Manhattan will continue working on a mandatory mask ordinance after a majority of commissioners expressed support Tuesday. Manhattan officials on May 19 eyed a similar law — raised for discussion by Mayor Usha Reddi — but amid enforcement concerns the ordinance failed to get traction in the commission as well as with institutions such as Kansas State University, the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce, Riley County police and the Riley County Emergency Operations Center coordinating the county’s COVID-19 response. A recent surge in local novel coronavirus cases, though, has again brought a mask ordinance for public spaces to the forefront…
Author: KMAN Staff
Health Department Director Julie Gibbs joined KMAN in the 7 AM hour to provide our COVID update.
On Wednesday’s edition of In Focus we spoke with USD 383 Superintendent Marvin Wade and board member Brandy Santos. We also spoke with Fire Marshal Jake Powell with the Manhattan Fire Department. And in our final segment we spoke with Gina Scroggs about Downtown Manhattan.
Kansas State University President Richard Myers released further details this Wednesday on the university’s plan to combat racism and discrimination. He also responded to calls for a K-State student who “posted racist messages on social media” to be expelled, saying the university as a government institution must take steps that do not violate the law. The plan is broken down into two categories of action steps the university will take, one category being student related and the other being faculty related. The action steps as they are laid out in Myer’s release can be found below. Student-Related Action Steps: 1.…
The Flint Hills Area Transportation Agency, also known as aTa Bus, has been awarded a $2.5 million grant by the Federal Transit Administration as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act signed in March. The grant is part of $25 billion in CARES Act funding that is going towards public transportation systems across the United States. Funds going to aTa Bus will be spent in areas such as operations and supplementing wages for employees whose hours have been cut back due to reduced operations. “We’ve been able to implement what’s called administrative leave for those employees,”…
CARES Act funding The Pottawatomie County Commission discussed Monday how it will distribute CARES Act funds once they have been received. According to Chad Kinsley, Pottawatomie County administrator, Pottawatomie County will receive about $200 per person. In total, the county is set to receive about $4.9 million in the first round of CARES Act funding. Kinsley says this money will be allocated to each city in the county based on size. “Our plan is to allocate that money to each city based upon their population,” Kinsley said. “They will ask us for approval for purchases. Of course we’re going to…
On Tuesday’s edition of In Focus we spoke with Kansas Dept. of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism Warden Ben Jedlicka. We also spoke with Tuttle Creek State Park Manager Todd Lovin.
Riley County residents voiced their concerns over recent spikes in COVID-19 cases and police killings to the Riley County commission Monday. Asian Market Partner and Commission Candidate Fanny Fang criticized the commission for not wearing masks and the doubling of positive cases over the past week. “This outbreak is such a major public health concern that Fort Riley has banned all of their soldiers, thousands of them, from visiting our Aggieville district, which hurts dozens of our businesses who tried to do the right thing and be a part of the solution during this pandemic,” says Fang. Fang, who is…
After 30 years serving the Manhattan community, Harry’s Restaurants will close its doors for good mid-July. Ownership made the announcement Monday, saying the impact of COVID-19 was too much to sustain. The upscale Downtown-based restaurant will continue to serve guests through July 17, corresponding its closure with its lease expiration. “Harry’s has survived downturns; however, this one proves insurmountable,” Managing Partner Evan Grier says. “The impact of COVID-19 and the uncertainty ahead is too much for Harry’s to overcome.” Harry’s was founded in 1990 by Julie Haynes before Evan and Andrea Grier bought the establishment in 2006, though has had…
Junction City police are investigating a suspected murder, according to a Monday press release. A woman was found dead Friday, June 26, in an empty storage unit in the 2300 block of N. Jackson Street. According to JCPD Investigation Cpt. Trish Giordano, foul play is suspected following an autopsy. Police are attempting to identify the woman via fingerprint records. If anyone has information on the case, they are asked to call the Crime Stoppers tip line at (785) 762-8477 or online via the JCPD Facebook page.