TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – A legislative audit says Kansas may have paid $600 million worth of bogus claims for unemployment benefits last year. The report released Wednesday by the GOP-controlled Legislature’s nonpartisan auditing division gave a figure that’s more than double the state Department of Labor’s estimate. The report suggested that nearly one in four unemployment claims paid last year could have been fraudulent amid a surge in filings during the COVID-19 pandemic. The department on Tuesday estimated last year’s fraudulent claims as worth $290 million. The department strongly disputed the audit’s figure and said in a written response but…
Author: KMAN Staff
In the month of February, the nation reflects on African American history, the Riley County Historical Museum however sheds light on the historical impacts locally with their own self-guided driving tour. Director Cheryl Collins says this self-guided tour allows the community to start anywhere along the route, and go at their own pace, to visit locations instrumental to this community and beyond like the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, built on the corner of 4th and Yuma St., in 1879. Collins points out that this was an extremely important date in Riley County history, because that’s the year that the…
As we enter into March, tis’ the season of severe weather. The first week of March (March 1-5) marks “Severe Weather Awareness Week.” Chad Omitt, Warning Coordination Meteorologist of the National Weather Service in Topeka, says we need to be ready because severe weather can really sneak up on us. “As we transition from winter to spring, we can go quickly from a situation where we aren’t even thinking about severe weather to experiencing it, and having to think about putting a plan together and sheltering, and things like that,” Omitt says. “We’ve had severe weather events in March in…
K-State Department of Communications professor and Director of the Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy Dr. Timothy Shaffer joined us. Pawnee Mental Health Executive Director Robbin Cole recapped Pancakes for Pawnee and highlighted federal funding for certified community behavioral health centers, additional COVID-19 funding for KDADS and addition addiction treatment funding recently bestowed onto Pawnee.
As many in the Manhattan community enjoy the pleasant weather, the Manhattan Arts Center’s opening weekend enjoyed a strong turnout for their rendition of Shakespeare’s comedy, As You Like It. Education and Marketing Director Michele Ward says actors and staff were so pleased the audience came out, as during this time their facility is operating with limited seating, masks are required, and social distancing is observed. “We had really great audiences and lots of laughs. It’s a very funny show and the actors have so much energy and bring so much life to this performance,” Ward said. “And we heard…
Riley County is reporting nine new positive cases of COVID since Monday. In addition, 47 recoveries have also been reported, bringing the active case count to 96 as of Wednesday’s report. The percent positive rate for the week of Feb. 14 dropped to 3 percent according to the health department from 62 positives out of more than 2,000 tests performed. It’s the fourth consecutive week the percent positive rate has been below 5 percent. As of Wednesday afternoon, Ascension Via Christi was caring for three positive patients, including one in the Intensive Care Unit. The health department says it will…
The Flint Hills Regional Leadership Program recently finished its course work and graduation for the 2020-21 program year. This year marks the 29th class put on by the FHLP and Executive Director Jack Lindquist’s fifth class. Lindquist was originally worried if and how they were going to hold this year’s class due to COVID. “We had some very serious, thought provoking discussions about how we were going to have to get really creative under COVID,” says Lindqusit. Lindquist says they used the 2019-20 class as a model to shape how they will hold this year’s class. They came up with…
Budget discussion and property taxes Mayor Wynn Butler asked Manhattan city commissioners Tuesday to state whether they will support property-tax increases during upcoming budget discussions. Commissioner Usha Reddi pushed back, calling Butler’s question unfair. “For the past seven years, you want us to say one way or the other without getting all the information,” Reddi said. “Let’s get all the information and then decide.” Commissioner Linda Morse says she will also avoid taking a stance until she has more information. Commissioner Aaron Estabrook says that while he is not against raising property taxes, he does not want people to think…
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 500 block of Riley Ave. in Manhattan on February 23, 2021, at approximately 12:12 p.m. Officers listed a 37-year-old male as the victim when it…