TOPEKA, Kan. — State prison officials say a fifth inmate has died from COVID-19. The Kansas Department of Corrections announced Thursday that 68-year-old Junior Lee Chrismon died from the coronavirus. Chrismon tested positive for COVID-19 Aug. 15 and was taken from Larned Correctional Facility to a hospital, where he died Monday. The agency says Chrismon had underlying health conditions. He was in prison for drug charges out of Montgomery County. Four inmates at Lansing Correctional Facility have also died from the virus, as well as two staff members at Lansing and an employee from the Topeka Correctional Facility.
Author: KMAN Staff
TOPEKA, Kan. — A mostly Republican state council is scheduled to vote on whether to extend an emergency COVID-19 declaration that is set to expire on Tuesday. The declaration was ordered earlier by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly to allow the state to provide services in response to the pandemic. The State Finance Council will vote on the extension Friday. Kelly warned on Thursday that Kansans will not be able to access services they need to ensure their health and safety if the extension is not granted. Under a compromise with the Legislature reached in June, the council must approve extensions…
WICHITA, Kan. — The National Weather Service says several low temperature and a snow record across Kansas have been broken this week as unseasonably cold weather moved across the region. National Weather Service meteorologist Andy Kleinsasser tells the Wichita Eagle that a large weather system over the Rockies this week has pushed an unprecedented cold front into Kansas. Among new records this were were a low of 47 degrees in Wichita on Tuesday, where the previous record had been 48 in 1890, and low of 41 degrees in Russell, where the previous record was 44 in 1962. Goodland also saw…
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 400 block of E Poyntz Ave in Manhattan on September 10, 2020, at approximately 3:37 pm. Officers listed Old Navy as the victim when it was…
On Friday’s edition of In Focus we spoke with Ascension Via Christi President Bob Copple. We also had a preview of the C. Clyde Jones Fun Run. And in our final segment we spoke with T. Russell Reitz Animal Shelter Director Deb Watkins, and Animal Control Officer Brandon Sokol.
After his win in the Republican Primary for the Riley County commission District 2 seat, Riley City Council Member Greg McKinley is getting ready for November. McKinley won his nomination from Incumbent Candidate Marvin Rodriguez and Phil Mattox. When asked about his win, McKinley says he is happy and believes he is the best choice. “It was a close race and the other guys have been very supportive even though we had different opinions on things. All the people who have been behind me are obviously pleased and ready to work for the general election,” says McKinley. Both Rodriguez and…
The weather was “terrible” but the cause was “worthy” on Wednesday, as student volunteers of the inaugural Konza Student Table event, served food to the community in high spirits as they set out to provide 300 free meals for students in a contact-less drive-through located at St. Isidore’s Catholic Student Center. St. Isidore’s holds “Dollar Dinner” events on Sundays, which typically attract 200 students and by word of mouth this Konza Student Table event was hailed as a “great success”. This event will continue on every Wednesday, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and staff have the intention of boosting numbers…
Updates from USD 320 Wamego superintendent Tim Winter School is back in session for USD 320 Wamego students. Tim Winter, USD 320 Wamego superintendent, says one of the biggest coronavirus-related challenges they have faced is the process of getting students and staff inside school buildings in the morning. “Our staff have to be temp-checked and screened and then we follow up with trying to get 375 to 475, approximately, into four different school buildings in a short amount of time,” Winter said. “Our schools are all within the city limits of Wamego and our streets and neighborhoods get fairly congested…
A Riley County judge has been appointed to sit with the Kansas Supreme Court for next week’s docket which will be conducted entirely by video conference. 21st Judicial District Chief Judge Grant Bannister will hear oral arguments involving two Johnson County construction companies that were involved with the construction of a press box at the University of Kansas Memorial Stadium almost 20 years ago (see below). After oral arguments are concluded, Judge Bannister will join Supreme Court justices in deliberations and decision drafting. “The Supreme Court looks forward to Chief Judge Bannister hearing a case with us. He will read the case…
Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 students now have access to free lunch and breakfast for what will likely be the rest of 2020. The United State Department of Agriculture announced last week that free-meal programs typically implemented during the summer months will now be extended through Dec. 31, 2020. Stephanie Smith, USD 383 child-nutrition director, says the end date of this program is dependent on how much federal funding remains. “Based on the figures that they’ve run, they feel confident that we’ll be able to run this program through the end of December, but there’s no guarantee that we’ll be able to…