While the Pottawatomie County Commission unanimously voted to opt out of the statewide mask mandate on Monday, the decision did not come without opposition from county health officials. Leslie Campbell, Pottawatomie County health director, says she was disappointed by the commission’s decision and hopes efforts from other counties will help prevent spread caused by inter-county travel. “Hopefully having neighboring counties do masks – that everyone will just do it everywhere and be that responsible person and try to not go to social gatherings, stay home, stay home when they’re ill and do what they can to decrease the spread,” Campbell…
Author: KMAN Staff
Ascension Via Christi has updated its visitation measures once again amid surging coronavirus case numbers locally. The Manhattan hospital announced Monday it will not allow visitors for inpatient medical/surgical and critical care patients or in the emergency department. Exceptions include one visitor per patient (none under the age of 18) for OB/Labor and Delivery patients, pediatric patients and in end-of-life situations. Other visitors will be allowed on a case-by-case basis. Door screening will continue for everyone entering the hospital through limited entrances and at off-site clinics and therapy centers. Anyone who affirms they have a fever, cough or difficulty breathing…
Kansans expecting extended unemployment benefits as a result of the pandemic will see those payments soon come to an end. The U.S. Department of Labor notified the state this week that the unemployment insurance Extended Benefits program is no longer active and the last payable week will be the week ending Dec. 12. The Kansas Labor Department is prohibited from making any additional payments, regardless of any remaining balance of EB entitlement. Kansans no longer eligible for the EB program may be eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance if they qualify under all of the program’s federally mandated criteria. KDOL says…
On Tuesday’s edition of In Focus we spoke with Pottawatomie County Health Department Director Leslie Campbell and Wamego Health Center Administrator Steve Land. We also spoke with Pottawatomie County Planner Stephan Metzger. And in our final segment Pottawatomie County Commissioner Pat Weixelman joined us.
WICHITA, Kan. — An off-duty Wichita police officer has been arrested on a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence. The Wichita Police Department said in a news release that officer Cory Masterson has been with the department for 12 years and was assigned to the field services division. Police say he has been moved to an administrative assignment. The case is being investigated by the Kansas Highway Patrol, and an internal review will also take place .
WICHITA, Kan. — A Kansas man has been charged with a federal hate crime after allegedly threatening a Black juvenile while shouting racial slurs. The indictment alleges 25-year-old Colton Donner told the youth that Paola, Kansas where the victim was living was a “white” town. The Justice Department says in a news release Monday that he was charged with a federal count of interference with housing. Donner was also indicted for a separate incident with unlawfully possessing a firearm while being a convicted felon, for allegedly possessing a .44 caliber revolver. Court records do not show a defense attorney who…
TOPEKA, Kan. — Surging pandemic numbers are straining hospitals across Kansas just days before Thanksgiving gatherings that public health officials fear could worsen the outbreak. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported on Monday 95 new hospitalizations. The state’s COVID-19 dashboard showed that 240 coronavirus patients were in ICU units, with 36% of ICU capacity remaining in Kansas. State health officials added 7,526 cases to the state’s pandemic tally since Friday, bringing the total to more than 142,000. The data showed that Kansas averaged 2,760 new confirmed and probable coronavirus a day for the seven days ending Monday. The…
LAWRENCE, Kan. — A new report commissioned by the city of Lawrence cites a need for the community to diversify its economy or risk becoming too expensive for many people. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the city in June hired Ernst & Young to create an economic development strategic plan. The first phase of the process included a report with a community survey. The executive summary of the report says Lawrence’s economy is not working for everyone and that there are reasons to be concerned about the city’s economic sustainability. Despite the growing population, the report says Lawrence is becoming…
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 2400 block of Greenbriar Dr. in Manhattan on November 23, 2020, at approximately 10:06 a.m. Officers listed Prism Real Estate as the victim when it was…