Kansas State University has not implemented a COVID-19 vaccine mandate, but that is likely only because Kansas legislative policy prevents the university from doing so. K-State president Richard Myers says if university administration could implement a vaccine mandate, it would. Despite the lack of COVID-19 vaccine requirements at K-State, Myers says over 80 percent of students have received at least one dose. The overall vaccination rate for the university, which includes faculty and staff in addition to students, is lower. As of Aug. 13, Lafene Health Center had distributed over 7,500 COVID-19 vaccinations. Myers says incentives for getting the vaccine…
Author: KMAN Staff
WICHITA, Kan. — Officials in some Kansas communities are battling a rise in COVID-19 cases by mandating masks for kids, issuing emergency orders and requiring vaccines. The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Kansas has risen over the past two weeks from 605.14 new cases per day on Aug. 3 to 797.14 new cases per day on Tuesday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. In the Wichita area, hospital status was changed to critical Wednesday, as about 150 COVID-19 patients fill beds there.
LAWRENCE, Kan. — The Lawrence Humane Society says that a dog that was stabbed at a grocery store in an attack that killed its owner is expected to recover. The organization said in a social media post said that the dog, named Bear, sustained a stab wound to his side early Wednesday in the attack at a Dillons store in Lawrence. The dog’s owner, 66-year-old Daniel Evan Brooks, of Lawrence, was killed. The Lawrence Humane Society said the dog initially was in shock, but his wound had been repaired and his prognosis is good. A man was arrested at the…
TOPEKA, Kan. — A federal judge has ruled that Kansas must pay more than $2.2 million in attorney fees to the groups that filed a lawsuit over problems in the child welfare system. The decision handed down Thursday also requires the state to pay more than $72,000 in expenses. U.S. District Judge Daniel Crabtree approved a settlement to the lawsuit in January, but the parties had continued to wrangle over attorney fees and other legal expenses. The class-action lawsuit was filed in 2018 by Kansas Appleseed, Lori Burns-Bucklew, Children’s Rights and the National Center for Youth Law against the Kansas…
SHAWNEE, Kan. — Kansas troopers say a blown tire caused a car to careen over the side of a bridge in suburban Kansas City, killing a passenger and seriously injuring the driver. The Kansas State Patrol says the crash happened Thursday afternoon in Shawnee on Interstate 435. Investigators say a northbound car was on an I-435 bridge when its left rear tire blew, sending the car into the bridge’s right guardrail and over the side. The patrol says the car rolled twice and landed in a creek below. A passenger, 43-year-old Gomez Humberto-Perez of Kansas City, Kansas, was killed. The…
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 South 16th Street in Manhattan on August 19, 2021 around 9:50 AM. Officers listed a 49-year-old male as the victim when he reported…
On Friday’s edition of In Focus we spoke with KSU President Richard Myers. Segment one: COVID-19 mitigation and the new school year. Segment two: enrollment, affordability of higher education, economics of K-State. Segment three: Myers’ upcoming retirement and current status of K-State in the Big XII. Segment four: Myers weighs in on fallout from the U.S. withdrawal in Afghanistan and how the university will honor the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks at the K-State football home opener.
The Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce is launching a website to promote the city to working professionals. Talent strategies coordinator Amber Wilhelm describes what the website, madeformanhattan.org, will feature: According to Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Jason Smith, the website is meant to create an online resource where people who are looking at moving to Manhattan can see what the area has to offer. In addition to the website, Smith says the chamber has also put together boxes full of post cards featuring notes from area residents about experiences they have had in Manhattan. To learn more…
The Riley County Commission will incentivize employees to get COVID-19 vaccinations. Commissioners voted 2-1 Thursday morning to pay employees one hundred dollars upon proof of vaccination. Benefits eligible employees will also receive an additional scheduled annual day of leave time. Employees will have a two month period to get vaccines, allowing for the time necessary for the dual-dosing required for the Moderna or Pfizer shots. The topic gained traction after the commission earlier this month discussed COVID protocols going forward, electing not to implement a mask mandate for county buildings. Human Resources Manager Elizabeth Ward said in following up with…
Loss of food vendor The Manhattan-Ogden school district has lost its largest food vendor. That’s according to assistant superintendent Eric Reid, who told the school board Wednesday that the vendor informed the district just last week that it would be canceling its contract. The vendor, Sysco, which is a wholesale food distributor, supplied about 80 percent of the district’s food supplies. According to Reid, Sysco attributed the canceled contract to supply chain issues stemming from staffing shortages. Reid says child nutrition director Stephanie Smith has been working to find alternative solutions until other vendors can be found, however the district may…