TOPEKA, Kan. — Gov. Laura Kelly has directed Kansas state employees to resume working remotely if possible because of the more contagious COVID-19 delta variant. Kelly’s announcement Wednesday came after two months of steadily rising numbers of new COVID-19 cases that have stressed hospitals and led some public schools to require masks indoors. Kelly’s directive applies to state agencies under her control; employees must resume remote work by Sept. 3 and continue at least through Oct. 4. A memo from Kelly’s administration secretary said any employee who was able to work remotely earlier should do it again. Many state employees…
Author: KMAN Staff
BELLE PLAINE, Kan. — Education officials overseeing the more than $1.1 billion in federal pandemic aid for Kansas schools say districts are spending much of the money to meet the mental health needs of students and staff. Districts also are hiring “intervention specialists” who can work one-on-one or in small groups to fill in learning gaps. They’re also spending to upgrade curriculum. Since March 2020, the federal government has provided $190 billion in pandemic aid to the nation’s schools, which is more than four times what the U.S. Education Department spends on K-12 schools in a typical year. In Kansas,…
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 theft in the 2200 block of Prairie Glen Pl. in Manhattan on August 25, 2021, around 3:37 p.m. Officers listed a 39-year-old male as the victim when it was…
On Thursday’s edition of In Focus we spoke with K-State Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy Director Dr. Tim Shaffer. We also spoke with Pawnee Mental Health Executive Director Robbin Cole.
The City Commission heard Tuesday night that the city’s estimated cost for the reconstruction of the main runway at Manhattan Regional Airport had already gone up six million dollars. Bids are scheduled for April of next year. The majority of the more than 54 million dollar project will be covered by an FAA grant, but the city is currently on the hook for 11 million, 210 thousand dollars or more. Commissioner Usha Reddi asked if there was a way to lock in prices at current levels. The closure between April and early September of 2023 is actually a money saver…
70 new COVID cases are being reported by the Riley County Health Department this week. Riley County has identified 70 new positive Coronavirus cases and 74 additional recoveries since the last report on August 18. This brings the total number of active cases in the county to 121. In Riley County, since December, there have been a total of 116 positive cases from variants of concern. Eight COVID-positive patients, two of whom are fully vaccinated, are currently under care at Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan. Three unvaccinated patients are in the Intensive Care Unit. The postivity rate for the…
Riley County Police Department Director Dennis Butler says the agency has been successful finding new supply chains to keep inmates fed at the jail. Butler shared his comments during Monday’s virtual intergovernmental luncheon, hosted by Riley County. RCPD didn’t have an official contract with Sysco, the same agency that provided food to the school district. Instead it purchases food products on an as-needed basis. RCPD spokesman Aaron Wintermote tells KMAN that Sysco made its final delivery to RCPD in early August. Since then, he says other chains, including Hiland Dairy, U.S. Foods and Evco Food Services have stepped up to…
SHAWNEE, Kan. — Officials in suburban Kansas City, Kansas, say a man pulled from the basement of a burning home in Shawnee has died from his injuries at a hospital. The Shawnee Fire Department says in a news release that firefighters were called to the home on West 52nd Terrace late Monday night. Officials say four of five people in the home were able to safely escape, but firefighters had to enter the house to try to rescue 53-year-old Matthew Deckard from the basement. Firefighters pulled him from the home, started CPR and rushed him to a Kansas City hospital…
WICHITA, Kan. — The Wichita City Council raised the minimum hourly wage to $15 for full-time city employees as part of the city new $670 million budget. The vote on Tuesday comes as the city plans to begin filling several positions that were kept vacant to save money. Officials had predicted the city would face a $10 million to $11 million shortfall because of the coronavirus pandemic. But Wichita will receive $70 million in federal COVID-19 funds and unexpected increases in sales tax revenue. City officials plan to start filling 139 civilian positions, and add seven police officers. Wichita Mayor…