ST. JOHN, Kan. — An agreement over water rights at a man-made wildlife refuge in central Kansas has been signed. The Hutchinson News reports the agreement between the federal government and local farmers over water rights in Quivira National Wildlife Refuge was signed Saturday. The plan is to end water rights in sensitive areas of the wildlife refuge and allow water rights in less sensitive areas. The water-filled refuge is a hotspot for wildlife migration. The newspaper reports that the agreement means local farmers can continue irrigating their crops. The next step in the water-rights agreement is to conduct environmental…
Author: KMAN Staff
WICHITA, Kan. — Kansas is seeing the median age of people who’ve contracted the novel coronavirus drop as the number of reported cases grows. The Wichita Eagle reports that the state Department of Health and Environment says that the median age for people infected in Kansas is now 37, down from 52 on March 24, less than three weeks after the state’s first reported case. Kansas has seen a resurgence of cases since early June that has pushed the number of reported cases past 25,000 and the number of COVID-19-related deaths past 320. Officials have blamed much of the resurgence…
WICHITA, Kan. — Police say an employee at an AutoZone store was fatally shot Sunday night in southeast Wichita. Police Capt. Kevin Kochenderfer said three employees were in the business at the time of the shooting. KWCH-TV reports one worker was in the restroom, the other was in the back getting a part. Emergency crews responded to the scene around 9 p.m. Sunday after an employee found a co-worker with a gunshot wound on the main floor and called police. The victim was identified as 40-year-old Nicholas Blue of Wichita.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Investigators say in court papers that a 3-year-old Kansas girl whose remains were found earlier this month was covered in bruises and died of a brain bleed. The remains of Olivia Ann Jansen of Kansas City, Kansas, were discovered after her father, Howard Jansen III, reported her missing. The 29-year-old father and his girlfriend have since been charged with felony murder and other crimes. WDAF-TV reports a court affidavit says her face, arms and legs were covered in bruises. An autopsy showed significant bleeding on the back of her brain. Her grandparents have said they had…
HALSTEAD, Kan. — Authorities say one person was killed when a train and tractor collided in central Kansas. KSNW reports that the crash happened just before 4 p.m. Monday south of U.S. 50 between Burrton and Halstead in Harvey County. No other details were immediately released, including the name of the victim.
MEDICINE LODGE, Kan. — Kansas state police are investigating the death of a woman in the small south-central city of Medicine Lodge as a homicide. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation says in a news release that police were called Monday afternoon to a Medicine Lodge home after a family member found 61-year-old Joyce Foulkrod dead inside the home. The release says a preliminary investigation indicates Foulkrod’s death was a homicide. Authorities have not said how Foulkrod may have died. An autopsy was set to be performed Tuesday. KBI, Medicine Lodge police and the Barber County Sheriff’s Office are investigating Foulkrod’s…
Pottawatomie County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Jack Allston joined us for an update on some of the economic fallout from COVID-19 and other issues.
Riley County commissioners approved the 2021 budget during their meeting Monday. The commission held a public hearing for the budget, however no one from the public made any comments. Budget and Finance Officer Tami Robison says the proposed 2021 mil levy is 42.285, which is a 0.776 mill decrease from last year. The regular county funds have a total budget authority expenditures at $65,501,116, with a levy of $28,312,598. Robison says she will have to come back for a resolution for the fire district. The department has gone over their legal max on the levy limit due to debt on…
Manhattan Regional Airport Director Jesse Romo joined us in the first segment about the latest updates with the airport. Riley County Commission District 3 candidate John Matta was featured in our series of candidate interviews ahead of the primary. Sunset Zoo Marketing and Development Officer Melissa Kirkwood and Konza Rotary representative Andy Hutchinson joined us to discuss zoo happenings including Water Matters Day Aug. 1.
WELLINGTON, Kan. — Police say the suspect in a shooting death in Wellington turned himself into authorities. Twenty-one-year-old Walter Edward Taylor III, of Wellington, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder. Wellington police chief Tracy Heath says Taylor is a suspect in the death of 34-year-old Travis Schneider, also of Wellington. Heath says Taylor was a passenger in a car driving next to a truck driven by Schneider Wednesday in Wellington. The two men got into an argument and Taylor fired one shot, which hit Schneider, who died at the scene. Taylor was arrested after he turned himself in. Heath…