TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas is reporting that it collected nearly $73 million more than expected in taxes in September. But state officials said the economic outlook in coming months remains uncertain because of the coronavirus pandemic. The state Department of Revenue said Kansas collected nearly $729 million in taxes last month, when it expected to take in $656 million. The surplus of 11% for the month was tied largely to better-than-expected income tax collections. The surplus comes after state officials and university economists slashed revenue projections in April. Revenue secretary Mark Burghart said the economic picture remains “uncertain at best.”
Author: KMAN Staff
WICHITA, Kan. — Spirit Aerosystems plans to close its plant in McAlester, Oklahoma, which employs about 175 people. Spirit president Tom Gentile said in a message to employees Thursday that the closure was the result of a decline in commercial aviation during the COVID19 pandemic, as well as the grounding of the 737 Max airplane. Spirit will consolidate the work done in McAlester at its plants in Wichita and Tulsa. The Wichita-based company plans to close the Oklahoma plant in the second quarter of next year. Gentile said in the message that employment at the McAlester plant had already dropped…
LAWRENCE, Kan. — The Douglas County district attorney’s office is still deciding whether to file charges for two incidents earlier this year where vehicles drove into protests in Lawrence. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that meanwhile, at least three defendants have been charged for similar allegations that weren’t protest-related. On May 31, video showed a woman accelerating an SUV into protesters during a march against police brutality. On June 29, another woman drove an SUV through protesters’ makeshift barricades and into a crowd. No serious injuries were reported. An official with the DA’s office says there were differences between the cases…
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 and criminal use of a financial card in the 2100 block of Elm Ln in Manhattan on October 1, 2020, at approximately 10:33 am. Officers listed a 23-year-old…
On Friday’s edition of In Focus we spoke with Karen Hibbard with the CVB. We also spoke with Megan Dougherty with KSRE. And in our final segment we spoke with Vickie James from Farm & Food Council of Riley County and Father Gale from St. Isidore’s about the Konza Student Table.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump have tested positive for the coronavirus, he said Friday. The positive test comes a month until the election and after the president has spent the year largely downplaying the threat of the virus. Trump’s positive test comes just hours after the White House announced that senior aide Hope Hicks had come down with the virus after traveling with the president several times this week. Trump was last seen by reporters returning to the White House on Thursday evening and looked to be in good health. Trump is 74 years…
Kansas State University continues to show importance of diversity and inclusion. In light of the recent ruling in the Breonna Taylor case in Kentucky, on Wednesday, the K-State President for Student Life along with the Multicultural Diversity and Inclusion Officer and others hosted a Day of Remembrance event. The event included a come-and-go vigil as well as a viewing of the documentary “The Killing of Breonna Taylor”, followed by a discussion. During the discussion, one attendee spoke about how important events like these are to furthering community engagement. Day of Remembrance Event (Steven Shaffur/KMAN) “It’s incredibly important to continue to…
Leslie Campbell, Pottawatomie County health director, spoke to KMAN Wednesday about the federal government’s COVID-19 vaccine operation. While the goal of the operation, known as Operation Warp Speed, is to have the first what will eventually be about 300 million COVID-19 vaccine doses available by January of 2021, local residents may not have access right away. “So much will go to each state and then will trickle down to the counties and different territories depending on what is available,” Campbell said. Who is able to receive the first doses will also vary and could be based on demographics such as…
WICHITA, Kan. — The paternal grandparents of a 10-year-old Kansas girl killed in a crash last week are suing the truck driver involved in the collision, along with his employer. The Wichita Eagle reports that Mark and Carrie Brady are seeking damages in excess of $75,000 from the driver and L.B. White Trucking Inc. of Wellington. The Bradys’ granddaughter, Anaiah Brady, along with her mother and three young siblings, all died in the accident on Friday when the family’s Ford Expedition collided with a loaded grain truck between Cheney and Clearwater. An investigation of the accident continues and no charges…
TOPEKA, Kan. — One person is hospitalized after a pre-dawn fire damaged an apartment building in Topeka. KSNT-TV reports that firefighters were called to the apartment complex around 2:30 a.m. Thursday. One occupant initially refused to leave. Once the fire was out, crews coaxed that person out. That person is hospitalized. Authorities didn’t immediately have a condition report but the injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. Damage to the complex is estimated at $125,000. Police believe the fire began in a kitchen on the second floor.