will be funded by private donations, STAR bonds and about $200,000 per year through 2027 in city sales tax and transient guest tax. While Mayor Wynn Butler expressed concern about city money not being used elsewhere, commissioner Mark Hatesohl voiced support for the funding mechanism. Concerns were also raised by community members that the construction of the museum in…
Kansas State University’s new swine birthing facility is now open. School officials say the facility, which opened in late may, will give students experience that reflects their future professional work environments. The facility is located north of the main campus at the K-State Swine Teaching and Research Center. The project was largely funded privately, including donations from alumni and faculty, and will accommodate additional hands-on teaching ability as well as graduate and undergraduate research.
A.Q. Miller School of Journalism radio station Wildcat 91.9 received two bronze Telly Awards. The awards, received on May 24 in New York City, were handed out for the station’s in-house digital production in the areas of “Local TV Campaign: Not for Profit” and “Local TV Campaign: Promotional”. The station was chosen out of 12,000 entries for this year’s awards. For more information, check out the awards here.
The following summary of calls for service/reports filed by the Riley County Police Department is a portion of those received by police. Some names, addresses, and case details are withheld to follow local, state, and federal law as well as in an attempt to protect community members from being victimized further. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. MANHATTAN, KAN. – Officers filed a report for burglary in the 3000 block of Anderson Avenue in Manhattan on June 1, 2021, around 9:32 AM. Officers listed Kaw Valley Green House as the victim when it was…
The 13th annual Nelson Family Community Foundation benefit was previewed by K-State football great and former NFL star Jordy Nelson. The event is scheduled June 11 and 12 in Leonardville. We also got a preview of Wednesday’s USD 383 school board meeting with Teaching and Learning Director Paula Hough and board member Darell Edie. Manhattan Fire Department Capt. Dan Newman provided us with some fireworks safety advice ahead of the upcoming 4th of July.
SALINA, Kan. — The Kansas Highway Patrol says three people died including a central Kansas pastor and his 10-year-old daughter in a head-on crash on Interstate 135 near Salina. The patrol says the crash happened around 1:30 p.m. Sunday about 8 miles south of Salina. Investigators say a northbound pickup truck driven by 24-year-old Christopher Giroux, of Salina, crossed the interstate median into southbound lanes and collided with another pickup truck. Giroux was killed, as was the driver other driver, 39-year-old Phillip Hett, and his daughter, 10-year-old Abigail Hett. Phillip Hett’s 13-year-old daughter also was in his truck and was…