The AQ Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications has announced an interim associate director with a background in television production and directing. Dr. Tom Hallaq on Facebook Monday wrote that he accepted the position at Kansas State. He writes that he is excited and believes the position will allow him to gain leadership and administrative experience. Hallaq was first employed at KSU in 2013, previously working for nearly 9 years at Idaho State University and a year and a half at Salt Lake Community College. He earned his bachelor’s in Communications at Brigham Young University, his master’s in Instructional…
Author: KMAN Staff
TOPEKA — Auditors say a Kansas fund designed to create jobs sometimes awards funds to groups that aren’t clearly related to economic development. The state Department of Commerce controls the Kansas Job Creation Fund. In an audit released Monday, auditors reported the agency had no written policies to guide how the funds are awarded. The Wichita Eagle reports the commerce department required some companies to produce jobs and other measurable activity in order to receive funds but didn’t have the same requirements for others. The agency has provided 71 awards totaling $25.7 million during the past five years. The fund…
LAWRENCE — A Lawrence developer has been convicted of illegally disposing of roofing material containing asbestos while remodeling a country club. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that jurors deliberated about two hours before finding Thomas Fritzel guilty of three federal charges related to the failure to properly handle the debris. Asbestos was used for decades as insulation and as a fire-resistant material. But it can cause lung diseases, cancer and other health problems. Federal prosecutors said that Fritzel was aware that the Alvamar Country Club contained asbestos and didn’t follow state disposal requirements. Defense attorney Edward Novak maintained that Fritzel took…
WICHITA — Wichita State University has paid $50,000 to an Ohio professor who said she lost a job offer after she revealed she was pregnant. Evangeline Heiliger sued the university in December after the school withdrew a job offer for an assistant professor of women’s studies. She said the offer was rescinded after she told Center of Women’s Studies director Chinyere Okafor that she was expecting a baby. The Wichita Eagle reports Heiliger was a visiting professor at Oberlin College in Ohio when she applied for the Wichita State job in 2017. She says after she told Okafor about her…
KANSAS CITY — A Wyandotte County government official has resigned after being found guilty of misdemeanor battery against a female employee. A jury on Tuesday convicted Dennis Laughlin of grabbing Maddie Waldeck in May 2018 and pushing her against a wall during what had been a “light-hearted” conversation with colleagues after work. He resigned Tuesday after the jury verdict. KCUR reports Laughlin was General Services Director for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas. He was Waldeck’s boss. Laughlin faces up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. He will be sentenced in late August.…
Wednesday’s first guest included Ron Dushane with the Manhattan Public Library on their upcoming Game Show Board Game group. For the next two segments we had Kansas Department Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism Natural Resources Officer Ben Jedlicka and Henry Otto with the Blue Valley Yacht Club talking about the upcoming boating safety class. Then for the final segment we had Summit Point Leader Melanie Nord giving a preview on the Global Leadership Summit.
The Riley County Police Department is making sure those in Aggieville are staying safe with numerous reports of fights recently in the area. RCPD Director Dennis Butler says he recently went down to Aggieville in civilian clothing to observe the patrons and officers. “I wanted to have a firsthand perspective and watch my officers interact with the community. I thought they were patient and very helpful to citizens being friendly and interactive and citizens who needed help,” Butler said. Overall, Butler says he was pleased with how well officers conducted themselves. Butler says there is a delicate balance in Aggieville…
New fixed route stops at all routes in Manhattan began Monday in Manhattan and Ogden and will be fare free now through Aug. 10. Executive Director Ann Smith says they have taken feedback from the community for these new additions. “One of the biggest things we heard was that people were having to make too many transfers and needed more direct routes. We’ve seriously taken that to heart and have made some adjustments to the route, getting rid of under-performing stops and increased our ability to travel directly east to west,” Smith said. Some of those under-performing stops include 3rd…
WICHITA — A Wichita man has pleaded guilty to threatening workers of the anti-abortion group Operation Rescue. The Wichita Eagle reports that 22-year-old Christopher Thompson entered a plea Monday in which he admitted making the threats in three phone calls to Operation Rescue on Aug. 14. Thompson was originally indicted on four counts of transmitting threats through interstate communication. Prosecutors say he threatened in phone calls and voicemails to kill and rape Operation Rescue employees, murder their family members, sexually assault their daughters and that the devil was going to rape them. Operation Rescue is a national anti-abortion organization headquartered…
TOPEKA — A Kansas state senator is back with the Republican party after leaving it to join independent Greg Orman’s campaign for governor. The Wichita Eagle reports Sen. John Doll, of Garden City, changed his party affiliation a few weeks ago. He had been an independent since March 2018, when he became Orman’s running mate in their unsuccessful bid for the governor’s office. Doll lost all his committee assignments after he became an independent under a Senate rule that strips senators of committee spots if they change parties. Senate President Susan Wagle’s office said Doll will again receive committee assignments.…