TOPEKA, Kan. — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and the Republican-controlled Legislature are working on a compromise to give lawmakers oversight of the state’s coronavirus response. Democrats on Wednesday sought protections for workers infected on the job. Some legislators are also expecting a debate on expanding the state’s Medicaid program. That’s been a priority for Kelly since she took office. The Legislature convened Wednesday for a special session called by Kelly after she vetoed a sweeping coronavirus bill GOP lawmakers approved in May moments before adjourning their annual session. A new Republican plan unveiled Tuesday contains similar provisions, but GOP leaders…
Author: KMAN Staff
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 and criminal damage to property in the 5600 block of N 48th St. in Manhattan on June 2, 2020, at approximately 11:20 AM. Officers listed Prairie Stone Inc.…
Approximately 2,000 people marched down Bluemont Ave. under police protection Tuesday evening to protest the death of George Floyd, an African American man who died last week after a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Despite reports on the event’s Facebook page of a man threatening people in the area, the protest largely remained peaceful. Jaynae Cole, a Manhattan resident who organized the protest with fellow Manhattan resident Teresa Parks, was sure to emphasize her desire for the event to turn out differently from other protests that ended in a breakdown of peace. “It’s a…
Budget requests The Pottawatomie County Commission heard a number of budget requests for fiscal year 2021 during their meeting Monday. These requests came during the first Pottawatomie County Commission meeting to be open in-person to the public since mass gathering restrictions put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic made Zoom the only mode of access. The North Central Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging presented a budget request for $27,660. This request is about $4,324 more than their budget last year of $23,336 due to increased administrative funding and health insurance costs. The remainder of the budget requests heard…
Manhattan City Manager Ron Fehr and Mayor Usha Reddi previewed Tuesday’s Manhattan City Commission meeting.
Voters this year can expect longer wait times at the polls in Riley County. County Clerk Rich Vargo says his office has heard from 70 poll workers that will not be helping out this year due to coronavirus concerns. This means those who want to vote at the polling sites will have to wait longer if there are a large number of people. “I absolutely predict we will be limited on staff. Even if we’re fully staffed, it’s going to be a longer process because of all the sanitation requirements and extra efforts that will need to be made regardless…
Release from the Kansas Highway Patrol. It’s a busy time for farmers in Kansas with harvest underway and hay season in full swing. The Kansas Highway Patrol would like to remind motorists to use caution and patience when traveling around farm trucks, tractors, combines and other implements. “As the busy farming season is underway, each traveler in Kansas needs to be more aware of increased farm implement and truck traffic,” said Lieutenant Adam Winters, KHP Public Information Officer. “In Kansas, we have many trucks exiting and entering the roadways at any given time. Traveling around these vehicles requires extra caution.”…
WICHITA, Kan. — Hundreds of people in Kansas’ largest city flocked to bars and clubs on the first weekend they were open after Gov. Laura Kelly and local officials lifted restrictions meant to check the spread of the novel coronavirus. The Wichita Eagle reported that by 11 p.m. Friday, bars in the Old Town district in downtown Wichita were packing in customers for a celebration after being closed for two months. Knots of people moved through the streets, hugging friends they met and in some cases, turning cartwheels. Johns Hopkins University on Saturday reported more than 9,600 coronavirus cases in…
WICHITA, Kan. — Auditors say about $145,000, guns and drugs are missing from the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office property and evidence storage, and it’s possible more could be missing. Sheriff Jeff Easter said an investigation began after an employee noticed the storage area was in disarray in January. A property and evidence technician and a supervisor were the focus of the investigation and no longer work with the department. Sedgwick County Attorney Marc Bennett said some cases have been dismissed because of the missing evidence, most of which was supposed to be destroyed. He says the dismissed cases are lower-level…
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Two University of Kansas students are suing the school over refunds and other funds they believe they should have received after the classes and activities were moved online or canceled because of the coronovirus pandemic. Several universities across the country are facing similar lawsuits. The two anonymous female students based in Johnson County contend the university has refused to issue refunds for campus fees for activities they could not participate in since being sent home in March. They also object to receiving credits for dining packages, rather than refunds. Kansas spokeswoman Erinn Barcomb-Peterson said the university would…