WICHITA, Kan. — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly is no longer shielding renters and homeowners who are financially strapped because of the coronavirus pandemic from being evicted or having lenders foreclose on their mortgages. Kelly allowed an executive order banning new evictions and foreclosures to expire May 26. The Wichita Eagle reports that her office confirmed Monday that the executive order no longer was in place. Renters’ advocates warned that unemployment benefits and one-time federal stimulus checks won’t be enough to keep people in their homes. Landlords and apartment owners said evictions are likely weeks away and that they’re willing to…
Author: KMAN Staff
TOPEKA, Kan. — Fire officials in Topeka say a blaze that destroyed an unoccupied business on the south side of the city was intentionally set. The Topeka Fire Department said Wednesday in a news release that the fire at the payday loan business was reported around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday. Arriving firefighters found smoke and flames coming from the building, which was once a gas station. A fire report says initial investigation showed the fire was the result of arson. No one was injured. Fire officials say it was the second fire at the business in recent months. A fire in…
PRATT, Kan. — The Kansas Highway Patrol says a man has died in a rollover crash in south-central Kansas. Wichita television station KAKE reports that the crash happened around 4 p.m. Tuesday in northeastern Pratt County. A patrol report says 35-year-old Jacob Davis, of Macksville, was driving a sport utility vehicle southbound on a rural road when the SUV went into a ditch and rolled several times. The patrol says Davis was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
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…
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.”…