Author: KMAN Staff

WICHITA, Kan. — Kansas officials will pay $3.5 million to the family of a man who was killed in 2017 with a homemade beanbag round fired by from a Barber County undersheriff at close range. An attorney for the family said in a written statement Monday that Barber County will pay the amount to settle a federal civil rights lawsuit brought by the widow of Steven Myers, who was unarmed and following law enforcement commands when he was shot on Oct. 6, 2017, by Barber County Undersheriff Virgil “Dusty” Brewer. Brewer is on unpaid leave after being charged in 2018…

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Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism Natural Resources Officer and Game Warden Ben Jedlicka discussed critters that typically present in June. Manhattan Parks & Recreation Department Director Eddie Eastes, Community Relations Officer Theresa Mueller and T. Russell Reitz Animal Shelter Deb Watkins discussed updates to reopening plans, adoptions and other information related to the parks and trails.

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Students enrolled in skills-based classes at Manhattan Area Technical College wrapped up their semester last week, having received authorization to return to in-person instruction at the beginning of May. MATC is also starting renovations at its new Wamego-based high school facility and has had funds committed for its adult education program, alleviating some financial uncertainty for the college’s recently re-signed president. Like all Kansas educational institutions, MATC closed its doors as numbers of COVID-19 cases began to rise nationally. But MATC provides hands-on skills training in multiple fields that President Jim Genandt — whose contract was recently extended through the…

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The Riley County Police Department responded to a report of a stabbing inside Powercat Sports Grill at about 9 p.m. Friday. Officers found a 25-year-old man suffering from what was later revealed by an investigation to be a self-inflicted stab wound. He was transported to Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan where he later died. The victim’s name was not released.

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Area officials are condemning the killing of an unarmed African American man by a White Minneapolis police officer. George Floyd died Monday after an officer held a knee to his neck for multiple minutes after responding to a forgery report. Minneapolis police say Floyd matched a suspect description and that he “physically resisted” officers after they removed him from his vehicle, though the officer seen restraining Floyd — Derek Chauvin — has been charged with third degree murder and fired Tuesday. Nationwide protests and incidents of rebellion ensued after a bystander video of Floyd telling officers he could not breathe…

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Kansas State University A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications Director Dr. Steve Smethers and retired professor Gloria Freeland spoke about a recent study regarding “media deserts” and the impact that a  loss of local media has on small towns. Sunset Zoo Marketing and Development Officer Melissa Kirkwood and Curator of Education Jared Bixby highlighted summer camps and the gradual phased reopening of the Sunset Zoo.

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The USD 383 Manhattan/Ogden School Board Wednesday began initial discussions of how it plans to reopen schools for the fall. The current timeline for reopening, according to the state, shows planning to begin on June 1st, guidance from the state on July 10th, and implementation on July 15th. Superintendent Dr. Marvin Wade says they want to do everything they can until that July 10th date to be ready for implementation. “We don’t know if there is going to be any kind of flexibility in terms of assessment, days in the school year, and for us to be able to look…

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K-State Research and Extension and the K-State Department of Animal Sciences and Industry will host a webinar to assist Kansas beef producers in navigating through the current and upcoming weather seasons in the midst of a market volatile from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time of year, weather conditions can vary widely and, according to K-State beef cattle extension veterinarian AJ Tarpoff, cause stress on cattle. K-State will seek to educate beef-production managers on tools and strategies for marketing and environmental forecasting. The webinar will feature K-State climatologist Mary Knapp providing information on current and future weather…

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WICHITA, Kan. — A 22-year-old man is charged with killing a teenager in Wichita during a drug deal. Malcolm Louis Ganther was charged Tuesday with first-degree murder and aggravated battery in the death of 17-year-old Marcus Sain. Police say two teenagers got into the back of Ganther’s car on May 20. A disturbance led another suspect to get out of a different car and shoot the teenagers in Ganther’s car. Sain died the next day. The second teenager was treated and released at a hospital. Prosecutors say the shooting occurred as part of a marijuana deal. Police are searching for…

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