NEWTON, Kan. — The Newton Police Department is mourning a sergeant who died in an off-duty ATV crash. Police say Sgt. Levi Minkevitch, of Peabody, died Wednesday in the crash in Harvey County. Police say he tried to jump a ditch into a field but lost control of his ATV, which rolled into the creek. He was pronounced dead at a Newton hospital. The police department said in a statement that Minkevitch, who had been with the department since 2013, was a tremendous officer and a friend to everyone he met.
Author: KMAN Staff
OMAHA, Neb. — A new monthly survey of bankers suggests the economy is slowly improving in rural parts of 10 Plains and Western states, but employment remains below the level it was at before the coronavirus pandemic began last year. The overall index for the region increased to 53.8 in February from January’s 52. Any score above 50 suggests a growing economy. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss said the number of jobs in the region is down roughly 146,000, or 3.3%, from the level it was at before the pandemic began. Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska,…
TOPEKA, Kan. — College student who lost class time or were forced into online classes because of the pandemic could have some of their tuition refunded under a measure that lawmakers are debating. The Kansas City Star reports that a House panel amended the state’s higher education budget Wednesday to require that colleges, community colleges and technical schools reimburse students for 50% of the tuition paid every day they spent online instead of in the classroom. The amendment would reimburse at 100% for days that students missed class entirely. The state’s Republican-leaning Legislature also has been pushing back against online…
LAWRENCE, Kan. — The University of Kansas says it plans to eliminate two undergraduate programs and an entire department in a cost-cutting move. Provost Barbara Bichelmeyer told the Kansas Board of Regents Wednesday 15 undergraduate programs did not meet enrollment requirements. The university plans to discontinue its Humanities department. It also will eliminate degrees in Humanities and Visual Art Education. Six of the remaining underperforming programs will remain, and seven will be merged with other programs. Bichelmeyer said eliminating the Visual Art Education degree will save about $100,000, and ending the Humanities degree will save about $400,000.
Former U.S. Senator Bob Dole has announced he’s been diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer. The 97-year-old tweeted Thursday morning he’s set to begin treatment Monday and acknowledges while he has some hurdles ahead, he knows he joins millions of Americans who face significant health challenges of their own. Dole, who is from Russell, represented Kansas in the U.S. House and Senate for a total of 35 years and was the Republican nominee for president in 1996.
Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jason Smith was our guest Thursday. Topics discussed included a preview of the annual meeting (segment 1), conversations with Riley County health officials about possible easing of business restrictions (segment 2) and legislative topics (segment 3), plus the Chamber’s position on possible future development in Aggieville (segment 4).
The USD 383 school board has approved on second reading new boundaries for its elementary and middle schools for the upcoming school year. The board voted 6-1, with board member Brandy Santos opposing, to accept the redistricting committee’s option 4, which allows students living along Scenic and Ledgestone Drives as well as Stone Pointe to stay in Manhattan instead of being bused to Ogden. During the pre-meeting public comments section, Manhattan teacher and resident Sharon Davis said that her concerns with redistricting stem from the discrepancy of busing of children from Ogden and unwillingness to inversely bus children from Manhattan…
Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 has reached their final decision with naming Erin Lopez as the new principal of Oliver Brown Elementary. Lopez currently serves as MTSS Coordinator at Bluemont and Woodrow Wilson Elementary schools and has served in that position since 2019. Previously, she served as an Instructional Coach at Seitz Elementary School in Fort Riley, KS and began her career as a 5th grade teacher in 2012 at Seitz Elementary School. Lopez has a B.S. in Elementary Education earned in 2012 and obtained a M.S. in Educational Leadership in 2017 from Kansas State University. Lopez is also a Professional Educational…
Mercy Community Health Foundation will be hosting their annual gala starting today, but in a different format. The Mercy Crystal Gala will be replace with the “No-Gala” Gala this year since the event will be more of a 10 day campaign. Foundation Development Director Tina Rockhold says this is a non-event where they are encouraging their donors and community to donate. Those wanting to support the foundation during this time can do so online. “We want to use the tagline and phrase: ‘Stay home, stay safe, and give generously.’ It doesn’t come with a lot bells and whistles,” says Rockhold.…
OLATHE, Kan. — A Kansas City, Kansas, police officer who was shot din December will not face charges for shooting at the suspect. Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe said Tuesday that Officer Daniel Vance was justified in using force in the Dec. 15 confrontation with Jesse James Flaugher. How says Vance saw a vehicle that was believed to be involved in an earlier hit-and-run. Howe says as Vance waited for backup, Flaugher noticed him and began firing. The officer was later treated and released after being shot in his bullet proof vest and his arm. Flaugher drove away but…